Hidden treasures
Curving borders, half-concealed ornaments and lovingly tended trees and bushes create surprise and tranquillity in this small garden
Surprise elements in a small, tranquil garden
It’s not easy to introduce elements of surprise into a small garden when all of it can be seen in one glance. But Lynne Quick has devised an imaginative way to make the most of her 25 metre by 11 metre suburban plot. ‘I’ve created a journey, with different scenes unfolding along the way, and places to pause and linger,’ explains Lynne, 68, who lives in Banstead, Surrey, with her husband Ted, 69.
The journey follows a simple stepping stone path that curves across the lawn, passing semi-hidden corners before disappearing behind an island bed, reappearing beneath an arch, and finally leading to a work area at the very rear of the plot. Lynne explains how she arrived at this design…
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The previous owners of our house weren’t gardeners, so there were no shrubs or borders when we moved here, just huge old conifers, an out-of-control lilac and eight apple trees. When we first saw it in 2004, we were pretty horrified, but I’ve gardened for about 35 years and recognised its potential. Although the plot backs onto woodland, a real plus, having a north-west aspect isn’t ideal because one side quickly becomes parched in hot weather, while very little sun reaches the other, making it rather damp. But the advantage in having such varied conditions is that I can grow both sun- and shade-loving plants.
Originally, a grassy bank came up to the back of the property. We added a conservatory and a patio on the same level as the house, and built steps down to the lawn, digging long, straight borders each side. The lawn was all buttercups, daisies and dandelions, which I dug out by hand, but gradually the grass came back so there was no need to returf. Then we countersunk paving slabs into the grass, ensuring they were sufficiently low for a mower to pass over them.
A GRADUAL EVOLUTION
The straight edges to the borders slowly became curved as I put in more and more plants. I take a lot of cuttings and regularly split perennials such as hostas, phlox, irises and heleniums – essential to avoid ending up with a dead area in the middle of the clump. I grow a lot of hostas in pots, but others are in the beds surrounded by grit and eggshells to deter slugs and snails. By midsummer, a bank of phlox is starting to put on a show. To lengthen the display, I cut the front phlox back by half at around the end of May, which delays their flowering until after the ones at the back have bloomed.
CREATING CONTRAST
When it comes to colour, I follow a theme up to a point, but tend to focus on contrasting shades and shapes to show a plant at its best. I prefer flowers that are like brightly coloured jewels, which I offset against a permanent evergreen backdrop of box balls, choisya, pittosporum, camellias, heavenly bamboo, photinia, laurel and yew. I also grow perennial foliage plants such as hostas, iris, ferns and rodgersia for the varied shapes, sizes and textures of their leaves. Ornamental grasses are fantastic for the way they glow when hit by autumn light. Acers are another favourite, not only for their grace, but also for the different leaf colours and winter structure, revealed once the foliage has fallen.
I’ve tried to create interest all year round with a succession of planting, from bulbs, hellebores, azaleas and camellias in spring, to roses, hardy geraniums, alstroemerias and phlox in summer. Then come autumn, it’s heleniums, hydrangeas, Kaffir lilies, crocosmia, salvias and dahlias. I grow a lot of climbing plants – clematis, roses, wisteria and hydrangeas – because in a small garden you run out of ground space so have to go up.
Then there are trees such as golden catalpa and a really lovely evergreen pineapple broom with its stunning perfume below the terrace. From my previous garden, I brought two false acacias
(Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’) as small trees in pots. Now they’re at least six metres tall, and I’ve raised their canopies to allow light into the beds below them, where salvias, Japanese anemones and eupatorium are growing.
COMPLETING THE PICTURE
As you follow the path round, you’ll find a number of ornaments in unexpected spots, where they complement the planting. My favourite is the large bubbling urn – I don’t think a garden is complete without the sound and movement of water – I love to sit nearby, surrounded by trees, listening to it flowing. It’s so peaceful, and has a wonderful view back to the house.
I also love the enclosed feeling on the patio as it’s surrounded by lots of plants. Sunrises and sunsets are especially lovely times in this garden, because the light is so special.