THE
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GARDEN FEBRUARY 2024
For everyone who loves beautiful gardens
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SNOWDROPS
Gardens to visit to see these special bulbs
50 years at
East Ruston Alan Gray looks back at his Norfolk garden’s creation
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CONTRIBUTORS
Alan Gray Alan is known for his originality, theatricality and rule-breaking in horticulture. His garden at East Ruston Old Vicarage, which he writes about on page 22, echoes that ethos, with visitors coming from across the world.
Jill Anderson Jill is a writer and award-winning garden designer specialising in planting design and how the changing climate is affecting gardens. She visits Moleshill House, the garden of Penny Snell, on page 48.
Welcome S
ince this issue will arrive with you as 2024 gets underway, we’ve taken inspiration from Janus, the god of beginnings, transitions and time, who looks both forwards and back. Our gardens have all featured in our pages in the past, but we revisit them here and take a closer look at how they’ve developed over time, and how they’re changing now their owners have new challenges to contend with. At Parham House in Sussex, rampaging bindweed proved the catalyst for a rethink of the walled garden’s beautiful borders, while at Rustling End in Hertfordshire, garden designer Julie Wise echoes the sentiments of many of us as her style of gardening has evolved to put wildlife first. Meanwhile, in Norfolk, Alan Gray reflects on the past 50 years he’s spent creating the garden at East Ruston Old Vicarage with partner Graham Robeson. Our hobby’s nature makes gardeners a pretty environmentally friendly bunch by default, but we take a deeper look at ways to make your gardening even more sustainable in the new year. And looking forward to February, it’s almost time for snowdrops and crocuses to shine, while Phil Clayton suggests some plants to grow to brighten up the greenhouse at this time of year. We won’t have to look forward for long – no doubt it’ll be spring before we know it!
CLARE FOGGETT, EDITOR
IMAGES JAYNE LLOYD; CLIVE NICHOLS
Matthew Bruce Matthew is based in West London and has been photographing gardens for more than a decade. His strong interest in history flows through into his garden and landscape work. His images of Town Place are on page 40.
ON THE COVER A cathedral-like ceiling of green tree fern foliage in the garden of East Ruston Old Vicarage. Photographed by Clive Nichols.
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Our Diploma and other professional development programmes are delivered at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew with a real-time, online option for those wishing to study with us from home. We also offer an extensive short course programme for professionals and garden enthusiasts at Kew Gardens and RHS Garden Wisley and an alumni programme for continuing professional development. Visit our website lcgd.org.uk to see how our students are creating successful garden design careers and discover a course that is right for you.
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February 2024
CONTENTS Subscribe & Save
The English Garden subscription PAGE 98
Gardens 22 East Ruston Old Vicarage Alan Gray looks back on the creation of this dazzling Norfolk garden, where he and his partner, Graham Robeson, have carved out their own special slice of paradise. 32 Rustling End A visit to this Hertfordshire garden is like a ramble through the English countryside. The gardening is led by nature, keeping the meadows and woodland, old roses and wildflowers, looking ever fresh. 40 Town Place Season after season, this West Sussex garden bedazzles visitors with an all-star show directed by owners Anthony and Maggie McGrath, who are ever conscious of what works for their audience.
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48 Moleshill Penny Snell has applied her florist’s eye to her one-acre Surrey garden, where every inch has been thoughtfully curated with the greatest of care taken over plant associations and colour palettes. 56 Parham House Continuity is the name of the game at this fad-free West Sussex garden, which stays true to its own historic connections at all times.
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Plants 75 Top 10 Plants Ten delectable plants that will fill tricky bare patches of soil in shady spots are recommended here by Matthew Murgatroyd, head gardener at Holker Hall. 81 Plant Focus From palest lilac to richest purple, crocus add colourful cheer to the late-winter garden. Discover special cultivars in tempting colours and patterns. 99 Snowdrops Snowdrop season is here, and we reveal some of the best displays to see and tell the stories behind special cultivars.
Miscellanea
48 6 THE ENGLISH GARDEN FEBRUARY 2024
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67 Sustainable Gardening Make changes to your own gardening practice to benefit both the planet and your pocket. 87 Techniques John Easton, a fruit specialist at Brogdale in Kent, offers his expert advice on how to effectively prune apple trees. 91 Greenhouses Philip Clayton shelters from February’s chilly temperatures in the greenhouse, and reveals how under glass, this can be a productive time of year.
