Nymans, Haywards Heath, West Sussex

After the wettest January on record and slow going with the creation of some of my gardens I decided to take a break and have an afternoon out at Nymans National trust property near Haywards Heath, West Sussex. It was of course raining but the winter colour on offer in the garden and a mug of coffee and a chocolate brownie in the Cafe helped to lift the winter blues. I even bumped into one of my lovely clients (hi Maggie).

Art Installation

One of the reasons I chose to visit Nymans was the promise of a sculptural installation by French artist Denis Tricot. The way the sculpture interacted with the old ruins and the landscape was a real inspiration. I always say that a garden should be site-specific and not just 'plonked' into a space. The same is true with sculpture and this is the perfect example of site-specific work.

Winter Colour
This may be a recurring theme of my blog in the winter months but when the occasional plant does send forth a brightly coloured flower or reveal some vivid stems they seem even brighter against the grey skies or browns and russets of the surrounding landscape.

Shape and Form

One thing that you really can notice when you walk around a well designed garden is the structure that holds the garden together. The bare bones of the garden are revelled and not only that but usually unnoticed shapes and forms can present themselves.

Winter Protection

Clients often ask me about winter protection and the use of exotic plants. We are generally very lucky living in London, Brighton or the South East as we have less frost and warmer winters than the rest of the UK and this means less need to protect our plants. If you are going to grow some exotic species as they obviously do at Nymans then here are some pictures of what to do.

Arresting Scents

One thing that is overlooked in many garden designs is smell. As you walk around Nymans this is the most arresting feature at this time of year; on several occasions I was actually stopped in my tracks with the hit of an intoxicating scent. The main culprits were some cleverly positioned Daphne and the less attractive but highly scented Sarcococca.

Now and Then

This was not my first visit to Nymans, I had also been to take pictures at the height of summer in 2009. Here a couple of winter/summer comparisons....

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, London

Kew Gardens has the reputation as one of the most famous horticultural establishment in London - perhaps even the world. Winter may not seem like the ideal time of year for a visit but the richness of colour and the interesting landscaping can inspire and surprise even on a cold grey day.

Beautiful Browns

Being a botanical garden, Kew is bursting with unusual trees from around the world - resulting in an amazing variety of browns, reds and yellows at this time of year. The colours seem somehow brighter and more vibrant against the dark grey skies of the coming winter. The grasses in the Grass Garden around Davies Alpine House really come into their own in autumn.

Winter Interest

Avenues of trees create amazing vistas, cutting through the grounds for what seems like miles. Without any distraction from flowers and fluffiness the architectural layout of the landscape really shines.

Architecture

The grounds are packed with architectural gems. The Temperate House and Palm House are a marvel of ironwork and glass. In stark contrast to simple lines and utility of today the Victorians haven't missed a single inch when it comes to decoration... scrolled ironwork, finials, and Grecian pots adorn every surface.

Winter Warmth

Kew is a great garden to visit in the cold! The beautifully warm glasshouses are a treat, each filled with flowers and lush planting... As you walk through the glasshouses you are taken on a journey from tropical forests to deserts full of cacti all with their own temperatures and landscapes.

In summary...

The highlight for me was undoubtedly the Grass Garden with its amazing display and variety of grasses... truly inspirational and a reminder of how some well placed grasses can transform a winter garden of any size. Glasshouses can start to look a little samey after a while as lush green planting and palms all start to blur together - though Kew has made a real effort to make them something special. Will be back for another look around when the Temperate House reopens in 2018 after restoration.