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Yesterday in the gardengiant fennel and hesperis

The garden for Tate Britain at Chelsea has been a fascinatingexercise in reconciling some almost opposing needs: The need to give a feeling of what will eventually be a public garden of over 6000m2 in a plot of just 220m2,Then I needed to balance the desire to make a flower garden with another urge todial everything down as the setting for Barbara Hepworth’squietly assertive sculpture “Bicentric form”. She did like using bold foliage in proximity to her work and hope she would have approved of the cycads and farfugiums that create a green counterpoint to the still dark limestone .It’s been a joy to work around this piece- the first of her work that @tate acquired.Photos by Jason Ingram

The garden for Tate Britain at Chelsea has been a fascinatingexercise in reconciling some almost opposing needs: The need to give a feeling of what will eventually be a public garden of over 6000m2 in a plot of just 220m2,Then I needed to balance the desire to make a flower garden with another urge todial everything down as the setting for Barbara Hepworth’squietly assertive sculpture “Bicentric form”. She did like using bold foliage in proximity to her work and hope she would have approved of the cycads and farfugiums that create a green counterpoint to the still dark limestone .It’s been a joy to work around this piece- the first of her work that @tate acquired.Photos by Jason Ingram

The garden for Tate Britain at Chelsea has been a fascinatingexercise in reconciling some almost opposing needs: The need to give a feeling of what will eventually be a public garden of over 6000m2 in a plot of just 220m2,Then I needed to balance the desire to make a flower garden with another urge todial everything down as the setting for Barbara Hepworth’squietly assertive sculpture “Bicentric form”. She did like using bold foliage in proximity to her work and hope she would have approved of the cycads and farfugiums that create a green counterpoint to the still dark limestone .It’s been a joy to work around this piece- the first of her work that @tate acquired.Photos by Jason Ingram

The garden for Tate Britain at Chelsea has been a fascinatingexercise in reconciling some almost opposing needs: The need to give a feeling of what will eventually be a public garden of over 6000m2 in a plot of just 220m2,Then I needed to balance the desire to make a flower garden with another urge todial everything down as the setting for Barbara Hepworth’squietly assertive sculpture “Bicentric form”. She did like using bold foliage in proximity to her work and hope she would have approved of the cycads and farfugiums that create a green counterpoint to the still dark limestone .It’s been a joy to work around this piece- the first of her work that @tate acquired.Photos by Jason Ingram

I love species peonies.As their season comes to an end here are some of my favourites from the garden. Many are extraordinarily fleeting - perhaps none more so than P mlokosewitschii which I missed taking a picture of entirelyWe started withwhat I think is an early flowered P.daurica 16 April.2. P x smoutii. 3. P.cambessedesii 3.-4 a couple of P rockii seedlings 5. P Avant garde. A lovely wittmaniana hybrid6. P areitina “Northern Glory”. 7. P tenuifolia “plena” 8. P.anomala 9. P. Wittmaniana 10. P peregrinaThe last two still in flower. More than a month of beauty

I love species peonies.As their season comes to an end here are some of my favourites from the garden. Many are extraordinarily fleeting - perhaps none more so than P mlokosewitschii which I missed taking a picture of entirelyWe started withwhat I think is an early flowered P.daurica 16 April.2. P x smoutii. 3. P.cambessedesii 3.-4 a couple of P rockii seedlings 5. P Avant garde. A lovely wittmaniana hybrid6. P areitina “Northern Glory”. 7. P tenuifolia “plena” 8. P.anomala 9. P. Wittmaniana 10. P peregrinaThe last two still in flower. More than a month of beauty

I love species peonies.As their season comes to an end here are some of my favourites from the garden. Many are extraordinarily fleeting - perhaps none more so than P mlokosewitschii which I missed taking a picture of entirelyWe started withwhat I think is an early flowered P.daurica 16 April.2. P x smoutii. 3. P.cambessedesii 3.-4 a couple of P rockii seedlings 5. P Avant garde. A lovely wittmaniana hybrid6. P areitina “Northern Glory”. 7. P tenuifolia “plena” 8. P.anomala 9. P. Wittmaniana 10. P peregrinaThe last two still in flower. More than a month of beauty

