Pettifers: Lessons in Layering and Color

As much as we all love to visit world-renowned gardens such as Longwood, Sissinghurst and Great Dixter , it's frequently the private gardens that prove to be the highlight of my garden tours. Guests enjoy chatting with the passionate owners and caretakers, learning about a gardens history and hearing about the various challenges that are both ongoing and overcome every bit as much as the opportunity to take photographs and glean ideas for their own gardens.

Pettifers, a private garden set in the small Oxfordshire village of Wardington in England is one such garden. I took my tour group here in mid-May of this year, uncertain of what I would see so early in the season, but it truly exceeded all our expectations.

The garden was the passion project of the late Gina Price. Gina gleaned ideas and took advice from the gardeners at nearby  Kiftsgate but as her knowledge grew and her vision evolved so did her confidence. Gina was not afraid to ignore the suggestions of others, throw caution to the wind and experiment with new plants and ideas.

Sadly, Gina passed away in 2023 but her legacy lives on, managed capably by head gardener Polly and gently overseen by Gina's husband James. We were fortunate to be welcomed by both during our visit, with James kindly providing tea and home made treats in the kitchen while Polly gave us an overview of the gardens evolution and remained on hand to answer our questions.

Here are some of the take-home ideas that caught my eye in this 1.5 acre garden, that can be applied to every garden regardless of location or size.

Use Bold Drifts of Color

Dozens of purple alliums weave through this border, moving the eye through the space

Bulbs are an easy way to add a ribbon of unifying color through a space, whether it is daffodils in spring or alliums in early summer as shown here. I loved the way these vertical elements pierce the lower mounding perennials – which have the added benefit of hiding the allium foliage.

The burgundy blush on the large leaved Rodgersia (common name, Rodger's flower) is enhanced by the purple blooms while the electrifying orange flowers of a Euphorbia offer a striking contrast. All these jewel tones are soothed and brightened by the lime green Euphorbia and golden-leaved shrub (possibly a variety of mock orange (Philadelphus spp.)).

Sweeping drifts of rosy-red geum enhance the paler blooms of tulips and chives

The combination above shows how tulip bulbs and even chives have been used in a similar fashion. I especially like the color echo between the tulip and geum in the foreground. The tulips could easily look rather washed out without this deeper flower color in front.  If you look closely you can also see the dusky purple foliage of a Bonfire spurge (or similar Euphorbia variety ) mingling with the geum too. Gorgeous!

Chives ability to spread easily makes and easy and inexpensive way to add a drift of color.

On a tight budget? Use plants that spread easily such as chives as shown above – but be warned that they may spread where you don't want them to!  Some of the hardy geraniums might be a good choice, however. Avoid the old Wargrave Pink of the 70's which self-seeds with abandon and choose instead some of the big root hardy geraniums (G. macrorrhizum) 

Low growing Biokovo and Karmina Pink (or similar) hardy geraniums skirt the taller Solomon's Seal

Biokovo is a favorite smaller flowered variety of hardy geranium which I use in full or part sun designs. It spreads politely but is easy to remove it if wanders into an area where you'd prefer it not to. I like the clean white flowers with their pink calyx and thought this was a pretty color echo with the white blooms of the Solomon's Seal. This duo is another perfect example of layering.

It's worth noting than in greater shade I would substitute the Geranium m. 'Album' which is exceptionally shade tolerant.

What about bold drifts of color using grasses and wildflowers? Not everyone has space to include a meadow like the one here at Pettifers but even a small area of unmown grass can offer a pleasing contrast in texture and movement.

The layered branches of a wedding cake tree (Cornus controversa 'Variegata') adds a focal point and height to the meadow at Pettifers

Layering within a meadow may mean incorporating a specimen tree tree, an orchard or  simply a bird bath depending upon the space you have available.

Defining Spaces

Even a small garden can have a variety of personalities and experiences but this works best when the boundaries are defined.

The shaded entry garden at Pettifers

As we disembarked our coach we were met by Polly at the head of paved driveway, our destination still hidden from sight. This only enhanced our excitement as we entered through the stone archway – there were lots of 'oohs' and 'aahs' as we caught our first glimpse of this remarkable garden.

Shades of yellow from gold to buttermilk were the dominant color in this entry courtyard in early May, from the foliage of a Japanese maple and maidenhair fern to the pendulous blooms of a clematis trained around a doorway. Looking closely I could see there were also cream hellebore blooms now beginning to fade too. The blue spring flower of a silver and green leaved Brunnera adding a gentle contrast.

Since this courtyard was bordered by stone garden walls and the house itself , it was easy to consider this it's own space. Passing between two stone pillars, visitors then walk through a series of shallow terraces.

A series of terraces is bisected by a central path which leads visitors to a lower lawn. The path with its diamond motif was inspired by the one at York Gate Garden in Yorkshire – another garden that my tour guests have enjoyed in the past – and will again in 2026.

These two terraces offer intimate gathering spaces with opportunities to sit and enjoy the distant view. Plantings are looser here with informal self-seeding allowed, edited when necessary. It feels less structured than the entry courtyard yet the strong design of the central path and paving of the second terrace instill a sense of order.

As one continues across the lawn it comes as a surprise to see there is a lower garden, previously hidden from view and looking completely different from everything we have experienced so far.

There is a significant drop in elevation between the house and the lower garden, navigated by a series of stone steps.

Tightly clipped hedges and topiary define a series of formal gardens with secluded benches and seasonal plantings. This area is especially dramatic for its bold contrast with the informality of the previous overflowing borders. 

The tall topiary obelisks  restrict our eyes – and feet, so we again experience a sense of surprise when we then find ourselves in a wide open, billowing meadow, albeit connected by the same grass pathway.

An intriguing path leads us through the meadow, eventually sweeping back to the upper gardens.

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