12 Longmans Close

About 12 Longmans Close

12 Longmans Close is a 90’s mid-terrace cottage and its gardens have evolved alongside the owner’s passion for travel and growing anything and everything exotic. The front garden, which faces onto the Grand Union Canal, is mainly gravel with a long herbaceous bed to one side. The graveled space is used for placing pots full of vibrant tropical flowers. Seating and private areas are created by the volume of planting. The back garden is in two parts – the densely planted terrace dominated by tropical colour which comes to life in summer for entertaining family and friends, and beyond that a small lawn surrounded by heavily planted beds including roses, canna, lilies, ferns, alstroemeria, perennial lobelia, salvia, hemerocallis, mirabilis jalapa and fuchsias. The fences have become invisible by covering with ivy, solanum, pink and white jasmine, and sweet smokey-smelling trachelospermum. The shed is cleverly hidden behind a mirror, spotted aucuba and fatsia. The terrace, with its large teak dining table is fully paved and without soil for planting. Many pots and tubs of various sizes are used to create an intimate tropical feel almost separated from the rest of the garden. Huge banana leaves, tree fern and scented brugmansia flowers sway overhead dancing to the sound of a trickling fountain. Houseplants are used to good effect during warmer months including tradescantia, begonias, spider plants, and hibiscus. Annuals such as amaranths, colocasia and alocasia, and various impatiens fill any rare gaps. With only a little imagination you can transport yourself to thousands of miles away from suburban Hertfordshire, Combine your visit with a picnic at Croxley Moor, just a short scenic walk away. Delicious home-made cakes available.

The garden is beside beautiful walks along the Grand Union Canal and on the Croxley Boundary Walk (signposted). Croxley Common Moor is a very short level stroll away with acres of open moor land, woods and river.