modern gardens_74_20

FREE *GB ONLY, JUST PAY POSTAGE, SEE P126 STRAWBERRY MAY ISSUE APRIL 20 - MAY 24 PLANTS WORTH £23!* to relax e Garden fun for laz bank holid weekends

A style guide to the outside Industry expert and founder of Out and Out Original, Daniel Fairburn, brings you this season’s best deals on designer furniture.Visit www.outandout.com or call 02037 728 752 for more exciting deals and discounts. Stockholm - Corner Loun e Set SAVE £300 Enjoy being in your garden with the Stockholm Lounge and Dining set whether reading a good book or dining alfresco. This set sits up to 6 comfortably and the sofa is made from polyrattan which gives durability and virtually no maintenance needed. The table is 144cm long with a wood-effect slatted table top and has an underneath shelf for useful storage.The comfy seat and back cushions are covered with polyspun fabric so soft to touch and the covers can be removed and washed easily to keep your lounge looking pristine. Cushions come in cream or grey.** Normally £899, now available at an amazing £599*, but only when you quote your £300 discount code MGAPR22 at checkout. SAVE Marbella - 5-Seater Corner Loun e Set £300 The ideal addition to your outdoor space, this stunning lounge set offers comfort and style at an affordable price. Bang on trend in gorgeous shades of grey, this set is designed with a contemporary feel. It’s hard-wearing, woven in strong polyrattan on a galvanised steel frame making it virtually maintenance-free. The comfy cushion covers can be removed and hand washed with care. The sofa and armchair seats 5 easily, and includes a tempered, glass-topped coffee table so you can entertain outside with ease. Normally £1199, it’s now available for just £899*, when you quote your £300 discount code MGAPR22 at checkout. Marrakesh - Garden Lounge Set SAVE £400 The contemporary charcoal grey Marrakesh corner lounge set seats up to 5 people and comes with a handy square coffee table. This 5-seater frame and table is electrostatically coated, giving it a durable premium finish and is virtually maintenance-free. The chunky seat and back cushions have polyspun covers for that soft touch and can be removed for washing to keep that fresh look.There is practical slatted detailing either side of the sofa, perfect for placing your drinks, books or snacks whilst entertaining. Normally £1199, this stylish set is now available at an incredible £799*. To receive your £400 discount please quote discount code MGAPR22A at checkout. To receive your discount on any of these products quote discount code at checkout at www.outandout.com or call 02037 728 752 before 18.05.2022. *Excludes delivery. Prices correct at time of going to press. **Colour cannot be guaranteed on ordering

outdoCoelrelibvriatneg pilSneiamMsuaprylees bDlGoeoelimtctiiosnuoRgsuuswtifsdfalieedfttdesraptfchreokeoemnsduytbphpyeeerttmbraaalysarsrbkoeecftue COVER PHOTOS: EMMA KENDELL, VISIONS, STOCKFOOD, SHUTTERSTOCK. Oh sunshine, how I love you so! Every year, without fail, I forget THIS PAGE: GETTY IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK, ALAMY just how glorious it is to be pottering about in the garden on a sunny day now the weather has warmed up. With my spring tidying jobs all done – I’ve mulched the beds, repainted the fences and sorted out the shed now it’s not logjammed with cushions – I can simply enjoy. Square verbena stems are shooting up in all sorts of unexpected spots, a passion flower has diverted a set of tendrils to snake over the shed, and the rst few poppy buds are promising an unfurling of paper-thin petals any day now. And I’m very happy to laze on the patio and idly watch this prelude to the sizzling summer show I know is to come. I’m a rm believer that gardening should be a leisurely pleasure. Yes, it’s immensely satisfying to toil for an hour or a weekend outside and elicit a change, but it’s equally fun to sit back and relish the results of your labour, in the company of friends and glasses of something scrumptious. And as for all the carefree in-between moments spent snipping a handful of faded blooms, or searching for a border gap to squeeze in an impromptu garden-centre buy – well, that’s where serenity lies. All the plants in my little plot are low-maintenance so I have plenty of time for such peaceful primping, and can boast a lush outdoor space without breaking a sweat. Smug, you say? Yes, and proud of it! I hope you’re nding time to relax and enjoy the sunshine in your plot too – do share a photo of a moment of joy in your garden, the details of how to get in touch are just below. Editor Emma Kendell Bakelilaacbacotcohkioesf,fpr1a1g0rant Share a moment of garden joy! You can email us at [email protected] and find us on Facebook Modern Gardens Magazine Instagram @ModernGardens moderngardensmagazine.co.uk Eat oustodfoaordsiniinngcosmetf,opr3t 1with a

26 Pinch stylish ideas from this stress-free designer plot. WIN HOZELOCK GOODIES £679WORTH OVER ! p75 Garden makeovers 68 Fab floral crowns Time to relax 26 “We’ve reclaimed our If you’re off to a May gathering, you’ll garden as an adult space” look enchanting in a heavenly headdress. SPECIAL Easy-grow evergreens and reliable 86 Sow verbena bloomers have transformed this plot. Grow oodles of pretty purple plants from 42 “We can’t help but feel seed for a bargain price. happy when we’re outside” 95 Get ready to relax! Purple blooms and a brave geometric design have created a tranquil haven. DIY these easy upcycling ideas and settle down for a comfy afternoon outdoors. 58 “Looking after my garden is so easy” 116 Transform your shed 49Sizzle up summer with A trad plot has been turned into a stylish Maximise your shed space and create a these plant-now bulbs. no-chore space on a tight budget. bijou bolthole just for you. ON THE COVER 104 I’m in the garden Outdoor living Take a peek over the garden fence at this 41 Summery rose cocktail petal-packed plot in Norfolk. Brew up this gin-based treat for the 130 Our garden crush ultimate guilt-free patio tipple. ON THE COVER It’s where we’d like to be this month! 51 Fiona’s patch Simple projects Share the joy of planting bulbs for a stress-free sea of summer blooms. 17 Thyme tortoise ON THE COVER *T&CS APPLY – JUST PAY £6.99 POSTAGE 56 Selina’s garden style Use a hanging basket to create this lovely leafy character. Embrace the whimsical trend with these styling ideas and buys. 52 Hello, mellow ON THE COVER 106 Bank holiday bonanza These fast updates will make your garden more restful this summer. Invite friends and family over to yours for no-stress garden fun. ON THE COVER

FREE STRAWBERRY PLANTS £23WORTH !* p126 126Grab your free* strawb plants no 20 Discover our pick of the ultimate Easy ideas 6 Lovely stuff for easy-grow blooms for a modern plot. your outside space. Get ready to relax with 6 Earthy pleasures 95comfy upcycling projects. O ... What to buy, make and do this month. We 99 Love your bluebells LOVE 12 Bleached Moroccan this! Take a closer look at these iconic blooms. Nail this trend in your outside space. 100 Q&A 20 No fuss flowers ON THE COVER Got a question about your garden? Easy-care blooms for months of colour. We’ve got the answer. 36 Blissfully easy 102 Ask the designer Create a low-maintenance outside space Your problem garden solved. with these designer cheats. 112 We love outdoor living 49 Simple pleasures ON THE COVER You share your garden highlights. Pop these bulbs in the ground now for no-sweat, sensational results! 114 Paws & whiskers 64 On-trend hexagons Enjoying your garden with your pets. Last year’s bee-mania has led to a love of 128 Get the tropical look honeycomb shapes this summer. Save £18 on passion flowers and more. 70 That’s clever ON THE COVER 76 SUBSCRIBE TODAY! These smart tricks and gadgets will cut down on garden chores. 78 Swoonworthy sweet peas Plant a tub of these heaven-scented delights for a glorious summer. 82 What to do in your garden Keep your plot looking good this month. 122 Cantaloupe melons Grow your own juicy summer treats. Best buys ✽ ar of garden joy with Modern Gardens delivered straight 14 Blooming lovely to your door for just £3.40 a month. Beautiful plants ready to buy now. 31 Dine comfy Enjoy long lunches and relaxed evenings with a new sofa dining set. 63 Garden bar carts Enjoy many a happy hour on the patio. 89 Treat your garden to... The best plants to buy now with cut-out care guides to keep them alive!

EARTHY DREAM PLANT GROW PICK MAKE BUY

EASY IDEAS MAKE LIFE LOVELY Lounging around POIGNANT POPPIESF E AT UR E: F I ON A G AL LEY. PH OTOS : GET TY IM AGES, GA P PHOTOS/FR IEDR ICH ST RAUS S These seriously comfy chairs bring chilling on the patio to a whole new level, Poppies are a powerful reminder of war and we’re choosing to be hopeful with swivel bases so you can change the by choosing pink as well as red right now. They make glorious cut flowers view whenever you like! Reaching your as long as you quickly sear by dipping the stem ends in boiling water for drink on the accompanying table is a about 10 seconds, and beware the milky sap that may leak out. Solve the cinch too. With high backs, steel arms problem of sometimes-droopy stems by tying to foliage with a ribbon. and head rests, they’re also supportive for an afternoon nap. And the whole RETRO WAVES shebang is weatherproof – ahhhhhh! Pottering about the garden with the radio Cadiz Outdoor Chair Set, £1,599 playing in the background is one of life’s furniturevillage.co.uk finest pleasures. Goodmans Classic AM/ FM Retro Radio, £15 bmstores.co.uk ALL ABUZZ These fetching bees will add a golden glow to a tree or shrub and can be programmed to stay on for six hours. Gold Metal Bee Outdoor Fairy Lights, £19.99 lights4fun.co.uk TEA & BISCUITS It’s National Biscuit Day on May 29. Just sayin’! Enamel Mug, £7.49 amazon.co.uk LAZY DAYS We LOVE OF SUMMER this! This stunner is ➣ made for two but adding a companion is optional… Helsinki Outdoor 2 Seat Cocoon Chair, £675 next.co.uk SWEET TWEETS Spend an afternoon lazily leafing through this and you’ll be charmed as well as informed. Britain’s Birds: A Treasury of Fact, Fiction and Folklore by Jo Woolf, £12.99 waterstones.co.uk MAY 2022 MODERN GARDENS 7

