The trees were sourced from Burncoose Nurseries with the exception of the liquidamber which is from Ashwood Nurseries. The other plants are mainly from Hayloft Plants, Marshalls and Ashwood Nurseries.
More images will be added to this page over the coming weeks and months as the plants flower and mature.
Front Double Octagonal Beds
The higher bed contains a cutting that I have taken from my beech hedge. I plan to train it as a rectangular column when it grows up. The lower bed contains 5 Forsythia Mini Gold planted in a V shape. These are underplanted with Hakonechloa macra Aureola, Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens, and various varieties of Saxifraga. The lower bed also contains Erodiums, whilst the higher bed also contains sedums.
Left Double Octagonal Beds
These two beds have a yellow and silver theme with Gleditsia triancanthos Sunburst providing the height. The higher bed also contains Romneya coulteri – this is my third (and final) attempt at growing this plant in my garden – the other two plants are still alive but have never produced any flowers. Larix decidua ‘Kornik’, Cytisus battandieri Pineapple Broom, Mahonia Volcano, Spirea japonica Firelight and Diervilla sessilifolia Cool Splash are also planted in the higher bed. The lower bed contains Mahonia Volcano, Spirea japonica, Diervilla rivularis Honey Surprise,Picea omorika Minimax and Pinus mugo Gloria. Antennaria dioica Alex Duguid provides ground cover and I have sown seeds of Papaver Rhoeas, the corn poppy.
Right Double Octagonal Beds
These two beds have a rose theme and contain dwarf fairy red, flower carpet pink and little sunset. They have been underplanted with Epimedium x rubrum and grandifolorum subsp. koreanum and Cymbalaria muralis in the higher bed, and Cornus canaderis in the lower bed.
Centre Octagonal Bed
The feature plant is liquidamber, one of my favourite trees. This is underplanted with various varieties of Helleborus, hardy Fuchsias, Penstemon as well as Oxalis Adenophylla and Geraniums Bobs Blunder and Ballerina (cinereum group). I have also sown seeds of papver somniferum (Opium Poppy) varities Hungarian Blue, Lauren’s Grape and Summer Sorbets.
The helleborus are a orientalis mix and three varieties of Double Ellen, namely Double Ellen Pink, Double Ellen White Spotted and Double Ellen Picotee.
The hardy fuchsias varieties are Brutus, Deltas Sarah, Dollar Princess, Garden News, Hawkshead, Mandarin Cream and Snowcap.
The varieties of Penstemon are Alice Hindley, Great Expectations and Pershore Pink Necklace.
Vibrant Triple Octagonal Bed
This triple bed is next to the main path and contains plants with vibrant tones. The highest bed contains Acer griseum as its feature tree, chosen for its bark which is smooth, shiny orange-red, peeling in thin papery layers leading to its common name of the paperbark maple. Other plants in the high bed are Lathyrus vernus, Astroemeria Little Miss Zoe, Dodecatheon meadia, Polygala Purple Passion, Dahlia Yellow Sneezy.
The middle height bed has Syringa superba as its feature plant. It also include a dwarf peony, Heuchera micrantha Palace Purple, Papver commutatum (the ladybird poppy).
The lowest bed has Philadelphus Little White Love as its feature plant. This is accompanied by Euphorbia martini, Hemerocallis Black Prince and Rehmannia Walberton’s Magic Dragon.
Cool Triple Octagonal Bed
This triple bed is next to the lawn and contains plants with cool tones. The highest bed contains Heptacodium miconioides, the seven-son flower, as its feature tree. It is a tree that came to my notice at the Chelsea Flower Show in September 2021 where it was a magnet for bumblebees as it flowers in the autumn. As an added bonus, the bark of the trunk is papery and thin, light tan in colour and exfoliates in strips or sheets. It is joined in the high bed by Jasione laevis Blauliicht, Nepeta Little Titch, Parahebe catarractae Porlock, Anemone Mr Fokker, Tradescantia Blue and Gold, Centaurea montana, Perovskia Little Spire, Dianthus Devon Cream, Camassia caerulea, Scilla peruvianna, Chistophyllum oppositifolius.
The middle height bed has Syringa pubescens subsp. patula Miss Kim, a Korean lilac as its feature plant. The is accompanied by Polemonium Heaven Scent, Phlomis russeliana (Turkish sage), Anthemis tinctoria Sauce Hollandoise, Ceratostigma willmottianum (Chinese plumbago), Geum Lemon Drops.
The low bed has Philadelphus Little White love in the centre. Joined by Agapanthus africanus Twister and Blue Umbrella, Convolvulus cneorum, Alchemilla mollis, Catanache caerulea, Geum Lady Stratheden, Veronica gentianoides, Anthemis tinctoria E.C. Buxton, Hemerocallis Joan Senior.
White Triple Octagonal Bed
This triple bed which has a tall conifer hedge behind it has a mainly white theme, with the exception of the middle bed which also contains dark coloured plants for contrast. The highest bed contains Betula nigra (black birch) as its feature tree. The bark characteristics of this tree differ depending on the age of the tree. The bark of a young tree can vary from having a salmon-pink to brown-grey tint and can be described as having loose layers of curling, paper thin scales. As the tree matures, the salmon-pink colour is exchanged for a reddish-brown with a dark grey base colour. The scales on a mature tree lack the loose curling and are closely pressed into thick irregular plates. The high also contains Weigela Ebony and Ivory, Euphorbia characias Silver Edge, Camassia leichtinii Alba, Allium Silver Chimes, Ageratina altissim (eupatorium) Chocolate.
The middle height bed contain Syringa Palabin. Also Salvia argenta (silver sage), Convolvulus cneorum, Aremesia Nana, Lilum formasanum var. pricei, Hemerocallis Blizzard Bay, Parahebe catarractae Avalanche, Itea Little Henry.
Like the other low beds, the feature plant is Philadelphus Little White Love. This is joined by a hardy asiatic white lily, Dictamnus albua Albiflorus, Hebe Wiri Mist, Teucrium pyrenaecum, Iberis Appen-Etz, Tiarella wherryi.
Square Archway Planters
Two square planters linked by a Poppyforge Oregon Arch form the entrance to the gazebo. Wisteria floribunda Black Dragon and Wisteria sinensis Amethyst have been planted to cover the arch. The giant lily Corcovado which can grow up to 5 ft tall has also been planted either side of the arch, along with sweet pea varieties Erewhon and Making Waves. Dianthus varieties, including Widecombe Fair, Letitia Wyatt and Baileys Celebration add to the scent combination and Parahebe catarractae Avalanche finish off the planting.
Square Clematis Planters
Two square planters have been placed either side of the gazebo and planted with varieties of Clematis to grow through the trellis panels on the gazebo. They contain Clematis The Vagabond, Fireworks, tangutica Little Lemons and Bijou. I have also planted various varieties of Dianthus as ground cover and to provide scent, including Sugar Plum, Doris and Red Carpet
