A Beekeeper's Garden

By Nicola Hills and Jonathan Denby. A Beekeeper's Garden is inspired by a sketch of an apiary in Victorian garden writer Shirley Hibberd's journal. The apiary sits within a garden of flowers, herbs and vegetables that are attractive to bees.

It is designed to draw attention to the plight of the bee and to encourage people to keep bees and stock their gardens with bee-friendly plants. The apiary is flanked by espaliered apple trees and an apple orchard, as the apple crop is dependant on bees for fruiting.

The garden features many interesting and unusual vegetables, promoting the idea that self-sufficiency can enhance the visual appearance of a garden, as well as provide food for the family.

The design is not only practical, but artistic in every detail, from the vegetable-clad pergola, by blacksmith Chris Payne, to the pebble mosaic by Maggy Howarth.

Nicola Hills is a landscape designer with her studio based at Levens Hall. Her Hampton Court Palace Flower Show debut blends the productive garden with harmonious flower planting in a formal design. Jonathan Denby of Yewbarrow House in Cumbria is a leading authority on Victorian gardens.

Plants List

Trees
Ficus carica
Malus 'Evereste'
Malus 'Striped Beauty'
Malus half standards

Perennials
Agapanthus umbellatus
Allium sphaerocephalon
Angelica gigas
Astrantia major
Actaea 'Pink Stripe'
Campanula 'Loddon Anna'
Campanula 'White Pouffe'
Crisium rivulare
Delphinium (blues and lilacs)
Digitalis purpurea
Echinops bannaticus
Echnipos ritro
Eryngium planum
Geranium 'Johnsons Blue'
Geranium phaem
Knautia macedonia
Pericaria bistorta 'Superba'  
Salvia nemerosa 'East Friesland'
Scabiosa 'Chilli Black'
Sweet peas
Old fashioned sweet pea 'Black Night'
Veronica 'Royal Blue'

Herbs & Vegetables
Kalibos red cabbage
Tricolour sage
Purple teepee beans
Red salad bowl lettuce
Freckles lettuce
Redbor kale
Russian Red Kale
Cardoons
Chillies 
Nero di Toscana
Red perilla
Orash
Squashes
Spinach
Lavender
Thyme