The ‘Patio’, aka ‘The Fernery’

Garden planning has started, which means Jason Lock has cast his eye over the garden and we are going to commission a plan. He designed a beautiful village garden for me in Cratfield, but I want this, London garden, to be different.

The view from the front door
The garden in Cratfield in the evening light in June

In the meantime here in London I have tidied up the patio and I have started thinking about how I want to place the pots, and develop a real ‘fernery’. Right now I am just trying to keep them alive!

Three pots of ferns
Three pots of ferns

I think this variety is dryopteris erythrosora – the autumn fern from Japan – I love the colour of the leaves.

I love the colour of the new leaves!
New leaves on the buckler fern

And look at the fingers on this dryopteris filix-mas cristata (I think); it originated from Fibrex Nurseries, many years ago.

Dryopteris filix-mas cristata
Dryopteris filix-mas cristata

And a pretty holly fern, crytomium fortunei from the Far East:

Crytomium fortunei, the holly fern
Crytomium fortunei, the holly fern

I want to create an interesting fernery, with different varieties, in pots at different levels. I will need some solid leaves to show off the ferns. Bergenias do well in this garden, and I have a plentiful stock in Cratfield!

Bergenia 'Abendglut'
Bergenia ‘Abendglut’

And I wonder about some forget-me-nots, Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’, also developing into an over-supply in Cratfield!

Brunnera 'Jack Frost'
Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’

And perhaps some tall grass?

Miscanthus 'Kleine Silberspinne'
Miscanthus ‘Kleine Silberspinne’

I already have hachonechloa and this is doing well in a tub, unmoved for several years now.

Hakonechloa
Hakonechloa

So, the ideas are starting to develop slowly, and the challenge will be to choose just a few!

I'd love to hear from you!

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