Readers' Gardens May 2020

As we’re still in lockdown the only gardens I can visit are those sent to me by loyal readers of my newsletter. It’s been a cracking month in terms of weather so everyone’s garden looks immaculate, even my own.

Alec and Sarah

Alec and Sarah garden in the grounds of a tall and elegant Victorian town house in a smart part of North London. The garden is only slightly larger than a postage stamp so every inch matters.

I designed this garden in 2016 and it was built and planted in 2017. It had a rough time with some builders shortly after that so I’ve never seen it in all its glory.

Looks like someone living here has got green fingers, it’s turned out pretty well!

Margaret

Margaret has a surprisingly large garden behind a smart villa in Wandsworth. Aside from lockdown Margaret works from home quite often. When we’re planning any changes in this garden the view from her desk is the most important one.

Margaret and I have been working together on this project for seven years. I did start off with a restrained palette but over the years I’ve been gradually beaten into submission with bright colours.

But I have resisted planting any Rhododendrons in the main part of the garden (so far….).

Susannah and Chris

To an exclusive address in the Surrey Hills now and the grounds of a cool and eclectic 18th century/1970s house.

When Susannah and Chris moved here there was a large swimming pool where this lawn is now. You can see how it used to look here.

This garden is proof that gardens only improve with age. Tiny shrubs and orphaned trees mature into good-looking specimens that give a garden back bone.

Sometimes though it’s the smallest details that give a lot of pleasure, like this Lily of the Valley growing beneath some steps.

Andrew and Hilary

And finally, on the other side of the country, we visit Andrew and Hilary’s garden in deepest Suffolk. I’ve never been here but I’d like to see it one day, especially the black swimming pool I’ve heard about.

Clearly there’s been some serious gardening going on here during lockdown - just look at that vegetable garden. That’s quite a eucalyptus tree as well.

Country gardens are so different to town gardens, there’s so much more space, room for quite different areas. I wonder where this path goes?

Back here maybe.

No end to lockdown in sight, what’s the hurry?