Chris Barnes Garden Design Blog

Stopping by Woods

2010-01-19T10:33:00.008Z

As gardeners we can learn so much from the natural rythms all around us.

My cycle route takes me along the river Yar, where a ribbon of deciduous woods flanks the river on one side and the farmland on the other. To the sound of the curlew and sandpiper piping through the woods my attention was caught by the repeated patterns of vegetation mile upon mile.

Young hazels, willow and oaks formed the structure, with just a glimpse of catkin and tight coppery bud waiting to emerge. Ground ivy covered most of the marshy earth and in places reached for the sky, growing up into fallen branches and the taller trees, twining amongst liguana -like honeysuckles. Brackish pools appear randomly amongst the fallen leaves with escaping streams leaching out their precious gift of water into the surrounding vegetation. Whispering rushes guard these, forming an inpenetrable edge to the river. The early morning light washes over their feathery tops, changing tone with the seasons. Endlessly fascinating, wave upon wave as the wind brushes over them.

Clearings with fallen logs invite me to stop and stare - or play like many families do, so that their children can explore the wonder of the quiet glades. What can be more magical in a young child's eyes than tiny woven paths through vegatation, with logs to scramble over and hidden plant treasures peeping out from dark corners?

Stands of the glossy leafed evergreen fern, Asplenium scolopendrium punctuate this with their bold foliage. Strap-like leaves of iris foetidissima form further aysmmetric groupings in the clearings. In design terms we would talk of 'ground cover' and 'architectural specimens'!

The simplicity of this woodland planting can be echoed in our own garden plantings, especially in those wild boundary areas. Why, the endless formal hedge or cuprinol stained fence? A natural planting like this will not only please the eye, but provide home to much wildlife as well. Shade loving ornamentals and bulbs can be added to create further interest if desired.

My joy at this scene is yet to be heightened as I know that concealed and sheltering among the leaves are mile upon mile of primroses and my favourite, the celandines. Come spring they will highlight the path just like cats eyes in a road.

This truly is a lesson in 'less means more'.

Sweet brown crumbly soil...

2010-01-17T17:07:00.005Z

After the snow, then the rain and mist - at last a dry day, tempting me out into the garden. With a real chance for some hands on digging!

I am blessed with a light free draining soil ( better not brag too much!) which means that even after the wettest conditions I can get on the soil without doing too much damage. As we are off to New Zealand in two weeks I am keen to get in as much time as possible this month. Mad March will be upon us with all its joys and endless 'to do lists' so I have learnt to get ahead where I can.

Alternating between cutting back top growth or frost damaged leaves with some serious weeding in the vege patch is a good way of protecting aches and strains on the back. Having had two 'frozen shoulders' I now make sure I never over-fill my wheelbarrow and make small and often trips to the compost heap. This is very good advice and I recommend it to anyone, particularly if you are suffering from postural problems.

I am a bit concerned that my municipal compost may also be harbouring a new aggressive annual weed that I have to wage war on. Make a mental note, to identify and track the source of it. Everything else is relatively easy, particularly the self sown marigolds with which I feed my compost heap, knowing more will germinate in time for spring companion planting. I would not be without calendula officinalis in the garden. I love sprinkling its bright orange petals amongst salads which adds a real zing to the presentation.

Cleared a decent amount, whilst zoning in to the other chores that must be done before I leave. Chief among them, getting the last of the bulbs potted up, then getting the new potatoes in egg boxes ready to be chitted while we are away. This year I am going to grow them in large black pots as I have used all my space in the garden.

All I need is 2 hours a day, and I'll be sorted .....

Snow Wight

2010-01-12T13:52:00.008Z

Snow across the countryside has brought many pleasures to those fortunate enough to play in it but spare a thought for the wildlife!

