Just as I thought the
weather had changed for the worse we were blessed with a beautifully sunny day;
I saw my opportunity and took my faithful companion (Charlie the dog) to a gem
of a garden just 15 minutes outside of Brighton.
I had seen an advert
for this garden in a local magazine but was not prepared for the amazing sight
that confronted me after winding down the entrance path: A Sussex field had
been transformed into a sea of colour with undulating mounds of vivid yellows
and reds offset against plumes of grasses and pastel flowers. I have rarely
seen such a good example of prairie planting and late summer or autumn is the
perfect time to see this garden at its best.
The clever thing about
this garden is that it is not just soft, naturalistic planting but it is
cleverly contrasted with some strong layout in the form of hedging and a
central axis through the middle of the space. The hedges offer a backbone to
the garden but rather than unrepentantly cutting through the space they are cut
into undulating shapes, mirroring the planting on either side.
Colour is used to
great effect in the planting schemes here. Blocks of primary colours produce
dramatic effects whilst some tonal borders are an array of delightful blues and
purples.
The other feature in
this garden that must be mentioned is the sculpture, which emerges from the
drifts of plants. I often see sculpture in public gardens and it seems to have
no relation with its surroundings but here it works completely. Seas of flowers
and grasses look fabulous but they need that something extra to lift them and
add interest and this is exactly what the sculpture does, it helps to focus the
eye in a landscape of curves and mounds.
Verdict
Wow…I was completely
stunned by this garden; it is a plantsman’s dream and full of inspiration for
planting combinations. It doesn’t have the large rambling grounds of other
public gardens but it makes up for it in quality.
Worst bits
If you are looking for
formal planting or a whole day out this is not for you. It only has one style
of planting.
Best bits
On a sunny day in late
summer or autumn I can’t think of any other place where the planting would be
more stunning and colourful.
