On Our dOOrstep...Visit...AmberleyMuseumand
HeritageCentrenearArundel
(amberleymuseum.co.uk).A
charminglittlemuseumwithlotsof
unexpectedinterestincluding
a collectionofrestoredvintage
buses,a potteryworkshopand
replicaThirtiesgarage.
Goforamealat...
StMartin’sOrganicCoffeeHouse,
inChichester(organiccoffeehouse.
co.uk).A cosycaféthatserves
deliciousWelshrarebit.
Shop...inPetworth.A pretty,
historicsmalltownfullof
independenttraders.Lotsof
galleries,antiquesandinteriors
shops,clothesshops,a greatbakery,
delicatessen and florist.Thepurpleofthe
parasolpicksup
thetoneofthe
Lythrum salicaria
tools,orthegalvaniseddrinkersandwateringcansthatcreate
a still-lifeona flatroof.Facesmadefromtherimsofsievesandbits
ofwoodbringa plainwalltolifewhileSteve’smetalcut-outsof
hens,catsandrabbitsarefixedtofencesandgates.evenrusty
oldtoysrescuedfroma vehiclethecoupleflaggeddownonits
waytothetipareusedasdecorativeprops.JeanandSteve’s
loveofquirkythingshasnowextendedintotheirworkinglives.
ThecoupleruntheFloralFringeFair,anannualeventwhich
bringstogetherspecialistplantnurseries,wildlifestalls,local
makersandartists,vintagestyle,livemusicandgood food,
heldinJuneinthenearbyvillageofamberley.
Jeanrevelsinstrangelyscentedplantslikepink-floweredbedstraw,Phuopsisstylosa, whichis supposedtosmelloffoxes,and
Himalayanbalsam,Impatiensglandulifera. ‘Itsseedheadhas
a strangeincenseysmell.I likethewayit popsupinplacesthat
I wouldn’thaveplantedit, andit’sreallyvaluableforbeesinJulyand
august’.Shelovesthistlyplantsliketeasels,particularlythesmall-
floweredDipsacuspilosus, andumbelliferstoo,likeangelicas,
Ferulacommunis, andstrikinggreeny-yellowSmyrniumperfoliatum.
NowadaysJeanseesherselfasa stewardofthegarden,facilitatingnature’sdesignandeditingwherenecessary.‘Inspring
I workhardtakingoutthingsgrowinginthewrongplace.’Sheis
inspiredbythephilosophiesoflandscapedesignerssuchas
americanrickdarkewhoseexhortationto‘listentothegarden’
strikesa chord:‘I thinkthat’swhatI’vebeendoingallalong.’
FiveOaksCottage,nearPetworth,WestSussexopensinaid of the National
Garden Scheme (ngs.org.uk) in July, by appointment.