More than ever, we are grateful for our various bird feeding stations around the garden and are topping them up daily as large flocks of tits and finches are giving them a bashing. Bird watching has never been easier, watching robins and blackbirds bickering under the bird feeders, taking on any random newcomers like the fieldfares and redstarts that are now sheltering in domestic gardens whilst they can find nourishment. I make a mental note to include more stations and encourage all my clients to do likewise....

As the snow begins to melt and we slip into the grey sludge days after the brilliant blue I am beginning to take stock of some gardening losses. Trying not to get too depressed I notice that my echium has succumbed and that a specimen Echevera 'Schwarzkop' is looking decidedly frost damaged. It is under cover of the porch but the air temperature and wind chill factor have clearly contributed to the problem.

Here on the southerly Isle of Wight I tend to take a gung-ho attitude to frost protection, testing the limits of hardiness of some plants and sticking to my plant choices. But my mother earth voice is whispering, perhaps I should have used some horticultural fleece!

Retreating to the warmth of the office I have instead decided to update my website and create some new pages and a gallery. This is a much more heartening activity. Scanning last years projects I have surprised myself with the changes that occur between the 'before' and 'after' pictures. Definitely good for the soul!

Planting Seeds of Success - Isle of Wight County Press Interview

2010-01-11T13:26:00.004Z

Chris Barnes; Garden Designer, Plantswoman, Lecturer

How long in your present field?

15 years

What attracted you to this type of work?

The sheer and utter joy of creating beautiful gardens whilst working outside in the natural world.

What was your education like?

From St. John’s Primary School, Sandown to the first intake at Brockenhurst 6th Form College, with a few schools in between . I had some great teachers who inspired me to believe in lifelong learning but the careers advice was naff!

The pinnacle was going to College in Weymouth where I met my husband and my life-long friends .

How well do you think it prepared you for life/work?

Well, whilst at Brockenhurst studying for my A levels my parents ran a pub in Lymington during the heyday of the IOW Festivals. One prepared me for life and the other for work! At Weymouth we were thrown in at the deep end – within 5 weeks confronting a class full of children. The initial drop out rate was quite high…

What was your first job? Casual/Career?

A string of casual jobs from stable hand, waitress, bar maid to stall holder in Lymington Market. Me and my Gran had a thing going with crocheted accessories!!!

My first ‘proper’ job was as a Medical Secretary at a Child Guidance Clinic at the Belgrave Hospital for Children in London. I worked for Anna Freud and Melanie Klein (oblivious to their impact in the world of psychotherapy) but fascinated by their work. I was encouraged to go on to work with young people.

What was the significant choice/breakthrough that got you onto your career path?

Well, Horticulture is my second career and what made me make the big career switch choice was - Redundancy! Both my husband and I lost our jobs within 2 months of one another. . There is nothing like facing the abyss of unemployment to make you take a big jump.

What do you like about your job?

I mostly have to pinch myself that I am paid to design gardens. I am fascinated by plants and planting and love creating, building and experimenting with planting combinations. I still do it in my sleep…( sad but true….) Coming to it as a second career I have to make up for lost time…But I also like helping other people to fulfil their own gardening dreams and connecting them with the joys that growing plants can bring.

What advice would you give to a young person starting out?

Find a knowledgeable gardener and learn all you can from them. Read all you can, visit gardens everywhere, study the natural world and just get going, sow seeds, plant vegetables, grow borders – never be afraid to experiment. Horticulture is a joyous, optimistic activity in a rather jaded world.

What sort of hours do you work? How does that fit in with your family/social life?

When I ran my plant nursery I worked all the hours under the sun. My family helped but there were many long, wet, cold and lonely days when I had to tough it out. Nowadays, as I just focus on Garden Design I have regained weekends and reclaimed a social life. But, oh I do miss the abundance of the nursery and the inexplicable thrill of seeing row upon row of fresh young plants lined up.

How do you relax outside of work?

I love the natural world and so walking, cycling, swimming are great physical activities for me. I practise the Pilates technique to keep my back in good shape but a recent passion is singing! And I have been known to enjoy the odd glass of chilled white!

