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Suffolk contemporary courtyard garden
By Suffolk based garden desginer Sue Townsend. The crisp contemporary lines of sawn sandstone, clipped box cubes and hedging, yew and pleached hornbeam form the structure to this contemporary courtyard garden, whilst perennials and grasses introduce a softer feel bringing texture, movement and light.
An L-shaped rill mirrors the shape of the property and creates distinct areas within the courtyard and interesting views from the house. Gentle ripples radiate in the rill, whilst Iris sibirica and agapanthus provide a succession of blue flowers and grassy foliage along the rill edge.
Two large stepping stones allow access over the rill to an informal seating area to enjoy the evening sun and to a pathway leading to an archway with enticing views of the grounds beyond.
Lavender and herbs enclose the main dining area next to the kitchen whilst four olive trees in planters provide height. Beyond the main dining area, two beds with olive trees, clipped box cubes, grasses and perennials bring texture, colour and movement.
Along the boundary border, layers of planting give depth, colour and structural interest - lavender, clipped box, an avenue of Robinia pseudoacacia `Umbraculifera' underplanted with perennials and grasses and finally pleached hornbeam rising above an old red brick wall.
Plants list
Click any of the plants names below to read more about the plant and to add it to your own 'Plants I want' list.
Acanthus spinosus
Agapanthus
campanulatus Jack's Blue
Allium
schoenoprasum
Anemone x
hybrida Konigin Charlotte
Aqueligia vulgaris
Alba
Artemisia
dracunculus
Asarum europaeum
Astelia chathamica
Silver Spear
Aster frikartii
Jungfrau
Astrantia major
Claret
Calamagostis x
acutiflora Karl Foerster
Calamagrostis
brachytricha
Cirsium rivulare
Atropurpureum
Cotinus Grace
Cynara cardunculus
Digitalis purpurea
f albiflora
Echinacea Purpurea
Ruby Giant
Erigeron
karvinskianus
Euphorbia
characias ssp wulfenii
Euphorbia x
pasteuri
Foeniculum vulgare
Foeniculum vulgare
Purpureum
Gaura lindheimeri
Iris germanica St
Petersburgh
Iris sibirica Silver
Edge
Knautia macedonica
Lavandula
Hidcote
Melianthus major
Miscanthus
nepalensis
Olea europea
Origanum Kent Beauty
Paeonia
lactiflora Sarah Bernhardt
Papaver oreinetale
Patty's Plum
Pennisetum
alopecuroides Hameln
Penstemon Blackbird
Perovskia Blue
Spire
Rodgersia
podophylla
Romneya coulteri
Rosmarinus
officinalis Miss Jessop's Upright
Salvia officinalis
Purpurescens
Salvia x sylvestris
Mainacht
Sanguisorba
Red Thunder
Schizostyllis
coccinea Mrs Hegarty
Sedum Purple
Emperor
Sedum spectabile
Herbstfreude
Stipa gigantea
Stipa tenuissima
Taxus baccata
Thymus
citriodorus Silver Posy
Trachelospermum
jasminoides
Verbena bonariensis
Zantedeschia
aethiopica Crowborough
By Sue Townsend
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