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WORDS: LIZ POTTER PHOTOS GARDEN NEWS/NEIL HEPWORTH IN THE GARDEN WITH… Barbara & Marek Polanski AT 41 Southbrook Road, Lee, London SE12 8LJ SIZE 27x40m (88ftx131ft) SITE South facing SOIL Gravel over clay FEATURES Wide, mixed herbaceous borders surrounded by mature trees; central box parterre; dramatic pergola and bay tree feature; ancient pear trees; two lily ponds VISIT By arrangement for groups May to July (2-5.30pm); adults £3.50, children free This elegant formal garden is packed with colourful plants and inspiring artefacts. “Being former art teachers has definitely had an influence on how we created the garden,” says Barbara. “We’re both interested in architecture, travel and design history, and Marek is interested in classical history and its influence on architecture.” The classical influence is revealed in the garden structures and ornaments. “There’s a pavilion with classical architrave and columns (now with mosaic inside), an elaborate red brick wall fountain, Pompeiistyle frescos and decorative urns. Marek built all the architectural elements himself.” The garden is a rectangular plot that Barbara says is large by London standards. “It was once part of a large estate that was subdivided into generous plots. The garden is where the manor’s orchard used to be and still contains old pear trees, now covered with scrambling roses ‘Kiftsgate’ and ‘Rambling Rector’. “When we moved here 15 years ago the garden was simply a large lawn surrounded by established trees,” says Barbara. “I was keen to keep a large area of grass, so the first job was to set out the main feature of the garden – a small parterre – about threequarters of the way down the lawn. I created lots of box topiary to go with it – pyramids, balls and cylinders – and planted a bay tree in the centre.” The bay was a small standard 14 years ago, but it’s grown into a large tree. “It’s actually two trees tied together; over time they’ve grown into one another,” says Barbara. “We trimmed out the lower branches then let it come out in an umbrella shape at the top.” The iron pagoda is a more recent introduction. “We often visit reclamation yards to hunt for architectural treasures and on one visit saw a similar but more expensive piece,” says Barbara. “It inspired us to search online to find something more affordable, and that’s how we found this one at a salvage yard in Suffolk.” [Extract from July 2015] 12 <strong>Garden</strong> <strong>Answers</strong>
BEAUTIFUL GARDENS GARDEN CLASSICS (clockwise from left) The large rectangular lawn provides a foil for deep herbaceous borders that lead to the parterre, with its topiary shapes, entwined bay trees and dramatic salvaged pergola; Marek built this pavilion himself, with reference to the Ancient Greeks – complete with columns and architrave; elegant Oriental lily ‘Extravaganza’; the red brick wall fountain is adorned with decorative roof lintels the couple brought back from Paris; the pavilion offers the perfect shady place to sit and enjoy the garden view, with pink hollyhocks, yellow heleniums and achillea Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 13
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