Pink popping corn There’s no need to tumble down a hole off and hang in a humid room for a few in Wonderland, you really can grow weeks to completely dry out. your own pink popping corn! You’ll need an ultra-sunny spot and well-fertilised The popcorn ears are ready to shell soil, but sow these cobbs (try Mini Pink when they rub easily off the kernels. Popcorn, around £2.27, 123seeds.com) Then you can cook them in hot oil now and they’ll be ready to harvest (lid on!) until they explode into soft around August. You’ll know they’re ready puffs that can be sprinkled with sugar. for picking as they’ll be hard; snap them Store your cobbs somewhere cool and dry in an airtight container. PHOTO: 123SEEDS.COM PHOTO: @FLORA.FORAGER WHAT INSTAGRAM TO PLANT INSPIRATION NOW! This month, we’ve been mesmerised by the account of self-confessed petal painter, light IT’S A SNIP! seeker and flower nymph @flora.forager. There’s These bijou but bloomin’ something hypnotising about each and every good foldable secateurs image that Bridget Beth Collins posts, whether are perfect for a pocket. it’s the eerie beauty of a stormy sky, a honed Folding Secateurs in a collection of intricate sea shells or a vintage piano Tin, £13 shop.rnli.org covered in moss and whimsical wild flowers. But it’s these petal paintings that we love the most. This is one for grown-up fellow fairy fans to indulge in and, if you’re entranced, she’s just published a gorgeous book – The Fairy Journals (£19.83, amazon.co.uk). BEST DRESSED Machine-washable, this apron is practical as well as pretty. Linen-blend Apron, £17.99 hm.com TRUG LOVE READING NOOK Make the idyllic notion of you swanning around your Position flush against a fence or wall to garden with a handsome trug create back support, or slump down, full of fresh flowers a reality! sloth-style with comfy cushions and Wooden Garden Flower an immersive book. The roof provides Trug, £26 shop.national shade, shelter and somewhere to trust.org.uk suspend a light from, while the seat conceals storage space, where you can GROW HAPPINESS stash throws, cushions and your favourite Sow this trio of phlox varieties now magazine (that’s us!). Samoa Garden and they’ll blossom beautifully Bench with Roof, £450 habitat.co.uk from July until September. Soft and Sweet Phlox Collection, £17.95/15 seedlings sarahraven.com 8 MODERN GARDENS MAY 2022

Lilac sugar MAKE IT! EASY IDEAS Add the taste of summer to bakes and cakes A LITTLE spriTnIkPleTdhoivsetrapstaens cdaikviensetoo! and cups of tea with this flavourful sugar. OF WHAT YOU FANCY YOU WILL NEED PHOTO: STOCKFOOD ✽ Lilac flowers ✽ Scissors ✽ Large colander or sieve ✽ Absorbent kitchen towel ✽ 750ml air-tight glass jar with lid or clip top: My Home Storage Jar 750ml, £2.49 therange.co.uk ✽ 500g golden caster sugar WHAT TO DO 1 Snip the lilac blossoms from their stems into the sieve or colander, then gently wash in warm water and spread out on absorbent kitchen towel to dry. Wash and dry the jar. It’s vital that everything is bone dry before you start. 2 Spoon about 125g of the sugar into the jar, followed by a handful of lilac. Keep layering until you’re out of supplies, then secure the lid. 3 Shake the jar once a day for a week, then it’s ready to use. PUNCHY PATTERN The stylish simplicity of this seat and its snappy canvas print is bang on-trend for this season’s monochrome look, and it’s resistant to water as well as UV rays. Leamy Lounger in Black & White Plant Print Coasted Canvas, £65 maisonsdumonde.com 3 SOLAR PENDANT LAMPS Opt for an on-trend outdoor pendant and let the sun’s rays power it for free! DRAMATIC DISPLAY Four Solar Mesh Pendants, £75 coxandcox.co.uk WICK-FUL THINKING GOING SOLO LATTICED LIGHT If only someone would invent an outdoor Cole & Bright Edison Hanging Fretwork Solar candle that that would repel bugs, withstand the Lightbulb, £12.71 amazon.co.uk Pendant Light, elements, stay alight, look stylish, smell amazing £20 ellajames.co.uk and come with a lid…oh! Outdoor Collection, £18.99 yankeecandle.co.uk ➣ MAY 2022 MODERN GARDENS 9

PHOTOS: FLORA PRESS EASY IDEAS Mosaic stake Quick Add personality and prettiness to a flowerbed. make! YOU WILL NEED TIP fCorhothoseehlaesnsd-pleatotferthneedcapnieces ✽ Thin plywood and wooden baton ✽ Patterned china plates/bowls ✽ Fast-set white tile adhesive: NX Rapid, £15 diy.com ✽ Jigsaw ✽ Hammer and protective goggles ✽ White outdoor wood paint: Cuprinol Garden Shades, £4/125ml diy.com WHAT TO DO 1 Draw a simple watering can shape on your wood and cut out. Glue on the wooden baton and, when dry, paint everything bar the front of the watering can. Leave to dry. 2 Lay the plate/bowl on an old towel or sheet and, wearing protective goggles, smash into small pieces. 3 Glue the pieces to the watering can shape and leave to dry. 4 Fill in the gaps between the pottery pieces with adhesive, rub over with a damp cloth and leave inside for a few days to cure. WATER WORKS All the therapeutic qualities of a water feature, in a compact and portable pot – genius! Table Top Two Tone Water Feature, £45 coxandcox.co.uk 3 PEDESTAL POTS CLASSIC SWEET SCULPTURE TERRACOTTA Handmade using recycled Elevate your favourite patio plant in Habitat Mid materials, this cute bullfinch an on-trend high planter, Century Large will add a charming touch. Embossed £10 shop.nationaltrust.org.uk ON THE Planter, £24 TILES habitat.co.uk I SPY… Turkish Tile Never lose your trowel Planter on again! FloraBrite Yellow Wooden Hand Trowel, £14.99 Legs, £54.99 burgonandball.com littlewoods.com SUNNY DISPOSITION MONOCHROME STRIPES The shade, shape and slogan on Stripe Ceramic Planter on Stand, this will lift up your heart as well £60 next.co.uk as your backside. You Are My Sunshine Cushion, £6 wilko.com 10 MODERN GARDENS MAY 2022 PETAL PEP-UP Swap a shabby doormat for a spritely one. Daisy Doormat, £26 redcandy.co.uk

Delivery Direct To Your Door! WISTERIA ‘AMETHYST FALLS’ .99 19“The Perfect Wisteria… ‘Amethyst Falls’! £ +P&P Guaranteed To Flower This Year AND Every Year SAVE £10.00! Introductory SAVE £10.00!” It’s true! At long last you can buy a Wisteria that will flower in the very first year! U nlike other varieties which can take years to flower, ‘Amethyst Falls’ will be smothered in blooms from May in the first year. What’s more, it will repeat flower at the height of summer so you’ll get nearly four whole months of flowers every year! It is more compact than other varieties too, growing to 3m tall over ten years – perfect for any porch, pergola, or archway – yet still produces full-sized, classic pendulous amethyst-blue blooms, each carrying a wonderful fragrance! Grow them in a sunny spot and enjoy them for decades to come! Unlike other wisteria it flowers in the first year! Repeat flowering from April to June! Beautiful garden-filling fragrance Compact – perfect for a pergola or archway Totally hardy and very easy to grow Wisteria ‘Amethyst Falls’ Supplied as fully-established As supplied Established Plant in a 15cm Pot – Item Code: 550238 potted plant on 50cm trellis. NOW FOR ONLY £19.99 STUNNING VALUE! YOU SAVE £10.00 TODAY! 3 EASY WAYS 0844 502 0050 MG174Calls cost 5p per min plus your network’s access charge. www.YouGarden.com/MG174 TO ORDER NOW! USE CODE or by post using coupon below to: Offer MG174 YouGarden, PO Box 1468, Peterborough, PE1 9XL EXTRA BONUS OFFER PLEASE SEND TO: Offer MG174, YouGarden, YOUR PAYMENT DETAILS I enclose a cheque/Postal Order payable to YouGarden (name & address on back) for £ Gazania ‘Tiger Stripes Mix’ PO Box 1468, Peterborough, PE1 9XL Or charge my Visa / Mastercard / Maestro card: YOUR ORDER DETAILS These fascinating flowers close Card Issue during the night or in dull Item Description Price Qty Subtotal No. No. weather, reopening when it brightens up. ‘Tiger Stripes Mix’ is 550238 Wisteria ‘Amethyst Falls’ £19.99 Start Exp exceptionally free-flowering and Established Plant in a 15cm Pot SAVE £10 Date Date undemanding to grow in a sunny position, and is drought tolerant 550218 Go Small 1 x 10.5cm Wisteria ‘Amethyst Falls’ £9.99 DELIVERY DETAILS too. Plant them in groups or maximum effect, bringing heat to These SPECIAL OFFERS go perfectly with your Wisteria ‘Amethyst Falls’ Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss Initial Surname you beds, borders and containers and really bring you garden to life! 490204 Gazania ‘Tiger Stripes Mix’ £6.49 Address Supplied as 40 pro plug plants. 40 pro plug plants. HALF PRICE! SAVE £6.50! Postcode ITEM CODE 490204 100062 Blooming Fast Superior Feed - 500g SAVE £2 £7.99 Email £6.49 HALF PRICE 100107 Blooming Fast Pre-Delivery Plant Treatment ONLY £1 per order £1.00 Tel If you do not wish to receive catalogues & offers from us, please Offer available while stocks last. © YouGarden Ltd 2022 JOIN THE YOUGARDEN CLUB! tick here [ ]. We think you’d enjoy some of the latest products Get £20.00 FREE vouchers & SAVE 10% on EVERY ITEM you order! My DOUBLE GUARANTEE to you! and selected offers by post from other trusted retailers, charities, finance, travel, FMCG and utility companies. If you do not wish to 820005 Renewal Subscription Membership* SAVE £15.00! £5.00 1 If you’re not totally happy with your order, receive these, please tick here [ ]. Full details at YouGarden.com/ return it within 30 days and we’ll replace o Privacy. © YouGarden 2022. 820001 1 Year Membership: SAVE £10.00! £10.00 refund in full. MG174AD DON’T FORGET: Deduct 10% (10p in every £1) if you joined the YouGarden Club: 2 Should any hardy plants fail to thrive there we’ll replace free of charge. You just pay th CODE *We’ll automatically renew your membership every year, so you can keep saving - AND the price will NEVER Add PP&I £6.99 Peter McDermott, go up... GUARANTEED! Full details at YouGarden.com/Club. Orders despatched early April. Delivery to UK Head Gardener only and a £6.00 surcharge will apply to the following postcode areas: AB, DD8-11, GY, HS, IM, IV, JE, KA27- TOTAL 28, KW, PA20-80, PH19-50, TR21-25 & ZE. Offer subject to availability and in the event that this offer is ORDER oversubscribed, we reserve the right to send suitable substitutes. Images show mature plants. Following VALUE Brexit there are a number of changes that prevent us from trading in N. Ireland. For further details please visit www.yougarden.com

