Garden designer Mary Swan gave a
fascinating entitled: A short time to make a long border in which she explained
the highs and lows of preparing a show garden for RHS Chatsworth.
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| Mary Swan |
Mary studied garden design and horticulture
and now lectures at Craven College as well as running her own garden design
company. After experiencing being part
of a team who put together show gardens, Mary decided to go solo. She decided to attend a seminar run by the
RHS to find out more and discovered the Long Border category at Chatsworth was
still open to entries and so she applied for this – with just two months to
prepare.
Mary then took us through the hairy
process of making the garden with the theme given as Movement. She used the idea of the wind and the
transition from spring to summer to complete the raised bed. We heard how she drew up the plans, sourced
the plants plus a steel screen while following the criteria and contending with
the weather. The list of plants used and details about workshops on design can
be found here https://www.maryswangardens.com/garden-design/rhs-chatsworth-flower-show-gold/
One of the useful tips she gave for our
own gardens is to take a colour card to the nursery with you to ascertain which
plants matched well with others.
The outcome? A gold medal!
Display
Table
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| Janella’s Hamamelis x intermedia Pallida which she intends to place in her garden near a shrub which shows colour at this time of year. The plant is commonly known as Witch hazel as the branches were used as divining rods |
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| Kate’s vase includes Epimedium, Snowdrops including S. Arnott, Ipheion Alberto Castillo, Cyclamen coum, Hellebores, Iris, Sarcococca, Viburnum bodnantense dawn |
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| Trevor’s Iris recticulata Cantab |
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| Ann’s spring display: Iris Palm Springs, George, Pauline and Sheila Ann Germany, Primulas and Geranium |
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A bargain, yet to be identified, from The
Arium
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| Gill’s basket contains spring flowers including the Daffodil Jet Fire |
From her garden Gill brought Coronilla, Snowdrops,
the scented Daphne retusa, Primrose and Hellebore, which last longer in a vase
when a slit is made along the length of the stem.
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| Jill J’s pot of Crocus Cream Beauty |
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Margaret M’s Helleborus
Gold Collection
Joker
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Early notice about Paxton Spring Show and
Plant Sale on 30th March. Dorothy
has made a request for plants.
Next Meeting
1st March – Forum meeting: John Freer will be giving a short talk and demonstrating
how to stage entries for our Mini Show (or the Paxton Spring Show). We will also be discussing shade loving plants
so we would like examples from your own gardens.
