{"id":4422,"date":"2021-12-20T11:44:31","date_gmt":"2021-12-20T10:44:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/?p=25760"},"modified":"2021-12-22T11:27:19","modified_gmt":"2021-12-22T10:27:19","slug":"striking-form-at-a-sculptural-winter-garden","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/rss_feed\/striking-form-at-a-sculptural-winter-garden\/","title":{"rendered":"Striking form at a sculptural winter garden"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Daniel Griffiths\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 20 December 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

When Monique and Simon Gudgeon took on Pallington Lakes in rural Dorset, it was a fishery, and they had no plans to turn it into anything else. The outbuildings would be useful for Simon\u2019s career as a sculptor, and the fishing business would generate its own income. But three and a half years later the Gudgeons waved goodbye to the fishermen forever, as Simon\u2019s sculptures began to take up residence by water\u2019s edge. This was a development that neither party would have predicted before Simon decided to swap storage space for the open air \u2013 and was impressed by the way his sculpture interacted with the landscape.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

IN BRIEF<\/h4>\n

What:<\/strong> Sculpture by the Lakes<\/a> \u2013 a private garden around a lake, with strong winter structure, that hosts the owner\u2019s sculptures.Where:<\/strong> Pallington Lakes, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8QU.Open:<\/strong>\u00a0Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-5pm (summer times may differ).Soil:<\/strong> River-deposited silt and gravelSize:<\/strong> 26 acres.Hardiness zone<\/strong> USDA 9.<\/p>\n

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

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The prospect of landscaping 26 acres is less daunting, it could be argued, if half of the land is under water, measured out in lakes and ponds. The only part of the emerging sculpture<\/a> park that Monique planned on paper was the area around the house. Beyond the estate fencing and figurative gates (made by Simon), various winding paths spread themselves out from no single point, leading to a destination that is not clear. A giant pergola draped with roses<\/a> and clematis<\/a> in summer, offers a further route towards the wider landscape.<\/p>\n

Sculptures emerge along the way, rising from grasses, sitting in woodland clearings and perched in or around water. Naturally progressing as more sculptures have appeared, the garden has benefited from Monique\u2019s experience as a horticulturist, and a shared sanguine approach to size and scale.<\/p>\n