EASY IDEAS LIGHTER SHADE OF PALE A floor of herringbone paled terracotta tiles creates warmth and subtlety while still feeling Moorish. Marrakesh Terracotta Brick in Dark and Light Matt, £64.73/m2 bakedtiles.co.uk MoBLErACoHEcD can Trad Moroccan style involves intricately Trend COMBO CUSHIONS patterned tiles and ornately carved Mix and match tapestry and furniture in rich jewel shades with alert! geometric prints. Pom Pom accents of gold. But by swapping Blush, £16, Oriental Pink, them for blonde cane or rattan £10 dunelm.com. Aztec furniture and pale terracotta floor Geometric Tapestry, from tiles with accessories in creams, £19.99 linenloft.co.uk caramels and pinks, the whole notion of Moroccan shifts from traditional FILTERED LIGHT riad to contemporary cosy boho. This Rattan Solar Outdoor Pendant An abundance of dark green foliage Light will emit a gentle, diffused light. will ensure that paying homage to £114.99 lights4fun.co.uk North Africa prevails. A GOOD YARN HUED BLOOMS IN THE ZONE A chunky throw looks A floral display – dried or fresh – is an This Tassel Plus Pillow Hanging Chair and feels oh-so-cosy. easy tool to tie together a pink and ensures chilled-out tranquillity. Cream Chunky Throw, cream colour scheme. Sorbet Preserved £75.99 theouterior.com £30 direct.asda.com Flower Bouquet, £39.95 limelace.co.uk SOFA SO GOOD Sit back and relax in this made-for-lounging Weybourne 3-Seater Sofa, £1,095 oka.com FEATURE: FIONA GALLEY KEEN ON GREEN DRAPES Plump up patio foliage WITH DRAMA with faux leaves. Artificial Cream canvas curtains add Ficus Tree, £35 homebase.co.uk a sense of occasion to a simple gazebo. Marignane Garden Gazebo in Black Steel and Ecru Canvas, £432 maisonsdumonde.com 12 MODERN GARDENS MAY 2022

The Best Begonias You’ll EverGrow *WITH EVERY ORDER Begonia Apricot Shades 15 Garden Ready Plants £14.99 10 Phlox Plants £ 12.99ONLY £5.99ONLY 30 Garden Ready Plants £29.98 £17.99 Garden Ready Plant Size 10-15cm ORDER TODAY! OFFERS £1ONLY Non-stop, vibrant cascading MUST END 20th MAY colour up until October We despatch these super- MAXICROP size plants at the Plant Treatment Outstanding performance perfect whatever the weather time For ONLY £1 we will treat your for planting whole order with MAXICROP Easy to grow in sun or shade out, usually before the to give your plants: Fill hanging baskets, blooms form, Strong, healthy root system pots and beds so all the plants energy - More energy for growth At Suttons we select only the best plants that will has gone into Greener, healthier leaves – perform well in your garden year after year and we producing a strong Great nutrient availability know our customers simply love cascading Begonia root system – for even Reduced stress during transit Apricot Shades. Each year there will be hundreds of better displays! extra large, three to four inch blooms in the most vibrant Better establishment and shades of orange and apricot to amaze you. Begonias improved root growth thrive in the British weather growing in sun, rain and shade. Only by growing this spectacular variety will you truly appreciate why this is our best selling begonia. Our best-seller just got better! This hand blended ‘Improved’ version gives you a broader range of colours and 50% more colour-edged picotees. Garden ready plants supplied 10-15cm high from May onwards. www.suttons.co.uk/SUSOP116 Tel: 0844 736 4208 Our customers say: If ordering by phone please quote Offer Code SUSOP116 Lines open 9am-5pm, 7 days a week. Great If ordering online please enter SUSOP116 in your basket Calls charged at 7p per minute plus your 4.0 out of 5 based on to activate discount. phone company’s access charge. 55,233 reviews Please send to: Suttons, ORDER CODE Product Code Item Description Price Qty Total Staying in touch with Suttons Dept SUSOP116 Woodview Road, KA9686 Begonia Apricot Shades Improved 15 Plants £14.99 £12.99 Paignton, Devon, TQ4 7NG SUSOP116 KC6169 Begonia Apricot Shades Improved 30 Plants £29.98 £17.99 Please read each statement carefully KC1814 Begonia Apricot Shades Improved 60 Plants £59.96 £29.99 I enclose a cheque 73691 Geranium Jackpot 15 Garden Ready Plants £14.99 Suttons would like to keep you informed about our latest products made payable to ‘Suttons’ for £ KC6184 Geranium Jackpot 30 Garden Ready Plants £29.98 £19.99 and offers by post & email. If you would prefer not to receive post, please tick this box . Or by email, please tick this box . Name *ONLY £5.99 WITH ANY ORDER £5.99 KB8429 Creeping Phlox Collection 10 Postiplugs £19.98 We also feel you’d enjoy some of the latest products and Address KA2524 Maxicrop Plant Treatment £1.00 offers by post from some of our trusted retail partners. If you P&P £5.99 Please debit my: Visa Mastercard Maestro would prefer not to receive these, please tick this box . Grand Postcode Total Please refer to our privacy policy for more details: www.suttons.co.uk/privacy-and-cookies Telephone CSV Please turn your card over and write the last 3 numbers from the signature strip. Email For Suttons Terms and Conditions please visit our website: Cardholder’s name Expiry Date / www.suttons.co.uk/terms-and-conditions VIEW the Online Catalogue www.suttons.co.uk/catalogue-request Suttons’ new spring varieties deliver just what’s required to continue to inspire the nation’s gardeners, with new additions throughout for 2022! Offer subject to availability. We reserve the right to substitute varieties if necessary *Please note that savings are based on the equivalent of multiples of the cheapest pack size. © 2022 Suttons. † For full T & C’s, please visit www.suttons.co.uk. Regretfully we are unable to ship live plants to the following postcode areas: HS, IV41-IV56, KW15-KW17, PA34, PA41-48, PA60-PA78, PA80, PH40-PH44, TR21-TR24, ZE1-ZE3. We are unable to despatch seeds or plants to EU countries and Northern Ireland.

Blooming lovely IN MAY Try our pick of the most beautiful plants you can buy now AQUILEGIA ‘KORALLE’ £3.50/9cm pot Brighten up a sunny border with these brilliant coral and pale yellow flowers. The blooms are little showstoppers and last for ages as cut flowers. Height 80cm Spread 60cm. dorsetperennials.co.uk 3 AWESOME AQUILEGIA AQUILEGIA ‘WILLIAM ‘NORA BARLOW’ GUINESS’ £5.40/9cm pot £7.50/1L pot Ahhh, these blooms with Enjoy masses of contrasting black purple decorative, tight, green and white petals held on slender buds that open to frilly stems above ferny foliage are flowers with narrow petals simply exquisite! Deadhead if of pale green and deep pink you don’t want it to sow its seeds – we couldn’t love them everywhere though. Height 70cm more! Height 90cm Spread Spread 40cm. claireaustin- 40cm. bethchatto.co.uk hardyplants.co.uk WOW GARDEN GUESTS! Three plants for a mini butterfly buffet PEACOCK ORCHID ‘TONGARIRO’ £6.99/9cm pot Exotic Pleione F E AT UR E: CL A RE WA LK ER. PHOTOS : VI SIONS, ALAM Y, SHUTTERSTOCK , GAP PHOTOS/FIONA MCLEOD/CHRIS BURROWS/NOVA PHOTO GRAPHIK formosana blooms will add a touch of the tropics but will happily grow outside in pots or in a sheltered, partially shaded border without much attention from you – and £9c5m.2p0ot £9c1m2.p9o9t £9c3m.5p0ot they’ll be back next year too! THYME ‘SILVER POSIE’ Just wait till your guests see these With bright flowers and variegated aromatic foliage, vivid, almost luminous Thymus vulgaris looks and tastes great and loves a sunny Add a pink flowers with BUGLE ASTRANTIA spot. Height 30cm Spread orange and red 45cm. hettysherbs.co.uk touch of speckled white With spires of blue flowers Astrantia major ‘April Love’ above dense, bronze purple produces countless loveliness frilly lips. Height leaves, Ajuga reptans ‘Catlin’s pink-tinged white flowers 15cm Spread Giant’ spreads readily. above lovely serrated foliage. 40cm. farmyard Height 45cm Spread 60cm. Height 60cm Spread 45cm. nurseries.co.uk claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk crocus.co.uk 14 MODERN GARDENS MAY 2022

