One person’s love can be another’s loathing. Letting weeds float in and out of borders might please some, but offend others. Creating a garden is very personal, so it’s no wonder that gardeners might struggle to share a space, spending many precious hours arguing over plans and plants.
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Michael Marriott and Rosie Irving met 14 years ago through their work in horticulture, and have shared their Shropshire garden for the past ten years by having their own designated areas. Their decision to divide the garden and the success of this idea has proved that two gardeners can successfully transform a space into something magical that reflects their personalities.
Discover Michael's favourite roses
“When I first gardened alongside Michael, I would say things like ‘Oh dearest, wouldn’t that look better further down?’ He would never reply, he’d just smile and then carry on, so this was when I thought of the idea of having our own areas. This way we have harmony,” explains Rosie.
IN BRIEF
- What A garden of two halves, one wild and the other designed.
- Where Shropshire.
- Size Three quarters of an acre.
- Soil Neutral clay soil.
- Climate High rainfall and partly exposed site.
- Hardiness zone USDA 8.
Michael was the leading rose expert at David Austin Roses for 35 years, and is the most knowledgeable rosarian in the country, if not in the world. “Rosie didn’t like roses when I met her, but I have changed her mind,” he says. Rosie is a well-respected horticultural TV producer and consultant and has been involved with some of Britain’s most-watched gardening shows, such as Love Your Garden and Garden Rescue. Together, they have more knowledge than one gardening brain could hold, and so many of their skills are evident in the garden. “We moved to this Victorian house ten years ago,” says Michael. “What appealed to us both was that we didn’t like the garden. It meant we could pretty much start from scratch.” He believes that the house was once home to the gardener of the nearby school, which explains why the soil is so good.
You would assume that the easiest way to share a garden is simply to draw an imaginary line down the middle, but Rosie and Michael have done nothing of the sort. Their areas weave in and out of each other so that they can both enjoy working in sun and shade. “Rosie’s areas are more gardened and designed, while mine are wilder,” says Michael. “I love Rosie’s part of the garden as it’s so different to mine, being more formal, with a wonderful use of colour and form. I also really like all the roses she’s incorporated, very nearly all of which I heartily approve of.”
The entrance to the garden is enchanting, a picket gate with an arch of Rosa ‘Adélaïde d’Orléans’ overhead. To the right is the meadow, which sits at the top of the sloping site. This is Michael’s domain. Camassias, Tulipa sprengeri, ox-eye daisies and spotted orchids surround a simple recliner made from pallets. “We are big recyclers and are always on the hunt for bargains. We’ll head to the reject area of a nursery to see if we can nurse something back to health.” This is one of Michael’s favourite places to sit and soak in the views.
There used to be a driveway right down to the house, but neither of them wanted to see cars when they looked out the window, so what was the drive is now a rill edged with standard balls of ligustrum. “This is one of Rosie’s areas,” explains Michael.
Originally the house was one half of a semi-detached property but a few years ago they bought the other half with its garden. “That garden hadn’t been touched for 30 years and we were determined to keep the magic of the ivy tumbling from the trees and the romance of the journey through an abandoned plot,” says Michael. “We have removed a lot of brambles and weeds that were strangling plants but have carefully edited it to keep the feeling of adventure.”
The garden also doubles up as a halfway house for plants destined for the TV spotlight. “I buy plants with my eyes,” says Rosie. “I am so used to buying plants that look instantly good for TV, I often buy in flower. I check the fine details such as the bee guides on the inside of petals as they can be so bright that they can clash with my planned colour scheme.” She admits she used to cut the flowers off Rosa Lady Emma Hamilton (= ‘Ausbrother’) because it was planted in the wrong spot and clashed with the roses around it, but once moved, colour harmony was restored. “For me, colour is very important. I will dig out some of Michael’s self-seeded dandelions – not because I’m waging war on them, but because they clash with other strong colours in my borders. Occasionally, some of his weeds visit my plantings.” Michael’s garden is, she says: “Too messy, and needs more plants. But I love the fact he encourages ant hills in his meadow.”
On paper you wouldn’t think that the couple’s gardening styles would work together, but they do. Their garden has a real sense of freedom – although they both say that they wouldn’t touch the other’s side except under close supervision.
Although Rosie’s areas are more designed, which isn’t Michael’s style, they share the view that they should garden organically, and break the rules. “We have an old Bramley apple tree in the garden and Rosie wanted to plant the rose Kew Gardens under it,” says Michael. “I said it would fail, but it has thrived. Although roses prefer full sun, she has proved that anything is worth a try.”
USEFUL INFORMATION
Find out more about Michael Marriott’s work at michaelmarriottrosarian.org
