Seek fresh planting inspiration from some of England’s most revered gardens
FEATURE JILL MORGAN PHOTOGRAPHS (LE MANOIR AUX QUAT’SAISONS) © MARK LORD AND © PAUL WILKINSON; (CLIVEDEN FOURCOURT BORDERS) © NATIONAL TRUST/HUGH MOTHERSOLE; (CLIVEDEN HOT BORDERS) © NATIONAL TRUST/DANIEL DEAN; (HIDCOTE) © NATIONAL TRUST/NICK MEERS; (SCAMPSTON) © VAL CORBETT
Rejuvenate home gardens with tried and tested ideas gleaned from the nation’s leading horticultural destinations. Showcasing distinct and pioneering approaches to planting and landscape design, visiting these gardens will not only soothe and entertain with their floral displays, but also inspire and inform. Whether searching for new ways to reimagine a secluded home terrace, border or parterre, these remarkable gardens – and their respective head gardeners – provide an invaluable insight and expert advice.
The Forecourt Borders at Cliveden
Epitomising the grandeur and elegance of a bygone age, the gardens at Cliveden always impress. Once home to the Astor family, today managed by the National Trust, the sheer scale of opulence and drama are still evident in the majestic Forecourt Borders. Densely planted with hardworking perennials and backed with imposing brick walls, these deep borders overflow with floral colour from April right through to late autumn.
The design – by the late, great horticulturist Graham Stuart Thomas – was split into two, with one side of the border devoted to soft, cool colours and the other to stronger, hot hues. Many of the same plants are still available and can be combined at home for similar effect. “If softer colours are what you are after, try garden catmint, Hylotelephium spectabile, cranesbill ‘Johnson’s Blue’ with globe thistle ‘Taplow Blue’ giving height and structure,” explains Cliveden head gardener Anthony Mason. “For hotter, stronger colours try Helenium ‘Indianersommer’, Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, Achillea filipendulina ‘Gold Plate’, mixed with the tall frothy flowers of greater sea kale.” Support top-heavy blooms with interwoven lengths of coppiced hazel and extend the tapestry of foliage up the walls with several glossy evergreen Magnolia grandiflora.
Cliveden, Cliveden Road, Taplow, Maidenhead, Buckinghamshire, SL1 8NS Open daily apart from 24–25 December 2024. nationaltrust.org.uk
The Kitchen Garden at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
Chef Raymond Blanc’s luxury countryside hotel L
