IN BRIEF<\/strong><\/p>\n

What<\/strong> Rectory garden that surrounds a church on three sides.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Where<\/strong> Northamptonshire.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Size<\/strong> Two-acre garden within an 18-acre site.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Soil<\/strong> Clay.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Climate<\/strong> Exposed hilltop, which can get very windy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hardiness zone<\/strong> USDA 8.<\/p>\n

<\/p><\/div> <\/section>

\u201cJames gave us terraces and a way of navigating different areas around the garden,\u201d comments owner Victoria Bridgeman, while pointing out that previously the garden was mainly about the view and little else. Instead, there is focus in the foreground: a rill<\/a> joins the two terraces, with the pale inflorescence of Eremurus<\/em> \u2018Joanna\u2019 picked up in the creamy effusion of several Hydrangea arborescens<\/em> \u2018Annabelle\u2019 in deep borders, backed by billowing roses.<\/p>\n

$\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> \u00a9\u00a0Britt Willoughby Dyer<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nJames\u2019 appreciation of colour and refinement comes across in plant choices, such as a duo of vanilla and raspberry sweetshrubs, Calycanthus<\/em> \u2018Venus\u2019 and Calycanthus<\/em> \u2018Aphrodite\u2019, and in the great number of roses<\/a>, including Rosa<\/em> x odorata<\/em> \u2018Mutabilis\u2019, which James has been using for a long time. It flowers repeatedly in myriad shades, \u201cfrom a rather elegant dark pink to a pale, laundered apricot\u201d. Turk\u2019s cap lilies make themselves known all around the terraces, as well as salvias<\/a> in the ground, in pots<\/a>, and anywhere they will fit.<\/p>\n
The landscape relaxes down the bank from the terraces and rill, with tough but beautifully scented rugosa roses in grass<\/a>. They are probably the best roses for exposure and many more are being added. This area signals the next part of the journey around the property: at each stage, the view is represented, with different angles seen from pausing places that are also being added with enthusiasm.<\/p>\n
$\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9\u00a0Britt Willoughby Dyer<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nThe traditional vicar\u2019s lawn<\/a> has been rationalised for use in the 21st century, with sections of long grass and high-spirited herbaceous borders, which include dark stemmed Penstemon digitalis<\/em> \u2018Husker Red\u2019. New trees \u2013 constantly being added at different sizes \u2013 bring life and height to the garden while filtering wind, along with the mature trees around the garden\u2019s edges.<\/p>\n
$\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9\u00a0Britt Willoughby Dyer<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAlong the wall separating the house and garden from the church, a 2.5m- deep border runs parallel to a rill that James put in to point towards the view over Northamptonshire. Rosa<\/em> \u2018Madame Alfred Carri\u00e8re\u2019 clothes the house wall; Rosa<\/em> x odorata<\/em> \u2018Mutabilis\u2019 mingles with fennel, near Agapanthus<\/a> africanus<\/em> and more raspberry colour from Calycanthus<\/em> \u2018Aphrodite\u2019.<\/p>\n
$\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> \u00a9\u00a0Britt Willoughby Dyer<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nA long and tall east-facing wall is used to best advantage, supporting clouds of roses that mix with honeysuckle<\/a>, the clouds continuing with creamy Hydrangea arborescens<\/em> \u2018Annabelle\u2019 in the deep borders. Making further incursions across the lawn by the rill, salvias include Salvia<\/em> \u2018Royal Bumble\u2019 and Salvia yangii<\/em>. Hamamelis<\/em> x intermedia<\/em> \u2018Diane\u2019 holds the near corner along with Penstemon<\/em> \u2018Andenken an Friedrich Hahn\u2019.<\/p>\n
$\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> \u00a9\u00a0Britt Willoughby Dyer <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAnother section of the view is framed by two ancient oaks<\/a>, with a line of beech trees planted by \u2018Capability\u2019 Brown strung out along the horizon to the left. In between, a growing population of rugosa roses, including Rosa<\/em> \u2018Blanche Double de Coubert\u2019 occupies the long grass by an all\u00e9e of fastigiate yews tumbling down towards a gate into the deer park.<\/p>\n
8 key plants of the Old Rectory Garden<\/h2>\n
