In the Devon landscape, plantsman Keith Wiley works in harmony with nature, allowing plants to thrive much as they would in the wild. Words Matthew Reese, Photographs Jason Ingram <\/p>

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Over the past 15 years, Keith has hewn a garden out of the land, shifting thousands of tonnes of soil<\/a> and shillet (originally 20cm of loam over free-draining shillet) to make suitable habitats for a very diverse range of plants. He dug down to create lush pools, and built up banks to make free-draining mounds for bulbs<\/a> and trees<\/a>.<\/p>
Much of the planting is influenced by natural landscapes and communities observed all over the world, though they are not direct copies. \u201cI try to capture the essence,\u201d says Keith. \u201cI take a piece of natural landscape that I like and modify it to create a piece of garden, whereas most people try to make the garden look more natural.\u201d The garden is still growing. Over the brow of another hill, there is a new area waiting to be planted. Keith\u2019s excitement at the planned South African-style garden is infectious. He has it all laid out in his mind\u2019s eye and doubtless it will be every bit as extraordinary as the rest of the garden. Discover more about the garden below.<\/p>
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I take a piece of natural landscape that I like and modify it to create a piece of garden<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
http:\/\/\u00a9%20Jason%20Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The strong shapes of Euphorbia \u2018Blue Haze\u2019 and Anthemis tinctoria<\/em> \u2018EC Buxton\u2019 contrast with floating Stipa tenuissima<\/em>. A carefully pruned Fitzroya cupressoides<\/em> in the background adds height and drama.<\/p>\n
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http:\/\/\u00a9%20Jason%20Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The Lower Water Garden has a more luxuriant feel, where Hemerocallis<\/em> \u2018Ariadne\u2019 and Campanula lactiflora<\/em> combine on the banks beside pools brimming with thick stands of Pontederia cordata.<\/em><\/p>
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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The free-draining shillet banks make excellent habitats for Erigeron karvinskianus<\/em> and Linaria triornithophora<\/em>. Welsh and Californian poppies\u00a0mingle with ox-eye daisies and Dierama<\/em> Wildside hybrids.<\/p>\n
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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Old cider apple trees form a backdrop to pink and white forms of Lychnis coronaria<\/em>, punchy, lemon-yellow Oenothera stricta<\/em> \u2018Sulphurea\u2019 and wandering Geranium sanguineum<\/em> and Papaver cambricum<\/em>.<\/p>\n
$\"\"$ \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
This alpine meadow is awash with colour. Orange and yellow helianthemums and campanulas dominate the foreground, while Geranium pratense<\/a>, Geranium<\/em> sanguineum<\/em> and pulsatillas form the bulk of the planting, with Eschscholzia californica<\/em> and Oenothera stricta<\/em> self-seeding.<\/p>\n
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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The floriferous, single, red Rosa<\/em> \u2018Dortmund\u2019 climbs through the pergola. Self-seeding dieramas thrive among pink Diascia fetcaniensis,<\/em> frothy Stipa tenuissima<\/em> and tall lily stems and buds.<\/p>\n
$\"\"$ \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Planting is more formal in the Courtyard Garden, with stands of Potentilla recta<\/em> \u2018Warrenii\u2019, Hebe<\/a> ochracea<\/em> \u2018James Stirling\u2019 and Eryngium x\u00a0zabellii<\/em> among cheerful ox-eye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare<\/em>).<\/p>\n
$\"\"$ \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Looking south towards the house, Eragrostis curvula<\/em> creates a misty effect. The golden plumes of Stipa gigantea<\/em> catch the light in a planting that has both a Mediterranean and South African feel to it.<\/p>
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Useful information<\/h2> Address<\/strong> Green Lane, Buckland Monachorum, Devon PL20 7LP. Tel<\/strong> 01822 855755, Website<\/strong> wileyatwildside.com<\/a> Open<\/strong> Occasionally in spring and summer to correspond with the main peak flowering seasons; see website for details.<\/p>
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