What skills do you think are important to your work?

Many things, but top of my list is a good eye for detail and a sense of place so that gardens sit comfortably within their surroundings. Trusting your knowledge of plants and planting combinations is also very important.

How do you think you make a difference at work?

I’m a good communicator. Working in education taught me this and it is very important in the sustainable aspect in garden design. Building beautiful, environmentally sensitive gardens that are attractive to wildlife and to people, encourages a connection with the soil and the sense of happiness that gardening brings.

What sort of thing do you wear for work? Favourite outfit?

I recycle my son’s old surfing clothes – they are great for gardening, and a lot more colourful than a boring old wax jacket! I rely on my Brasher walking boots though for comfort and waterproof feet!

Do you have any useful grooming tips?

Yes, get a great hairdresser! She may discover strange gardening debris in your hair so you need her on your side and to keep your secrets…

What is your favourite place on the Island?

That’s easy…Freshwater Bay, where I have lived for the past 26 years. After a hard day’s work in the summer it’s lovely to walk down and swim. In the winter just a walk and blow away the day’s troubles.

Where would you like to go on holiday this year/next year?

Being an Islander I like discovering other Islands. I am slightly obsessed with New Zealand but Cornwall is a spiritual home too and anywhere with stunning wild flowers is top of my wish list.

Garden Diary

2010-01-11T12:26:00.007Z

January 1st 2010

A late start after the revelries of New Years Eve. However, through bleary eyes we realised it was a stunning crispy winters day – perfect for walking off the excesses….and taking stock. Frosty in the garden, so just stood and admired the effect of whitened cobwebs on the sedum heads and miscanthus. Backlit through frost they are stunning!

More mole activity in the lawn and along the borders with Barney and I taking two different approaches. His mind is on death, mine on the beautiful crumbly soil….

In receipt of two fabulous gardening/cookery books. Dan Pearson’s ‘Spirit’ and Nigel Slater’s ‘The Kitchen Diaries’. Both inspiring me in very different ways….Plus the Chiltern Seeds Veg Book and a new Knoll Gardens Grasses Catalogue. What quality reading, I feel I have all the bases covered now…

January 2nd

A strange observation…when will the little fruit flies die in the compost heap? Remnants are still there as I make my daily trip with all our recyclables…today the stiff evergreens from the Christmas table posy. The only holly with berries still on it, as the blackbirds have stripped both my holly trees.

A walk is planned through Ventnor Botanic Gardens to Steephill Cove and beyond to Ventnor beach. Everyone still on holiday making the most of this dry interlude after the endless wet of November.

January 3rd

In answer to my own question - three full nights of below zero temperatures have seen off the fruit flies in the compost bin. I must admit to being rather obsessed with my compost bin. I feed it like my life depends on a boiler to keep an engine going. It seems to be both a simplistic and symbolic an activity in these anxious times about our depleted resources on the planet. I am almost obsessive about bio-degradeable materials and will remonstrate with my sons, if an egg shell or teabag ends up in the wrong bin.

Stripping the Xmas Tree and making the annual trip to the recycling centre brings this matter into sharp relief. Apart from the shredded material being used as a mulch in Ventnor Botanic Gardens, the only innovative use I have recently seen is as a dune restorer in the North East. Too far for us, so for now I stick to the general recycling bin. I just love real Christmas trees, already have a dogwood, twinkley effect sculpture all year round in my sitting room and hold a snobby plants woman’s prejudice about potted conifers! Besides, I am trying to cut down the amount of plants in pots to save on my water bills too. If anyone has any further imaginative suggestions, please let me know.

