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The Beth Chatto Gardens - Part 2

© Jane Hollis

From the Gravel Garden one descends via overshadowed steps to the Damp Garden, where four large ponds have been created from a spring-fed ditch and are surrounded by lush planting and emerald green grass. You are immediately confronted by a superb example of Chatto-style foliage planting - a combination of giant Gunnera leaves, Hostas and Rodgersia (right).

Continuing round the pond to the right, we cross a grass-covered dam linking two ponds, one of which is strikingly planted with swathes of the variegated marginal grass, Glyceria maxima 'Variegata' (left). Plants requiring damp soil are grown right on the edge of the pond, whilst those requiring more drainage are planted slightly higher up the banks. The soil in all the beds throughout the gardens is well enriched with compost then mulched with crushed bark in order to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Colour is secondary in this garden - the rich foliage dominates, enlivened by blooms of Iris, Philadelphus and, of course, the white spires of Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora (white foxglove), which are a recurring theme thoughout both the Damp and Shade Gardens.

From the ponds you climb uphill to a more open area where grass paths weave between large island beds. Foliage still dominates and to the right of the path a large grass variegated grass arches over a groundcover carpet. Further up the hill reveals a dramatic clump of bronze-leafed Phormiums edged with golden grasses, and more white foxgloves (left).

Another island bed contains Stipa gigantea (giant oat grass), purple Cotinus and a Phlomis, fronted by a tapestry of perennials, punctuated by spires of Verbascum (right).

From here we enter the Woodland Garden, where clumps of shade-loving perennials carpet the ground beneath the trees, such as the Heuchera seen left. This garden is an inspiration to those gardeners who struggle to plant shady patches in their own plot. Ferns, hellebores, creeping jenny, Arum italicum, Geraniums, Vinca, Symphytum, Lamium, Viola Polygonatum and Tiarella thrive in this area.

A ditch runs through the woodland, and in the damp soil at the edge is an exquisite grouping of Japanese maple, Hostas and Primulas (right). Eventually, the path brings you out of the wood and back into the sunlight again. Then it is time to visit the wonderful nursery and come away laden with unusual perennials. If you are unable to visit the garden in person, they do offer a mail order service (see address in previous article).

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