Spring has arrived at Tea Caddy Cottage.
April, 2024
Recently I visited this very unique property to check on progress.
Last year I was commissioned to produce a planting design for the beds around the cottage. I also suggested adding a new planting area by the gate to soften the entrance, create some gentle screening, and a warm welcome.
Later in the year it will be transformed by ornamental grasses and a restrained palette of herbaceous perennials, but right now this delightful combination of Tulip ‘Apricot Beauty’, Tulip ‘Brown Sugar’, and Narcissus ‘Actaea’ is stealing the show.
For the beds adjacent to the building, it was very important that things were kept fairly traditional and pretty, to complement the cottage. Scent was a massive part of the brief, and I am delighted to hear that visiting guests have commented not only on the look of the plants, but the gorgeous fragrance that hits them when they arrive. Scented hyacinths, narcissus, and tulips, as well as winter-flowering shrubs all contribute to this, and there will be more to come in the summer with some stunning roses.
Having only been planted last June, this is a perfect demonstration of how the right choice of plants can quickly transform a property.
