Page 11 - HGS Suburb News 138 - Spring 2019

Is good taste just a question of fashion?

Lately I’ve been musing on what is to push the boundaries and say To Hell municipal carpet bedding displays, James May’s plasticine garden of 2009
considered good taste in the garden. with convention, when he ripped out his sniffed at as kitsch and gaudy by the & Dermot Gavin’s Colourful Suburban
One dictionary definition of good taste mother’s prized rose garden in favour of Taste Police. One can only assume that Eden, with its sea of brightly coloured
is, ‘satisfying generally accepted social an exotic extravaganza! Swap outrageous the newly discovered exotic bedding lollipops in 2004 spring to mind – in
or aesthetic standards’, while bad taste for eccentric and you’re considered a trend plants of the mid-to-late 19th century, the name of good sense rather than
is, ‘something that is offensive and is setter. Beyond the pale or pushing the such as heliotropes, pelargoniums, good taste.
inappropriate for the situation’. The boundaries? Justify your unconventional petunias, verbenas and salvias, raised My embroidery teacher used to
Union of Beauty and Functionality. combinations as experimental and you in state-of-the-art conservatories and shudder at the sight of red and yellow
But surely Taste is purely subjective? become avant-garde. greenhouses, are now so mainstream together, so for years I kept them apart
When I think Good Taste, I visualise The Chelsea Flower Show is renowned that it’s a case of ‘been there, done in the garden. That is, until I combined
The White Garden at Sissinghurst, box worldwide for showcasing innovative that, got the t-shirt’. red salvia confertiflora, yellow rudbeckia
balls and neatly clipped lavender garden design and extravagant floral Certain plants are denounced Goldsturn and red, orange & yellow
hedges. Understatement, sophistication displays. In many ways it can be simply on the basis that they are very rudbeckia Prairie Glow. Oh the
and simplicity. But it’s not exactly compared to London Fashion Week: commonly used. I raise my hand to liberation! One of the joys of maturity,
challenging, is it? Dare I say boring cutting edge creations that gradually this: ‘Begonias’, I exclaimed, referring in my opinion, is that you no longer
even. Christopher Lloyd was the first filter down to the high street and Vibrant or vulgar to bedding semperflorans, ‘nasty little seek validation from your peers.
renowned horticulturalist in my lifetime ultimately into the domestic setting. that different from the introduction of things!’ In my case it was ignorance CAROLINE BROOME
Up until the 1970s gardening was the prairie planting style by Dutch that caused me to decry all begonias,
considered by the majority to be an nurseryman Piet Oudolf in the late that is until I discovered the exuberant,
elite hobby, but that was about to ‘90s? Numerous Gold Medals surely voluptuous, citrus coloured begonias
change: In 1972 influential designer denote the pinnacle of good taste. of the Hanging Basket.
John Brookes’ showcased his minimalist Ground breaking at the time, now So is it ignorance that is responsible
space-saving designs at Chelsea, and twenty years later, some form of for stereotyping? (Mind you, I still don’t
kickstarted a national trend for ornamental grass is almost compulsory like semperflorans.) Now, hanging
socialising in the garden. And by 1979 in your herbaceous border. baskets, there’s a subject that divides
the popular TV show ‘The Good Life’ So is good taste just a question of opinion! I’m guessing that a single
sparked off a new gardening trend fashion, or is it a class issue? Discuss! variety of foliage plant in a sustainably
throughout the UK. Funny how If it were merely a question of sourced coconut shell will win hands
growing fruit and veg on the allotment, championing new trends, then why is down in the taste stakes against a rattan
once the preserve of the retired – dare Sissinghurst, created in the late 1930s, basket crammed full of multicoloured,
I say it – working classes, is now the still lauded by the majority for its trailing annuals.
ultimate go-to hobby of every aspiring tastefulness? And why do some trends Surely we, the gardening public, are
young family in the land! become passé while others remain discerning enough to adopt relevant
Have you ever wondered why purple timeless? Annual bedding schemes, new trends such as biodiversity, organic
is the new black, last year’s kitten heels showcased by the elite as the pinnacle culture, sustainability, compost heaps,
have conceded to this year’s flat pumps? of style and opulence in the Victorian wild flower meadows, whilst disdainfully
Understated or boring It’s Fashion my dears, Fashion! Is it era, have become synonymous with shunning other less practical fads – Salvia confertiflora and Rudbeckias
EMAIL: C.BROOME.GARDENGIRL@GMAIL.COM

