Plant, grow, repeat; plant, grow, repeat

WIW 7 / Feb 23

Last week (WIW 6), I talked about simplicity. About being strict with your planting and not having too many single plants. Subscriber Anne Wareham commented that maybe more people should go for simplicity – especially if you’re a new gardener – as things are maybe less likely to go wrong; it’s easier to manage fewer plants. 

So this week I find myself somewhere between monoculture and plethoculture (clearly not a real word, but you know what I mean). And it’s the old adage of repetition, repetition, repetition. Eat, sleep, repeat: find the plants you like; repeat them at key points; grow them well. Then sit back and enjoy…

Photograph: Richard Bloom

Where It Works Bodnant Winter Garden designed by Troy Scott-Smith, at the National Trust property in Wales: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/bodnant-garden

Why It Works Let’s be clear. This photo is not a shot normally associated with Bodnant.

Bodnant is big. Bodnant is land. Bodnant is views. Bodnant is domination of the landscape. Bodnant is water. Bodnant is laburnum arches. Bodnant is scale.

Yet, like all great gardens, there is respite from all that largess; there are sublime planting combinations, interesting features, gorgeous details and some real take homes. And maybe this little view of the winter garden is one of them.

I don’t think it’s the best bit of design ever; I don’t think it ever intended to be. It is, clearly though, considered and thought through, with some clever garden design tricks of the trade used. I can see 5:

1. Curving path. The swoop from left to right is classic, as is the trick of the photograph angle where the path soon fades away and you can’t see where it goes. Path materials and stone edging link perfectly. This leads the brain wanting to know more, wanting to wonder where the wanderer would be lead…

2. Focal point bench. John Brookes would be proud (though the bench may be too rustic for his taste). A bench does so much. Not only offering respite for weary walkers, but it allows the eye to fall onto something; to take in the curve of the path, be lead to the right, and then happily look up to the bench. The colouration and tone of the pew fits perfectly with the stone.

3. Pops of gold. On the bottom right, Pinus mugo ‘Wintergold' is best in spring when it puts on its new, butter-yellow growth. But what I like is the way its spring growth picks up the yellow new growth of other plants at the back of the photo. It’s not obvious, but there are quite a few yellow tones in the northwest direction from this lovely dwarf mountain pine.

4. Red dogwood repeat. The dark reds of Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ towards the top of the photo link perfectly with cousin Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' in the middle of the frame. The orange-red shoots are a perfect blend from the yellow tones of the pine all the way to the darker reds of ‘Sibirica’.

5. Darker tones. The use of darker coloured plants is often missed in garden design. Sometimes you need the dark to see the light. The russets and light browns of twisting, curving Carex comans ‘Bronze' links to the paving and the bench; the deep purple mounds of Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Tom Thumb' on the top right of the picture. These darker tones actually make the colour pop from the others, such as the purples of the heathers and cyclamens, or the orange-red of the dogwoods.

I like this view because it is so anti-Bodnant. It’s relatable (doesn’t everything nowadays have to be relatable?!). And any of us could do this, if we had the space.

Choose the plants you like; make sure they give plenty of year-round interest; and repeat and place accordingly.

A recipe for success.

Chris Young

Is this view something that works for you? Or is it a bit mundane? Is there something special about the repetition? Let me know what you think and join the chat…