What a joy Ventnor Botanic Gardens continues to be. Even on the coldest of days the Euryops were flowering their socks off on the South African terraces. Little rays of golden sunshine radiating out towards the blue winter skies. Further along, the tree ferns in the Antipodean dell were also looking lush and healthy, and served to remind us of our imminent trip to New Zealand. On our way back from the cove we came in via the New Zealand Garden and noticed the refreshed and new plantings there…

In the kitchen garden I made a further note about what was surviving the cold weather. Slim pickings really, and not enough for a meal, more of a garnish. Leeks, Rocket, Parsley, Cavalero Nero (very small) Marigold seedlings in abundance, Globe artichoke foliage looking ravishing and the remains of the Rainbow Chard, still bright in the stems but with sulking foliage. What a fantastic plant they are though in both the kitchen and ornamental garden. They really do offer something for every season.

I have some garlic still to plant and some very late bulbs, which I will now put in pots.

Creating a Corner of Paradise

2009-05-01T17:17:00.010+01:00

Extracted from an article by Sue Lupton in the Spring Horticultural Supplement. IOW County Press 2009

Garden Designer Chris Barnes has made dozens of gardens for clients around the Isle of Wight. She is best known for her naturalistic, coastal designs, featuring grasses, colourful perennials and unusual plants from the Mediterranean and the southern hemisphere.

But it is hard to know what to expect from the designer's own garden. Would it be sadly neglected, because of Chris's hectic work schedule? Or a showpiece, with manicured plants and neat edges?

In fact, it is neither. The garden surrounding her Freshwater home is an exuberant jungle that reflects Chris's love of plants, particularly hardy exotics.

She experiments with new plants and planting combinations. "Once I am confident that the plants work together and are suited to the Island's climate, I can include them in planting schemes for clients' gardens," said Chris.

"For example, I am working on a Balinese-themed garden in the Undercliff and a Mediterranean-style garden in Bembridge. Both designs are likely to feature favourite plants that I have grown at home."

Chris's garden is also influenced by her love of travel, particularly to destinations like Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

"British gardeners have always looked to far-flung places for inspiration. Foreign holidays remind us of bluer skies and more vibrant colours. Bringing tropical plants into our own gardens helps to keep memories alive."

Chris has used a shady area to create a cool, leafy border with tree ferns and other structural plants. "Having lived in Cornwall and travelled to New Zealand and Oz, I love tree ferns. Nothing matches their dramatic impact and the new fronds are simply magical," she said.

These are combined with astelias, ahrdy ferns, dianella and carex, which form a hardy ground cover.

"The hot border is inspired by Christopher Lloyd's exotic garden but I have chosen plants that are lower maintenance,"said Chris. A striking contrast is a zingy, hot border packed with colour and contrasting foliage. The centrepiece, Cercis 'Forest Pansy' is surrounded by dahlias, heleniums, abutilongs and crocosmia.

An important feature is an 'outdoor dining room', where Chris can relax. She has positioned furniture among lush foliage plants such as beschorneria, cannas, zauschneria, lophomyrtus and restios.

"Most of these plants come from the southern hemisphere or the Americas, reminding me of special occasions, people and places," said Chris.

Likle most gardeners, I rarely sit down and enjoy the garden. But when I do, eating outdors with friends or family, or just relaxing of an evening, it can be quite magical. The mood and fragrance of the garden can trigger wonderfulo memories."

A Cottage Garden

2008-03-27T15:03:00.003Z

After a big restoration project on this old farm workers cottage the garden was designed to complement the building and to fit the lifestyle of the new owners.

To create a country Cottage Garden but with a contemporary twist
To use natural stone, recycled timbers and sleepers from the original building to be incorporated into paths and edgings wherever possible linking to the house
A large, gravel swing-in gravel car parking area
Low maintenance as pos
A Terrace to entertain
Beautiful, aromatic sun-loving plants around the main doorway and to edge the paved terrace and car park area
To retain some of the original plants of the cottage if pos.
To use the dappled shade within the Garden as an area of contrast to the sunny, south facing terrace
To create a long, shadey border along the bottom boundary of the property to forma pleasing view from the house and terrance and to conceal the boundary fence
A romantic place i.e. an Arbor to incorporate fragrant planting
To find a solution to the problem area in deep shade on the boundary with neighbours

Over the past 5 years a long-term relationship has built up between Designer and Clients. This has accommodated both change and unexpected developments i.e. loss of tree in gale, old fruit trees finally succumbing, new babies and family additions, new extension…

A hands-on approach, combined with good plant knowledge have allowed for adaptions. A creative flair has led to the log Dragon and Tree Fernery in a difficult shadey area. The children are now making their own additions . . .