Allotment walkabout

On Saturday March 23 eight
representatives of the Allotments PHOTOS: TERRY BROOKS
Committee took part in an early TERRY BROOKS
season walkabout of the Suburb
allotment sites. Traditionally
termed as a ‘walkabout’, the
visit in essence is aimed at
carrying out an inspection to
ensure that the sites are in good
order and that the tenants of
the plots are abiding by the
obligations of their contracts.
The group’s observations and
recommendations are duly passed
on to the Trust.
This particular visit was the
first to have taken place in
springtime and will be followed
by a second in the summer. The
decision to have two annual in the appearance and general After its tour the group put
inspections follows a period of condition of most sites, benefitting forward its opinions to the Trust
concern over the neglect of from the Trust’s various hedging on the state of hedges, trees and
some plots and the consequent and tree work as well as from the pathways, as well as making recom-
condition of some sites. attentions of the site secretaries, mendations regarding general
The aim of the summer visit, and the enthusiasm of a core of tidiness and those plots which
as well as choosing the winner newly-arrived allotmenteers. were clearly not being worked.
of the best plot award, will be to A campaign of publicity has It was felt that a simple
assess the high-season condition led to an upsurge in interest with document detailing the principles
of the sites and plots, and to many newcomers filling vacancies, and duties of plot-holding could
measure progress in those areas and creating a demand, which be presented to new tenants as a
where recommendations have in turn puts pressure on those way of re-enforcing the contract,
been made. existing tenants whose adherence and emphasising the pleasures
The group concluded its tour to their contract terms may have and privilege of having an Open Gardens for charity
with expressions of satisfaction faded. Some sites now have allotment on the Suburb.
that there had been improvement waiting lists. PETER HODGSON Sunday, July 7 is when 14 Suburb • Award winning afternoon • A party to join on the Willifield
residents will be participating in teas served at Fellowship House, Way allotments, where drinks
the National Garden Scheme Open with a piano accompaniment, and cake will be available, and
Suburb rainfall Gardens. Readers are advised of as well as refreshments at 15 home grown veg & herb plants
the following key attractions: North Square. will be on sale.
The first three months of 2019 inches. Similarly, for the winter seem to have given way, by the • 14 Open Gardens, 4 of which
have continued the trend towards months of October to March, time of writing in early April, to are new and several are award June Central Square 12:30
lower rainfall noted in the last 12.6 inches compared with an some wonderful days with winners, plus one allotment site. –
two years. Over the period, a average of 16 inches. Certainly, unbroken sunshine. These then • Every visitor will receive a 16th 17:00
total of just under 5.5 inches the gales that caused so much merged into so many really free packet of seeds donated by
compares with a norm of 6.8 havoc in the first half of March glorious sunsets. Even the red Marshalls (while stocks last)
sky at night seemed to cover a and an NGS bookmark. Sunday Summer
Four Seasons much greater area than used to • At least a dozen raffle prizes, Fun Day
including a subscription to
be normal. It is, of course,
GARDEN MAINTENANCE wonderful to enjoy this and the Garden News, David Austin What’s On
fact that we can walk on the
and
vouchers,
gift
Roses
Heath without changing into national garden gift vouchers Music from Sound of the Suburb · Face Painting · Punch & Judy · Fizzie Lizzie
 Weekly or fortnightly maintenance contract  Garden clearance wellies or go down to the shops donated by local nurseries. Children’s Arts & Crafts · Cakes · Donkey Rides · Fire Engine Display
 Lawn care (mowing, turfing, fertilisation etc.)  Planting without taking an umbrella. • Two local professional plant Raffle · Plant Sale · Refreshments
 Weed killing & treatment  Hedge trimming, tree works But, if climate change means nurseries selling unusual, seasonal
 Patio cleaning  All general garden services All Dogs Matter
We offer a professional, reliable service with 10 years of that we no longer get the level of perennials – Essex based Rose After last year’s phenomenal success, All Dogs Matter are back with a new
experience at an affordable price. Call Roland or leave a message rainfall we used to, this will Cottage Plants, and The Plant competition. Why not try again! Watch your beloved four-paws win one of
for a free quote. become a very different country Specialist from Buckinghamshire. this year’s champion rosettes. www.alldogsmatter.co.uk
 07584 574520  fourseasonsgarden@hotmail.com to live in. • Home propagated plants for Table & 6 chairs: £17 Advance booking only, or bring your own rug.
DIANA IWI FROM MEADWAY sale in various gardens. Book your picnic table now at raevents@hgsra.uk, 07793 000283
SUBURB NEWS IS PRODUCED AND DELIVERED TO YOU BY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS 11