GRAVEL GARDEN

Plants are encouraged to self-seed in the sunny gravel sitting area outside the porch. Alchemilla mollis needs strong referee-ing but is welcomed for its gorgeous pleated leaves which capture rain drops and its sprays of fresh green flowers. In the borders behind, sheltered from the strong south-westerly winds by yew hedges, a cottage-garden mix of flowers billow abundantly, with Verbena bonariensis and alliums providing contrasting uprights. Against the porch grows sweet scented Trachelspermum jasminoides, and Coronilla glauca lounges in the corner putting out delicate yellow pea flowers on and off throughout the year.