Jane Maxim introduced Annabel Chamberlain who moved to Iken in 1994, where she has designed and created a beautiful garden, occasionally open to the public.

Annabel explained that the garden is on former heathland so she is planting into sandy and greyish soil.  Excepting a scrappy beech hedge and some leylandii, Annabel started the garden with an empty canvas.  She illustrated the importance of considering the garden from inside the house – the views from the windows and how the garden approaches and/or surrounds the house. We were encouraged to make good use of the winter as a review period – to look out and assess the ideas in the garden, to judge whether or not it is ‘working’ as planned.  And if not, to plan adaptations for improvement.

Inspirational and colourful slides enlightened us – including a few early planting ‘failures’. Jane suggested such ‘failures’ could lead to a profitable exchange of unwanted plants with friends and neighbours. Consideration must be made of the site – ideas that might have worked in Gertrude Jekyll gardens might not be appropriate if your garden is windswept and sandy.

Questions we should ask ourselves include – is the garden at its peak when we want it that way?  Does it need more colour? Less colour? Simplification? Is it good for guests/ grandchildren/ shade/ sun?

Annabel shared many tips she has learned from her long experience and also plant recommendations. These included:

• Calamagrostis Karl Foerster – a particularly well behaved grass which survives cold winters and strong winds
• Helenium Moerheim Beauty – reliable late colour
• Geranium Mrs Kendall Clark – the only plant that will grow in rubble.
• Salvia Amistead – ‘bomb proof’

Mexican plants cope well with local conditions including Matthiasella Bupleuroides Green Dream and Amicia.

Avoid growing white blooms against purple foliage – a deadening effect.

Be wary of purple leaves in a hot border.

Don’t put grasses in a mixed border – they work better with prairie plants.

A brief rundown of garden history included the influence of Capability Brown, the Industrial Revolution, William Robinson and Gertrude Jekyll. Annabel highly recommended two particular books: ‘The Education of a Gardener’ by Russell Page (Harper Collins 1962) and ‘The Well Tempered Garden’ by Christopher Lloyd (Harper Collins, 1970).

Annabel generously answered many questions, which continued long after we ran out of time whilst the chairs were put away and the lights switched off!  (Summary: Rachel Laughton-Scott)