Gardens Illustrated Magazine

April is upon us, and with the unpredictability of recent years, we wait with bated breath to see if it will indeed be 'the cruellest month'. Spring is becoming more of a guessing game, for gardeners and garden editors – will there be a heatwave, a polar vortex collapse or endless rain? Whatever happens, in this issue of the magazine we are in full, optimistic, spring mode, looking forward to everything the season has to offer. We visit Morton Hall in Worcestershire, where tulips take centre stage for the annual festival and light up the beds and borders in abundance (page 30). At Fittleworth House in West Sussex, we explore the romantic gardens that surround a Georgian house, which come into their own in spring (page 52). And we jet…

Claire Austin Nurserywoman and peony expert Claire selects the best tree peonies, page 42. “It's wonderful to have the chance to introduce these beautiful and versatile plants to a wider audience.” Bennet Smith Bennet photographs Fittleworth House in West Sussex, page 52. “A cuckoo joining the dawn chorus as the sun rose behind the magnificent cedar of Lebanon intensified the magic of the place.” Natasha Goodfellow Natasha visits a London front garden, page 66. “'In an area where so many gardens are paved, this shows how much more interesting and wildlife-friendly they can be.”…

Charlotte Harris Charlotte co-founded the values-driven landscape design practice Harris Bugg Studio with Hugo Bugg in 2017. She has won three Gold medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, as well as Best Show Garden in 2023. Fergus Garrett Fergus was appointed head gardener at Great Dixter by Christopher Lloyd in 1993 and is now CEO of the garden's Charitable Trust. He was awarded an RHS Associate of Honour in 2008 and an RHS Victoria Medal of Honour in 2019. James Basson James lives in the South of France where he runs Scape Design, a practice for creating sustainable landscapes. The winner of four Chelsea Gold medals, he was awarded Best Show Garden in 2017. Anna Pavord Anna was The Independent's gardening correspondent for 30 years and is the author…

EXHIBITIONS A WOMAN'S WORK As a new book, Women Artists & Designers at the National Trust (National Trust, £15) shows, women have long been at the creative heart of many of Britain's best-known houses and gardens. To celebrate the book's publication, several National Trust properties are hosting exhibitions that showcase six centuries of women's art. Among the highlights is a new exhibition at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent that explores the life and work of its garden's famous creator, the author Vita Sackville-West. At Hidcote in Gloucestershire, there's a chance to discover the work of embroidery artist Janet Haigh, whose silk embroidery of the Peacock Garden at Great Dixter is shown above, while at Nunnington Hall in North Yorkshire, Threaded Landscapes brings together pieces by Nicola Harper, who recreates her urban,…

FROM 8 APRIL Show Stopping Event Floristry Save 25 per cent on a new online event floristry course from floral artist Willow Crossley. To redeem, just add the code WILLOW5 at checkout. £147 before discount. createacademy.com 13 APRIL Spring Fling Plant Fair Browse plants and accessories at Great Comp's springtime fair. 10am-5pm. £10. Great Comp Garden, Comp Lane, Platt, nr Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 8QS. Tel 01732 885094, greatcompgarden.co.uk 26 APRIL Foraging Floristry Workshop Create a design with foraged flowers. 10am-2.30pm. £70. One Garden Brighton, Stanmer Park, Lewes Road, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 9SE. Tel 01273 892034, onegardenbrighton.com…

TULIPA ORPHANIDEA WHITTALLII GROUP This diminutive tulip is thoroughly perennial given an open position with plenty of spring sunshine and summer baking. Discreet basal foliage throws a fine stem topped by onion-shaped buds, which open into cupped flowers that are yellow without and burnt orange within. When they splay open, an inky-green blotch is revealed at the base. Its punchy colouring makes a vivid presence, unusual in spring. At Hillside, we team it with acid-green Euphorbia cyparissias 'Fens Ruby'. AGM*. Height and spread 20cm × 15cm. Origin Eastern Balkans, Greece and western Turkey. Conditions Free-draining soil; full sun. Hardiness RHS H6, USDA 4a-8b†. Season of interest April – May. EPIMEDIUM MYRIANTHUM Chinese epimediums are particular about a cool position, shelter from wind and not drying out during the growing season. While European epimediums are…