Exhibitors
Show Gardens
Boardman, Gelly & Co
The Old Forge
Designer: Nigel Boardman
Click here to view a panorama of this garden.
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The ‘Old Forge’ in Surrey, a hub of the community and where the ‘Smithy’ still crafts a living is the inspiration for this garden. To the front of the garden a small brook flows, handy for the forge and for watering the garden. A wash of colour surrounds the forge created by wildflowers and cultivated perennials which would also have been used in the home. In his spare moments the Smithy tends soft fruit an vegetables for the table. A boundary of old split hazel post and rails surrounds the forge and you will notice a horse drawn cart ready 'to put to' at one side.
The garden is divided into sections: a vegetable and soft fruit area includes carrots edged with marigolds, Oriental brassicas and 
wigwams of sweet peas and runner beans; a cottage border that might have existed centuries ago since all the plants, including Dianthus plumarius and Tanacetum partenium, have ancient uses; the brook boasts wetland plants such as sneezewort, meadow buttercup and ragged robin; a bright summer border includes Astrantia major. lily hybrids and Linaria purpurea; a herb plot includes Monarda didyma, Lavandula angustifolia and Artemisia dracunclus; finally a woodland area boasts wild, shade-loving plants including wild strawberry, wood sage, meadowsweet and red campion.