A Visit to RHS Wisley in autumn.

A reminder that gardens are deeply personal….

On Taste and Expectation

Whenever I watch the Chelsea Flower Show I’m reminded that gardens, like art and music, are very much a matter of personal taste. It’s not quite the same when you visit a real garden: there is always something to like. The design might not appeal to you, but there will be at least one interesting or beautiful plant.

When you visit a private garden, it has generally been designed by one or two people and the effect is coherent (unless it’s huge). However, in very large gardens such as those owned by the RHS, you’re not really visiting one garden at all but a series of themed spaces. It can be a bit much to take in on one visit, but it’s also fantastic for inspiration. It helps you make sense of what you actually like: it’s the same soil and climate conditions and you’re viewing it at the same time of day. So in this way you can compare different styles of garden and hone your appreciation of what appeals to you.

The Oudolf Landscape

So when I visited RHS Wisley last week, I made a beeline for the Oudolf Landscape. It was redesigned by the famous Dutch designer Piet Oudolf last year — a refresh of his original garden first created 20 years ago. I wanted to like it so much. He’s a world-renowned designer who pioneered the “New Perennial” style of planting. His signature approach is inspired by the North American prairies and uses perennials and grasses to create impact. The beds consist of over 150 different perennial plants, chosen to be good for pollinators all year and to need as little watering as possible.

It’s everything I want in a garden — sustainable, good for pollinators, colour all year. And yet — it just didn’t deliver for me. I was so disappointed, to be honest. I know it’s October and it’s relatively new, but I was still hoping for so much more. I wanted a variety of height — that’s what I associate with perennial planting. I wanted a variety of textures (I got that to a certain extent), and I still wanted colour in October. The only real colour came from the trees in the neighbouring parts of the garden. The promise of the information board wasn’t realised for me. Whilst it’s meant to be good for pollinators, I couldn’t help thinking: why isn’t there a pond here?

The planting is in beds with broad paths between them; but you don’t feel as though you’re walking amongst the beds — just between them. There’s a difference. I visited a private garden in Usk in June and that was a beautiful example of what I was thinking about when I imagine ‘prairie planting’.

I walked up to a viewpoint to see if it looked better from above. It didn’t. Well — he’s an incredibly successful designer, so what do I know?! It simply comes down to taste — and this wasn’t mine.

It struck me how easily we can be swayed by reputation, by the idea that we must or should like something just because other people do. But we don’t have to. We can have our own opinions on what we like — and that’s not just fine, it’s how it should be.

A Surprise Among the Roses

I wandered on, rather disconsolately, into the rose garden. Why, I wondered. It’s a rose garden and it’s late October — there’ll be nothing to see. How wrong could I be?! I adore roses and love going to gardens in June just to absorb the scents. But there is something incredibly special about getting that scent when you least expect it.

The Exotic Garden

And then I found the Exotic Garden — now that was a garden to get lost in! It still had tall banana plants you had to brush past to get through. It really felt like a jungle.

The Joy of Borders

Onwards — and into the herbaceous borders area. What you could call the Old Perennial area, I suppose! Now, this is more my thing. I have always loved an herbaceous border. I love the mix of plants, the different heights, the colours — whether harmonious or contrasting — the sheer exuberance of it all. Again, I was amazed at how many plants were still in full flower at this time of year and my heart was full as I strolled down one side then the other, taking it all in. This is a garden I can spend time in.

What Wisley Taught Me

A few things occurred to me during my visit to Wisley:

It is ok to have your own opinions.
You don’t have to like something just because it’s by someone famous.
Having expectations can be detrimental.
Whilst I appreciate form and texture, I enjoy colour in the garden more than I thought I did.
Visiting different styles side by side helps clarify what truly lifts your heart in a garden.

Wisley is an absolute gem of a place. There is so much to see that I haven’t touched on here. It is somewhere which repays multiple visits at all times of the year. I will be back!

A Question of Taste