3 OF THE BEST
A Garden for life
During winter, interest comes from the wide range of leaf textures and hellebores, while spring brings fruit blossom, tulips and the lime-green foliage of acers. A rampant Clematis armandii, with its dark, glossy, leathery leaves, bears many fragrant white flowers. ‘It comes right up to the kitchen window now.’
Vicky’s passion for plants has even extended to her neighbour’s rubbish bins from where she recently
Commonly called the Canary Island foxglove, this evergreen shrub bears apricot-coloured spikes of flowers in late summer.
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rescued a sickly indoor orchid. ‘I nursed it back to life, and then gave it back to my neighbour on her birthday.’
This is an intensely personal garden, especially so as within two days of moving in, Vicky’s father died from a brain tumour. ‘My stepmother came to stay for a couple of weeks and helped clear the garden,’ she recalls. ‘Now, it reminds me of my father, and his death has
A half-hardy annual that makes a good cut flower, blooming from July into autumn. inspired me to open in aid of charity.’ However, something that started out as an outlet for grief has over the years become a vital part of Vicky’s life. ‘It’s my “go to” place to give me head space, and in the summer I’m often out there well after dark,’ she says. ‘I recently said to a friend that while some people buy handbags and shoes, I buy plants.’
Grown as an annual, this hardy verbena bears bright purple flowers on stiff stems, at around knee height.
The garden at 7 Norwood Park Road, London, was due to open for charity in July. For updates, visit ngs.org.uk.
‘Some people buy handbags, I buy plants’