Chelsea Flower Show 2015
Kent Group’s display depicts the garden of a typical hardy planter, which should strike a chord with many gardeners.
It shows a small plot crammed with old favourites and exciting new introductions collected over the years from fellow HPS members, plant sales and specialist nurseries. But hardy planters don’t only collect plants, propagation is just as exciting for them, with the added benefit that surplus plants can be passed ‘Over the Garden Gate’ to be swapped or sold to generate funds for the next ‘must have’ plant. So our garden journey starts in the propagation area, where many happy hours are spent in the potting, or should it be pottering, shed. Seeds are sown, plants divided, cuttings taken and the cold frame is used to protect the new plants. The green roof on the potting shed is another area for plants but also has the added advantage of helping to provide rain water, trickling down chains into the watering cans. Gravel provides an excellent medium for self-seeders and the unexpected can and do appear. Once all the young plants have been attended to we can go into the garden. Entering through a rustic ‘Hobbit’ gate with fences either side which are home to scrambling climbers, we can follow the path, with plants spilling over on either side. On the left is the sunny area and on the right the shady part of the garden. The plants that we grow in our gardens came originally from all over the world and have evolved to grow in many different environments. If possible, we try to give plants growing conditions as close as possible to those in their natural habitat. So here they are planted in the area where they will have the best chance to thrive.
Shady and Cool The Acer griseum, grown multi-stemmed to show its peeling bark, provides shade where woodland plants can be grown. A damper area allows moisture-loving plants to thrive and little glimpses of water can be seen between the planting. Here we can see self seeders such as Aquilegia vulgaris and Milium effusum ‘Aureum’ have been allowed to sow themselves amongst other plants giving the area a natural feel.
Warm and Sunny In the sunny area we find plants suited to hot dry conditions, and those which need more moisture but still require full sun to develop their true character. Vibrant colours come from poppies and geums (the holder of the National Collection lives in Kent and is a member of our team), while sarracenias, carnivorous plants from North America, bring a touch of the exotic. Aquilegias, which tolerate a wide range of conditions, bind the whole display together.
Over the Garden Gate
When we reach the front picket gate we see the plants that are surplus to the hardy planter’s requirements, which have been passed ‘Over the Garden Gate’ to be given, swapped or sold to other keen gardeners. Hopefully, the new owners will get as much pleasure from their newly acquired plants as the hardy planter who grew them.