A Gentle Plea for Autumn Planting

2007-11-03T17:52:00.000Z

A Gentle Plea for Autumn Planting

At a recent seminar I attended on water-wise gardening and water-saving methods at the Hillier Gardens in Hampshire I was staggered at the alarming statistic that the south of England receives less annual rainfall than parts of the Middle East!?

So I thought it may be timely to remind all gardeners, new and experienced that one of the best times for any form of gardening activity is the autumn.

It has become glaringly obvious this year that the ‘window of opportunity’ for any real gardening activity is getting shorter. So begin to plan ahead for the autumn and don’t wait another season before you are caught out by either water-shortages or long dry winters or indeed a long wet spell!!

Autumn has always been the best time for fruit tree, ornamental tree and shrub planting, particularly bare-root hedging plants. But it is also an ideal time for most ground preparation and for planting of all garden plants. The soil will still be warm and with a decrease in day-time temperatures and increased rainfall, growing conditions are ideal to give plants a good start. If garden borders are given a good mulch of organic matter as well it will both help to feed the soil over the winter period and also help to conserve moisture if there is a hose-pipe ban. A bulk purchase of compost is a very good investment as is increasing water butt capacity and installing other rain saving devices.

I know I speak for most horticultural professionals when I say that we can best meet out clients needs if gardening projects are planned now and worked on over the autumn and winter period. It is simply impossible to fulfil all gardening tasks between the Easter Bank Holiday and the May Bank Holiday – so make plans now and begin to act on them. Because if all predictions are correct we are going to have to get used to these changing weather patterns and adapt our gardening practises sooner rather than later.

Chris Barnes – garden design, consultation and management http://www.chrisbarnesgardens.co.uk

Death by Gravel

2007-06-13T19:59:00.001+01:00

Having built and demonstrated the strengths of Gravel Gardens I find myself being asked to help others do the same. Starting from scratch is often easier than doing a re-design which was what I was asked to do recently. I wasn't sure I was up to this task when I saw the absolutely huge expanse of gravel that lay before me. What was the drive and where did the garden start and finish? It was really hard to tell there was so much gravel and so little planting.

But my Clients were really good folks and honest about the weaknesses of their newly acquired garden. They had seen the gravel garden at Afton Park with it's flowing grasses, architectural shapes and pools of seasonal colour and realised that their own gravel garden was wanting.

Fortunately, I knew a little of the history of both the house, site and garden so between us we were able to piece together what must have been the rationale behind this mass use of gravel. The site was indeed demanding. Over the years it had been used as a builders yard where concrete blocks were at one time manufactured, then a joinery workshop and finally a conversion to a beautiful barn home. The gravel had simply been poured down to conceal a multitude of sins, the worst of which was vast areas of solid concrete. The only redeeming factor was that the owners of the joinery workshop had laid some decking paths and tracking in and around the gravel which broke up this mass surface area. A huge concrete cruciform and two chronically congested wooden planters with a palm and dogwood desperate to be re-planted had been used to 'give interest' to the gravel plus a motley collection of pots of all persuasions with a curious collection of everything from miniature conifers (yuk! sorry but just don't like them) to Pennisetum grasses (lovely!). The previous owners had clearly tried but lost their way in this sun-baked, shallow soiled expanse of building materials.

