The world of art and design is as susceptible to changes in style as fashion and music. Plants and gardens are no exception to this trend and each season a different plant or planting style is promoted through the media encouraging us to buy into the new trend. Heathers were very popular in the 1970’s along with flared trousers and the Bay City Rollers. Sadly for some, these iconic symbols are no longer in vogue and have been relegated to the back of the ‘discount rack’.
From time to time fads re-emerge and with a little help can regain their previous status and re-establish themselves in the 21st Century. Last year we were approached by the British Heather Growers Association to submit a design for a small garden at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2009. The BHGA wanted to encourage the public to re-appraise the use of heathers in family gardens and improve the popularity of these undervalued, yet versatile plants. Their requirements were very clear, their demands exceptional. The garden needed to be low maintenance yet provide colour all year, be functional and appealing to the younger generation, meet the very high standards of the RHS and all to a very tight budget.
The garden - ‘Back to Front’ as its title implies, aims to bring Heather sp. back from the ‘discount rack’ to the front of the ‘popular plant section’. The myth that all heathers need acid soil will be dispelled to encourage their use as part of a contemporary mixed border. They have many diverse, yet overlooked qualities, with year round appeal. Heathers are colourful, low-maintenance, and drought tolerant, as well as encouraging bio-diversity.
Within the design, a front and a back garden are depicted, each illustrating the qualities and habits of heathers throughout the year. A heather hedge and topiary heathers demonstrate different growing techniques and their compatibility with other shrubs and perennials. Ferns add contrasting colour and illustrate the combination of heathers with bracken in their original habitat. Grasses punctuate, add movement and height. A path arcs through the planting, under the tensioned wires of a pergola, and shallow steps lead down to a curved seat by a circular lawn. The rear boundary is a representation of the rear of a house and gives an opportunity to show that heathers can be used as part of a living wall. The heather beds slope gently upward echoing the rolling moorland of their natural habitat and the sunken area allows the tapestry of the heather planting to be appreciated. A sculpture of wrapped aluminium wire set within the planting adds an additional dimension, giving vertical focus and representing the link between the heathers and bees and symbolising their relationship.
In order to promote their many diverse, yet overlooked qualities, we use summer flowering species in acid soil in the front garden, and winter flowering species in neutral soil in the back garden. Our design shows that heathers can provide seasonality and structure. They are attractive, colourful, low-maintenance, and drought tolerant as well as attracting pollinating insects.
If you have any questions about this month’s article, or would like to ask us anything garden related, please contact Claire Bryant or Jackie Edwards via email: info@downtoearthdesign.co.uk
The RHS Hampton Court Flower Show is a lovely day out and kids go free, so if you would like to see how our plan transforms into reality, the link below should give you all the information you need to plan your trip:
www.rhs.org.uk/whatson/shows/hamptoncourt2009/tickets.asp
