London Front Garden
By London designer, Joanna Archer. The owners of this traditional, shady Victorian front garden wanted to resolve the problem of Copper Beech tree roots that obstructed the path to their door.
22 Jun 2012 | 1 min read
By repositioning the entrance, the entire garden is used rather than a straight footpath. The centrepiece is an impressive square of mosaic tiles in cream, grey and pale blue. The paving is sawn white sandstone that looks crisp and contemporary and reflects the light around the garden.
All plants are tolerant of dry and shady conditions and many are evergreen or semi-evergreen to ensure the area looks lush and green throughout the year.
A varied mix of foliage shapes such as Helleborus orientalis ‘White Lady’, Epimedium x perralchicum ‘Frohnleiten’, Polygonatum x hybridum, ferns and grasses are a dramatic edging to the smart paving. Soft blue and white blooms are provided by swathes of Brunnera macrophylla, White Tulips, Nigella damascena and Clematis ‘Fuji-musume’
Plant List:
Alchemilla mollis
Asplenium scolopendrium
Brunnera macrophylla
Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'
Clematis 'Fuji-musume'
Disporopsis pernyi
Dryopteris wallichiana
Epimedium x perralchicum 'Frohnleiten'
Helleborus orientalis 'White Lady'
Ligustrum jonandrum (topiary standards)
Melica altissima 'Alba'
Nigella damascena
Polygonatum x hybridum
Polystichum setiferum
Pulmonaria angustifolia 'Blue Ensign'
Tellima grandiflora