Chilly Chelsea – Part III

The M&G Centenary Garden ‘Windows Through Time’ – Roger Platts

Somewhat surprisingly, the only garden at this year’s show to embrace the centennial theme, with Platts’ garden vignette doffing its cap to the design and planting trends past and present.

Intricately and beautifully planted borders comprising a list of perennials as long as my arm, weave around the garden, spilling gently onto the contemporary, diamond cut sandstone paving. Platts has cleverly, yet subtlely fused traditional and contemporary planting trends throughout the garden. Prairie planting with steely, blue/grey Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’ interplanted with blood-red Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’ sitting cheek by jowl with clipped balls of Buxus sempervirens cushioned amongst ribbons of Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’. Standing statuesquely within the planting, historical shrubs popularised throughout the 1900s include the moody, dark burgundy of Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ and Cornus kousa ‘China Girl’ with its creamy, white star-like bracts.

A contemporary, circular window sculpture in one corner frames the garden, but also gives the impression of ‘looking back through time’ at a century old RHS Chelsea garden. Sitting majestically in the midst of this beautiful garden, an oak-pillared Summer House, complete with conical thatched roof provides visitors to the garden with a sheltered viewpoint of all around.

For more information visit http://www.mandgchelsea.co.uk

Author: Mike the Gardener

Freelance gardening writer, consultant and designer. Mike Palmer is a passionate and professional plantsman, offering services in garden writing, consultancy and garden design. Mike is also available for garden and plant related talks and presentations. Mike has been a professional horticulturalist for over fifteen years. View all posts by Mike the Gardener