An opportunity arose when my clients took down a row of towering conifers at the end of their Suffolk seaside village garden and I was presented with a blank canvas to design a new exciting garden for them to enjoy.  With enthusiastic, plant-loving clients, willing to try new things, we opted for sowing a perennial meadow which would flower from May through to the late autumn.  Before sowing the meadow I planted golden oat-like Stipa gigantea grasses to provide structure through the winter months and to catch the sunlight as they rise above the meadow flowers.

Deep borders were designed on the outer edges to provide plenty of year round interest. Mown paths lead through and around the perennial meadow allowing my clients to wander and unwind, admire the Leaf Sphere by Paul Richardson, Steel Sculpture which hovers above a sea of grasses and to enjoy sitting around a fire pit with friends and family.   The generous working area of the garden is hidden behind a sculptural woven willow fence.

Closer to the house an eclectic mix of cottage planting with herbs for cooking and a riot of colour encloses the outdoor kitchen and entertaining area.  The flint and brick paving and black clapper board cladding of the outdoor kitchen reflect the materials used in my clients’ beautiful Arts and Crafts home.

This garden featured on the front cover of  The RHS The Garden magazine July 2021

Photos copyright Marianne Majerus