DREAM GARDEN

A symmetrical design of bold perennials and billowing grasses creates a rich pageant of colour and texture in this garden of two halves

Borders of billowing grasses and bold perennials in an idyllic design.

DESIGNER PROFILE After studying landscape architecture, Belgian designer Chris Ghyselen worked for designer André Van Wassenhove before setting up his own practice in 1984. Chris is renowned for his naturalistic planting and has recently published a book about his own garden, which he opens to the public every year.

WHAT WAS YOUR BRIEF FOR THIS GARDEN?

My clients live in the same village as me near Bruges in Belgium. After buying two fields at the back of their property, they asked me to extend their garden using a naturalistic style similar to that of my own garden, which they had seen on an open day. The plot comprises several acres and they wanted the maintenance to be relatively low. They also asked for lots of bright colours and plants that would attract wildlife.

TELL US ABOUT THE DESIGN YOU CREATED.

This section of the garden is split into two areas, both of which lead on from a more formal design at the front of the house. This view through the mixed borders is what you see from the pool house and natural swimming pond. Perennials and grasses in the foreground are set out in a symmetrical pattern of square and rectangular borders, geometric shapes that are softened when the plants are in full bloom. A clipped privet hedge leads through to the meadow garden, which features curved beds of Poa labillardieri (tussock grass) punctuated with rose bushes. Behind the meadow, a wildlife pond, home to many frogs and toads, creates a surprise for visitors at the end of the garden.

WHAT INSPIRES YOUR PLANTING STYLE?

As a boy I was fascinated by the gardens of the Dutch designer Mien Ruys and I love her book on perennials. I’m also inspired by the garden at Great Dixter in East Sussex, and I like the naturalistic planting styles of some German public gardens, such as the Weihenstephaner in Freising, Bavaria. For this garden I’ve used hardy perennials and ornamental grasses, repeated in bold groups to create colour and texture. Most flower for a few months, and the seedheads of some extend the interest into winter. The lawn provides a green foil for the plants and the areas between the beds offer different perspectives.

WHAT FLOWERS DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR LONG SEASONS OF COLOUR?

I use a lot of late-flowering perennials and grasses, which bloom from summer to autumn but also look good as their foliage is emerging earlier in the year. Geranium ‘Anne Thomson’ has gold-tinted young leaves, and magenta flowers that appear from June to November. The lovely heart-shaped foliage of Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Firedance’ (red bistort) provides ground cover before its spires of tiny red flowers appear from July to October. Solidago caesia (bluestem goldenrod) is another favourite; unlike many goldenrods, it is not invasive and has beautiful golden flowers followed by seedheads, which the birds love.

WHAT TIPS DO YOU HAVE FOR CREATING DESIGNS WITH PLANTS?

I like to use plants with strong foliage and flower shapes, and combine them to create interesting contrasts of texture and colour. I also assess the light to get the best effects. I try to position plants where low sun in the morning and evening highlights flowers and seedheads to give them a magical, theatrical quality, especially when they are backlit.

HOW IS THIS GARDEN MAINTAINED?

The main jobs in the garden are mowing the lawn and clipping hedges. Other plants just need a quick tidy-up once a year. Some die down in winter but the dried leaves and seedheads of the Pennisetum grasses, and the Eupatorium and Veronicastrum look beautiful dusted with frost. Perennials and grasses are cut back in February or March to make way for new growth, and roses in the meadow are pruned at the same time.