GIVE IT A TRY BEST BUYS SUMMER’S WESTERN COMING! BLEEDING HEART The cooler spring months are beginning to flow into warmer summer days and £8.99/0.5L pot we’re relishing spending more time The heart-shaped enjoying our gardens. Embrace the flowers of Dicentra seasonal change with a hanging pot formosa ‘Spring Magic’ filled with soft colours that’ll have you dangle delicately from dreaming of summer and the deep sense upright stems. Height of wellbeing and relaxation that better 40cm Spread 50cm. weather brings. An eco-friendly pot ballyrobertgardens.com such as the Nova (£17.99, bakker.com), WHITE which is made from recycled plastic with a natural stone powder finish, will help SIBERIAN you feel good about doing your bit for the environment too! Pale-blue daisies SQUILL and pink bleeding hearts create a gentle combo, while white Siberian squill adds a £3.99/13cm pot touch of freshness to help your pot shine. Narrow strappy leaves The secrets to keep these plants happy and lush green stems Fill your pot with moisture-retentive bear the sweetest multipurpose compost, hang it in a white flowers. Height lightly shaded spot, and make sure it and Spread 15cm doesn’t dry out completely. plantsgaloreonline. co.uk SWAN RIVER DAISY £6.99/5 large plugs Masses of new Brachyscome ‘Daisy Blue’ buds open each day into dainty flowers with contrasting yellow centres. Height and Spread 25cm. crocus.co.uk MAY 2022 MODERN GARDENS 15

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SIMPLE PROJECT Make it this weekend! tortoise Use a hanging basket to create this lovely LEAFY CHARACTER YOU WILL NEED ✽ Chicken ebay.co.uk ✽ 35cm hanging basket and liner: Saxon, £14.95 homebase.co.uk ✽ 4 x 10c ✽ 4 thyme plants: £10 longacres.co.uk hobbyc ✽ Multipurpose compost: New Horizon Peat Free, £7 diy.com ✽ Spha ✽ Hand trowel ✽ Plate, thin wire and snips ✽ Twi £50.89 ➣ AY 2022 MODERN GARDENS 17

1 Unclip the chain from the basket, then 2 Tip a thyme plant out of its pot, split into 3 Repeat with the three remaining thyme cut eight crosses in the liner, one at the two plants, and push the stems through plants. Don’t worry about a few broken base, and the others around the side. two crosses, roots inside the basket. stems – the plants will soon recover! 5 Press the compost down firmly. Don’t 6 Put the plate face-down on top and 7 Cut a section of chicken wire and push worry about the thyme plant at the secure with wire criss-crossed from one over a plant pot, then trim any excess base getting squashed, it’ll be fine! side of the basket frame to the other. wire. This will be the tortoise’s head. FEATURE: EMMA KENDELL, GEOFF HODGE. PHOTOS: GAP PHOTOS 9 Use a length of wire to attach the head 10 Push in two short lengths of twig to 11 Cut another section of chicken wire to the basket frame, securing it all create the eyes. Twisting between and shape into a tail, bending the wire around the neck. finger and thumb makes it easier. ends over to secure. Pack with moss. 18 MODERN GARDENS MAY 2022

SIMPLE PROJECT TpIwPlaiPtnhltas5csLetaiernvteatroyspuorntohndeyurscdpeaonyt eauwnndtgirlwotwahtetehr 4 Fill the basket up with compost, ensuring that you tuck plenty under the rootballs so no gaps are left. 8 Remove pot, stuff the wire pocket tightly with moss, then tuck the ends of the wire in and shape a thinner neck. 12 Attach the tail to the frame using wire and stand on four upturned plant pots. Time to name your new garden friend! MAY 2022 MODERN GARDENS 19

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EASY IDEAS Trnenodwing Filling your garden with faff-free blooms so you an enjoy a lazy summer in the sunshine #1 STRESS-FREE Free plants every SELF-SEEDERS year! Self-seeding blooms are opportunists and nature’s gift to gardeners – all you need to do is sit back and watch the magic happen! Plant seeds cleverly adapt to the microclimate f our garden, producing more resilient plants that will thri . ey’re also dab hands at choosing th best ots to li so th ’ll position themselves wherever they need th east help from you – result! And, thanks to their t re, t tend to crop up in awkward pla s h he failed to thrive. Many cotta core our pick of them all is Verb usefulness in modern If it likes the condition your plot, it will be a pr self-seeder, adding airy see-through stature and £4.99cr9occmusp.coot.uk unifying your beds without smothering other plants. Height 2m Spread 45cm. ➣ M1

Only #2 CINCH- vsTaftoseIrePmuwsCphfuoettroreeatcwtnhhioeinnywa’dlcleoeeloakarsst needs a TO-PRUNE quick CLIMBER Fades to a fab chop Yep, we agree – knowing what to prune, when, shape and how is a bit of a nightmare with so many £15taylorscl2eLmpaotits.co.uk different rules for different plants. So if you feel Echinacea ‘Magnus the need to roll your eyes as soon as anyone Superior’ has giant flowers mentions pruning, clematis ‘Princess Diana’ is for and sturdy stems that won’t . All you need to do to enjoy oodles of these need any support inous tulip-shaped flowers in late summer is chop all the stems off to the lowest pair of buds in February every year – simple! All clematis in pruning group 3 can be pruned in this way, and there are lots of lovely varieties, so search online and check the labels at your local garden centre. Height 2.5m Spread 1m. Looks good for decades £5.55gra1s1sclamndpso.ct o.uk Not all plants have the same life thriving for over 100 years! They may take expectancy. Some will bloom beautifully a few years to get established but it’s well for a couple of seasons before slowly worth the wait. Our eternal fave is peony declining, while others can last for decades ‘Bowl of Beauty’ with glamorous pink with very little care. Peonies are renowned blooms with a creamy centre. for their longevity with some known to be Height 1m Spread 80cm. 22 MODERN GARDENS MAY 2022

EASY IDEAS £3.75darcye9vcemrepsto.cto.uk TRY THIS! e p new plants well-watered in irst year as this will help h o grow a good root system d thrive for years to come STUNNER Blooms £7hardys9pclmanptso.ct o.uk for It’s true, chopping off the faded flowers of many summer blooms encourages the plants to months produce more – but how about simply leaving them to form stylish seedheads that’ll look fabulous all through winter? Once the blooms of Echinacea purpurea shed their pretty purple petals, superb cone-shaped seedheads are revealed, lasting for months, and they are a sight to behold when highlighted with a sprinkling of frost or snow. It saves you the summer chore of deadheading, and nothing could be simpler than, when new foliage emerges in spring, cutting and clearing the dried stems. We saw lots of prairie-style planting, where flowers jostle among grasses, in last year’s show gardens, which is a sure sign there’ll be a renewed surge in designer gardens this year. And leaving seedheads to form works so well with this tr nd. MORE SHAPELY SEEDHEAD BLOOMS TO TRY ✽ Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’ (Hylotelephium telephium), £6.50/9cm pot bethchatto.co.uk ✽ Italian aster ‘King Georg ENDIN (Aster amellus), £6.50/9cm p t STERILE bethchatto.co.uk FLOWERS ✽ Black-eyed Susan (Rud e Geum ‘Totally tangerine’ has sterile fulgida), £3.99/9cm pot blooms, which simply means that it doesn’t secretgardeningclub.co.uk make seeds. So instead of putting all its energy into making seeds, it flowers its ✽ Echinops ‘Taplo n- socks off all summer! These slender wands £5.40/9cm pot cla covered in peachy orange flowers from hardyplants.co.uk April to November will squeeze into the smallest spots so they’re an easy add to ✽ Sea holly ‘Pic your borders. Height and Spread 60cm. (Eryngium bou £8.99/9cm po ➣ crocus.co.uk MAY 2022 MODERN GARDENS 23

Naturally £19.99croc3uLs.pcoo.tuk £8.95mr-5foytohuenrggiplllsa.cnot.suk #6 NATIVE tough Put your SURVIVOR snips #9 NO- away Plants that have evolved to live in our climate will naturally thrive and need less NEED-TO- intervention from you to keep them alive. Oxeye daisies are an especially cheery native flower and their crisp blooms don’t look out of place in even the sleekest modern space, and we’re seeing more of them in designer gardens. They’ll attract all sorts of wildlife to your plot too. Height 40cm Spread 30cm. Perfect for a pot DEADHEAD DAZZLER £7.99v ol b jep6axr5kcemrs.pcola.unkts ‘Flower Carpet’ roses couldn’t be easier to look after. Unlike most roses, they continue to flower for months without any deadheading and they don’t require any fancy pruning either – just cut them back to a third of their size between autumn and late winter. They boast great disease-resistance too. We’re big fans of the rich apricot blooms of ‘Flower Carpet Amber’. Team them with plants in shades of purple and blue and the result is nothing short of heavenly! #7 NATURAL MORE BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS YOU DON’T NEED Plants that have very neat growing sm TO DEADHEAD habits require little of your precious flo su m . y ✽ Mexican time to keep them under control. want a no-fuss pot for yo a io fleabane (Erigeron Campanula carpatica forms a tidy coffee table, here’s your answer! karvinskianus), mound of heart-shaped leaves then Height 25cm Spread 60cm. £5.99/1L pot ashwood nurseries.com Cheap #8 BLOOMING ✽ Gaura ‘Sparkle as chips! EASY BULB White’ (Oenothera lindheimeri), £6.99/9cm pot brooksidenursery.co.uk Now is the ideal time to plant summer- and ✽ Lavender ‘Blue Ice’, autumn-flowering bulbs and they require the £3/9cm pot downderry- mount of work imaginable! To make nursery.co.uk our garden last for longer, add some ✽ Astilbe ‘Radius’, £7/2L pot ashcroft s to your plot now. The perennials.co.uk reathtaking sight on e perfect , once you’ve ✽ Narrow-leaved foxtail lily (Eremurus round, you won’t stenophyllus), £17.99/2L pot crocus.co.uk g at all! Height £2wi2lkbou.clobms ead 25cm. 24 M O D E R N G A R D E N S

