The Best of Gardening Neighbours

I’ve just returned from staying with friends who are near neighbours of  Penelope Hobhouse. Their house had previously been a country school with a playground – and the garden, converted from the playground, was just gravel and lawn. The setting is so beautiful that they didn’t get round to doing anything with it, but vaguely aware that Penelope designed gardens, they tentatively asked if she could offer some advice.   Not only did she offer advice, she happily went along on plant gathering trips and generally helped them turn what had been a rather dull garden into something rather magnificent. It was only planted earlier this year but already looks well-established. Lucky them!