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Garden design ideas with Lesley Simpson, looking at box-hedge gardens, the scents, shapes and colours of romantic gardens and espaliered gardens.
Box hedge gardens
This hedging plant is grown in gardens all over Europe because it grows in acid or alkaline soils, is drought tolerant, can take deep shade for part of the day, and is easily transplanted. There’s many types of Buxus or box hedge plants. English box or Buxus sempervirens -traditionally used in Europe and is shade and frost tolerant. Or try Dutch box, Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’, a very dense slow growing buxus that is shade tolerant and only grows to 1 metre. How about Japanese box, Buxus microphylla var. japonica? Great for warmer regions and is faster growing than English or Dutch varieties. For areas with warmer drier summers, Korean Box or Buxus microphylla. Loves sun, part-shade and can even take frost. So lots to choose from for a hedge, or topiary plant in your garden. Let’s find out how to design with them…
Romantic gardens
Ever wondered if you’re garden is romantic or even how to create a romantic garden? What makes a plant romantic? Is it just the colour, maybe pink and white together, or do you have to plant a lot of red roses? Let’s find out with garden designer Lesley Simpson.
Espalier gardens
The word espalier is French, and it comes from the Italian spalliera, meaning “something to rest the shoulder against.” During the 17th Century, espalier meant only the actual trellis or frame on which a plant was trained to grow, but it’s now used to describe both the practice and the plants themselves.
Espalier seems difficult but looks great. I went to a friends house when I was filming a segment for Better Homes and Gardens some years ago and he’d espaliered Camellia sasanqua plants on the south side of his garage. He tells me they’re still there today, and looking fabulous, so why not give it a go. I know I should!
Let’s find out more….
