Study Garden Suffolk 

A former rose garden set in a sheltered, sunny position and flanked on two sides by beautiful, high brick and flint walls and overlooked by a large, low study window. 

The brief was for a strong design to respond to the strength of the 16^th century barns and the spreading cedar tree which stand nearby. The planting should have an exuberant but much more relaxed feel than its demure predecessor – perhaps with the tone set by the golden colour and tall dancing elegance of the giant feather grass – Stipa gigantea. 

Non created a loose series of concentric circles to span the existing rose beds. Seedling Buxus sempervirens from the garden was planted to develop into soft mounds at the centre of the circle. The shimmering oat-like flowers of Stipa gigantea are given depth by the cherry red buttons Knautia macedonica, the duskier heads of Allium sphaerocephalon and the pale, slightly purple-flushed flowers of Penstemmon digitalis ‘Husker’s Red’. Another allium, ‘Purple Sensation’ is planted generously in the purple-blue circle of catmint where it provides an energising upright rhythm.