The Key elements of any garden design are how the hard landscaping links with the planting layout.
I’ve always felt early spring is an ideal time after winter preparations/ developments to stand back, take stock, and plan the next stage.
I’ve been greatly influenced by the work of the Late Graham Stuart Thomas (National Trust Garden Consultant). His book, Perennial Garden Plants is a classic, an invaluable tool to be at the plantspersons hands as a reference. I’m fortunate enough to have plucked mine off the shelf many years ago at an antiquarian book shop in Chipping Norton, when I was Head Gardener in the Cotswolds for over ten years, and even more fortunate to discover it was signed by GST, it’s with me always. I’m constantly using it!
Gardens and plants certainly bring people together, and as a Head Gardener the garden becomes part of me, and oneself, part of the garden. When I wrote the article on Phormium species a few years ago in the HPS Journal, it sparked an interest from a few members of the HPS on the Lakeside Garden, a few weeks later after letters were left in my office, I was walking HPS members around the Lakeside Garden, aside from my weekly garden tours, it was a great thing. I was subsequently asked if I would undertake a talk for the HPS. To date, my Full-Time work / writing hasn’t allowed me time to do that, but it’s something that will hopefully come around in the next few years.
As I write this on Sunday April 6th, we’re a week into an extremely dry and warm spell, set to last at least another week or so. The borders need some spring rain to bring them to life, filled with an array of perennials, mulched with garden compost, peat free compost, and Strulch (wheat straw with added iron minerals) Yesterday on the Saturday there was quite a biting wind / very cold for spring.
As a Horticulturist who’s worked in the industry for nearly 45 years in a diverse range of gardens, settings / people, working right on the edge of Lake Windermere is a unique experience! and not one that many gardeners get to experience. For example, comparing the extremes of gardening here in the South Lakes, to the North Cotswolds is vast in cultivating plants.
It’s close here to the water, only a perimeter path, beach wall, separates that and the garden. The lake can be quite rough, with white horse waves, or as calm as silk. It can be cold and bitter in winter, and it can be mild with a temperature that is similar to a microclimate of a Walled Garden, that can affect how the perennials and shrubs kick start in spring.
I recall when I started here as Head Gardener in October 2021, heavy floods, pushed and channelled into a section of the garden in front of the Victorian Style Conservatory. There is of course a wall opening where visitors walk to the Lake jetty, this is where wedding photos take place, the water swept through there at speed under high winds and rain, it was alarming, and at the same time, breathtaking! I recall seeing it cover a small ornamental lawn, around stone urn planters, (what had I let myself in for I recall! ) the water drained and subsided after a week of calm. Thankfully it hasn’t happened since.
I’m constantly trialling plants for performance in the borders facing the Lake, an interesting experiment. One of the performers last year was Gaura Butterfly Rose, (perennial) a beautiful pinky/ red flower, after some hard cutting back, it’s bouncing back again this year, having come through the winter. Plant trials continue as I’m regularly writing about them for the Hort Week Industry. Euphorbia species are continuing trials this year in the Lakeside Garden, they thrive in a stoney spot outside the conservatory facing the Lake, as well as in the borders. Euphorbia mellifera is one of my favourites, not the one pictured.
I’m currently undertaking some planting with Acer palmatum Katsura (pictured) a real stunner, planned for a sheltered wall area at the far end of the main garden in a semi shaded spot.
The rooftop garden continues with plant trials and further planting. Annual wildflower verges will be sown at the end of this month including, Field Poppy, Corncockles, Cornflowers etc, great for the environment, bees, butterflies, hoverflies etc. The real performers at the moment are the Hybrid Hellebores in the woodland entrance, constantly admired and photographed by the visitors/ garden lovers.
A flurry of Wood Anemones put on a great display in our Lodge Garden Spring meadow (enjoy it while it lasts)
A real winner every year at the Lakeside Garden is the summer display of Lobelia tupa, an absolute stunner, a perennial that easily reaches 2 metres here with its stunning multi stems adorned with red tubular 2 lipped flowers borne in a sympodium pattern. I’ve written a small feature for the RHS Plant Review (June)
I’m pleased and proud to say the Lakeside Garden was featured in the wonderful Hortus Journal, Winter 2022, No 144, from a writer who was featuring Arts & Crafts Gardens in the Lake District. As gardeners of course we must always remain modest, but it was praise to refer to the Horticultural excellence at the Lakeside Garden! The Conservatory at the Lakeside Garden houses a 20-year-old Scented Pelargonium Collection of which I cultivate.
I’ve been blessed with a wonderful life journey, working in some wonderful gardens / settings, it continues.
Kevin Line Head Gardener/ Plantsman, Lakeside Hotel Garden, South Cumbria.
Professional Gardeners’ Guild.
HPS Member 12 years, writing HPS Blog 10 years this May.
