My journey to meet Iris and Alan Stanley to talk about their lovely garden at Gislingham wasn't the simple run up the A140, then turn left at Stoke Ash White Horse, that I was expecting. Delays and more delays meant I arrived late, a bit frazzled and profusely apologetic.
I needn't have worried; Iris and Alan were wonderfully understanding. As they ushered me into their charming home, my traffic horrors melted away and peace was restored. Ivy Chimneys is a haven of tranquillity, a pretty Suffolk cottage surrounded by the beautiful garden they've created over the 19 years they've lived there.
Iris and Alan came to Suffolk from Hayes in Middlesex. Alan's twin brother had made his home at Thornham, and visits to see him convinced the couple that this was the place for them. They craved a bigger outdoor space than their suburban home provided – particularly Iris, who Alan insists is the gardener in their relationship – and were thrilled to find a property they liked in the neighbouring village, even if the garden was somewhat neglected.
'The grass was this high,' says Alan, indicating just above his knee. Beyond grass, the quarter-acre plot offered a row of enormous Leylandii, which clearly had to go, some woody lavender, which was also removed and another unidentified tree.
There was a decent sized pond, which Alan and Iris had to decide whether or not to restore, a wisteria covered pergola in need of minor repairs, a huge patio ideal for growing in containers – and alfresco dining – and a rockery area. It gave them plenty of scope to create the garden they wanted.
'Iris is not a great planner,' says Alan, affectionately, 'but I got her to at least have some sort of plan.' The plot is wide, but very deep so they sensibly installed an attractive Italian metalwork screen at the border of the patio to break up the view and create a sense of stepping into a garden beyond. Iris had a hankering for an arch adorned with roses which she would be able to view from the kitchen, while Alan wanted a tree with a seat.
They did what most of us do when we're looking for inspiration about how to make or improve our gardens, they went to look at other people's. They also took a trip to Norfolk to The Romantic Garden Nursery.
The result is a garden filled with interest all year round. They've planted numerous ornamental trees, which have thrived and provide a wonderful framework for a series of garden 'rooms', where you can stop and enjoy the surrounding plants and features. Grassy paths wander around the topiary display that replaced the rockery, the borders of Iris' much-loved exotics, and the huge Chinese privet where you can rest on the specially made circular tree seat.
They decided to restore the pond, which is stocked with goldfish and has taken on a distinctly Japanese theme, with ornamental stone lanterns and a small statue of a water carrier. The wisteria on the pergola has been joined by a productive vine, and in a sunny, secluded spot at one end of the house Alan has created a vegetable garden complete with raised beds and a fruit cage.
In another corner of the garden is a smart greenhouse, where tomatoes and pumpkins grow and where Iris potters even in winter. She and Alan love their garden for the peace it gives them. 'If you have things on your mind you forget all about them when you're out there,' says Iris.
They love sharing it with people too, even if opening up to visitors brings a bit of pressure to get a month's worth of jobs done in a weekend. They've opened for many years for the NGS and they serve delicious teas with cakes and savouries.
So, why not drop in on Alan and Iris and see the fruits of their 19 years labour of love? Don't let my frustrating trip up the A140 put you off. Other roads lead to Gislingham.
Open August 3 & 4, Ivy Chimneys, Mill Street, Gislingham IP23 8JT T: 01379 788737
Ross Lee's garden is a wonderful example of not letting space (or, rather, lack of it) limit your imagination or ambition. His garden is small but beautifully put together, a lush oasis filled with leafy green plants where he can relax.
Ross' garden journey has been epic. He'd been homeless when he came to live in Gislingham nine years ago, and it was people at the hostels where he'd been staying who helped him find the one bedroom house that he now rents.
It came with a small garden and it was that Ross says helped to put him on the right path. He literally put down roots, determined to make the most of the chance he'd been given, and began planting, learning as he went, watching the garden grow, feeling a sense of achievement.
'It helped save me from going back to where I was,' he says. It not only saved him; it provided him with a future. Ross is now a self-employed gardener, completely self-taught, with a thriving business.
Although he says his garden doesn't have a theme, it has a Zen quality about it with a seated Buddha statue among the exotic planting, a wonderful spherical water feature, newly installed pond and a stunning domed retreat, made for relaxing whatever the weather. Living in a small house, he sees his garden as an extension of his indoor space – another room outdoors.
He's used vertical surfaces as well as conventional beds, and has managed to vary levels and surfaces. Planning year-round colour can be tricky in a small space and Ross sticks to leafy plants, building a collection of what he likes and staying away from flowers because they look good for a limited time only. Not that the garden stays the same for very long.
'I've literally changed it completely five or six times,' he says, ' but I'm sticking with what I've got now.' No matter; he's busy designing and planting other people's gardens, which satisfies the desire to experiment and provides the 'high' of choosing new plants.
Ross enjoys opening for the NGS and is looking forward to welcoming people in August when he'll also be selling plants.
Open August 3 & 4, 12 Chapel Farm Close, Gislingham T: 07308466333
Ross Lee Gardener – find him on TikTok and YouTube
