Over four decades, Josephine Hoy has woven a glorious living tapestry of naturalistic borders, trees and topiary throughout her garden, where wildlife is as welcome as flowers
Strolling alongside Josephine Hoy while her garden unfolds as a series of entrancing ‘cameos’, there is no doubt that this planted oasis means the world to her. This is not only because it has been four decades in the making but also by virtue of it adjoining the farm where she spent an idyllic childhood. ‘My sisters and I freely roamed the countryside around here; hence, I’ve always loved life outdoors and been very aware of nature in all its guises,’ she says.
Flowers feature prominently throughout her garden: blossom swathes cherry and apple trees above carpets of cow parsley; clematis, honeysuckle, roses or long trusses of fragrant wisteria clothe walls, obelisks and an arbour, and myriad blooms weave through borders to create a spontaneous embroidery of different textures and colours. ‘My gardening style is very freeflowing: I prefer a meadow-like effect as opposed to planting in blocks,’ Josephine explains. ‘I do not like too much formality, so I encourage the flowering plants to mingle and self-seed.’
While a backbone of mature trees and shrubs provide interest in all seasons, the garden peaks in May with drifts of purple alliums, pink bistort, peonies, bearded irises, hardy geraniums, foxgloves, alchemilla, sweet cicely, euphorbia, poppies, ragged robin, nectaroscordum and centranthus. ‘I very much paint pictures with plants,’ says Josephine, ‘and I love those that self-seed – anything that seeds itself tends to be happy in the chosen position.’
Hardy geraniums are key, covering bare earth with foliage and flowering over a long period. Among her favourites are magenta Geranium psilostemon, purple Geranium x magnificum and the ‘lovely, freely-seeding ‘Bill Wallis’.’
The lawns are an essential foil to such an abundance of flower colour, linking different areas seamlessly and guiding both the eye and foot along alluring vistas. ‘My mother was an artist, which possibly explains why I place so much emphasis on creating long vistas – I rather dislike individual small, enclosed gardens.’ Specimen trees and wildlife are also Josephine’s passions, and nesting boxes appear in every available tree. ‘I feed the birds all year, grow plants for bees and butterflies and don’t worry about field mice in the walls – I turn a blind eye when they come in the greenhouse,’ she adds.
