Shelves within a pond allow opportunities for growing plants, such as Alchemilla mollis, that provide extra interest and cover for wildlife
Create a small waterfall flowing into a pond: John and Susan use a pump to circulate the water
Meet the gardeners
Look for contrasts: the leaves of crocosmia stand out against the bark of Acer x conspicuum ‘Phoenix’
Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ contrasts with pale flowers, such as Anthemis tinctoria ‘Sauce Hollandaise’
Owners: Susan and John Weston Address: Birch Trees, Copmere End, Eccleshall, Staffordshire, ST21 6HH Garden size: Half-acre garden Month visited: July Aspect: South-west facing Soil: Mix of acid in some parts and neutral in others Special features: Island beds containing a range of perennial flowers, grasses, bamboos and shrubs; vegetable patch, stump bed, water features and alpine house Open for NGS: Visit the National Garden Scheme at 8 ngs.org.uk 1 FEBRUARY 2020 AMATEUR GARDENING
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