.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
About 53 Cedar Drive
Originally inspired by the Hot Border at West Dean gardens, this garden has softened from those hot yellows and reds into oranges and purples over the last 25 years.
The house is a 1930’s semi on the site of an old orchard. A venerable Bramley tree dominates, offset by a 25 year old Acer palmatum.
Remodelled after the pandemic to level and shape the lawns and install a potting shed, the space finally took its current shape with new planting of Photinia ‘Red Robin’ ‘lollipop’ trees to replace the screen previously provided by a tatty overgrown wall of Thuja. A Tibetan Birch (Prunus serrula) was chosen for its beautiful mahogany bark, visible from the house. This garden is on a band of clay so roses, Rhododendron and Camellia do well here.
The aim has been to have a succession of flower ‘fireworks’ displaying orange and plum hues; April brings Geum ‘Scarlet Tempest’ followed by ‘Ballerina’ tulips with ‘Fire King’ wallflowers. In May, Allium ‘Party Balloons’ and Honesty pick up the short lived lilac tones of the well established Rhododendron. June brings the gorgeous Rosa ‘Munstead Wood’ from David Austin in a deep raspberry and overlaps the dark pink of Penstemon ‘Pensham Plum Jerkum’ and a Hydrangea. Long lasting Alstromeria ‘Indian Summer’ ties the orange and plum colours together and are followed by Helenium ‘Waltraut’ and Dahlia ‘David Howard’, both something of a hangover from the original yellow tones of West Dean’s hot border. A red leaved Japanese Acer in a pot draws the eye down the garden providing a focal point and works beautifully with Canna ‘Tropicanna’. Dark purple hues from Cotinus ‘ Royal Purple’ look well in the mix as do Heuchera ‘Licquorice’. I have allowed myself the luxury of making space for two stands of Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’ to provide wonderful Winter colour.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