But how to proceed? A closer examination of the planting within the gravel was revealing. It was clear that several plant species were holding their own and indeed beginning to colonise this inhospitable area. Stipa tenuissima was doing well, Alchemilla mollis , Calendula officinalis, Linaria were all self-seeding into the gravel. Large carpets of 'Snow in Summer' with its lax grey foliage and white flowers was dominating the edges, but lacked the all important contrast of a stronger colour nearby with the two exceptions of a stunning pool of magenta dianthus and a couple of mounds of Armeria maritima or Common Thrift. I was encouraged by these survivors and felt by adding to the pallete of plants within this garden and upping the ratio of plants to gravel we could alter the whole character of the garden.

As ever, I began to make my mental list of plants for hot, dry, situations over shallow soil. What I was looking for was a contrast in leaf shape, texture and form. Stronger colours were needed to punctuate the blandness of the gravel. More grasses were needed both tall spires and more flowing examples. Flat, creeping ground-huggers would offer another dimension also. I was definitely beginning to get excited. Then my Client took me over to their newly built Alitex Greenhouse which had some newly acquired stunning architectural plants in it. Now we were cooking . . . . .

Waterwise Gardening

2007-05-12T15:17:00.000+01:00

Hosepipe bans over recent years in the south of England and on the Isle of Wight have bought to the forefront the need to conserve water and practise ‘waterwise’ gardening techniques.With unreliable or changing weather patterns it is timely to consider how to manage our gardens in a time of water shortage.

In truth this can be an opportunity to try many new planting combinations and horticultural techniques which are regularly practised in parts of the world which have to deal with water shortages as a way of life.

In 1999 I built a large gravel garden at Afton Park which was designed with just such principles in mind. The choice of mainly mediterranean, perennial plants and drought resistant grasses, intermingled with tough species bulbs has, over the years, proved itself to be a winning formula. The dense gravel mulch serves to both conserve moisture and also to suppress weed growth. We have been delighted in recent dry, hot summers to see just how long-lived these displays have been. This garden never required watering, even through the driest spells. With a little consideration and effort at the outset I believe that most gardens can look good despite a hosepipe ban. My top tips would be:

Good ground preparation is essential and the addition of extra humous will help to hold moisture in the soil.
Choose from plants that are better suited to dry soils and low rainfall. Many are grey or fine leaved and of Mediterranean origin.
Water early in the day or in the cool of the evening when evaporation is lessened.
Try to group container plants together to ease the watering situation.
Be particularly considerate of new plantings of trees and hedges which need the opportunity to establish.
Mulch the surface of all soil and even container plants as this helps to reduce evaporation and conserve moisture.

As a garden designer I am regularly asked to design gardens for second home owners. These gardens by necessity have to survive periods of neglect while the owners are away. Planning a waterwise garden in these circumstances is essential to the success of the design. For more information visit Chris' garden design website

Our Declining Front Gardens

2007-04-25T09:47:00.000+01:00

A recent investigation by the RHS into our ‘disappearing front gardens’ has revealed some frightening statistics about the decline of the ‘front garden’ in many parts of the country. As many local people are aware there is a concerted effort to re-generate parts of the Isle of Wight and part of that thrust is to encourage householders everywhere to care for their particular plot. Working in a front garden is a wonderful way to meet your neighbours and share horticultural tips with passers-by adding to a general neighbourly atmosphere. Also visitors to an area are quick to comment on notable community plantings and special trees or plants of interest. With the increased ownership of cars and the problems with on-street parking many folks are reverting to using their front gardens as an off-road parking facility. This is quite understandable in some dangerous and congested roads. But please consider the side-effects of using only hard landscaping materials in what was once a green space. Not only does the collective loss of green space contribute to the greenhouse effect but the increased use of solid impenetrable hard surfacing adds to the problems of flash flooding when heavy rain falls and our pavements and drains have difficulty in coping with the volume of water. There are some wonderful design solutions to this dilemma. Yes, it is possible to park your car off road and also have a green and low maintenance planting around it. So, before you make that decision to transform your front garden please consider other ideas than concrete or bitumen.