My Climate Change Garden

After 50 days of rain with day time temperatures hovering between 9-11c, the UK now has more traditonal winter weather. Frosts and clear night skies have created some spectacular sun-rises along the sea-front and daily temperatures have dropped to 4-6c .

I love this sharp sunny winter weather. It makes the season bearable but has been absent lately.The average British garden isn’t coping well with our changing winters .Time to discover plants that combine cool design with year round interest and easy maintenance.

A man who shares my views is Angus White, creator of Architectural Plants .Totally passionate about what he does with an impressive horticultural pedigree, Angus is the author of this quote about winter gardens:

“The average British garden is about as fascinating to look at in winter as a wet breeze block”

I spent an enjoyable morning this week swapping ideas about winter gardening, climate change and a host of other garden related issues at his impressive nursery at Nuthurst, near Horsham in West Susssex http://www.architecturalplants.com/

Angus is not convinced that humans are the cause of climate change. He takes the more evolutionary view that we are in an natural cycle repeating itself over millions of years.

What he does admit is that things are definitely changing in the garden. Over the past 10 years the nursery has experienced less and less cold winters .The means plants that he used to bring in for winter can now enjoy a comfortable outdoor winter residence.

Angus chatted to me about his dislike of relying on traditional winter evergreen plants such as bay, holly,and yew . He suggests their dark green leaves can be rather restrictive for garden design and advocates a more versatile approach sourcing plants that offer a range of green shades/ textures and impressive shapes to create year round interest.

We chatted for hours and I managed to narrow his infectious enthusiasm down to suggesting a few architectural plants that will rescue the dullest of winter gardens . His personal selection will be featured on my blog very soon.