The Daily Telegraph Garden
designed by Isabelle Van Groeningen & Gabriella Pape
This sunken garden was inspired by Karl Foerster's original garden in Potsdam-Bornim, Germany.
In Germany, gardeners restrict themselves to plants that suit the soil and habitat. The planting in this sunken garden reflected this continental approach. Planting according to colour, shape and texture was combined with plant requirements; gardening with both heart and mind.
The garden included three main herbaceous planting styles, including traditional herbaceous borders, drift planting and mingled matrix planting. Plants were selected to reflect the habitat they grow in, including moisture-loving, drought and shade-tolerant plants. The range of habitats and diverse plant selection provided different habitats and food sources for insects, small mammals, amphibians and birds.
The narrow borders, based on more traditional English herbaceous border planting with strong German elements, included delphiniums - a favourite of Karl Foerster - campanulas and a variety of blue, white, silver and soft yellow flowers. The main bed was planted in a fused matrix, with dark blue and purple salvias and poppies
Surrounding the pond were moisture-loving plants such as Rodgersia, Iris sibirica and hostas. The back of the garden was shaded by large plance trees and a Japanese maple. Here, shade-tolerant herbaceous plants such as Aruncus, Solomon's seal, hostas and geraniums provided sumptuous foliage and flowers planted in drifts.
