Gardens to visit
I am often asked about gardens or parks to visit which reflect the ‘new perennial’ style of planting. Here are the best:
Germany
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A nineteenth century villa garden in the centre of a pretty little town, open daily as a public park. A huge range of habitat-based plantings, small enough for domestic gardeners to relate to. Prairie-inspired drifts of perennials made by director Cassian Schmidt are of particular interest in late summer. Some of the most innovative and valuable research on planting design and maintenance is being carried on here.
Open daily, all year, 10:00-18:00. Babostraße
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Westpark, Munich
Pretty much the jewel in the crown. Vast, full of all sorts of joys and inspirations for anyone interested in public space. The most spectacular planting is the ‘steppe’ dry zone at the far western end.
Open daily all year. Westendstraße/Hansastraße. U-Bahn Westpark
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Sichtungsgarten Weihenstephan, Freising, Bavaria
Very much a plant collection and teaching garden but lovely none the less – in fact some very clever and subtle planting design. Great place to learn about perennials. Freising is a nice little town too, with fab Roccoco cathedral.
Open daily, April – Oct. 9:00-18:00.
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Grugapark, Essen, Nordrhein Westfalen
One of these vast public parks built originally for a garden show. All sort of interesting gardens including large naturalistic perennial beds.
Open daily, 9:00-dusk.
Netherlands
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Piet and Anja Oudolf’s private garden and nursery. Perenial lovers are always in ecstasy, and even Roy Strong liked it – “wonky baroque” in his words.
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Parks in Amstelveen – De Braak, Jac P. Thijsse
A fascinating and very long running experiment in native plant management, with a wonderful balance between nature and aesthetics.
Open daily, all year.
England
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One of the best examples of ‘New Perennial’ planting in Britain, very much inspired by Hermannshof and other German plantings. P
lenty of other interesting and experimental plantings too, with a very good nursery attached.
Sampford Peverell, Tiverton, Devon EX16 7EN 01884 821164