Rural

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A woodland garden with a modern classical home

With no hedges or boundary trees, the garden is open to the surrounding landscape and feels very much part of it, especially as the fluid planting has been designed to give the romantic, gauzy feel of a wildflower meadow but with a longer season of interest and a greater variety of plant type and form. Here, Sisyrinchium striatum, Lupinus ‘Noble Maiden’ and Phlomis russeliana catch the eye.

Informal planting for an idyllic Cotswold garden

Deep shade at the back of the house inspired a border of refined greens: tree ferns arch above the low-growing Hakonechloa macra, and Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris climbs the rear facade. An ornamental drinking bowl sits on the paving and is visited by badgers at night.

A modern meadow garden

Iris sibirica fringe a stream that flows through the orchard below Mothecombe House. The house is flanked by a large Magnolia x soulangeana already in leaf on the left and the candyfloss-pink blossom of a Judas tree Cercis siliquastrum on the right.

The enchanted gardens of Mothecombe House

Masses of primroses with pale, striped squill (Puschkinia scilloides) and blue scillas light up the river bank under the trees in early spring. The view of the floating garden on the water and vistas of the lawn and borders can be best enjoyed from here.

Create the perfect Cotswold garden

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