Marion Stevens, Marion (HD7)

Styles: English cottage, Wildlife

Soil types: Loamy

Soil drainage: Moist but well-drained, Pond/In water

Soil pH: Alkaline

Light: Full Sun, Partial Shade

Aspect: South

Exposure: Exposed, Sheltered

Hardiness: Tender in frost (H3)

Mine is a mature garden which I've been working on for the past 40 years. That's not to say it stands still as I have no problems ripping things out or moving things that don't work, changing colour schemes etc. I don't grow veg here as I have an allotment so I guess you'd say gardening takes up a lot of my time. The garden is L-shaped, south facing, sheltered at the back by a 20 foot wall at the foot of which lies a natural rockery with a pond at the base but exposed at the front to the strong winds coming across the Pennines. The soil is an excellent, well draining loam. The range of plants is considerable (designers would say there are too may different varieties) but I like gardens which work in every season so I plant in layers with bulbs, perennials, annuals, shrubs, trees and climbers and repeat plants throughout like bergenia, hellebore and ferns to pull things together.