Chelsea - Robert Myers' Cancer Research Surviving Garden

Planting is key to the concept. The designer has selected plants that survive arid and salty conditions, and graded a progresssion of planting areas that become softer and lusher as shelter is reached. The surviving concept is also explored in incised stone poem panels.  Key hard landscaping: irregular seaside gravel, stone walling, rendered wall and limestone steps and paths. Very thoughtful and made with care.

trees: tamarisk, cordyline, trachycarpus; key herbaceous: valerian

masterly finishing

colour of rendered wall - perfect

Kate's garden

Kate opened her garden as a member of Lambeth Horticultural Society, http://www.lambethhorticulturalsociety.org.uk/. It's a wildlife garden. This amazing insect city was built by her son using some pieces of his iron sculpture work, bricks and sticks. There's also a pond, a meadow cut in a paisley shape and raised veg beds with diagonal rows. Kate really has green fingers and a good sense of design. There are four or five places to sit and study her planting choices. So many to choose from but I particuluarly liked this unusual, delicate cut-leaved rheum (below) which echoes the acer behind, with insect-magnet valerian (Centranthus ruber).