by Judi Barton

WY HPS member Frances King is a talented gardener and appreciator of natural beauty. She loves colour, and this is evident in her garden. A naturally friendly and upbeat lady, Frances has found her creative outlet in gardening and doesn’t her garden show it!

Her mastery of colour is wonderful and Frances modestly says it is just ‘what she likes’. The garden to the front of the house, a rich red brick, has much stronger colours compared to the rear garden, which moves and flows through to the surrounding countryside, which in mid-July, was a hazy green and tan. Frances describes her garden as ‘cottagey jungle’. She mingles plants that make such a pleasing picture, you can easily while away a whole afternoon wandering and enjoying the vistas, both long and close-ups.

How’s this (below) for a combination that does not rely on colour – the different shapes and forms really complement each other. And of course Frances keeps everything neat and tidy with ‘proper’ edges, which really sets off the planting.

Frances and her late husband moved to their home 50 odd years ago. She describes their gardening partnership as ‘traditional’. Her husband maintained the lawns and hedges but gradually she resorted to digging up bits of lawn to accommodate her plant addiction. A tactful compromise! However he did surprise her once by returning to the David Austin rose garden to purchase the lovely rose support, shown below. He has seen it on their joint visit and clearly regretted not buying it. Or maybe, like many a Yorkshireman, it just took him time to come to terms with opening his wallet. Frances is still surprised by his action, and I think it is rather a lovely keepsake and memory.

Some of her planting combinations are wonderfully romantic, and another talent is using objects to enhance the scene. This, combined with her obvious practical gardening skills, make this a beautiful garden that Frances and her many gardening friends can enjoy year-round.

I visited Frances’s garden in July 2024, which is a time of year that Frances particularly enjoys in her garden. She spends many hours each day working in the garden. Her efforts certainly shine through.

All images courtesy of Judi Barton ©