''Alice Bowe revels in bold dramatic planting. 'I always double the border width and halve my plant list,' she says. 'Some of the most sexy schemes only use three plants'.
With such a simple palette, there may be lulls as once-dominant plants fade, but that’s OK with Alice.
“I would rather have two or more accents a year than just simply pretty all year round,” she says.
Besides, celebrating seasonal change is important to her.
“Everyone else is trying to achieve year-round interest, but I think what makes a garden exciting is the anticipation of the ‘wow’ moment that comes with sudden arrival of a new season.”
Lessons learned when she studied fine art have stayed with her, especially the work of colour theorist Josef Albers in his book Interaction of color.
“Some colours wouldn’t work together as clothes or in a painting, but they work for plants because of the way daylight falls on them. Suddenly, unexpected colour combinations work brilliantly.”
Apart from her work as a garden designer, Alice also writes for The Times’ Saturday magazine and website Shoot.
Her latest project is Garden Boutique, an online shop (www.gardenboutique.co.uk- see also page 22, Shop Front).
Such success is unusual a 27-year-old, but Alice remains modest and admits she still finding her style. Expect the finished article to be impeccably coloured, and cause a ‘wow’
Project 1
SHERWOOD, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Alice introduced terraces to this sloping garden, which had become overwhelmed by her-sown trees. The formal layout was inspired by Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lytyens. It uses native hedging to separate rooms, which include a woodland area. The planting, completed in 2007, was done with an eye for biodiversity as well as for use as a cutting garden.
Project 2
BEESTON, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
A client with a limited budget commissioned Alice simply to replant the borders here. The old shrubs were stripped back to reveal the brick walls, then the borders were widened and replanted. Although luxurious, the planting needs only minimal tending.
Project 3
KNIGHTON, LESCESTERSHIRE
Alice designed large areas for entertaining in this new garden. Lighting extends the use of the garden into the evenings. Deep borders have been added, with brick walls and hedging as the backdrop.
Other projects
NOTTINGHAM
The rendered wall has block planting of 8,000 snowdrops, followed in succession by crocus, dwarf, narcissi and Molinia.
OXFORDSHIRE
Alice’s brief was to replant the borders, She opted for traditional cottage garden plants, but her use of colours is striking.
KENT
The previous border on this spot perished because of drought so Alice chose plants that could tolerate the difficult conditions.
