Oliver Borrow: Lost garden
Garden designer Oliver Borrow explores Leonardslee before it closes to the public
Leonardslee in West Sussex, one of the country’s great ornamental woodland gardens has closed its gates to the public after being purchased as a private residence.
Knowing that this beautiful woodland retreat would soon be a lost to the public, I reached for my camera and headed over to see what we would be missing. I wished I had been a few weeks earlier when it was covered in the flowers from the huge Rhododendrons and Azaleas (some of them hundreds of years old). Their huge curling and gnarled branches were still supporting the remainder of what had been a spectacular show of colour.
I was greeted with a rather unusual site when I walked to the front of the large house: people picnicking next to a field of wallabies. The wallabies seemed to be enjoying the sun as much as the visitors. A champagne cork popping into the blue sky made me wish I had planned this better and brought a picnic myself.
Walking round the dell past the streams and ponds I took notice of the design and layout. I am always open to inspiration for my own garden designs, taking note of how vistas cleverly reveal themselves, planting laid out so perfectly that it seems someone has taken nature and tweaked it to enhance its colours and shapes. In fact, this is exactly what has been done here. The garden is set out as a magical and exaggerated form of natural woodland.
“The garden is set out as a magical and exaggerated form of natural woodland”
The garden takes note of a design idea that has been used for hundreds of years: to have more artifice and control close to the house which gives way to a more naturalistic style further away. Although all of the gardens are set out in a way that is inspired by nature, the rockery close to the house with its bright flowering plants and a statue of children playing can be mistaken for nothing but manmade (pictured).
Although many who pass through would never know, some of the rocks are artificially made. Fake rocks made from a substance called Pulhanite were the height of fashion and sophistication in late Victorian and turn-of-the-century periods; many were adorned with gnomes, although none are to be found here.
It is not just the layout that can be used to inspire our own gardens and outside spaces. When looking at these large country gardens I also take note of planting combinations that look good. Gorgeous Primulars look at home when put next to the yellow Iris. The combination works as they are both plants that thrive in moist conditions. They would look superb around a water feature or in a damp part of the garden.
It was two hundred years ago (when Leonardslee was being made) that passionate plants people delved deep into uncharted jungles and valleys around the world to find exotic species and plants that could be brought back to gardens like this one. I can only get a small sense of what it must have been like to discover new plants when I walk around these gardens and find little gems such as the ones pictured. Luckily for me I don’t have to travel thousands of miles by ship to get colourful and exotic plants; I just call up my trusty suppliers and get them delivered!
In my garden
It seems like the fruits of my labour are finally paying off. The Nasturtiums which I grew from seed on my window sill are now coming into bloom (pictured) and each time one of the deep crimson flowers start to open I think of how amazing the display will look in a few weeks time.
The important thing to do now is to dead head; most of the summer flowering herbaceous perennials (the plants that die back in winter) will put forward even more blooms when you take the dead ones away. The same is true of most roses and it will keep the plants looking great throughout the summer.
Make sure you don’t let the plants dry out: if they do you will reduce the vigour and health of the flowers. I quite enjoy watering the garden in the evening, the dappled shade coming in through the large lime trees. This is a good time to check on all your plants.?When watering I notice if any are being eaten or have patches of disease.
The easiest thing to do is to remove any infected areas, but if the whole plant is in trouble you may have to look at spraying or some sort of biological control. I had a problem with aphids last year so I ordered some ladybirds online! They overwintered in the trees and under the decking and have come back so I have no problem with the aphids this year, and the ladybirds look lovely in the garden too.
If you would like my help in bringing some of the magic of our historic gardens into your outside space then please give me a ring on 07773 764 212.