EASY IDEAS No-water winners #10 DR £13.50fairwe2a.t5hLeprso.cto.uk Don’t want to waste time with a lofty agapanthus, the showstoppi South Africa. They have adapted environment so despite their flam they are tough as old boots. Also k African lilies, they look great plante drifts in borders or as a focal point i pot, and they flower for weeks on end. There are hundreds of varieties, but our pick of them all is the recently introduced ‘Fireworks’, which has bigger blooms, divine colo evergreen foliage. It’s fast becoming a designer’s favourite and was Chelsea P 2019. Height and Spread 60cm. MAY 2022 MODERN GARDENS 25

“We’ve reclaimed our garden as an adult space” Sarah and Graeme Oxby have reimagined their London plot into a stress-free living area using easy-grow evergreens and RELIABLE BLOOMERS GARDEN makeover FEATURE & PHOTOS: GAP PHOTOS/NICOLA STOCKEN. Backtrack a couple of decades, when square of grass, where the couple added we decided to reclaim it as a more adult, ➣ DESIGN: SARAH OXBY/HAMPSTEADGARDENDESIGN.COM Sarah and Graeme Oxby moved to swings for their young family, and that was low-maintenance space that leant itself to their 1930s London home, and this that – until a new open-plan kitchen and chilling, rather than doing garden chores.” garden wasn’t much more than a lawn. dining area overlooking the garden was built. “We bought it in 2002, attracted by the large, “It highlighted the importance of having an HOMEGROWN DESIGN light rooms, which were unlike many of the outdoor space that is both lovely to look out older properties locally,” says Sarah. on, and that you feel drawn into,” recalls A garden designer herself, Sarah didn’t need Sarah. “As our two young children grew up, to look far for help. “But I found it surprisingly The plot had a long, thin strip of patio that they became less interested in the garden and difficult to be the designer when you are also resembled a corridor and stepped down to a the client!” she laughs. 26 MODERN GARDENS MAY 2022

GARDEN MAKEOVER BEFORE Anwoavsermgroorwenchpolraeygthraounnfdunth! at AFTER SMART IDEAS TO STEAL A chilolnourteshtavaennd wreitlhaxaatbioign focus GROW A MINI HEDGE to hide your shed. ADD PALE PEBBLES around a water feature. STYLE YOUR TABLE with three matching pots of succulents. Ba tree Lily Bowl, urbisdesign.co.uk, trade only Want a low- maintenance garden too? See p36 MAY 2022 MODERN GARDENS 27

Sarahd’sreaamll shmasilselse-nfroewe gsahredhenas her Easy Ga den Armchair, £330, OUR GARDEN gomodern.co.uk PL AN Fancy a LOCATION new dining London set? Turn THE LOOK to p31 Contemporary low-maintenance SITE Size 20 x 15m Faces South west Soil London clay that has been improved OUR BUDGET Sarah has always liked very contemporary, “It’s also less likely to stain than other natural Hard landscaping £55,000 linear garden designs — one of her favourites is stones such as sandstone,” she adds. the Mien Ruys Gardens in the Netherlands — Planting £6,000 and this style complemented the new extension. EASY-CARE PLANTING Furniture £3,000 She dreamt up a strong, geometric layout, Lighting £5,000 combined with a soft, calming planting style. To create a good-looking structure throughout TOTAL: £69,000 the year, Sarah chose evergreen bay, grown on Having lived here for so long, Sarah was well metre-high stems for impact (and a handy HOW LONG IT TOOK versed in the pros and cons of the site, and supply of aromatic leaves for cooking), and Hard landscaping 3 months adding privacy to the garden was a priority. “We Japanese holly, which is easily clipped into are overlooked by neighbouring houses and had topiary forms. A multi-stemmed cherry has a Lighting 2 days little more screening than a mature whitebeam graceful silhouette and mahogany-hued bark Planting 10 days and purple-leaved cherry,” she explains. even when stripped of foliage in winter. TOTAL: 3 months, 12 days Positioning the main dining area lower down Slow-growing shrub osmanthus and in the garden made it more secluded, as did glossy-leaved laurustinus are both quick to clip planting a line of olive trees alongside, into shape, with the bonus of pale blooms in underplanted with ‘Dwarf Blue’ lavender, a winter and spring. This skeleton of green is compact variety with wonderfully fragrant plumped with a plethora of stress-free perennial flowers to scent al fresco meals. A significant fall blooms, chosen to give colour in all seasons. of 1.65 metres from the house to the back fence “I love flowers in blues, purples and whites was solved by creating different levels which, in because I find that these colours are particularly a small garden, is a useful ploy to add interest. restful, especially in the evening,” Sarah says. Choosing the materials for the hard ‘Brookside’ hardy geraniums, lavender and landscaping was easy, as Sarah took inspiration the purple spikes of ‘Caradonna’ salvias fill the from the kitchen/diner. The natural wood of the beds, along with white ‘Annabelle’ hydrangeas, doors and furniture is continued outside with a all offset with black fences. “I find black creates deck built from hardwood iroko, and a granite a good backdrop to the planting,” she adds. chosen similar in colour to the kitchen tiling. Raised beds are filled with hardy geraniums, Excitoinngtrtiamnessfoarsmwingortkhegestspascetarted “I only grow easy-going, reliable plants that I can simply enjoy” 28 MODERN GARDENS MAY 2022

GARDEN MAKEOVER PUT-YOUR-FEET-UP plants mean all Sarah has to do is sit back and enjoy the view. Olive Adirondack Teak Lounger with Footstool, £655, chic-teak.co.uk I most often sit is probably in the Adirondack BLACK AND BLENDED, chair on the upper patio because it has a perfect view of the garden,” Sarah notes. the shed fades into the background, allowing the The south-west-facing garden is very sunny greenery to pop. apart from the furthest end, where the lawn AL FRESCO FEASTING always struggled to grow. This lowest corner is is now a more secluded, now Sarah’s favourite space in the garden, with stylish, adult affair. tree ferns and a multi-stemmed cherry underplanted with hellebores, ferns, yew balls, aquilegias, verbena and Viola cornuta ‘Alba’ brunnera and Japanese anemones. “Life’s too which, if regularly deadheaded, just keep on short to be reseeding grass every year, and if flowering. “I only grow easy-going, reliable a plant doesn’t want to grow in a particular plants that I can enjoy – I like pottering but position, then find something that does!” she don’t want any hassle,” she says. smiles. A small lawn was saved, with countersunk paving stones to prevent a path RELAXED LIVING being worn in the grass. “It takes just ten minutes to mow,” exclaims Sarah. Taking three months to build, the new design incorporates different seating areas to Today, the couple have an easy-care garden encourage movement around the whole space. that is a pleasure to relax and entertain in. At the far end, a gabion bench creates a focal “The garden adds immensely to the views from point and provides a shady spot to escape the the house and these have become very sun. On summer evenings, the walling of important to us all,” she says. “Even in the winter, the raised beds and the steps beside the water when we are less likely to go outdoors, we watch feature bowl provide further perches. “The place what is happening outside. It is the backdrop to our lives inside, as well as a wonderful space to relax in outside in the summer.” LANT These no-hassle beauties offer plenty of flower power for very little fuss. EAVE Lavender ‘Dwarf Blue’ Viola cornuta ‘Alba’ Salvia ‘Caradonna’ Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ Verbena bonariensis ‘Lollipop’ MAY 2022 MODERN GARDENS 29

ADVERTISING FEATURE Editor’s picks colourADD SOME 2022-2023 Chic up your garden while you protect it with PROTEK PAINT! All garden wood, from fences and furniture to pergolas and We love this shed-to-home- summerhouses, needs protection, so office transformation, with why not add some on-trend colour the exterior painted in while you’re at it? Protek Royal Exterior Superior Smokey Grey and the interior Wood Finish (£19.20/L) boasts a range of over in China Clay with a band and 100 colours so there’s a tasteful tone to suit rug-effect in Clouded Yellow. every garden style. And, because the finish has a soft lustre that allows the nature of the woodgrain to show through, you can be bold with your colour choice without it seeming brash. The finish will help wood to last for longer too, waterproofing while allowing the timber to breathe, with fungal inhibitors to prevent mould and protect from sun, rain and humidity all year round. Water-based and environmentally friendly, it won’t harm your plants or pets. EASY TO APPLY Protek Royal Exterior acts as a base coat so can be applied without a primer to bare wood (though a very light colour may need a primer and knotting agent to prevent tannin staining). You can apply it over old paint too, as long as it’s water-based and you’ve prepared the surface – simply clean with a damp cloth and leave to dry then use a stiff brush to strip off any loose paint or sand down the wood, if needed, and wipe clean. Use a synthetic brush to apply two coats, with a third coat to build depth of colour and sheen if you like. This dining table looks fab in Quinky. Fab Here’s our pick of the best on-trend tones, including some that Prue Leith hues for selected for her own garden project featured on Prue’s Great Garden Plot: 2022 D19 Nude Taupe Guardsman Red* Miami Vibes Quinky* Evergreen Pale Pistachio Faded Terracotta See all the new spring colours at protekwoodstain.co.uk/spring *approved by Prue!

