Smart grasses in the fog

More travelling today I'm afraid. But this time I was in my little Smart car, so I was much more environmentally friendly than my Ryan Air flights to Pisa on Monday.

My Smart's CO2 emissions are 116 - 127 g/km, and fuel consumption is 43 - 69 mpg depending on whether you're doing urban driving or not. I'm told that's pretty good. Well, every little helps.

So anyway, I drove down to Knoll Gardens in Wimborne, between Ringwood & Poole, this morning to check some plants before I ordered them for my Chelsea Garden. It was very cold and foggy when I arrived, and the dew on the grasses was so beautiful. The quality of the plants I had reserved was excellent, so I snapped them up and even ordered some extra grasses that I had not seen before. They are all drought-tolerant to suit the theme of the garden, and I'd like to try to impress the judges with some unusual plants. Neil Lucas, the owner, showed me around and we discussed care instructions of the plants I was buying, so that we can get the plants into the best condition for the Show in May. Neil is a passionate plantsman and has five consecutive Gold medals at Chelsea for his grasses. Knoll is well known for supplying fabulous grasses and some perennials. Check them out at www.knollgardens.co.uk.

Linda Bush is a garden designer based in Kent.

www.lindabush.co.uk/chelsea.html

Acacia me up

I’ve been asked to tell you a little more about the plants I plan to use on the ‘Hasmead Sand & Ice Garden’ at the Chelsea Flower Show in May. (Note: I say ‘plan to use’, because as you can imagine getting a wide variety of plants in pristine condition and in flower if appropriate for the same week is a logistical nightmare. Adrian Shippey at Premier Trees, a subsidiary of Hasmead plc, my sponsor, has this unenviable task).

The theme behind the garden is climatic change, illustrated by looking at ice and desert, so some of the plants have the look of alpine plants, and some look more like desert plants (regardless of origin). The garden is not a representation of all of the climate classifications between Alpine and Desert - that would be quite hard in a garden 10 metres by 8 !! And all of the plants have a water-efficient character; ideal for areas which have periodic water shortages, and are suited to an open, sunny, well-drained garden.

The plants and flowers range from icy colours such as white/silver to yellows for the advancing desert on the other side. Lilac and purple Salvias and Sedums will provide a contrast and lift the scheme. Architectural plants, such as Elaeagnus ‘Quicksilver’ and Stipa gigantea will add height, structure, and movement. And Acacia Dealbata trees (Mimosa, or Silver Wattle) along the rear boundary will add a balance to the planting, and help to screen the pavilion beyond. The Acacias will not be in flower in May, but their spectacular leaves will be on display (see photo above).

The Acacia trees also act as a reminder of the European Union’s ACACIA project, which concluded that we must adapt to climate change, whatever we do about emissions. ACACIA stands, rather unbelievably, for “A Concerted Action towards a Comprehensive Impacts and Adaptations assessment”. Yes well … they are also beautiful, evergreen, and drought tolerant trees…

The Royal Horticultural Society has released a list of plants which they believe will thrive in the changing climate conditions, including Acacia: http://www.rhs.org.uk/learning/research/climate_change/plants.asp

Linda Bush is a garden designer based in Kent.

www.lindabush.co.uk/chelsea.html