Sara Maitland on Reviews of Dan Pearson’s garden at The Maggie Centre
Sara Maitland discusses the comments on Bridget Rosewell’s review of Dan Pearsons’ garden at The Maggie Centre, Charing Cross, London.
Kim Wilkie on The Maggie Centre
Kim Wilkie comments on Bridget Rosewell’s review of Dan Pearson’s garden at The Maggie Centre, Charing Cross, London.
Joan Edlis on The Maggie Centre
Joan Edlis comments on Bridget Rosewell’s review of Dan Pearson’s garden at The Maggie Centre, Charing Cross, London.
Victoria Summerley on The Maggie Centre
Victoria Summerley comments on Bridget Rosewell’s review of Dan Pearson garden at The Maggie Centre, Charing Cross, London.
Should we trust anyone’s opinion on a garden except our own?
by Tim Richardson.
“Beth Chatto’s garden was never going to be ‘my thing’, exactly, but I found it all rather underwhelming….”
The Battery Bosque: prairie as metaphor by James Golden
“What better designer than Piet Oudolf, who works in a vocabulary of plant materials characterized by sturdy geometric form, durable structure, and the ability to provide visual appeal even through winter weather?”
Considerations for garden visitors by Anne Wareham
by Anne Wareham.
“Try some adjectives: – risk taking, banal, complacent, incomprehensible, exciting, disturbing? – to help you focus on just what you feel about it.”
With responses from Mike Gerrard, Antony Woodward, Tim Richardson, Jenny Woods, Clive Nichols, Chris Young, Yue Zhuang and Rebecca Wells.
Coombe House, Devon reviewed by Stephen Anderton
Reflections on a visit to Plaz Metaxu (Coombe house) by Stephen Anderton.
“It is possible for an overpowering intellectual agenda for a garden to be the excuse for unconscious flights of great ugliness…”
Jane Stevens on “Gender and the Garden World” by Anne Wareham
Jane Stevens comments on Anne Wareham’s article on gender and the garden world.
Sally Gregson on “Girly Gardens – or not?”
“I read the ongoing debate about ‘flowers’ versus ‘design’ among garden designers and commentators with a knowing smile. I remember the self-same discussion when I entered horticulture 25 years ago.”
Amanda Patton on “Gender and the Garden World” by Anne Wareham
Amanda Patton comments on Anne Wareham’s article on gender and the garden world.
Noel Kingsbury on “Girly Gardens – or not?”
“I’ve had a look at the Ann Pearce garden, and for I’m afraid me it sums up so much of what I really hate about modern garden design – subjectively I found it sterile and unfeeling; objectively unsustainable and wildlife-unfriendly. Sorry, I hate saying this about people’s work, but we are meant to be engaged in a debate here, and I am just going to say what I think. Give me a girly garden full of flowers. Or for that matter an old guy with loads of petunias and French marigolds at 330mm intervals. Or a load of weeds…”
Bridget Rosewell responds to comments on “Girly Gardens – or not?”
“When I was a resident of West Oxfordshire – flat Thames plain – I became very interested in the hortus conclusus perhaps as an escape and contrast to that boring agricultural landscape in which Didcot Power Station is visible from practically everywhere. And I wanted detail, planted order and planted cornucopia to give me variety. Now I live in London and Monmouthshire amid very different landscapes…”
Anne Beswick on “Girly Gardens – or not?”
“I first saw Ann Pearce’s garden in The Times of Jan 06 and thought it was great. I took the article in to an evening class I was doing in garden design. They had learnt to look at things other than bright flower colour and were now happy with ideas of balance and proportion in the garden. But they didn’t like Ann’s garden. ‘It’s all right, but not for me’ was the general consensus. Leading people out of their comfort zone is difficult.
I confess that I was a bit disappointed.”
Recent Posts from: Veddw
I’ve fallen in love with these.
I love my garden, I do. It’s at the heart of my life. But just recently I’ve been drawn back and back to a windowsill with some sweet dwarf pelargoniums.
Favour the Ferns
Many years ago The Financial Times sent me to do a feature on the RHS ‘Flower Show’ at Tatton Park . I was totally naïve and had no idea what I was supposed to do or to write about. So my excitement was tempered by acute anxiety. The term ‘imposter syndrome’ could have been invented for me. […]
Snowdrop mania is coming…
In the UK, right now, the horticultural world is about to drive us all mad with snowdrops. Pictures of. Articles about. Gardens with them. Anything people can think of to bash us over the head with snowdrops.
Brilliant Brecon
Recently we made a visit to Brecon. This is not far from us, in case anyone was getting over excited about the possibility that I might have been travelling again. It’s in Wales, in the Brecon Beacons, recently re-christened Bannau Brycheiniog.
You should have been here Next Year
Charles made a complaint recently when we were walking in the garden.
When I complained about him complaining he told me that it was good for me to have complaints about the planting.
