2 Barlings Road

This garden has been developed over many years to provide a haven of privacy and peace in an urban setting. Mature trees, shrubs, climbers and perennials with interesting leaf form give year-round structure/interest. Island beds invite inspection from several perspectives. The tranquil courtyard garden uses plants from a limited colour palette. A shady corner and formal pond add extra interest.

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Liz Machin

About 2 Barlings Road

Set in a mature development this informal and enclosed garden has been created over a period of forty years to provide a haven of privacy and peace. We relish the calm and shade we find here, and I love combining plants to create contrasts of leaf shape and texture within an evergreen structure of surrounding trees and shrubs. I focus on plants with strong leaf forms and those that thrive in partial shade, such as pulmonaria, brunnera, alchimella mollis, astrantia, bergenia, epimediums, hellebores, euphorbia, and indeed any plant with long lasting interesting foliage. Over time these have taken precedence over flower colour as the tree canopy continues to spread. In one corner silver and green foliage predominate and you can hear the sound of water from two fountains in a formal central pond which attracts newts and dragonflies. We regularly see birds such as goldfinches, greenfinches, bluetits, long tailed tits, green woodpeckers, greater spotted woodpeckers and nuthatches. I add my own homemade compost to improve water retention when I plant.

Although I love working in the garden, I also enjoy sitting in my courtyard garden with a good book on a warm day. Come and join me here, as we open to raise money for the National Garden Scheme and its good causes, and I can show you what you can achieve if you think about the shape and form of plants as well as their colour and, most important of all, how I have chosen the right plants for the right place!

2 Barlings Road features

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Location details

2 Barlings Road,
Harpenden,
Hertfordshire,
AL5 2AN

Directions to 2 Barlings Road
Take A1081 S from Harpenden, after 1m turn R into Beesonend Ln, bear R into Burywick to T-junc. Turn R and follow signs.