Editor’s letter
What is so covetable about a tulip? The bulb that historically sent men mad; it is still listed by many as their favourite flower. Simplicity of form, intensity colour and an early appearance are perhaps part of its appeal. For me, it is also that it waits underground; bud, shoot and leaves fully formed in miniature pushing up only when the conditions are right.
In this issue we visit a small, London garden designed by Arne Maynard where brilliant tulips jostle with well-clipped topiary, fruit trees and biodynamically grown vegetables. The tulip cultivars have been selected to flower consecutively from late March until the start of May. Joshua Sparkes, head gardener at Forde Abbey highlights his favourite tulip combinations honed by the four years he spent as a gardener at Sissinghurst Castle under Troy Scott Smith, and in Padua, Italy we visit a garden where the tulips are grown among meadows of wildflowers.
Pot-et-fleur is a beautiful and thrifty way of arranging cut flowers that first found fashion in the Victorian era. It allows a single arrangement to be re-used, with cut stems in combination with houseplants, and spent flowers regularly replaced by fresh. Jacky Mills reconsiders the idea from a contemporary standpoint, creating three arrangements inspired by, for example, a walk down a local country lane. All have been created without the environmental impact of using floral foam.
Concrete has had a bad press in recent years, yet taking a cue from Peter Zumthor’s RIBA award-winning ‘rammed’ concrete house in south Devon, designer Andy Sturgeon considers its usefulness and incredible beauty. A versatile material that endures, when well used is a sublime backdrop to modern planting. Look out this month for a new special edition from Gardens
Illustrated – A Year in the Edible Garden. This month-by-month guide to delicious things to grow to eat, includes Jekka McVicar’s essential culinary herbs, the most flavourful vegetable cultivars from Great Dixter and the best new kit for gardener cooks. I’m sure it will become a valuable addition to your gardening toolkit.
I hope you enjoy the issue,