Chelsea gardens with flair
Chris Young, editor of The Garden, selects five gardens that stand out - whether for their superb design, plantsmanship or inspired use of materials.
The element I really like in this garden is the way designer Robert Myers has created strips of maritime planting – controlling the plants such as Crambe cordifolia and Armeria maritima, all within a coastal feel.
Many well known gardens use inscriptions to add an artistic element to a garden design – and this space proves that size is not an issue. Taking its cue from the world renowned Little Sparta and its artwork, the designers have brought a real touch of flair and style to a small space. Beautiful detailing, lovely writing, and a bit of humour blend to create a quality garden.
This design just goes to show that creating a sustainable garden need not mean scrimping on design or aesthetics. Designer Nigel Dunnett’s garden marries planting inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement with contemporary concerns of sustainability, environmental awareness and recycling. The effect is a totally realistic and useable space.
Not only does designer Cleve West’s garden boast some of the most considered and well thought out planting, but spatially it works incredibly well. The more you look at this garden, the more you realise that the proportions are perfectly balanced and the actual feel of it as a useable space adds to its appeal.
This front-on view of designer Kate Gould’s urban garden shows the level of complexity and detail involved to make a really inspiring garden – the green wall, canopy of trees, glasswork and paving take huge amounts of time and consideration to make look exactly right.