Gardens Illustrated Magazine Special 2022

This issue sneaks in between our June and July issues and we’re calling it, quite straightforwardly, our Summer issue. And we think it’s a time of year worth celebrating. This is when the garden slows a little; the rush of spring has passed, the turn to autumn is a while off, plants are settled and gardeners can allow themselves a pause in the garden after a day’s activity, as the sun dips late in the evening. In the issue we feature a range of garden styles in a celebration of gorgeous gardens large and small. There are few of us whose thoughts won’t be transported by the hilltop garden in Italy’s central Lazio region, designed by English designer Stuart Barfoot (page 30). Here fulsome planting, gentle curves and distant views are…

Claire Harrup Claire illustrates Benjamin Pope’s column, page 26. “I look forward to receiving Benjamin’s words each month, they always provide such a rich variety of ideas to interpret visually.” Matthew Biggs Matthew shows how to create a summer of colour, page 46. “‘It was fascinating to revisit several simple techniques to prolong the flowering season of many popular herbaceous perennials.” Clare Coulson Clare visits a relaxed Suffolk garden given structure with topiary, page 66. “Jenny and John have created an immaculate and calming garden with a real sense of invention, craft and ingenuity.”…

James Basson James lives in the South of France where he runs Scape Design, a practice specialising in low-maintenance and dry gardens. He is a fervent advocate for creating sustainable landscapes. The winner of four Chelsea Gold medals, he was awarded Best in Show in 2017. Fergus Garrett Fergus was appointed head gardener at Great Dixter by Christopher Lloyd in 1993. He is passionate about passing on his knowledge through student programmes at Dixter and worldwide lectures. He was awarded an RHS Associate of Honour in 2008 and an RHS Victoria Medal of Honour in 2019. Anna Pavord Anna’s books include her bestseller The Tulip and most recently Landskipping. For 30 years she was The Independent’s gardening correspondent. In 2000 the RHS awarded her the Veitch Memorial Medal. She lives and gardens in Dorset. Dan Pearson Dan…

Party time Whether you have a spacious country garden or a small city courtyard, summer is the time to gather family and friends together and make the most of your outside space. So, if you’re planning a summer barbecue, a prosecco party or afternoon tea in the garden, why not also help raise money for nursing and health charities under the National Garden Scheme’s Great British Garden Party initiative. You can sign up on the NGS website, where you’ll find tips on how to style your table for a garden party, advice on flower arranging, cake decorating and colour-scheme inspiration, as well as plenty of ideas, such as hosting cake and plant sales, that will turn your party into a fundraising event. ngs.org.uk Hit the decks The season for lounging in the garden…

1 Royal Three Counties Show Alongside the food and drink festival and the countryside arena, the gardening hub at the Royal Three Counties Show will provide shopping from specialist nurseries as well as an international orchid show. 17-19 June, 8am-6pm. £21.85. Three Counties Show Ground, Malvern, Worcestershire WR13 6NW. Tel 0344 338 5400, royalthreecounties.co.uk 2 Hoby Open Gardens After a four-year hiatus, the Leicestershire village of Hoby is hosting its open gardens weekend again. Around ten gardens will be opened to the public and there will also be coffee and cake in the village hall, along with a prosecco bar and cream teas. 18-19 June, 11am-5pm. £7. Various locations, Hoby, Leicestershire. Tel 01664 434188. 3 Elkstone Open Gardens The Cotswold village of Elkstone is hosting its 35th open gardens day in June. Classic, modern, formal…