I love species peonies.As their season comes to an end here are some of my favourites from the garden. Many are extraordinarily fleeting - perhaps none more so than P mlokosewitschii which I missed taking a picture of entirelyWe started withwhat I think is an early flowered P.daurica 16 April.2. P x smoutii. 3. P.cambessedesii 3.-4 a couple of P rockii seedlings 5. P Avant garde. A lovely wittmaniana hybrid6. P areitina “Northern Glory”. 7. P tenuifolia “plena” 8. P.anomala 9. P. Wittmaniana 10. P peregrinaThe last two still in flower. More than a month of beauty

I love species peonies.As their season comes to an end here are some of my favourites from the garden. Many are extraordinarily fleeting - perhaps none more so than P mlokosewitschii which I missed taking a picture of entirelyWe started withwhat I think is an early flowered P.daurica 16 April.2. P x smoutii. 3. P.cambessedesii 3.-4 a couple of P rockii seedlings 5. P Avant garde. A lovely wittmaniana hybrid6. P areitina “Northern Glory”. 7. P tenuifolia “plena” 8. P.anomala 9. P. Wittmaniana 10. P peregrinaThe last two still in flower. More than a month of beauty

I love species peonies.As their season comes to an end here are some of my favourites from the garden. Many are extraordinarily fleeting - perhaps none more so than P mlokosewitschii which I missed taking a picture of entirelyWe started withwhat I think is an early flowered P.daurica 16 April.2. P x smoutii. 3. P.cambessedesii 3.-4 a couple of P rockii seedlings 5. P Avant garde. A lovely wittmaniana hybrid6. P areitina “Northern Glory”. 7. P tenuifolia “plena” 8. P.anomala 9. P. Wittmaniana 10. P peregrinaThe last two still in flower. More than a month of beauty

I love species peonies.As their season comes to an end here are some of my favourites from the garden. Many are extraordinarily fleeting - perhaps none more so than P mlokosewitschii which I missed taking a picture of entirelyWe started withwhat I think is an early flowered P.daurica 16 April.2. P x smoutii. 3. P.cambessedesii 3.-4 a couple of P rockii seedlings 5. P Avant garde. A lovely wittmaniana hybrid6. P areitina “Northern Glory”. 7. P tenuifolia “plena” 8. P.anomala 9. P. Wittmaniana 10. P peregrinaThe last two still in flower. More than a month of beauty

I love species peonies.As their season comes to an end here are some of my favourites from the garden. Many are extraordinarily fleeting - perhaps none more so than P mlokosewitschii which I missed taking a picture of entirelyWe started withwhat I think is an early flowered P.daurica 16 April.2. P x smoutii. 3. P.cambessedesii 3.-4 a couple of P rockii seedlings 5. P Avant garde. A lovely wittmaniana hybrid6. P areitina “Northern Glory”. 7. P tenuifolia “plena” 8. P.anomala 9. P. Wittmaniana 10. P peregrinaThe last two still in flower. More than a month of beauty

I love species peonies.As their season comes to an end here are some of my favourites from the garden. Many are extraordinarily fleeting - perhaps none more so than P mlokosewitschii which I missed taking a picture of entirelyWe started withwhat I think is an early flowered P.daurica 16 April.2. P x smoutii. 3. P.cambessedesii 3.-4 a couple of P rockii seedlings 5. P Avant garde. A lovely wittmaniana hybrid6. P areitina “Northern Glory”. 7. P tenuifolia “plena” 8. P.anomala 9. P. Wittmaniana 10. P peregrinaThe last two still in flower. More than a month of beauty

