This weekend heralded the beginning of the marvellous Chelsea Fringe , where you can attend many a quirky horticultural happening, mostly in London, (although lots also happening around the UK, especially Bristol and Bath and further abroad) until June 12th-mostly for free.
Last Sunday, the Inner Temple Gardens were holding posy making workshops as part of the Fringe. Rarely being open to the public at weekends, this was a great opportunity to visit the gardens and they certainly didn’t disappoint.
This year, head hardener, Andrea Brunsendorf made the decision not to clothe the beds with tulips, but instead, concentrated on foxgloves and sweet rocket (Hesperis matronalis). On entering the garden you couldn’t helped being wowed by this heavenly display. I also espied (top left) the rather tricky to grow Geranium maderense which is just about hardy in London and takes two to three years to flower. Mine never survived further than the first year of flowering-do they ever?
Not having the space to grow their own, five hundred ‘Camelot Lavender’ foxgloves were commercially grown for the gardens and this abundance of repeat planting created majestic swaying rhythms throughout the borders.
Gorgeously hand crafted hazel supports were in evidence for later flowering perennials, such as asters, and this only added to the sense of a thoroughly well-planned (and beautifully executed) garden.
Hanging out in a Mulberry tree near the posy making were these delightful peony posies in jars. As I said, well thought out and executed to perfection.
If you can get to visit during the week, the Inner Temple gardens never disappoint and are open to the public between 12.30pm and 3pm. (Nearest tube Blackfriars.)
And I’m hoping to get to see loads more Chelsea Fringe events over the next couple of weeks. Tomorrow evening (Thursday 26th May) there’s the Guerilla Gardeners’ Walking Tour in Lambeth, Friday morning (27th May and other dates) you can get a sneaky look into one of Stefano Marinaz’s latest designs in a private garden in South Kensington.
The Olden Community Garden in North London (just opposite the Emirates Stadium) always has a great event an offer, and on Sunday 5th June they’ll be throwing a Music Party between 2pm and 7pm. You can expect an eclectic mix of sounds including English, Irish and American Folk, Tuodr Polyphony (sounds interesting), French Jazz and more, all set within the walls of this urban oasis.(Nearset tubes are Highbury and Islington and Holloway Road.)
Whenever I’ve been to a Chelsea Fringe event in the past, I’ve (nearly) always come away inspired. I loved Deb Nagan’s Garden of Disorientation back in 2012 and Anna Rose Hughes’ planted up toilet in Peckham (above) in 2013, so I’m off to peruse the website for more possible treasures.
Out of my shed 
I love this! Andrea is so talented. I’m really tempted to leave tulips out of my borders next year (or not plant any more in autumn), and to just grow them in pots. They take up a lot of room and look ugly when they go over. It would leave more room for biennials and perennials…
Hi Veronica, I did dot a few ‘Pink Twist’ tulips around my (small) back garden this year (and they looked fab), but have also come to the conclusion that less is more in a mixed border. Tulips do add gorgeous jewell like colours, but can’t supply majestic spires of those digitalis as above, and their leaves can smother perennials trying to come through.
Those foxgloves would look great next spring……
Yes that’s very inspiring planting. I especially love the tall foxgloves and on that scale I can well imagine the impact.
Hi Sue, It really was an uplifting sight, although the foxgloves could also look great in a/my small back garden! N x
Beautiful, inspiring planting. (Have you tried the hardier close cousin and lookalike Geranium palmatum?)
Hi Kate, no, I don’t think I’ve tried G. palmatum. One to put on the list-thanks for that.
Ohhhhhhh, I so nearly went there on Sunday! I love the Inner Temple gardens, but I decided to go elsewhere for my first London fix of Chelsea Fringe events and made a right pig’s ear of it in the process because I got lost. I would have fared better with my tried and trusted locations
Hi Michelle, sorry to have missed you. Ate you going to any Bristol/ Bath events? N x
I went to the launch which was great, but sadly they coincide with holidays. That’s also why I’m not doing a virtual Fringe this year 😦
Lilac/purple and green is such a calming and subtle colour scheme and I can imagine the impact of all those foxgloves. It’s times like these I miss living in London. Have fun exploring more.
Hi Sam , you’re right, it was a very calming combo and sat in the garden happily chatting away for a good couple of hours-v.relaxing indeed!
Yes, looking forward to seeing more….
Geranium palmatum poor cousin of Geranium maderense.. she possesses none of the drama. She also goes on and on flowering, like a nagging aunt. Having said all that, the foliage looks wonderful, light green, almost lime, very good for lighting up shade, which is where it likes to lurk. The pink flowers, are alright.
Hi Siew Lee, Thanks for the comprehensive take on G. palmatum. Not sounding quite so magical as G. maderense but could be useful for shadier parts of the garden. N x
Great post. Sounds wonderful, I wish I could have gone. I grow Geranium maderense in the greenhouse, it won’ t survive outside here.
Thanks Chloris. Suffolk must be a tad cooler, but great to have the space to grow under cover. Is this a long-lived perennial in your greenhouse?
I hope it will be long- lived. I have only had it for two years. I have the white form which is very pretty.
Lovely blog, thanks for sharing. Abundant borders – gorgeous!
Hi Judy, well worth a visit if you can get down to see the gardens during the week. Gorgeous at all times of the year!
I kept g. palmatum which is similar for 2 years in a nottingh hill garden, then cut it down when flowering over which is apparently absolutely not the thing to do.a neighbour had seedlings growing in her wall crivices but they never survived transplanting. Lovely blog as usual
Hi Susan, love the idea of seedlings growing in a wall! Always good to experiment with plants, even won’t they don’t sometimes survive. Another plant buying opportunity?
What a great blog, (and images,) I particulary liked the woven hazel supports, and might find a space for them here in a garden or two in Shropshire. I have never been to Chelsea Fringe, I should make some time. Sally
Hi Sally, yes those supports are gorgeously sculptural now, but will vanish amid the planting later in the season. Perfect!
Loved the plants especially the hanging plants. And great name “Inner Garden Temple”. Its is something different. The idea of seedlings growing is amazing. I will definitely try it in my garden.
Great to see Geranium maderense flowering. Have been trying with it for some years in cold Leicestershire with no luck however the plants did come through last winter so there is hope yet