‘ Her dream house was surrounded by gardens: a berry garden, an apricot garden, a cherry garden, a persimmon garden, a potato garden, a vegetable garden and a huge compost.” Ana Roš, a passionate rock

Swerve the big-name gardens and put these dynamic alternatives on your must-visit list this year. Chosen by our garden writer Camilla Phelps, they offer plenty of fresh inspiration to bring back to your own plot

When I started out in garden design, I would do rather naive black-and-white sketches in an attempt to convey my design ideas. They were hit and miss. One client asked if I would colour in my sketches

Marian Boswall seeks design inspiration in classic and new gardening texts

Niall McCauley explains the ethos behind his permaculture-led garden that connects him to nature and a growing community

Giant leeks and pumpkins the size of a small car can give impression that there is something slightly comical about competitive fruit and vegetable growing. But those who take part in this cherished B