Design Inspiration —
The Layered Look:
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0 2 Landscape 1 The i llinois + wi2 sconsin C T Show
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By Nina A. Koziol
Landscape design trends have come-
and gone over the years — and the centuries. Think about how Chicago’s Lurie Garden transformed the park district’s decades-old display of carpet beds to naturalistic meadows often coined the “New Dutch Wave of Perennial Planting” or the “New Perennial Movement.” These are just two of the terms used to describe gardens with swathes of interlocking blocks of perennials that create a meadow-like atmosphere. But that’s not the case at the renowned gardens at Great Dixter in Sussex, England, the home of the late celebrated garden writer Christopher Lloyd. The sprawling manor house, built in the 15th century, features 19 different gardens including traditional English meadows, an orchard, exotic tropicals, a phenomenal topiary, a moat garden, wall and vegetable gardens, a prairie, and cottage garden borders that provide color, texture, and interest throughout the year. It’s formal, colordrenched, quirky, and wildly atmospheric. “Great Dixter has long been a place of innovation for people including myself who find inspiration from this
highly artistic and unique garden,” says Jill Selinger, Chicago Botanic Garden’s manager of continuing education and a member of the ILCA Education Committee. So how is this swanky English cottage garden relevant to landscapers and designers working in the Midwest? The climate is certainly different (they are a cushy zone 7-8), and the plant palette is not quite the same. But in a live presentation, head gardener Fergus Garrett, recipient of the Royal Horticulture Society’s Victoria Medal of Honour, showed iLandscape365 participants how layering provides long-season interest and reduces maintenance. “I know our climates are different, but this talk is very relevant to you,” Garrett said. “Don’t copy the plant material we have. Choose plants you like that will grow well for you. It’s critical that you’re observant of the seasons and the climate.” Garrett joined Great Dixter in 1992 as head gardener and is now chief executive of the Great Dixter Trust. He’s a hands-on fellow, still doing the heavy lifting, design, and planting as well as writing and teaching. (continued on page 24)
Allium ‘Globe Master’ and ‘Summer Drummer’ are two of the pop-up plants used in some of the borders.
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The Landscape Contractor April 2021