BEST BUYS DINE Enjoy long lunches and relaxed evenings with friends and family this summer with an on-trend SOFA DINING SET The trend for relaxed dining is sweeping into our gardens just in time for summer, and we couldn’t love it any more! Rather than a formal dining table and chair set, we’re seeing lots of products combining the comfort and laidback vibes of an outdoor sofa with a dining table. From a chilled Sunday brunch to a barbie supper with friends, these sets make al fresco meals a far more enjoyable affair. FEATURE: JILL MORGAN Time to COSY EVENINGS relax This gas-powered fire-table will keep guests warm SPECIAL long into the night, as well as adding ambience to al fresco meals. The aluminium anti-rust frames and weatherproof chair seats and backs make it easy to look ➣ after too. Aruba Dining Set, £2,795 coxandcox.co.uk MAY 2022 MODERN GARDENS 31

FIND YOUR DREAM SET Just add sunshine These lounge dining sets range from fixed and modular corner sofas to more traditional Good for a two- and three-seater sofas, so you can find post-lunch snooze the best layout to make the most of your available space. ‘L’ shape or corner sofas are RECLINING DESIGN the most popular design this season. They’re great for squeezing in loads of friends or for Each backrest of this aluminium frame lazing around and putting your feet up. Styled design can slide back to a 45° angle so you to push back close to a wall and tuck into a can lounge post-lunch in comfort. Enna corner (although make sure you leave enough Reclining Dining Set with Rising Table space for recliners), they’ll make the most of a and 3 Footstools, £3,799 oakworld.co.uk compact patio space. If you want a more flexible arrangement then a sofa with two armchairs might suit you better. Many sofa dining sets come with co-ordinating benches and individual stools too, which are perfect for accommodating extra guests. WHAT ARE HIGH-LOW TABLES? Some sofa dining sets feature a high-low table, where you can adjust the height from a low-level co ee table to a more formal dining height. They’re a real bonus if you only have room in your garden for one sofa set and you want to use your new settee for everyday lounging as well as al fresco eating. These nifty tables work in one of two ways. The most popular designs must be lifted up and out of their base and moved to one side before being reslotted in at the higher level. It’s pretty basic and requires two people, but it only takes a few seconds and there’s no built-in tech to go wrong. It can be tricky if the table is already laid with drinks and nibbles though! To be stable, this type of table tends to be block shaped, so it’s not always the most elegant option. Some tables have gas-lift risers and these e ortlessly glide from co ee to dining height at the push or twist of a lever. There’s no need to remove items from the surface, enlist the help of a friend or even get up from your seat, as the simple gas-filled struts do all the work for you. Table profiles and styling are usually slimmer too, enabling a much wider choice of materials including aluminium, but they do cost more than the simple lift-and-shift variety. WHAT MATERIAL IS BEST? Designed to be left outside in most weathers, these outdoor sofa dining sets come in a range of materials. The hot favourites this season include trusty all-weather rattan, smooth aluminium teamed with tactile synthetic rope or rich wood, along with fully upholstered designs. Each have their own distinct characteristics and charm, but they also have di ering lifespans and maintenance needs. All-weather rattan products vary in quality, cost and performance and this is usually down to the manufacturing processes used. For a long-lasting product, look for seating with a rigid steel or aluminium frame with minimal joints and screws. Look also for mono-extrusion processes where the dye is present throughout the entire rattan strand, rather than just the coating, making any scratches much less visible. It’s easy to keep all-weather rattan dirt-free with a soft bristle brush and non-foaming cleaner. 32 MODERN GARDENS MAY 2022

INTERIOR STYLE BEST BUYS This striking black rattan rope effect Showerproof cushions set with aluminium frame and wood with hollowfibre effect legs wouldn’t look out of place indoors and its showerproof seats inners are quick to dry and back cushions make it super comfy. Helsinki 8 seater Corner EASY TO MOVE Dining Set, £1,250 next.co.uk This rope-strung aluminium sofa is lightweight, while the glass-topped table is reassuringly robust. Hartman Dubai Square Table Corner Casual Dining Set, £1,379 ioliving.co.uk Adjustable-height table ma es it versatile The slender legs will make a SMALL SPACE STAR compact patio look bigger Compact and cube-shaped, this comfy corner sofa in all-weather rattan and rising table simply slides together when not in use, to maximise your space. Dorset Compact Set with Rising Table, £3,339 furniturevillage.co.uk STRESS-FREE SETTEE Made from 100% recyclable polyethylene rope on durable aluminium frame and wooden base, this streamlined set consists of a corner sofa, two footstools and a fixed height wooden table. Tokyo Modular Sofas, Footstools and Cushions, £1,249, Tokyo Casual Dining Table, £450 dobbies.com The feature shelves provide handy storage MAY 2022 MODERN GARDENS 33

BEST BUYS Aluminium designs tend to be slender with even be jet washed and refinished with a home th r clean lines. Light to move – ideal if you like a clean kit to keep them in tip-top condition. a chic upgrade change of scene – the surface is smooth and can be powder-coated for extra toughness, often WHAT ABOUT THE CUSHIONS? ✽ Corner Rattan Sofa Set for Outdoors in matt black or other eye-catching colours. with Dining Table, Grey, £600 Thanks to its contemporary good looks it is Although most sofas are designed to be left manomano co uk often paired with tactile details such as panels outside in all seasons, cushions can di er so do of woven synthetic rope or hardwoods such as check the small print. Some must be brought responsibly sourced teak, which contain natural inside at the slightest glimpse of a shower but waterproofing oils and need little upkeep. we’re seeing more and more that can be left in place in all but the heaviest rain. Often referred Fully tailored fabric sofas are this season’s to as all-weather or shower-resistant cushions, outdoor A-listers. Thanks to advances in fabric these relatively new products have fibre-filled technology, water- and stain-repellent fabrics inners that allow any water to drain straight have come down in cost and improved in through. They’re more expensive than traditional performance. UV-stable and soft to the touch, seat pads but well worth it. they can be left out in sudden downpours and are pretty quick to air-dry. Look for solution- Neutral shades such as stone, dove grey and dyed acrylic products for a super hardwearing charcoal are all on-trend this season. Most are fabric, and check product details to see how UV fade resistant, machine washable and quick easy they are to clean – some materials can to dry, but do check if you want your cushions to look just as gorgeous next summer. JET-WASHABLE! mcahTticpIhoPsirnoUsngtsececeoalclsfaotuurarrpnlutaiotmiuntriotneuiincuhmaup ✽ Malta 6 Seater Steel Corner Dining Set, £800 habitat.co.uk Enjoy true luxe living with this corner sofa, ✽ Matara 7 Seater Corner Garden Sofa stools and rising table. Set, £850 homebase.co.uk The high-performance outdoor fabric and quick-drying foam cushions mean that it can be left outside year-round and cleaned with a simple jet- wash. Pulse Square Set – With Rising Table – Taupe, £3,599 mazeliving.co.uk Shop the easy way! Scan here to shop all these sofa dining sets 34 MODERN GARDENS MAY 2022

BATTERY POWER, WHETHER YOU’RE A HOBBY GARDENER OR BY STIHL. A PROFESSIONAL, STIHL OFFERS THE RIGHT READY FOR ANY CORDLESS TOOL FOR EVERYONE. CHALLENGE. ƒ STIHL cordless power tools give you all the convenience of cordless without compromising on performance. Powerful yet easy to use, durable yet lightweight, STIHL’s range of battery products is a demonstration of German engineering at its finest. Plus all tools maximise the Lithium-Ion battery power to ensure consistent and long-lasting service, giving you plenty of charge to finish the task at hand. AVAILABLE FROM APPROVED STIHL DEALERS, SELECTED GARDEN CENTRES AND BY VISITING SHOP.STIHL.CO.UK

Time to relax SPECIAL Soft shield Box hedge fern GARDEN DESIGN: CHARLOTTE ROWE MAKE FOLIAGE THE BACKBONE OF YOUR PLOT Evergreen foliage looks good all year round and needs very little looking after, apart from a quick prune once or twice a year. Think it’s boring? Not if you use it as the structure of your garden, creating shape, height and texture, which you then adorn with the beauty of blooms. Contrast tall and floaty non-invasive black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra, Height 2.4m Spread 4m, £39.95/100-120cm 10L pot, best4hedging.co.uk) with low zonal hedges of yew (£39.99/10 x 9cm pots, very.co.uk), which only need clipping once a year. Musk mallow REPLACE WOODEN DECKING WITH COMPOSITE DITCH THE LAWN Composite decking is more expensive than wooden but what you’ll Your garden can still look lush without the spend upfront you’ll save in time and effort as well as maintenance costs. need for a stretch of high-maintenance grass, Wooden decking generally lasts around eight to 10 years and in that and you can put the storage space that would time you’ll need to regularly clean, stain or paint and repair it. Composite have been used for the mower to good use planks can last up to 25 years as they’re made from recycled plastics and too. A modern mix of pavers with gravel, wood grains and are strong, hardwearing, rot-resistant, have UV colour flanked by packed beds and pots, means you protection and are splinter-free. An occasional washdown with warm, won’t miss that lawn for a second! soapy water is all they need to keep them looking like new. Dig plants into swathes of gravel to add The Ecodek Composite Decking Kit in Signature Slate Grey interest, or decorate it with small contains everything you need to build a 2.4 x 2.4m deck and costs boulders or large pebbles. Try dramatic £958.80 from ecodek.co.uk. looking white marble cobbles 40-90mm, £17.99/20kg bag, yougarden.com. 36 MODERN GARDENS MAY 2022

EASY IDEAS Vb Smart design olution d h ith DESIGNER CH MAY 2022 MODERN GARDENS 37

GARDEN DESIGN: RHIANNON WILLIAMS Miniature bulrush CREATE A RAIN GARDEN AND SAVE TIME WATERING Channel rainwater directly into your garden Anemopsis californicum, known as beds and you won’t need to water! This apache beads (£21.99/3L pot, means you can grow water-loving plants that worldofwater.com), has beautiful won’t need any looking after but will add an white-scented flowers and broad dark-green additional stylish element to your plot. leaves. Plant it in water up to D15cm. On a budget? FILL PATIO POTS WITH More PELARGONIUMS luxe, Keep it stylish and simple with these less fuss faux buys that need zero care… Fast-growing zonal geraniums, also known as pelargoniums, have loads of foliage that will Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ 1 Hanging basket quickly cover pot compost, excluding the light The lavender, starflower and space weeds need to take hold. They’re super-easy to grow, need very little watering and and foliage are so will flower all summer long – just snip off dead realistic and will look ones to encourage even more blooms. They’re lovely for years to cheap as chips too, so ditch the plants at the come. £46/40cm end of the summer and buy new next year. bloomingartificial.co.uk Make the blooms look even brighter by 2 Statement tree planting clashing Pelargonium ‘Galaxy No green fingers Red’ alongside the hot pink of ‘Galaxy Rose’, are needed to both £11.98/6 super plugs, marshallsgarden.com. keep this potted tree looking its best – pop one each side of your back door for instant greenery gorgeousness! Artificial Ficus Tree, H120cm, £35 homebase.co.uk 3 Hedge edge There’s no need for pruning or shaping with this artificial boxwood hedge built onto a timber frame. L1m x H50cm, £165 evergreendirect.co.uk 38 MODERN GARDENS MAY 2022

