\u00a9 Claire Takacs<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Dan delivered his master plan in 2012, explaining that he wanted to \u201cmake the garden a horticultural delight and deliver an experience that will allow people to feel part of the ruins\u201d. With large gardens it is usually important to establish a clear narrative, perhaps a recurring motif or maintenance aesthetic.<\/p>\n
At Lowther, however, Dan has deliberately challenged that notion, and instead assembled a potential series of conflicts, with an aim of creating different rhythms. The restored courtyard, for example, is minimalist and contemporary; there is a ghostly quality about the hornbeam columns he has planted to provide both shade<\/a> and intimacy, but they also act in stark contrast to the ruinous castle nearby.<\/p>\n
These same rhythms are in the garden. At one moment it might feel overwhelming, then there is reward with a hotspot in a forest clearing. Then a breather again, before being rewarded once more. This slow and gentle unravelling of a space is magical, and typical of Dan\u2019s work. \u201cThrough these moments of high and low, the language of the garden becomes legible and the whole place begins to sing,\u201dsays Dan.<\/p>\n
Read about Dan Pearson\u2019s Rose Garden at Lowther Castle<\/a>, which is now open to the public and the appointment of Lowther\u2019s new head gardener Andrea Brunsendorf<\/a>.<\/p>\n

IN BRIEF<\/strong><\/p>\n
Name<\/strong> Lowther Castle.<\/p>\n
What<\/strong> Garden by designer Dan Pearson that is emerging from the castle ruins of the family seat of the Lowther family.<\/p>\n
Where<\/strong> Southwest of Penrith, Cumbria.<\/p>\n
Size<\/strong> 130 acres of gardens and castle terraces set within 75,000 acres of estate.<\/p>\n
Climate<\/strong> Cool summers and cold winters.<\/p>\n
Soil<\/strong> Clay.<\/p>\n
Hardiness rating<\/strong> USDA 8.<\/p>\n
<\/p><\/div> <\/section>
$\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nThe contrast is stark, yet the connection between the Tapestry Garden and the castle appears effortless. Dan has used low curtains of Taxus<\/em> and Panicum<\/em> \u2018Rehbraun\u2019 to provide architecture and inject rhythm into the planting, not only linking it visually to the castle, but also allowing the repeated mounds of perennials<\/a> to be untamed, moody and wild.<\/p>\n
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\u00a9 Claire Takacs<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Within the castle \u2018interior\u2019 Dan has reinstated a feeling of mystery, where in time climbers, such as Tropaeolum speciosum<\/em> and Akebia longeracemosa<\/em>,\nwill festoon the windows rather like curtains.<\/p>\n
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\u00a9 Claire Takacs<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
In the parterre Dan blends familiar plants, such as Stachys byzantina<\/em>, Salvia pratensis<\/em> \u2018Indigo\u2019 and Potentilla nepalensis<\/em> \u2018Miss Willmott\u2019, to replicate the colours of a faded tapestry.<\/p>\n
$\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> \u00a9\u00a0Claire Takacs<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
In the castle \u2018interior\u2019 Hakonechloa macra<\/em> swirls and eddies around, creating a blurred and informal edge to the planting.<\/p>\n
$\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> \u00a9 Claire Takacs<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nSuccessive layers of Cephalaria gigantea<\/em> are contained within curtains of Taxus. Later, the colouring of the low yew hedge<\/a> will act as a perfect foil for the creamy-white flower heads of Actaea simplex<\/em> \u2018James Compton\u2019.<\/p>\n
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\u00a9\u00a0Claire Takacs<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Hemerocallis<\/em> \u2018Hyperion\u2019 with its canary-yellow flowers is a plant that is out of current favour. Here in the parterre Dan has used it to great effect, contrasting the yellow heads against the moody, purple-blue spikes of Salvia pratensis<\/em> \u2018Indigo\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dan Pearson\u2019s key plants at Lowther Castle<\/h2>\nSalvia pratensis<\/em> \u2018Indigo\u2019<\/h3>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u00a9 Claire Takacs<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nOne of several hardy Salvia<\/a> with attractive calyces. Prune by half its height after the first flush and it will flower again. 90cm. AGM\n
Potentilla nepalensis<\/em> \u2018Miss Willmott\u2019<\/h3>\n
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\u00a9\u00a0Claire Takacs<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAn old hybrid of worth dating from 1920. Abundant, warm cherry-pink flowers, each with a conspicuous dark eye. 50cm.\n
Baptisia australis<\/em><\/h3>\n
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\u00a9 Claire Takacs<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nA plant that enjoys full sun and deep soil. Your effort is rewarded with intense blue flowers and lupin-like foliage. 1.2m. AGM.\n
Nepeta govaniana<\/em><\/h3>\n
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\u00a9 Claire Takacs<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nA plant that is often mistaken for something else. Its delicate, light yellow flowers last for many weeks. 90cm.\n
Campanula<\/em> \u2018Purple Sensation\u2019<\/h3>\n
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\u00a9\u00a0Claire Takacs<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Dark-purple flowers emerge from near-black buds and hang in great profusion. 60cm.<\/p>\n
Selinum wallichianum<\/em><\/h3>\n
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\u00a9 Claire Takacs<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nA wonderful ornamental cow parsley with finely cut leaves and umbels of white flowers in summer. Somewhat surprisingly prefers sun. 1.8m. AGM.\n
Rosa rubiginosa<\/em><\/h3>\n
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\u00a9\u00a0Claire Takacs<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
A vigorous species rose with grey-green scented foliage, pretty pink flowers and attractive red hips<\/a>. Best when allowed to scramble. 3m.<\/p>\n
Actaea simplex<\/em> \u2018James Compton\u2019<\/h3>\n
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\u00a9\u00a0Claire Takacs<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Has leaves that start dark green and mature to matt olive-black. Creamy white flower spikes emerge from pinkish buds. 1.5m. AGM.<\/p>\n
This article originally featured in the 2017 Special Edition of Gardens Illustrated<\/em><\/h3><\/body><\/html>\n
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