Brightens Up Winter: Isabel Bannerman's Vibrant, Cheerful, and Easy-to-Grow First Flowers of the Year
In the heart of Devon, a unique garden awaits visitors during the quieter months of winter. Higher Cheerubeere, a garden meticulously crafted by renowned garden designer Isabel Bannerman, opens its doors in February as part of the National Garden Scheme.
Higher Cheerubeere is a testament to Bannerman's skill in creating seasonal interest, particularly during the colder months. Cyclamen, with their delicate flowers and attractive foliage, are a key element in the garden's planting scheme. These tuberous herbaceous perennials, native to the Mediterranean basin, come in various shades, including ruby, snow white, and deep magenta.
Bannerman strategically plants cyclamen beneath trees and shrubs, allowing them to weave into the garden's informal structure. This layering approach enhances the garden's year-round appeal, with cyclamen emerging as a subtle yet effective contrast to the broader winter palette. Snowdrops and winter aconites are often planted alongside cyclamen, creating a delicate, textured underlayer that thrives in the dappled shade of Higher Cheerubeere's wooded setting.
The first wonder of the gardening year at Higher Cheerubeere is the emergence of miniature electric-pink cyclamen flowers. For some gardeners, these flowers are described as having an energy that uplifts the spirit. The deepest magenta flowers are coveted by others, adding a bold pop of colour to the garden.
Isabel Bannerman's approach reflects her signature style of blending historic and naturalistic planting with sculptural and architectural elements to produce gardens that are both elegant and seasonally engaging. Her latest book, A Wilderness of Sweets: Making Gardens with Scented Plants, published by Pimpernel Press earlier this year, further showcases her expertise in creating captivating garden spaces.
Jo Hynes, the owner of Higher Cheerubeere, has devoted 30 years to creating this garden of cyclamen and snowdrops. Visitors to Higher Cheerubeere can enjoy the beauty of these winter-flowering plants, and learn more about Isabel Bannerman's work by visiting her website, bannermandesign.com.
The National Garden Scheme, a charity that supports nursing and caring charities, organises garden openings across the UK. To learn more about the scheme and find details of other gardens open to visitors, visit www.ngs.org.uk.
At Higher Cheerubeere, a garden known for its unique garden design, lifestyle enthusiasts and home-and-garden aficionados can appreciate Isabel Bannerman's skill in gardening, particularly her sophisticated cyclamen planting scheme during winter months. Bannerman's garden design, a blend of historic, naturalistic, sculptural, and architectural elements, produces gardens that are both elegant and seasonally engaging, making Higher Cheerubeere a must-visit destination for gardening enthusiasts.
