STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN
NOW LIFE’S MOVING AT A SLOWER PACE, MAKE TIME TO ENJOY SPRING’S COLOURS
IWAS chatting to my friend Mark Gregory recently. He makes gardens for a living and has constructed 99 of them at the Chelsea Flower Show, sometimes as many as three a year on behalf of designers.
Next month would have brought him past the 100 mark but sadly the show has been cancelled this year, the first time since the Second World War.
Mark told me he’d spent three-anda-half years of his life either on site on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea or in meetings planning to be on site.
While he misses the magic, the adrenalin and, yes, even the stress, he is rediscovering something – the beauty of spring in Britain and in his garden.
To garden is an act of mindfulness in itself – the task in hand encourages you to live in the moment, blotting out all other thoughts.
I’ve done a lot of living in the moment over the past few weeks, watching plants as they develop and not simply brushing past them on the way to a “very important” meeting or a “must-attend” social engagement.
I’m watching as the wisteria blossoms slowly form on the bare wood.
I’m listening as the birds fly in and out of the eaves with materials for their nest, and I’m appreciating the sunshine, the rain showers and the translucent lime green of new shoots and new growth.
Time is standing still in the garden. I’m not making plans and I’m appreciating what I have.
I’ve taken a stroll around and captured images which I’d like to share with you.
Many of these plants haven’t been given lots of attention over recent years but they’ve never failed me.
Magnolia ‘Leonard Messel’ was given to me by renowned gardener Helen Dillon when she came for Sunday lunch. I collected her up on the steps of a seaside hotel and she lifted this specimen into the car and told me about it on the journey.
I think this, along with Magnolia stellata, is perfect for a small garden.
It flowers from a young age, doesn’t grow much taller than eight feet and isn’t fussy about soil.
I also have tulips in pots and some of these are a couple of years old.
They’re reverting to pale colours but ‘Prinses Irene’ is still a blazing orange with a striking purple flare at the base of the petals.
Once these are finished flowering, they will be put backstage and allowed to rest until next year.
Geranium palmatum will soon be dotted with bright pink flowers, but I love the foliage just as much which looks a bit like ferns.
This plant self-seeds happily – it’s even under planted itself beneath the roses I keep in pots.
My pink azalea is currently ablaze with colour. Earlier this year I gave it some tomato feed and top-dressed it.
When the flowers die, it’s easy to forget about plants like this, but it’s important to keep them well watered during the summer as this is when the plant is forming its flowers buds for next year.
Before they flower, peonies display their claret – coloured shoots and are vigour encapsulated.
Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ is a brilliant plant for those difficult shady areas.
The heart-shaped leaves have beautiful silver markings and just look at those bright blue flowers – a bit like forgetme-nots (Myosotis).
Then there’s Prunus ‘Kojono-mai’ – a dwarf flowering cherry which I’ve planted as a shrub in a border, but if you love cherry blossom and don’t have much room, it will make a perfect spring specimen in a pot on your balcony.