One man went to mow
MAKING meadows has been a growing trend since The Prince of Wales launched the Coronation Meadows project in 2013 and this example at East Cliff, a garden designed by Arabella Lennoxboyd on the Isle of Wight, is one of the most dramatic.
The wildflowers, which include cornflowers, poppies and corn marigolds, are as bold as the sky is blue and are intended to draw the eye from the formal gardens by the house, via two straight lines of yew cubes, to the sea. A neat, mown-grass path, precisely centred on the house, provides a crisp contrast to the froth of flowers.
Wildflower meadows may look like an easy option, but they actually require a good deal of human intervention, not only in preparation, but in cutting the hay, harvesting the seeds and managing the balance of species. (July 7, 2021) TD