Happy Friday GPODers!
We started the week in Germany, admiring spring in Yana’s forget-me-not-filled garden (Yana’s Forget-Me-Nots in Germany) and we’re wrapping up the week back in Europe to revisit an English garden with an unbelievably tropical feel. Four years ago we were introduced to Fabrice Aru, a French transplant living in Chigwell, Essex, England, who created an immersive garden in a small space (Check out that submission here: A French Garden in the UK). We were completely enamored by Fabrice’s garden then, but getting this second submission led to some further investigating and I soon learned we aren’t the only ones to be wowed by his designs.
This garden was runner up in the Daily Mail National Garden Competition in 2017, and awarded 2nd place by Gardeners News for Best Small Garden. It was featured on BBC TV Gardeners World 2017, ITV Good Morning Britain 2018, and Garden News April 2023. On top of all of that, Fabrice and his partner Martin open up their garden to the public every year to participate in the UK’s National Garden Scheme. As part of this incredible non-profit initiative, they have dubbed their garden ‘The Delves’ and been a part of raising millions of pounds for nursing and health charities in the UK. Despite all of the accolades and achievements, these are the humble words that Fabrice has for his impressive space:
My little garden where I can finally relax and forget how built up Chigwell is.
 |
A taste of the ‘before’ and ‘after’. The photo on the left is the space in 1998, with some basic shrubs and a small lawn area. A scene many would recognize as a pretty traditional back garden in the UK. On the right you can see how Fabrice has completely transformed the space and created something unrecognizable from the ‘before’.
Today, the space is full of tropical, lush color and more plants than you could possibly count. Narrow paths allow Fabrice, Martin, and their garden guests to enter and explore, and the tan color used serves as a great contrast to the greenery bounding from every angle.
Just beyond the foliage a typical English neighborhood surrounds, but inside the garden you’re transported to a carefully curated jungle. Trees of various sizes lend to the ‘wildness’ of the scene, while Fabrice strategically uses hanging baskets and a wide variety of pots to create incredible layers that block the outside world.
The garden is also sprinkled with an array of gorgeous accessories, art, and different design elements. Chairs aren’t just for sitting, they’re another opportunity to add art to the garden, a fabulous mix of hardscaping materials create even more character, and every inch of this space is utilized for something interesting. Would you ever guess that a garden this small would still have room for a water feature?
Clay, stone, wood, and metal all mange to come together for a design that is interesting and eye-catching, but still warm and inviting. Making foliage plants the main feature of the garden definitely helps with cohesion, but Fabrice does save room for a few bright flowers.
Thank you so much for another incredible tour of your enchanting garden, Fabrice! I hope you have a fabulous turn out for your open day this summer, your garden must be pure joy to experience in person.
I know that Fabrice is far from the only gardener that opens their garden for local tours. Who else is preparing for a group of eager garden guests to visit their spaces this spring or summer? Let us know in the comments what garden tours you participate in, and consider sharing photos of your garden all primmed and prepped for its big day! Follow the directions below to submit photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.
We want to see YOUR garden!
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
The Regenerative Landscaper: Design and Build Landscapes That Repair the Environment
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
2024 Nautilus Award Gold Medal Winner! This awe-inspiring guide weaves together permaculture design, food resiliency, climate adaptation, community organizing, and indigenous wisdom that you can implement in your own backyard.
Buffalo-Style Gardens: Create a Quirky, One-of-a-Kind Private Garden with Eye-Catching Designs
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Buffalo-Style Gardens is a one-of-a-kind, offbeat garden design book that showcases the wildly inventive gardens and gardeners of Buffalo – and offers readers “the best of the best” ideas to use in their own small-space gardens.
A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point – no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.
