Page 20 - Garden News

Garden
OF THE
WEEK have a bit of
“You must

‘what’s up
there?’ though,
so there’s a central
lawn to break things up.”
The garden opened under the
National Garden Scheme in
2000 and Margaret, who has
just taken on the responsibility
of being Surrey’s County
Organiser for the NGS, noticed
that there were no gardens open
in August, so they’ve decided to
open in July and August when
the dahlias and salvias are
looking at their best.
When visitors arrive they’re
drawn to one particular plant, a
beautiful monkey puzzle tree.
“It’s the only survivor from the
old garden and it’s an absolute
delight when the seed pods are
on the tree. I get lots of questions
and if I had 10p for each one I’d
be a rich woman!”
Although it’s a garden for all
seasons, it’s the large island bed,
or the woodland garden, that
shines in spring and her passion

for snowdrops comes to the fore. spreadsheet for recording the
“I got into them because my number of flowers every year,
surname is Arnott and there’s a and ‘S.Arnott’ is going backwards
famous variety called ‘S.Arnott’. at the moment. “It’s a bit like the
My mother was obsessed by it stock market. Numbers increase,
and always grew some.” then go down and then they rally
Margaret, who describes and bounce back again.”
herself as nerdy, has a Margaret, who acquired many

Left, Margaret maintains
that a curvy path adds
interest and mystery to a
garden. Right, among the
elegant white snowdrops
sit deep purple
primroses for contrast

20 Garden News /January 27 2018