REPAVE WITH EASY IDEAS PORCELAIN PAVING TRY THIS! Unlike other patio materials, Make mowing easier with porcelain tiles are stain modern Corten steel edging strips resistant and won’t get a build-up of algae, and all you on your borders need to do to keep them clean is mop with hot soapy water, just as you would your kitchen floor. They’re hardwearing and resistant to scratches too, so they’ll look good for years to come. This Mode Profiled porcelain paving in Silver Grey (£69.68/m2, bradstone.com) contains mica crystals to add that extra bit of wow and sparkle to your patio. EMBRACE FAUX GRASS AND NEVER MOW AGAIN Luckily for us lazy gardeners, artificial grass has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years so it’s a really good option if you want to take the weekly mow-the-lawn chore off your to-do list. You can now choose from a wide range of different colours, heights and depths to suit your space. And if you’re feeling guilty that it’s not very wildlife friendly, then just add a few more pots or flowerbeds and pack them full of pollinators and nectar-friendly plants. The Downham Artificial Grass (£26.99/ m2, carpetright.co.uk) looks lush and healthy with its thick and deep pile in light to medium green tones. OPT FOR WEATHERPROOF FURNITURE String garden furniture is Bring a happy pop of on-trend and we love it because it colour into your garden doesn’t need repairing, varnishing with the weatherproof PE string or painting. It doesn’t need any and powder-coated steel Hebe FEATURE: JULES BARTON-BRECK. PHOTOS: EMMA KENDELL, PELARGONIUMFOREUROPE.COM, VISIONS, GAP PHOTOS/CLIVE NICHOLS/HEATHER EDWARDS cushions to make it comfy, so Garden Sofa Set in Orange, you don’t need to worry about including sofa, two bistro chairs whether or not it’s raining, and it and glass-topped table, £339.99, BE BRAVE WITH can be left outside year round. laura-james.co.uk. GLORIOUS GRASSES What we love about ornamental grasses is that you just have to plant them, let them grow, and leave them alone! Sedge grass, commonly known as carex, is one of our favourites as it has so many different varieties that are suitable for a range of conditions from sun to shade and dry to wet. Don’t be afraid to fill a flowerbed with a block, with a few extra-tall grasses such as miscanthus for movement. Jacksons Nurseries has a wide range of evergreen carex varieties with prices starting from £7.99/2-3L pot, along with Miscanthus sinensis ‘Kleine Fontane’ (£9.99/ 2-3L pot, jacksonsnurseries.co.uk), which produces masses of small feathery bronze-purple flower plumes on straight stems between August and September. MAY 2022 MODERN GARDENS 39

Grow Buckets of Cut Flowers This Year! Enjoy weeks of beautiful, home- FREE grown bouquets from ONLY £11.95 plus FREE P&P! P&P It’s incredible to think that for a fraction of the cost of a worth £4.95 single florist bought bouquet, you can fill your home with fresh flowers for weeks on end - from late summer to late autumn. These ten different Chrysanthemums have all been chosen for their diversity of colour, form and long vase life. A best-selling mix of outdoor sprays and blooms, they’ll be delivered from late May as well rooted cuttings (approx. 8-10cm/3-4in from root to tip) ready for growing on in 9cm pots before planting out. Loved by florists, these varieties are very easy to work with and last for ages without the petals dropping. They are superb garden varieties too, blooming profusely in the border without the need for a greenhouse to grow them. B E xcellent garden performers, enjoy weeks of late summer colour from September onwards B Cut and come again blooms, the more you pick the more flowers you get B Chosen by florists for their long vase life, the flowers last up to 3 weeks once cut Enjoy weeks of cut flowers 10 plants ONLY £14.95 Buy two packs and SAVE £6 20 Plants for £23.90 Anastasia Regal Mist Regal Mist Ja Dank Pompon Danielle Pompon Astro Bronze Migoli Yellow Green Red Purple Red Bronze Bronze Allouise Pink Purple 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE | Order online at woolmans.com/W22XVMG1 Or phone: 0845 658 9137 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm weekends Calls cost 3p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge Your Guarantee of Satisfaction Should any plants arrive in poor condition, we will happily arrange a replacement or refund. We may ask for photos of damaged plants, products or packaging so that we can inform our delivery and nursery partners. Name (Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss) Please post to: Woolmans W22XVMG1, Unit 8, St Leger Drive, Newmarket Business Park , Delivery Address Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7DT Postcode Buy two or more packs for just £11.95 each! Email Address If you would prefer not to receive news of special offers or promotions tick this box Ü We will only share your email Code Description Price Price Qty Subtotal address with our delivery partners. 1 pack 2 packs Telephone or more (In case we or our delivery partners need to contact you about your order). 47348 Cut Flower Bloom and Spray £14.95ea £11.95ea Collection 10 plants (1 of each variety) I enclose my cheque made payable to Woolmans. Or debit my VISA Ü Mastercard Ü Code W22XVMG1 Postage & Packing FREE Card number: TOTAL AMOUNT Valid from: Expiry date: 3 digit security code: (last 3 numbers on signature strip) We think you’d enjoy some of the latest products and offers by post from other trusted retailers Name on Card and organisations. If you would prefer not to receive these by post, please tick this box Ü To learn more, see our privacy policy at woolmans.com Signature Date We’d like to continue sending you our catalogues by post. If you would prefer not to receive them by post, please tick this box Ü Please note: due to new export requirements, we regret that we can no longer supply any products to Northern Ireland.

OUTDOOR LIVING Summery ROSE COCKTAIL Unfurling plump rosebuds FEATURE: CLARE WALKER. PHOTO: STOCKFOOD Drink are beginning to fill the air with anyone? their sweet mouth-watering scent, so it’s the perfect time TicIePcRrpeoaasmencs,ayprkauensp,nsiaso dcmoetlatiakci,eofaurusbiwittisetaxhltarydaogaunrdt, for our tipple of the month to bloom too! Whether you’re MAY 2022 MODERN GARDENS 41 celebrating a special occasion, enjoying a girls’ night or having a lazy Friday evening in the garden, this gin-based rose cocktail has subtle flowery undertones that will make you feel oh-so-summery. Making the pretty pink rose-petal syrup is satisfyingly simple and, as roses are packed full of nutrients and boast well-known healing properties, we reckon it’s the ultimate guilt-free patio tipple. MAY TIPPLE To make four cocktails: YOU WILL NEED ✽ 200g sugar ✽ 200ml water ✽ 2 cups scented pink rose petals ✽ 240ml gin ✽ 120ml lemon juice ✽ Ice ✽ Soda water WHAT TO DO 1 To make the rose syrup, pop the sugar and water in a pan and place over a low heat until the sugar is fully dissolved. Add the rose petals and simmer for about 30 mins, then strain and leave to cool. 2 Pour the gin, lemon juice and 240ml of the rose syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and pour into glasses. 3 Top up with soda, to taste, and stir.

“We can’t help but feel happy when we’re outside” Ruth and James Hewines’ bleak Chilterns plot has been transformed into a TRANQUIL HAVEN with purple blooms and a brave geometric design GARDEN makeover Nectaroscordum siculum FEATURE: MELANIE WHITEHOUSE. PHOTOS: JAMES When Ruth and James Hewines Although the couple both enjoy spending Armed with photos cut from magazines ➣ SCOT T N I C K M ÈG E,T HE GAR DEN CO MPANY bought their newly built home in time outdoors, there was little to tempt them showing the kind of garden and plants they Cholesbury, Herts, the garden outside to enjoy their spacious plot. “I like to liked, Ruth and James explained their list of was little more than a flat potter in the garden and grow vegetables,” wishes and needs to managing director James expanse of grass, which became increasingly says Ruth. “James is a great cook and he loves Scott. “I told him we were keen to extend the full of weeds towards the back boundary. being able to eat outside. And, when time and patio out, have a vegetable garden, an area to Exposed to neighbours and with just a strip of the weather allow, it’s also nice just to sit on a keep the chickens, and we wanted to add paving barely wide enough to squeeze a table lounger and read – or sleep!” some colour and structure,” Ruth recalls. and chairs, the outside space didn’t do the far-reaching views across the undulating In pursuit of a garden that would allow them A TALL ORDER Chilterns countryside justice. “It was a pretty to do all of this, they turned to award-winning boring garden!” remembers Ruth. design-and-build business The Garden Designer James remembers seeing the Company (thegardenco.co.uk) for advice. potential for a lovely flow between all 42 MODERN GARDENS MAY 2022

BEFORE GARDEN MAKEOVER AFTER A hsonuusgepaantdio thhuegrgeesdt twheasarleaaidotuotsliadwe nthe Lush ipnltaernetsintgaandddpsriyveaacry-round Allium hollandicum Catmint ‘Purple Sensation’ Plant Allium stipitatum easy bulbs in ‘White Giant’ your garden too! P49 MAY 2022 MODERN GARDENS 43

