The National Garden Scheme: Hotter Summers, Cooler Colours

Traditionally, when we imagine hot borders, we imagine hot colours and plants found in more arid or tropical environments. This doesn’t need to be the case. We can still have the English country garden feel and colour palette that can cope with a changing climate and doesn’t lose the romantic feel. This is what a visitor can expect to see. The garden shows how hot border planting can be achieved in an English country theme. Arts & Crafts gardens such as Sissinghurst, Great Dixter and Hidcote Manor serve as inspiration. The use of perennials, specifically salvias are in keeping with the traditional colour palette of the English country garden. This aesthetic is combined with the intention to withstand the changing climate and particularly hotter drier summers. Key features include topiary spheres, Taxus baccata (English yew) a more robust plant than Buxus and one that is a classic feature in larger Arts & Crafts gardens across the country. The driftwood pieces are a symbolic representation of the drying climate, an impactful, focal feature for the border. A small amount of visible soil in the planting scheme allows for a sense of breathability without compromising the overall design.