32 ONE YEAR GOOD GARDENING DIPLOMA September 2024 – beginning July 2025
Covers the best in planting design while training in the more serious aspects of horticultural techniques. Practical sessions held at Arundel Castle under the guidance of head gardener Martin Duncan and at Sandhill Farm House, Rogate. Lectures by many leading gardening personalities and regular visits to exclusive private gardens. Students also learn to draw up planting plans. (1 day a week (Tues), 10.30am–3.15pm, over three terms)
GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS
Wednesday & Thursday 4 Days 17, 18, 24, 25 April 2024
One of our most popular courses, led by master horticulturalist Ben Pope, which aims to take each student through all the practical elements of caring for a garden from soil, tools, maintenance, seed sowing and propagating, weed control and pests and diseases. The first 3 days will be spent with lectures at the Chelsea Physic Garden and the final day will be spent gaining practical experience in Rosemary Alexander’s much praised garden near Petersfield and another private garden nearby, where Ben is in charge. Participants will be given a chance to prune, plant, sow seeds and regular maintenance tasks will be discussed. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided daily.
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THE ESSENTIAL GARDEN DESIGN DIPLOMA January – March 2025
Based at the Chelsea Physic Garden and led by Rosemary Alexander and architect Catriona Rowbotham, the course is an overview of Garden Design, covering all the elements needed to rethink an average garden. Taking students step by step through site surveying, using the grid, horizontal and vertical features, garden layouts and planting plans, costing and specification, plus drawing tuition and homework on design and plant portfolios. Tutors are well respected in the industry and will guide students on how to succeed in this diverse profession. (2 days a week (Wed & Thur) 10.30am-3.15pm, plus 2 days homework)
GARDEN DESIGN & CARING FOR YOUR GARDEN
IMAGES MATTHEW BRUCE; ANNA OMIOTEK-TOTT; RICHARD BLOOM; CLIVE NICHOLS; SHUTTERSTOCK
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Distance Learning Courses study anytime, anywhere in the world
A stepping stone to a new career. These two correspondence courses are a step by step guide to either designing your own garden or learning how to plant and maintain an existing garden: drawing up plans, hard landscaping, site analysis, planting, month by month tasks etc. Taught through a comprehensive course book, with projects submitted to us. 1-3 years to complete and individual assessment.
107 Craftspeople Lauren Smith uses antique machinery, traditional techniques and natural materials to craft, dye and print her own luxuriantly textured hand-made paper.
Regulars 9 This Month Plants, people, news and events, books and beautiful things to buy, plus Jim Cable’s diary. 19 Shopping Pay homage to beloved pollinators with a selection of bee and honey themed homeware pieces. 114 To Conclude Just a splash of judiciously applied red has a wonderfully energising effect on a border, notes Non Morris.
Offers 98 Subscribe & Save Subscribe to The English Garden and save money.
Garden of Medicinal Plants – Chelsea Physic Garden
Photo: R Alexander
Not sure which Diploma course is for you? We prefer potential students to attend an Information Session when Rosemary explains the course and you can see our work space. JUST CONTACT US TO SET UP A DATE & TIME www.englishgardeningschool.co.uk Email: info@englishgardeningschool.co.uk Tel: 01730 818373 Long established as the leader in gardening tuition Based at the unique and historic Chelsea Physic Garden follow us on InstagramFEBRUARY 2024 THE ENGLISH GARDEN 7
This Month Our guide to plants, people, gardens and events, tasks and shopping in February
IN FLOWER NOW
IMAGE GAP/MATT ANKER
Iris unguicularis G
ardeners who prefer plants that are very neat and tidy might struggle with the Algerian iris. Its leaves are unfortunately a little bit messy, but if you can overlook this deficit and focus solely on its late-winter and early-spring flowers, you are in for a special treat. Given a sunny spot and
well-drained soil it will reliably produce its scented flowers during mild spells of weather in winter – pick a couple while still in bud for a welcome treat indoors. The cultivar ‘Mary Barnard’, in a rich shade of purple is well worth seeking out, or there’s ‘Walter Butt’, which is a pale silvery mauve. FEBRUARY 2024 THE ENGLISH GARDEN 9