I love species peonies.As their season comes to an end here are some of my favourites from the garden. Many are extraordinarily fleeting - perhaps none more so than P mlokosewitschii which I missed taking a picture of entirelyWe started withwhat I think is an early flowered P.daurica 16 April.2. P x smoutii. 3. P.cambessedesii 3.-4 a couple of P rockii seedlings 5. P Avant garde. A lovely wittmaniana hybrid6. P areitina “Northern Glory”. 7. P tenuifolia “plena” 8. P.anomala 9. P. Wittmaniana 10. P peregrinaThe last two still in flower. More than a month of beauty

I love species peonies.As their season comes to an end here are some of my favourites from the garden. Many are extraordinarily fleeting - perhaps none more so than P mlokosewitschii which I missed taking a picture of entirelyWe started withwhat I think is an early flowered P.daurica 16 April.2. P x smoutii. 3. P.cambessedesii 3.-4 a couple of P rockii seedlings 5. P Avant garde. A lovely wittmaniana hybrid6. P areitina “Northern Glory”. 7. P tenuifolia “plena” 8. P.anomala 9. P. Wittmaniana 10. P peregrinaThe last two still in flower. More than a month of beauty

So much gratitude to the brilliant team who have made the Tate Britain Garden at Chelsea flourish and earn a gold medal.From Clore Duffield and Project Giving Back who paid for it to @crocus.co.uk@kelwaysplantslangport @garden_build @waterartisans @factumarte @millimetremakes@britannicus_stonewho built it and our wilder full team@who planted it.Very Good to feel that the garden is just a stepping stone to the real thing which opens next spring on Millbank.It will transform@an acre and a half of grass concrete and stone into a haven of biodiversity and extraordinary plants.Oh - and a quick snap of Honor Reekie’s silver shoes next to the rill.

A bit of a team photo with many of the wonderful teamwho have helped realise the garden for Tate Britain supported by @project.giving.back and the Clore DuffieldfoundationAll this in no particular order!@honorreekie from TSS studio who masterminded things from our end ( especially over the last few days as I’ve been horizontal with a difficult back )Peter Harket for crocus
Mark Fane.The Boss
@almedo00
@hide_landscapes
@radiallandscapes
Mark Whyman @garden_buildwho masterminded the whole build
@_carmengardens
@amandavesty
@harrietparsons_landscapedesign
@lillygomm
@samlbutler
@hattmoo
@islandscapes_skye
@tombannisterstudioAnd Some very key players who were not here for the snap
Amy Thompson
Chris Whiting
Keiron Ray
Simon Taylor
Jamie Haire
Jordan Gayle.And then those who grew the plants, made the water rills and basins, cut the paving and made the benchesThe garden is a taster for the garden we are making at Tate Britain that has now started on site and will complete early in 2027.1 1/2 acres of garden between the gallery and the river.I think It’s a thrilling prospect !More to follow.

@crocus.co.uk
@kelwaysplantslangport
@factumarte
@waterartisans
@millimeter
@sunnysiderural

It was a great honour to host Gardeners’ Question Time at the Serge Hill Project, broadcast this afternoon on @bbcradio4, as part of Mental Health Awareness Week. Especially as this is the last episode with the great Matt Biggs VMH, who gave a very moving account of what gardening has meant to him while living with cancer.
 
It’s been an inspiration to see his energy and determination in the face of this terrible illness, and the way he has galvanised so many of us to help create the new garden at Mount Vernon - to be named the Matthew Biggs Sanctuary Garden in his honour. It’s brilliant that @sergehillproject, @tomstuartsmithstudio and @sunnysiderural have all been able to contribute to this wonderful project, designed by Millie Souter, Head Gardener of the Plant Library, creating a place of beauty around the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre. 
 
If you feel able to support this, please see the link in my bio or go to: www.justgiving.com/campaign/mountvernongardenproject

For those very few who don’t already know Perch Hill in East Sussex, it is the wonderful garden of Sarah Raven, the horticulturist and writer known for her brilliance in all things cut flowers, gardening, and cooking. She also hosts the podcast ‘Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange with Sarah Raven’, and I was delighted to join her for the latest episode, released yesterday.

