Comments on: Beth Chatto as a garden designer

By: Selina Botham

Selina Botham — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:54:26 +0000

I always understood that Beth Chatto is a gardener rather than a designer and that putting plants together is her strength as well as her love and enthusiasm for gardens. Her idea of choosing plants which will flourish in their given position is what I know her for – this makes such good sense but was ‘new’ thinking. An overall master plan is I am sure the best way to create a garden but not everyone knows about garden design or even thinks it necessary. I visited this garden before I trained as a garden designer and really loved it – I must go again now and see what difference my garden design training makes.

By: Palmbeach Landscaping

Palmbeach Landscaping — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:01:33 +0000

Agreed, Tom. You have hit the nail on the head. Akin to this is the difference between multiple chef’s preparing the exact same recipe. Why is it that Batali’s dish taste’s so much better than mine? Art, not science.

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:22:18 +0000

Adam – you would be welcome to do a blog post on Beth Chatto. I agree about the ‘domestic’ character of her garden. It is much closer to a scaled-up suburban garden than to a country-house garden.

By: Adam Hodge

Adam Hodge — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 07:35:38 +0000

These comments are helpful and compel one to clarify in one’s own mind what is that missing factor in an otherwise lovely location. Is it that the planting is on a domestic garden scale using only a few of each plant in a group, whereas the size of the garden begs for bigger more dramatic planting to make one really swoon over the lovely colours of the plants?
Ironically as one emerged on the hill top on the boundary of the nursery there was a stunning view over big groups of various Crocosmia’s and Agapanthus in the nursery [picture available on request]..those big groups would have given the ‘hit’ we are looking for in the garden..as big sweeps of underplanting to the lovely and choice shrubs and trees.. perhaps !

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:53:03 +0000

It is like going to a craft fair: one is often amazed by the craftsmanship but disappointed by the result. This is because there is a world of difference between being a craftsman and being an artist.

By: Pete

Pete — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:46:44 +0000

I know this is an old post but I was trying to find more info about chatto after visiting the garden today.

My own view was that I found much to admire and like and yet I had reservations. There were areas that I loved but there were others that were distinctly ordinary. Some of the ponds are beyond ropes marked private, well that’s great but I can still see the things and if they are scruffy it spoils the bits that are truly lovely.

The wooded garden didn’t “flow” and seemed a tadge dull (maybe the time of the year).

Its patchy a bit like going to an art gallery finding some great paintings with the odd amateur work thrown in for good measure.

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 07:48:49 +0000

Fiona, thank you for the comment. The mention of a sweet shop is interesting and confirms my view that the attraction of Beth Chatto’s garden is excellence of the plants, and their cultivation, rather than the spatial design. She also applies an appreciation of plant ecology but I do not see this as an original contribution. Its just a sensible thing to do.
Note: I am not happy with Alec’s definition (above) of spatial design as “Spatial composition means using the available space in order to create the desired environment and convey the mood that the owner or builders picture” because I understand spatial design as the ‘design of space’, as a deliberate contrast to the design of the objects (landform, planting, structures etc) which enclose the space.

By: Fiona Law

Fiona Law — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 07:41:43 +0000

Tom’s initial comments are pretty strong but I found them refreshing as it’s the first time I’ve come across anyone trying to express what doesn’t quite work at Beth Chatto’s. I’ve just visited, so maybe the plants in the gravel garden aren’t at their best. However, the plants in the big borders by the water garden are full and healthy.
I think there isn’t enough repetition of planting. Chatto wasn’t trained as most designers are, to use a geometric grid; a hosepipe adjusted to what looked good was her way. So the unity of design has to come from the planting. It comes across as a dazzling free-form tapestry. The eye doesn’t know where to look next. Especially for plant lovers, it’s like being in a sweet shop. The eye wanders greedily. I even felt a bit sick after a while. It’s over stimulating. Using repetition of planting groups could produce a more relaxing experience.
Having said all that, Chatto’s contribution to garden design cannot be underestimated. Her understanding of plant ecology and the plant palletts she therefore introduced revolutionised garden design and informed other significant late 20th century developments/designers, Oudolf, for example.
I was mightily inspired and can’t wait to put some of the planting ideas in place, using repetition, of course.

By: Miami Landscape Contractor

Miami Landscape Contractor — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:59:50 +0000

Designing a garden is just like creating a painting, people see the outcome in different way. I agree with you Tom sometimes it’s not the design that wasn’t really good it was just how it was done.;-)

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:34:05 +0000

Thank you for your comment. I admit to being somewhat puzzled by Beth Chatto’s garden and like to clarify my views through discussion.
Individually, I regard Beth Chatto’s plant compositions as good. But, to draw an analogy with interior design, they are like good pieces of furniture which are badly placed in a room. What I mean by ‘badly’ is that they do not contribute to making a good space. Similarly, one might have a Monet painting in a room but place it very badly. This would not detract from the value of Monet’s painting but it would mean that the room is not as good as it would be if the painting were well chosen or well hung.