CLEVER PLANTING Hornbeam gives the dining area Crab pple natural privacy. JoafmtheseiranwdildRuatnhdcwano’ntdgeertfuelnopuloght Golden oats H dran ea Catmint OUR GARDEN the large windows at the rear of the house and and colour palettes, which was very helpful. As PL AN the garden. “But, in its existing state, there was James is a keen cook, they also wanted to grow no sense of sanctuary or any interest in the fruit and veg, and to enjoy pottering about, LOCATION Cholesbury, Herts space close to the house,” he says. “It was nurturing their own food supplies.” THE LOOK Rural haven basically a large, scrubby area that was quite overlooked on one side, which both Ruth and GEOMETRIC SHAPES SITE Size 1 acre Faces South James felt was too exposed to be inviting,” Soil Heavy clay continues James. “They wanted to spend time With the garden extending to over an acre, outside, relaxing and enjoying being surrounded space to fit in all of the couple’s requests wasn’t OUR BUDGET by nature. As hardworking professionals, their an issue. The challenge was to make this Design £1,900 Prep & excavation dream was to have a peaceful haven to retreat exposed, sprawling plot feel like an intimate, £5,000 Irrigation £1,900 Paving to at weekends and in the evenings, and they welcoming haven. And the solution? Separate £15,000 Lighting £3,600 Kitchen had some clear preferences regarding plants spaces laid out in a geometric framework, garden £900 Metal edging £800 connecting the house to the garden. “Overall, Planting £10,500 Wildflower meadow £4,800 Trees £1,000 TOTAL: £45,400 HOW LONG IT TOOK Prep & excavation 2 weeks Paving 4 weeks Kitchen garden 1 week Metal edging 3 days Planting 2 weeks Wildflower meadow 2 weeks Tree planting 2 days Irrigation 3 days Lighting 2 days TOTAL: 13 weeks HOW WE DID IT... 2 3 1 THE HEAVY CLAY SOIL causes FOUNDATIONS FOR THE TERRACE IT TAKES A MONTH to lay all the paving waterlogging so French drains are dug and the are put in place, with deep beds marked out and paths, using Imperial Black Basalt (POA, water redirected via channels to the meadow. to break up the expanse of paving. cedstone.co.uk). 44 MODERN GARDENS MAY 2022

SENSUOUS FOLIAGE GARDEN MAKEOVER and flowers soften the SMART IDEAS hard edges of the paving. TO STEAL USE PURPLE BLOOMS against a dark background for a stylish contemporary look. ADD A SCULPTURE to a border that mirrors the shape of the flowers around it. SCREEN A SEATING AREA with swaying grasses. Iris ‘Jane Phillips’ a sense of sanctuary and privacy was required hornbeam trees forming a pleached hedge. On go-ahead for work to start. “I don’t like messy ➣ around the house while maintaining a visual the extensive terrace next to the house, a dining plants with variegated, spindly or furry leaves, or connection with the surrounding countryside,” area is surrounded by deep beds, while a lounge yellow flowers except for tulips and daffodils!” explains James. “These spaces can be put to area sits on the edge of a wildflower meadow, Ruth says. “But we loved the design. We weren’t different uses – dining, reading, relaxing – so screened by tall grasses. sure what to expect but James was brilliant!” extending the living space from the house itself,” he continues. “Crab apple trees and clipped yew Mown paths through the meadow area add Work began in January, taking just over three hedges were used to strengthen the geometry an invitation to explore further to an orchard months as the weather went from bad to worse. before the areas were over-layered with softer, of fruit trees featuring rare heritage fruit, With the site on heavy clay soil, which holds more naturalistic planting in deep borders.” complementing the vegetable garden. “Views onto water and excludes the air needed by plant out of and within the garden needed to be roots to thrive, French drains were fitted to Further hedging, trees and grasses were also created and framed,” says James. “An extra channel the water away from the ornamental used to screen the garden from the property contemporary touch was added by using a garden close to the house and into the meadow nextdoor, including a handsome row of modern sculpture, which I designed bespoke. area. Raised green oak beds for the vegetable This leads the eye and frames wonderful views garden were also added, and filled with a more across the Chilterns,” James adds. advantageous soil mix. HAPPY CLIENTS But the result was worth the wait. “Our garden now looks stunning in every season,” Ruth and James were blown away by the design says Ruth. “In the winter there are swaying and, aside from a couple of tweaks to ditch the grasses with crystals of frost, then early colours greenhouse and any yellow flowers, gave the that bring the anticipation of spring, the 5 46 HUNDREDS OF PLANTS are delivered THE BESPOKE SCULPTURE is safely THE ROUGH GRASS is dug out and the soil and laid out, ready to be put into the soil. positioned on the base, set among a circle of turned over, ready for the wildflower meadow The base for the sculpture is up too. pebbles in the main terrace bed. that will improve the plot’s biodiversity. MAY 2022 MODERN GARDENS 45

GARDEN MAKEOVER “It’s a lovely haven for bees James’ expert tips to and butterflies as well as us” grow awesome alliums magnificent blooms of summer, and the flowers But what really matters is the happy hours Mix and match that just keep on flowering while leaves are now spent by Ruth and James in their fabulous allium varieties turning crimson and rusty in the autumn.” outside space. “My favourite spots are the to get an interesting kitchen and vegetable gardens, the lounge area combo of sizes and SUCCESSFUL SPACE for the perfect sundowner, and the terrace purple shades. where we eat homegrown produce looking out For a natural The garden now gradually shifts from a snug over the meadow,” says Ruth. effect, grow in space near the house to a wildflower meadow casual groups or small clusters. that connects with the surrounding landscape, And they’re enjoying it more than ever. Alliums grow best in a sunny spot with paths inviting exploration. The design “Before the pandemic, we both worked in and need well-draining soil, so dig was shortlisted for a Society of Garden London – I’m a lawyer and James is a product in some compost to help with drainage. Designers award and then the high standard leader – but we now work from home,” she Make the colours seem more of skill and craftsmanship was recognised by a adds. “We used to only experience the garden vibrant by pairing with acid green British Association of Landscape Industries’ at weekends but now we use it the whole time. Alchemilla mollis. National Landscape Award. “It was wonderful It is a lovely haven not only for us but also for You can buy potted plants now but to be recognised among our professional peer bees, insects and butterflies. We can’t help but it’s much cheaper to plant bulbs in group,” says James. smile and feel happy wherever we’re outside.” autumn – plant at a depth of three times the height of the bulbs. Purple palette Love this ✽ Agapanthus dry river? This sun-loving plant has a A simple colour scheme ensures the different areas of Turn to p55 holiday feel, its long stems the garden tie together. “The blues and purples look swaying with purple flowers stunning against the black-barn structure and are from midsummer onwards. showcased by the natural greys in the hard landscaping,” says designer James. “As well as the visual effect, bees ✽ Alliums and butterflies are attracted by the insect-pollinated These are great for colour plants. With the movement of long grasses and the hum from late spring to early of buzzing bees, it’s a very sensory experience.” summer. “I like to use a variety for different shades of purple and varying sizes, all floating like musical notes above lower layers of planting,” says James. ✽ Iris ‘Jane Phillips’ A beautiful iris that has lilac-blue flowers with a white beard. It looks stunning against cool grey stone. ✽ Catmint Nepeta produces gazillions of lavender-blue flowers from late spring to late summer and is useful to soften a planting scheme. ✽ Salvia ‘Mainacht’ A great variety with bushy plants crowded with dense heads of deep purple flowers, enhanced by dark stems. It works well singly or in groups. ✽ Verbena bonariensis This tall and sparsely leafed plant brings heavenly dots of bright purple flowers to borders, and attracts butterflies too. 46 MODERN GARDENS MAY 2022

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Jooinn suoscial! Show us your garden style on JtohienFMoauocrdebehoraonpkpGpyaatrgrdeibeenson PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK Instagram. Tag us @moderngardens PLUS! ✽ FAB PRIZES TO WIN ✽ OUTDOOR LIVING IDEAS ✽ MEMES TO SHARE SEARCH FOR ‘MODERN GARDENS MAGAZINE’ ON FACEBOOK

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EASY IDEAS CROCOSMIA LIATRIS SPICATA This pretty South African bloom, If you only bother adding one type of also known as montbretia, is so summer-flowering bulb to your plot, easy to grow. It comes in many make it these fabulously fluffy spires, hues but we love the fiery tones also known as gay feather. They last for the most. In a pot, a mix of ages as cut flowers, and feel just as larger-flowered red ‘Hellfire’ and good as they look! Height 1.2m Spread orange ‘Star of the East’ looks 45cm. £2.95/5 bulbs farmergracy.co.uk divine, or infiltrate a border with the more petite blooms of Plant ‘Lucifer’ or ‘Firestars Hot Spot’. heaven Height 90-120cm Spread 2 cm. £11/10 corms hayloft.co.uk ALSTROEMERIA Also known as the Peruvian lily, these vibrant lovelies bloom all summer long and make excellent cut flowers too. Give them a sunny or lightly shaded spot, and if you have a cold or exposed plot, a thick mulch in early winter to keep them cosy. Height and Spread 60-90cm. £13.99/3 tubers jparkers.co.uk F E ATU RE: G EO FF H ODGE, KARE N M URPHY. PHOTOS: VISIO NS, SH UT TE RSTO C K, ALAMY TULBAGHIA The dainty flowers of this summer bloomer resemble agapanthus, but they’re smaller and in a dreamy range of lilacs, whites and pinks. ‘Silver Lace’ has the added bonus of variegated leaves that complement the mauve blooms a treat. Height 30-45cm Spread 30cm. £11.30/3 bulbs blomsbulbs.com Pineapple lily Canna lily Eucomis is a stunning plant with lush, ese loo o so exotic wit t s often colourful foliage and spectacular leaves and diva blooms but they’re super flowers that last for months. But just wait easy to grow – the trick is to give them till you see the ornamental seedheads a warm, sunny spot and plenty of water with a tuft of leaves on top that earn this and high potash feed in summer. Jungle plant its name. Eucomis comosa ‘Sparkling up a border with a lofty variety, or choose Burgundy’ is our pick, with incredible a dwarf one for a patio pot. Height purple stems. Height 45cm Spread 25cm. 60cm-1.8m Spread 20-90cm. From £7.95/1 bulb sarahraven.com £4.99/1 rhizome crocus.co.uk 50 MODERN GARDENS MAY 2022