I grew up with Lego. It is an endearing and familiar part of my childhood, multicolour castles and space ships longer than my bed. Through the children I have been able to relive my childhood joy of building; on wet days last Christmas we played Lego Olympics; who could build a set in the quickest time, who made the best space ship from the spares box (it’s a big box, created by the need to constantly replace bits that mysteriously disappeared). I resort to Lego sometimes to build bits for gardens. Despite the efficiency of 3D cad and the speed with which I can model a space to the closest millimetre, there is something more essential in a model, of seeing the space for real (even if it’s in miniature). I have just noticed that Lego have started to make architectural models..The one that attracted me is “Falling water” a model of the Frank Lloyd Wright house. It’s not available in the UK yet but I am sure it will be. It’s a thinly veiled way to get enthusiastic about a toy.

Before leaving for our summer holiday, I submitted my design for next year’s Chelsea Flower Show- urban garden. (That is the middle sized 7x5m gardens). We have just been informed that the design has been accepted (it will appear on the website this week, promise!). The contractor has been working on costings and plant lists have been issued. It’s a huge relief to get the thumbs up from the RHS, however the elation lasted about 30 secs as the realisation then hits that it will never be realised unless we get sponsorship. So now we are calling, writing, and selling the design , to get the funding in place. Last year we were scrambling around in late January for funds ( its was a very "tight" year), so whilst it should feel more relaxed this year, the truth is that knowing what is coming makes it even more of a priority to get it sorted as soon as possible.

We never plant between July and September. Nursery stock is in full growth, plants are easily damaged and transport costs go up as stock is naturally at its largest. The weather is unpredictable and a dry spell will annihilate plants struggling to come to terms with their new home. This July however we were forced to plant two gardens. Circumstances meant that the stock was ready and both clients promised they would accept the risks and be able to water their gardens daily. That hardly seems to have been necessary in hindsight, but I can happily report that both gardens are lush and full of vigour. I think that there has been only one fatality, and the effect is that the gardens look like I might have expected them to, next year. I still don’t intend to make a habit of planting midsummer but whilst it’s been a season for us to tdream of hot Valencian gardens, the plants there would wish they were here.

Alton
As reward for a day being dragged around plants and parks, the family “fee” was for me to be dragged around roller coasters. The day after Trentham we travelled sideways a bit and parked up at Alton Towers. I get more enjoyment from watching roller coasters and seeing how they are built than from riding them and I personally don’t relish long queues for 15 secs of thrill. Alistair shot off whilst Jane and I meandered across the park. We found ourselves in the “derelict” house (that is slowly being renovated) it is huge and the chapel has a ceiling that was very unexpected. There is a formal lawn with clipped “bells” and it seems a quiet haven from the park, barely a few metres away. The integration of the ‘coasters into the landscape is very good, although moving about the park can be frustrating as signage and directions are “loose” The highlight, for me at least was the valley garden and in particular the old glass house. I don’t think that I have ever come across a more photogenic structure. The lantern glass is missing and falling out, the paint is peeling off frames, the interior stonework stained in rust and soil, the colours are muted and earthly and you could probably spend all day peering in at windows. Around this structure (and I hope that any restoration is subtle rather than a full reconditioning) is a series of terraces and lawned areas set into the valley side. The planting is only noteworthy for the clipped arches, almost Alice in wonderland-esque. What was impressive was the stone work. The steps, walls and transitions from vertical to horizontal. It is intricate and engineered. The masons did not resort to cumbersome blocks but carved their own pieces for the Lego set that was used to construct the beds. The stone work is understated and sublime and probably mostly overlooked. If you are there, take time and admire workmanship that we are very unlikely to see or afford again.

I have been pencilling a visit to Trentham for a few years, but being a few hours away for us it’s always fallen off the calendar in favour of days out with less petrol. I have tried to avoid creating any expectations, I hate superfluous reviews and being influenced by someone else’s agenda, so knowing that I was going and how to get there was about as much research as we did. The entrance is well disguised amongst the mini shopping village. Big, much bigger than I expected and the plants were impressive. I saw virtually my whole plant portfolio assembled before me and not just used singularly but how they should be planted, en masse. Stipa gigantea were back lit by the sun and created golden explosions in the Italian garden. It was a stunning effect. The garden, at least the planted areas, is divided into two main areas, the Italian, geometric beds and the “flower maze” of irregular beds. This area worked better for me. The planting was on a more human scale and the perennials more varied. There were great combinations and rhythms of colour (there were also very jarring arrangements of colour/ form, or are they intentional juxtapositions?) Definitely the right time to visit, I would like to return in winter and on an overcast day, the strong sunlight did not help my pictures.

Just south of Madrid is a small town, Aranjuez. Built around a royal palace and of course its gardens. It was astonishing to wander through and encounter less than 10 other tourists. The principle gardens are large but monotonous, comprising of long avenues punctuated with fountains, most of which were switched off. In their prime they would have been stunning, but the box hedging now looks tired and the overhead canopy is so dense that whilst it gives welcome shade the falling leaves and shadow are killing the effect below. (The effect as it was probably attended is better seen in Valencia, at Jardines de Real (Viveros) - lots of arty hedge clipping. The approach to the entrance of the palace is through a vast square. Some attempt at a contemporary border has been made at one end but sadly it has been neglected and looks beyond repair, however, opposite this is a gateway through into a large courtyard and if you like lavender it is worth the diversion. I have seen it when in flower as well as later in the summer, and when in flower it is stunning. Huge beds of chest high plants radiate from the square’s simple centre, a simple but striking use of repetition and rhythm.

Within Valencia itself there are numerous small gardens. The botanic gardens are worthy of a stop for an hour or so. 5 mins walk from the river bed gardens, and budget busting €1 entry. They are easy to miss as the entrance is through a lobby that actually houses the gardens researchers. Most botanic gardens in Spain are weary, parched, neglected, devoid of plants and inspiration. Stray cats stalk you and you quickly realise that you came at the wrong time to see anything alive. Like many the botanic garden in Valencia is divided into section (water plants/ grasses etc) but the difference here is that virtually everything was lush, beds were full, plants recognisable and the whole space a pleasure to be in. The boundary walls of bamboo were superb, the cactus and agave area was excellent and obviously a work of passion. A well spent €1 (tip, at the entrance lobby.. look up!)
www.jardibotanic.org