Great expectations

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

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

For more than a decade, Simon Richards has nurtured his Kent garden into an inspiring example of what resilience, creativity and patience can achieve. When he moved into his detached house 13 years ag

‘ 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

COLOUR IN THE GARDEN : STYLISH IDEAS FOR YEAR-ROUND COLOUR by Lucy Bellamy Mitchell Beazley, £25 ISBN 978-1784729349 ‘I am hungry for colour. I want jam red and acid yellow, violet blue and caterpilla

The holy grail for garden owners and designers alike is to plant an outdoor space that looks beautiful 365 days a year, but few pull it off. Unless, of course, your name is Piet Oudolf, the legendary