Caroline Edwards Gardens & Planting

I can’t ever remember not gardening. From trailing behind my father as he mowed to lawn and emptying his wheelbarrow, to planting sweetpeas, picking raspberries and deadheading roses with my mother, I was ‘generously given’ the most difficult patch of garden as my own to garden as I wished. It was the most challenging of semi-shady sites, behind the garage and beside the compost heap. I was immensely proud of the Hemerocallis Catherine Woodley, which loved living there and appeared after the Lily of the Valley and after some delicate narcissi. Behind this was a Philadelphus Belle Etoile with a deep purple clematis climbing into it after the fragrant cloud of white had drifted to nothingness. Wild strawberries, and Pulmonaria ‘Mother of Pearl’ created the groundcover. This was the clearest lesson that successional planting is crucial. Along with this, Mum always has a small vase of some fragrant flowers in the middle of the kitchen table, whatever the season. I knew I was a good gardener when I managed to achieve this from my own garden. It is very rare for me to buy a cut flower. I began my own business in response to the numbers of people who asked my advice. I achieved formal qualifications, both in design and horticulture, but most of my experience and knowledge has come from making gardens. I am passionate about visiting great gardens, attending courses and listening to gardeners talk about their work. We have opened our own garden for the National Garden Scheme, and to various visiting groups including the Friends of the Oxford Botanical Garden.