Rosa<\/em> x odorata<\/em> \u2018Mutabilis\u2019<\/h3>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9\u00a0Britt Willoughby Dyer<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Designer favourite, with single flowers that open yellow then age to pink and crimson. As it\u2019s long-flowering, there is myriad colour on one plant. 2m x 2.5m. AGM<\/p>\n
Eremurus<\/em> \u2018Joanna\u2019<\/h3>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9\u00a0Britt Willoughby Dyer<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nSun-loving, vigorous perennial<\/a> spires on stout stems that need no staking, sometimes growing in a way that is not straight. Very tall. 2.5m x 30cm. AGM.<\/p>\n
Rosa<\/em> Scepter\u2019d Isle (= \u2018Ausland\u2019)<\/h3>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9\u00a0Britt Willoughby Dyer <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
English shrub rose from David Austin, repeat flowering over a long season, strongly scented. Happy in sun or part shade. 1.25m x 1.25m.<\/p>\n
Achillea<\/em> \u2018Summerwine\u2019<\/h3>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9 Britt Willoughby Dyer<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nA perennial that has much appeal in borders and is also highly attractive to pollinators<\/a>. It has divided foliage that is a good foil to its handsome crimson flowers. Happiest in full sun. 90cm x 50cm. AGM.<\/p>\n
Salvia<\/em> \u2018Nachtvlinder\u2019<\/h3>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9 Britt Willoughby Dyer<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nVelvety, tender, perennial sage with aromatic leaves. Long-flowering, very attractive to pollinators, needs shelter and full sun. 75cm x 50cm. AGM. Don\u2019t miss our plant profile on the best salvias for your garden.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n
Rosa<\/em> Lady of Shalott (= \u2018Ausnyson\u2019)<\/h3>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9\u00a0Britt Willoughby Dyer<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
English shrub rose. Repeat flowering and lightly scented, the big draw is the flower shape and petal colour of a glowing, peachy-orange. 1.5m x 1.25m. AGM.<\/p>\n
Eryngium<\/em> x tripartitum<\/em><\/h3>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9\u00a0Britt Willoughby Dyer<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAn excellent choice for exposed areas, brings colour and texture<\/a> and many hoverflies. Needs full sun and soil that is well-drained. 1m x 50cm. AGM. Here\u2019s our piece on everything you need to know about eryngium.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n
Anemone<\/em> x hybrida<\/em> \u2018Honorine Jobert\u2019<\/h3>\n
$\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9\u00a0Britt Willoughby Dyer <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
A fabulous plant for bringing life back to a flagging border, as it stays fresh from August until first frosts. Does well in part shade. 1.2m x 1.2m. AGM.<\/p><\/body><\/html>\n
","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Kendra Wilson Published: Monday, 25 July 2022 at 12:00 am When James Alexander-Sinclair began working on this rectory garden four years ago, most of the area used by his clients and their family faced north, with a vast open sky to the east. By lunchtime, the sun had moved to the other side of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":13109,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"6"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2022\/07\/colour-and-personality-in-an-old-rectory-garden-scaled.jpg",2560,1707,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2022\/07\/colour-and-personality-in-an-old-rectory-garden-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2022\/07\/colour-and-personality-in-an-old-rectory-garden-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2022\/07\/colour-and-personality-in-an-old-rectory-garden-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2022\/07\/colour-and-personality-in-an-old-rectory-garden-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2022\/07\/colour-and-personality-in-an-old-rectory-garden-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2022\/07\/colour-and-personality-in-an-old-rectory-garden-2048x1365.jpg",2048,1365,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Kendra Wilson Published: Monday, 25 July 2022 at 12:00 am When James Alexander-Sinclair began working on this rectory garden four years ago, most of the area used by his clients and their family faced north, with a vast open sky to the east. By lunchtime, the sun had moved to the other side of…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/13108"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13109"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}