\""Monique\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Wavy paths spread away from the house with textural planting from fountain grass Pennisetum alopecuroides<\/em> \u2018Red Head\u2019 and rolling mounds of Lonicera ligustrina<\/em> var. pileata<\/em> \u2018Moss Green\u2019.<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Curving away from the house, a grass path slowly elevates into a raised walkway, framed initially by Pennisetum alopecuroides<\/em> \u2018Red Head\u2019 and Lonicera ligustrina<\/em> var. yunnanensis<\/em>, which was cut into mounds by Jake Hobson of Niwaki. Monique was impressed by the shaping of land at Charles Jencks\u2019s Garden of Cosmic Speculation in Scotland, and these ideas were further confirmed by a visit to the garden of Fernando Caruncho in Madrid.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my natural inclination to keep expanding,\u201d she says. \u201cI wanted to try these sculptural forms, and this area and situation lent itself to that.\u201d At the end of the spiralling path, where Lonicera ligustrina<\/em> var. yunnanensis<\/em> gives way to L. ligustrina<\/em> var. pileata<\/em> \u2018Moss Green\u2019, the pruning relaxes into Caruncho-esque cushions, intended as a reflection on the Dorset Downs. Monique was further inspired by the karikomi way with shrubs from Japan: \u201cIt\u2019s about forming a landscape, using plants.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\""Monique\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The shrubby honeysuckle was cut by Jake Hobson of Niwaki in the karikomi manner \u2013 the art of sculpting a plant into an idea of a landscape \u2013 with rounded forms relax into spreading mounds as the walkway leads further into the garden.<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The drama of the planting creates an atmosphere where land art sits easily with art on the land. A willow tunnel<\/a> makes a statuesque arc around a wildflower meadow, while its straight stems and pinnate leaves merge into those of bamboo, part of a collection of 500 plants brought from a previous garden. She cheerfully grows 20 types of bamboo, and about 20 different types of willow, six of which were already thriving in the watery landscape.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\""Monique\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
It takes around two weeks in February for Monique to cut back and weave in new growth of the willow (Salix viminalis) in her willow tunnel. Monique likes the character of its growth and finds the long process therapeutic. Cuttings from the tunnel also make pliable wands that are useful in the kitchen garden.<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Having cut her teeth as a gardener first in the show gardens of Agriframes, followed by more detailed horticulture at Architectural Plants, she now volunteers once a week at the Arboretum nursery at Kew Gardens. She is used to dealing with structure, both hard and soft, and her enthusiasm for knowledge and growing experience is particularly focussed on trees.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\""Monique\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Monique and Simon enjoy how water and the seasons affect sculpture. Monique is happy experimenting with size and scale, planting outsized trees, such as dawn redwood and cedar of Lebanon, and 20 types of bamboo.<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI know I\u2019m going to lose a lot of ash, so I\u2019m looking at all sorts of trees that I can replace it with,\u201d says Monique. New trees include sweet chestnut, three dawn redwoods, three swamp maples, a cedar of Lebanon and multiple eucalyptus. They are joined by countless magnolias and Japanese acers in the sheltered woodland walk, and 460 silver birch trees in a serene glade by the water. \u201cAfter oak, birch is one of the most important trees for wildlife,\u201d says Monique. \u201cHundreds of species rely on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\""Monique\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The waved form of shrubby honeysuckle curls around Simon\u2019s sculpture \u2018Dancing Cranes\u2019 and is now cut by gardener Sam McLuckie who was given free rein to further develop the hedges.<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Before the lakes were created in the 1970s, Pallington was part of Thomas Hardy\u2019s \u2018verdant plain\u2019, in the Vale of the Great Dairies. \u201cIn summer they used to run the cattle through this area. In winter, because it was always flooded, they just let it go,\u201d says Monique. She gardens for nature as much as for herself, and was keen to maintain a winter habitat for caterpillars, in an area that was already popular with butterflies.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\""Monique\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
In a small pool, the sculpture Diving Otter is surrounded by native marginal plants including reedmace (Typha latifolia) and common rush (Juncus effusus). Further back, Monique cleared an area graced by an old birch tree and planted 460 more to make a quiet woodland.<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Building a bank to protect the garden from flooding, Monique planted it with butterfly attractants, such as eupatorium and nepeta, while maintaining quantities of nettles. The couple are privileged to have the reed-fringed River Frome winding through their garden. Left to its own devices, the waterway has formed an oxbow bend, which will one day become a small island. Just the spot for a new sculpture.<\/p>\n

\n
\""Monique\"<\/picture><\/div>
Agapanthus Queen Mum (= \u2018Pmn06\u2019) A cultivar with white flowers that are blue at the base. It fades to leave striking seedheads. 1.2m. RHS H4, USDA 8a-11\u2020. <\/span> <\/figcaption> \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Monique\"<\/picture><\/div>
Lycopus europaeus A native, shallow-water marginal plant with whorls of flowers on an interrupted spike. Its seedheads offer frosty winter structure. 90cm. <\/span> <\/figcaption> \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Monique\"<\/picture><\/div>
Pennisetum alopecuroides \u2018Red Head\u2019 A long-lived and self-sufficient grass, only needing to be cut back in late February. 90cm. AGM*. RHS H3, USDA 6a-9b.<\/span> <\/figcaption> \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Monique\"<\/picture><\/div>
Cistus x lenis \u2018Grayswood Pink\u2019 A bright-pink rock rose, with evergreen foliage that looks gorgeous in winter dusted by frost. 90cm. AGM. RHS H4.<\/span> <\/figcaption> \u00a9 Anna\u00efck Guitteny<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n*Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. \u2020Hardiness ratings given where available.<\/em>\n

\u00a0More beautiful winter gardens<\/strong><\/p>\n