56 THE ENGLISH GARDEN SEPTEMBER 2019
Vicky visited Le Jardin Plume in
France with friends and came back
inspired. Gradually, the area devoted to
grasses and prairie planting expanded.
The result is a striking mix of Echinops
bannaticus, Echinacea purpurea and
Salvia sclarea var. turkestanica. But
it is the grasses that bring Vicky most
joy. Beds of Pennisetum ‘Fairy Tails’,
Stipa gigantea, Miscanthus sinensis
‘Ferner Osten’ and Stipa tenuissima are
interplanted with Verbena bonariensis
and catananche. “The combination of
late-summer evening light and the beauty
of the grasses has moved me to tears,” Vicky admits.
“In the low sun, the miscanthus are magical.”
There’s little doubt that the long and gradual
process of revealing the garden glimpsed beneath
the undergrowth on Vicky’s first visit to The Grange
has brought her great pleasure. “I had no idea what
I was taking on but I’ve never felt sorry that I started.
It has been an adventure and an amazing privilege
and I really enjoy sharing the results.” ■The Grange, Berrick Road, Chalgrove, Oxfordshire
OX44 7RQ. Opens for the National Garden Scheme
by arrangement until 31 October. Tel: 01865 400883;
ngs.org.ukTop Blue-flowered
Catananche caerulea
with Pennisetum ‘Fairy
Tails’ in the prairie beds.
Above Bold ricinus and
cannas thrive in the
moist soil by the stream.reeds. In the streamside border, Ricinus communis,
canna and Darmera peltata, are interspersed
with Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ and Sorbaria
sorbifolia ‘Sem’. The island, once completely
overgrown, is home to exotic looking Gunnera
manicata, Rodgersia pinnata, and a wide range of
healthy hostas – slugs are dealt with e ciently by
visiting ducks. The gazebo is positioned here with a
west-facing deck for enjoying sundowners. “Not that
I’ve ever had time to sit there,” adds Vicky wryly.
Given the amount of lush vegetation, it’s little
surprise to learn that the Farrens make their own
compost and leafmould. “Nothing is wasted,” says
Vicky. The garden’s fertility is boosted by the horses
that graze between the meadow and the wildflower
meadow, and their owner, a family friend, helps
Vicky in the vegetable garden. As Vicky points out,
“there’s too much for us to do on our own.”
A few years ago, Vicky went to a talk by Piet
Oudolf. This was the start of her love for grasses and
an enduring interest in prairie planting. She decided
to create prairie beds in a field beyond the lake. By
now a little more knowledgeable about gardens
than when they first moved in, Peter spoke up. “He
decided we had enough garden already, but I didn’t
listen,” says Vicky. “It
was hard work,” she
admits. “We’re blessed
with neutral soil but some
parts are easier to dig
than others. Occasionally
I had to use a pick-axe to
get through the clay.”
“The combination of late-
summer evening light and
the beauty of the grasses
has moved me to tears”