I’m also much looking forward to joining her and Adam Nicolson on Thursday 18th June for a special evening at Perch Hill that will bring together beautiful gardens, food, and conversation.

We’ll begin with a walk through the garden, before I give a talk on some of my favourite projects, including this years’ garden for Tate Britain at Chelsea. Afterwards, there will be drinks on the lawn followed by a homegrown seasonal dinner. There will also be time for questions and for wandering the gardens at dusk, just a few days before the summer solstice. I can’t wait! 

Thursday 18th June, 5pm–10pm
Perch Hill Farm, East Sussex 

For more information, there’s a link in my bio or you can visit Sarah’s website: www.sarahraven.com/products/demo-dinner-evening-tom-stuart-smith

Photos: @jonathanbuckleyphotography

For those very few who don’t already know Perch Hill in East Sussex, it is the wonderful garden of Sarah Raven, the horticulturist and writer known for her brilliance in all things cut flowers, gardening, and cooking. She also hosts the podcast ‘Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange with Sarah Raven’, and I was delighted to join her for the latest episode, released yesterday.

I’m also much looking forward to joining her and Adam Nicolson on Thursday 18th June for a special evening at Perch Hill that will bring together beautiful gardens, food, and conversation.

We’ll begin with a walk through the garden, before I give a talk on some of my favourite projects, including this years’ garden for Tate Britain at Chelsea. Afterwards, there will be drinks on the lawn followed by a homegrown seasonal dinner. There will also be time for questions and for wandering the gardens at dusk, just a few days before the summer solstice. I can’t wait! 

Thursday 18th June, 5pm–10pm
Perch Hill Farm, East Sussex 

For more information, there’s a link in my bio or you can visit Sarah’s website: www.sarahraven.com/products/demo-dinner-evening-tom-stuart-smith

Photos: @jonathanbuckleyphotography

For those very few who don’t already know Perch Hill in East Sussex, it is the wonderful garden of Sarah Raven, the horticulturist and writer known for her brilliance in all things cut flowers, gardening, and cooking. She also hosts the podcast ‘Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange with Sarah Raven’, and I was delighted to join her for the latest episode, released yesterday.

I’m also much looking forward to joining her and Adam Nicolson on Thursday 18th June for a special evening at Perch Hill that will bring together beautiful gardens, food, and conversation.

We’ll begin with a walk through the garden, before I give a talk on some of my favourite projects, including this years’ garden for Tate Britain at Chelsea. Afterwards, there will be drinks on the lawn followed by a homegrown seasonal dinner. There will also be time for questions and for wandering the gardens at dusk, just a few days before the summer solstice. I can’t wait! 

Thursday 18th June, 5pm–10pm
Perch Hill Farm, East Sussex 

For more information, there’s a link in my bio or you can visit Sarah’s website: www.sarahraven.com/products/demo-dinner-evening-tom-stuart-smith

Photos: @jonathanbuckleyphotography

For those very few who don’t already know Perch Hill in East Sussex, it is the wonderful garden of Sarah Raven, the horticulturist and writer known for her brilliance in all things cut flowers, gardening, and cooking. She also hosts the podcast ‘Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange with Sarah Raven’, and I was delighted to join her for the latest episode, released yesterday.

I’m also much looking forward to joining her and Adam Nicolson on Thursday 18th June for a special evening at Perch Hill that will bring together beautiful gardens, food, and conversation.

We’ll begin with a walk through the garden, before I give a talk on some of my favourite projects, including this years’ garden for Tate Britain at Chelsea. Afterwards, there will be drinks on the lawn followed by a homegrown seasonal dinner. There will also be time for questions and for wandering the gardens at dusk, just a few days before the summer solstice. I can’t wait! 

