Editor’s letter
In the 1990s, a new wave of nurserymen, including Piet Oudolf and Cassian Schmidt, outlined a new way of planting that was all about form and texture and claimed never to think about colour. It challenged traditional ideas about what made an incredible garden, and the idea became mainstream. In this issue of Gardens Illustrated, we visit a garden designed by the Belgian nurseryman Jan Spruyt that references many of these ideas, but that is a kaleidoscope of colour. A masterclass in clever combinations, at this time of year it’s full of autumn’s bruised tones (page 76).
Landcraft, on Long Island, New York State, are gardens with a precise and painterly planting approach. Writer and plantsman Daniel J Hinkley visits the nurserymen-owners Dennis Schrader and Bill Smith (page 34), and shares 24 of their favourite late-season plants.
Our gardening talent this month is Will Smithson, head gardener at South Wood Farm in Devon and @solegardener on Instagram. He regularly posts wonderful pictures of his work. Current theme: warm colour. He explains how increasingly he is using the social media site as a source of inspiration for his work (page 31). October = colour for maximalists. I hope you enjoy the issue.