Introduction

Hillside Garden

Introduction

We returned to Hillside in the summer to take a closer look at how I applied naturalistic principles in different ways when putting together different parts of the garden, creating distinct places to be that each have their own mood and balance.

We're now back at my garden in Somerset at the end of July, which is probably the garden's peak. Everything has been working towards this moment, before it starts changing into late summer. Beyond that, there will be another peak in autumn.

This timing is what I planned for in terms of form and structure. Now six years in, the form of the trees and shrubs is starting to come through, and the perennials are reaching maturity. The plants have meshed and mingled beautifully, with certain things starting to colonise where I've allowed some self-seeding.

• Selected self-seeding is important in a naturalistic planting scheme to create movement, diversity and change from year to year.

A Naturalistic Garden Complementing the Surrounding Meadows

The garden is planned so that it sits very comfortably with the surrounding landscape. It's very much about a connection to the meadows and wild hedgerows beyond.

• The form that I've worked into the garden all comes out of the shapes of the trees in the distance, and the softness of the hedgerows when they grow out in the summer.
• I don't want it to feel too formal – I just want enough structural elements that the informal planting flowing between those structures sits comfortably and I have a nice balance.

Your Assignment

Look out at the landscape surrounding your garden.

1. Are there any landmarks that you can 'borrow' by framing the view of them from your garden, such as a church tower, lighthouse, hill, rocky outcrop, statuesque tree or glimpses of water?

1. Are there any elements of the landscape that you can echo in your planting? For example, any trees outside the garden whose shapes you could echo in scaled-down clipped shrubs?