Thursday 18th June, 5pm–10pm
Perch Hill Farm, East Sussex 

For more information, there’s a link in my bio or you can visit Sarah’s website: www.sarahraven.com/products/demo-dinner-evening-tom-stuart-smith

Photos: @jonathanbuckleyphotography

The plant library this morning.Bearded Iris getting under way.If you want to visit the best way is to become a member of the plant library which enables you to visit every week on a Friday and see how plants behave over the season.You can find out how to join on the SergeHill Project website.Every other day we are using the plant library for activities with local schools and other groups. Sometimes for education, research and oftenfor quietlytherapeutic time in a garden.@sergehillproject

A brilliant couple of days in the plant library lead by Dr Harry Watkins Director of the Botanic Garden at St Andrews University collecting plant samples and measuring in the plant library to establish key data like dry matter content and carbon for a shared database and publication.This is mixed with short talks and presentations.It’s a great way for gardeners and designers to meet, talk and learn a bit about plant growth strategies. thank you to such a great crowd.Two more similar events later this summer. The sun shone until about 10 minutes after everyone left
@sergehillproject @standrewsbotanicgarden

Astonishing bee life on Malus transitoria - by contrast Malus hupehensis next door is like thetakeaway with a history of food poisoning - quite quiet despite its beauty.Then bluebells at the peak and a vast Abutilon vitigolium Album in sister Kate’s garden at Serge Hill-Finally to bring us back to suburban reality,6 bottles of unopened San Miguel discovered in a bag in a hedge - each bottle wrapped individually in a woollen sock - now decayed / - sell by date ( on the bottles that is) 2010 - the mind races. - It’s the wrapping that does it.Something very furtive went on here.

Paeonia x smoutii in the plant library.I’m a littledisappointed to understand that this is its correct name.Along with others I thought it was P. X Smouthii.But this does a disservice to a Monsieur Smout,a Belgian pharmacist who first made the cross between P lactiflora and P tenuifolia.Rather like crossing a Labrador with a chihuahua.Anyway it’s a gorgeous gorgeous thing!

A miscellany from a beautiful week with a lot of sun.1-2 Naturalised cowslips and pulsatilla and the spring garden @middletonlodgeall done from seed about 7 years ago 3. @lucianogiubbileigardens beautiful planting @raby_castle where we met up with the brilliant @beckycrowley_who is looking after the seriously impressivewalled garden project there4-5 Camassias and Tulip Honky Tonk both at home this weekend.

A miscellany from a beautiful week with a lot of sun.1-2 Naturalised cowslips and pulsatilla and the spring garden @middletonlodgeall done from seed about 7 years ago 3. @lucianogiubbileigardens beautiful planting @raby_castle where we met up with the brilliant @beckycrowley_who is looking after the seriously impressivewalled garden project there4-5 Camassias and Tulip Honky Tonk both at home this weekend.

A miscellany from a beautiful week with a lot of sun.1-2 Naturalised cowslips and pulsatilla and the spring garden @middletonlodgeall done from seed about 7 years ago 3. @lucianogiubbileigardens beautiful planting @raby_castle where we met up with the brilliant @beckycrowley_who is looking after the seriously impressivewalled garden project there4-5 Camassias and Tulip Honky Tonk both at home this weekend.

A miscellany from a beautiful week with a lot of sun.1-2 Naturalised cowslips and pulsatilla and the spring garden @middletonlodgeall done from seed about 7 years ago 3. @lucianogiubbileigardens beautiful planting @raby_castle where we met up with the brilliant @beckycrowley_who is looking after the seriously impressivewalled garden project there4-5 Camassias and Tulip Honky Tonk both at home this weekend.

A miscellany from a beautiful week with a lot of sun.1-2 Naturalised cowslips and pulsatilla and the spring garden @middletonlodgeall done from seed about 7 years ago 3. @lucianogiubbileigardens beautiful planting @raby_castle where we met up with the brilliant @beckycrowley_who is looking after the seriously impressivewalled garden project there4-5 Camassias and Tulip Honky Tonk both at home this weekend.