Gardens Illustrated Magazine

The month of March is one of welcome transition, from the tired, drab winter garden garb of brown and grey to the hopeful green shoots and buds of early spring. If you are very lucky, very clever, and were very good at planning and planting last year, you may also get to enjoy explosions of colourful blooms around now. Planting designer James Hitchmough found a way to get not just a summer peak in his suburban Sheffield garden but a magical spring flush too, with a layer of bright and brilliant bulbs and self-seeders set in under his later-flowering layer (page 54). It's an achievable idea for any size of garden. In this issue, we have plenty more March plant inspiration, with a focus on Chaenomeles (page 46) and top seasonal…

Claire Harrup Claire has illustrated Benjamin Popes year of columns, page 30. “It's been a pleasure illustrating Benjamin's words, recording the passing seasons and all the variety a garden can bring.” Tom Attwood Tom visits an extraordinary suburban garden on the outskirts of Lancaster, page 36. “The strength of design and abundant planting is an education.” Annie Gatti Annie considers James Hitchmoughs spring garden, page 54. “James's spring planting is such an inspiration to experiment with clump-forming plants and self-seeders.” CONTRIBUTING EDITORS James Basson James lives in the South of France where he runs Scape Design, a practice specialising in low-maintenance and dry gardens. He is a fervent advocate for creating sustainable landscapes. The winner of four Chelsea Gold medals, he was awarded Best in Show in 2017. Fergus Garrett Fergus was appointed head gardener at Great Dixter by Christopher…

The Netherlands is famous for horticultural excellence and innovations at the forefront of garden design with the likes of internationally renowned Piet Oudolf (see page 64), Jacqueline van der Kloet and Robert Broekema as contemporary names leading the way. The tour starts with visits to Oudolf-designed gardens at the Singer Laren museum ofModernist art, including the recently planted sculpture garden, and De Vlinderhof in Máximapark, where more than 100 types of plant create a haven for people and pollinators. Further visits explore some of the sources of inspiration for todays designers, such as the gardens of the late Mien Ruys, considered to be one of the most influential garden architects of the 20th century, and the magnificent, restored 17th-century grounds of the former royal residence Paleis Het Loo. In Amsterdam we enjoy…

Wild things This month the Wildlife Trust and the Royal Horticultural Society launch their annual Wild About Gardens campaign, to encourage us all to support the nature in our gardens. This year the spotlight is on lawns, and on the flora and fauna they can support. Low-growing wildflowers, such as speedwells, clovers, dandelions, primroses and selfheal, can blend beautifully into mown lawns, and are all pollinatorfavourites, while taller plants, such as knapweeds, can be introduced to patches of longer grass. Lawns help combat climate change, lowering garden temperatures, and can help to reduce flash flooding by allowing rainwater to soak into the ground, so with an estimated 24 million gardens in the UK, choosing to breathe life into our lawns could make a big difference, wildaboutgardens.org.uk JOHN BRIDGES. LEE SCHOFIELD, AMY LEWIS.…

Herbal medicine The revitalised medieval herb garden at Bolton Castle in Wensleydale offers an intriguing glimpse of herbal history. Gardener Elizabeth Carter spent five years researching the herbs that would have featured in a physic garden when the castle was built in the 14th century, and has added more than 100 different types of plants. Arranged in themed borders that include ‘Poisons and Plague'and'Magicand Myth’ plants include eyebright (.Euphrasia officinalis), used in the Middle Ages as an eyewash, and the soporific poison mandrake (Mandragora officinarum). Open from 18 March, admission £5. boltoncastle.co.uk Spreading the word It will come as no surprise to most gardeners that gardening is good for your mental health. Increasingly, health professionals are also recognising the huge benefits it can have on their patients’ wellbeing but aren't always aware of…

1 A Love of Flowers Discover the wonderful botanical watercolour paintings of Margaret J Betts, in this exhibition of her work at Dawyck Botanic Garden in the Scottish Borders. Until 7 May. 10am-4pm. Admission included in garden entry of £7.20. Dawyck Botanic Garden, Stobo, Peebles EH45 9JU. Tel 01721 760254, rbge.org.uk 2 Gardening in the Dolfor Hills In this online talk for the National Garden Scheme, Dr Wolfgang Schaefer will explain how he has created his beautiful garden, Cwm Weeg, at Dolfor in Powys, which features various terraces, fountains, a grotto, and stumpery. 7 March, 7-8.30pm. £10. ngs.org.uk 3 Designing for a Small Garden Join Kate Gould, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show multi Gold-medal winner, on this two-day course that will explain how to deliver maximum impact in a small space. 7 March and 28…