The English Garden September 2021

Ambra Edwards Ambra’s latest book, The Plant Hunter’s Atlas, tells the enthralling stories of plants and the people who found them, so she was thrilled to visit the plant-hunter’s paradise of Abbotsbury on p40. Annette Warren Annette is a garden writer and blogger at gardenvisitoruk.com. She also works as an assistant and stylist with garden photographer Clive Nichols. She explores a garden in Wantage on p20. Melissa Mabbitt Melissa is a gardening writer and co-author of RHS How to Grow Plants From Seeds. She trained at Bodnant Garden in North Wales and also works as a hands-on horticulturist.› She visits the garden at Willowhill on page 56.…

Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate their favourite gardens that open for the National Garden Scheme, for our ‘The Nation’s Favourite Garden’ competition, which we run in association with the Scheme, and sponsors Sisley Garden Tours and Agriframes. We now have a fantastic shortlist of gorgeous gardens that you can vote on to determine the winners – find all 28 of them from page 75. If there’s one opening near you, there might still be time to squeeze in a visit to help raise money for the nursing and health charities that are supported by the National Garden Scheme. Meanwhile, we’re celebrating all that late summer and early autumn have to offer: cheerful rudbeckias and some absolutely beautiful gardens, including subtropical Abbotsbury, the kitchen garden at Pensons,…

Arit Anderson The garden designer, writer and TV presenter discusses the garden she is creating for this year’s Chelsea Flower Show I used to work in fashion, although I dabbled in holistic healing and complementary therapy as well. It’s always been in my nature to do a variety of things because I enjoy learning continuously. I made the career change to gardening when I was 44. I needed to think about what would make me happy. I had just moved house and acquired my first garden in which I envisioned myself deadheading with a glass of wine of an evening, but the reality was very different! I would be out there at 6.30am every day. After a year I took a part-time course in garden design and qualified in 2015. I asked garden designers…

The Garden House Devon This gorgeous garden, takes its inspiration from nature and I was lucky enough to time my visit during golden hour. I love that its different areas reveal a surprise at every turn. Tel: 01822 854769; thegardenhouse.org.uk Beth Chatto Gardens Essex Another wonderful garden that’s highly personalised. It’s clear how much love this amazing plantswoman poured into the space, while the varied topography ensures there is something for everyone to take home. Tel: 01206 822007; bethchatto.co.uk…

Beautiful & Useful 18-19 September, 10am-5pm, West Sussex Visit this boutique fair at the Sussex Prairie Garden to browse and buy from 24 top British designers working in ceramics, wood, jewellery, textiles, willow and more. The line-up includes Laura Baxter’s botanically inspired jewellery pieces, Bee Bowen’s naturally dyed silk scarves, and characterful pots from local Sussex-based maker Atelier Stella. Refreshments will be on offer and tickets include entry to the award-winning eight-acre garden, which forms a beautiful backdrop. Adults: £10; children £5. Book tickets at beautiful-useful.co.uk. Historic Garden Discovery Historic garden remains found in Essex A research project by Historic England has confirmed the existence of garden remains from the 17th century at Belhus Park in Thurrock. The estate’s landscape was created by ‘Capability’ Brown and Richard Woods in the mid-18th century, but picture research…

Lift & divide PERENNIALS You’ll get another chance to make planting changes in March, but September through to early October is the ideal time to lift and divide perennials. The exception is if you garden on heavy clay soil, which is often already too cold and wet for the establishment of plants at this time of year. Cut down and remove any top growth to 5cm above the ground. I find using a fork rather than a spade is less destructive where delicate roots are concerned. Work the fork carefully all the way around the plant, loosening the soil and gently teasing its roots free. When all the roots are free, it should be possible to lift the plant from the ground. Plants that form clumps, like lupins, will come out in…