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About Patchwork
The garden covers ¼ acre, on a fairly steep north-facing slope with flints and clay soil over chalk. It is planted for year-round colour, interest and perfume, with a distinct spring garden which is replanted to produce a summer/autumn garden.
The front garden features a rose bed under-planted with narcissi, a small rockery, a narrow bed bordering the path with dazzling yellow and red ‘Apeldoorn’ tulips in spring, followed by equally colourful ‘Coltness’ bedding dahlias in summer.
A narrow, shaded side entrance at the southern side of the house leads to a rockery with conifers, heathers and azaleas and then into the garden at the rear. An imposing 60 yrs. old Acer palmatum dissectum atropurpureum stands at the head of a small pond. The owners bring the garden right up to the house by moving tubs and pots onto the three-tiered patio to provide a riot of colour each month – bulbs in the spring; hostas, fuchsias, a wide variety of petunias and violas, hanging baskets and patio plants for summer and autumn.
Access to the top level of the garden (the southern bank) is available at three points. Steep steps from the pond area, further down the garden are less steep steps with a handrail and at the end of the garden stepping stones up a sloping area.
Alongside the steps from the pond area is a strip bed planted with tulips in spring, followed by Salvia farinacea flanked with Verbena in summer. At the top, in summer, there is a display of trailing begonias. Alongside is an imposing Rhododendron ‘Cynthia’, exuberant when in flower in May / June.
On the northern boundary, a herbaceous border includes delphiniums, alstroemeria, Japanese anemones and Lysimachia clethroides providing interest throughout summer. A bed of T. ‘Ballade’ in spring is followed by exhibition dahlias. An island bed on the southern side of a central winding path has tulips in spring. These are followed by ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’ bedding dahlias for a colourful summer and autumn display.
A pergola with roses, clematis and honeysuckle together with a striking Robinia ‘Lace Lady’ nearby, leads into the western half of the garden. An island bed with shrubs and herbaceous plants not only provides seasonal variety, but also screens a rockery and small pond which are hidden from the house.
An octagonal greenhouse is used for over-wintering fuchsias. Further on, the main greenhouse is used for over-wintering dahlia tubers and begonias. In spring it is the propagation, sowing and potting area to supply the garden and allotment.
At the end of the garden there is a mixture of shrubs and hedging providing a backcloth of year-round interest. A majestic Acer platinoides drummondii stands out. The three compost heaps behind the shed are certainly worth a visit.
The garden is labour-intensive with many bedding plants being used to augment the established borders and shrubs. Seep hose is used extensively for dahlias. Water-retaining gel is used in tubs and pots. The terrain and uncompromising flints certainly provide a challenge!
The garden is at its most colourful in April / May and August / September, but there is a lot to enjoy at other times. Community and gardening groups of 5 to 20 people are welcome from April to September. June / July is a particularly interesting time to visit; not only are the roses and delphiniums on show, but the garden can be seen undergoing its transformation from a spring to a summer/autumn display.
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