5 Blackthorn Av, Apartment 5

About 5 Blackthorn Av, Apartment 5

Juan Carlos moved into a lower ground floor apartment in a new built in London, Islington back in 2010. It had a dull small patio of approximately 25-30 sq meters with no planting whatsoever. Three sides of the patio had a narrow bed of compacted clay. Juan Carlos wanted to create a space that had an impact when viewed from inside the flat. He always wanted to have his own garden but realized that living in central London and having a large garden was unaffordable. So he tried to make the most out of this small space. He also wanted to have the fences covered with climbers in order to soften the edges and make it look bigger and to have the retaining wall covered with vegetation. Because the soil was compacted clay, the bed was raised and filled with good quality compost and farmyard manure. It was then planted with a variety of temperate and subtropical plants and every summer tropicals go in as well.

The garden does not get much sun half of the year so plants that thrive in shade and damp conditions were selected. Growing up in a tropical country (Colombia), Juan Carlos was inspired to bring a tropical feel to the garden while still using many herbaceous perennial plants that grow in the UK. Some plants such us the Colocasia Esculenta (Black Magic) are overwintered inside the flat.

Juan Carlos uses vegetation that keeps the garden colourful and interesting all year round. The Dicksonia Antarctica tree ferns, Fatsia Japonica, Hydrangea, Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum ‘Bloodgood’), Arum lilies, conifers, red Cordyline, English ivy, clematis (type 1&2), Jade tree, bluebells, erigeron on the walls, as well as a variety of hostas and ferns, among other plants, keep the garden interesting all year-round. The Colocasias (green and purple) give a great display up until the first hard frost.

The raised bed gives texture and depth to the garden. He’s also built a wood shelf where he maintains a collection of succulents. On the gravel below the sliding doors, a number of alpine hardy succulents have thrived; they all flower in summer.

For its small space and urban setting the garden attracts all sorts of wildlife and is fully visible from inside the flat and to neighbours as well. There’s a rich tapestry of plants that have thrived in deep shade and exposed areas and he hasn’t left any corner untouched. He doesn’t use pesticides nor chemical fertilizers so the garden is full of worms, insects and birds that feed on them. Everyone with a small patio can bring the best of nature to their homes and Juan Carlos wants to inspire others to do the same with their small spaces.

Additional Media Coverage
BBC Gardeners’ World video: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06lx2w2
YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM8zMlnCAwo
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