Celebrating Tulips at The Laskett

With its stage set gardens within a garden, wide-ranging array of topiary, and eye-catching urns, stonework and statues, it could be argued that The Laskett needs nothing else to make an impact. Yet, gazing around, it’s obvious that the pops of colour from thousands of tulips are setting the whole thing alight.

From a ribbon of fiery blooms at the entrance, to carefully placed pots of flowers at strategic points in the garden, tulips are the stars of the show.

The Laskett , created by Sir Roy Strong and his late wife Julia Trevelyan Oman, was given to horticultural charity Perennial just over two years ago and Sir Roy has now moved to a new home in Herefordshire.

It’s one of a number of gardens that Perennial, which supports those in horticulture, has been given or bequeathed – I visited a London garden last year that will eventually go to the charity (read about it here), and it’s just been announced that East Ruston Old Vicarage will also be left to Perennial (you can read about my visit here).

James Madge, head gardener at The Laskett, explained that this first ‘tulip festival’ is partly a way of dealing with what he describes as a ‘shoulder month’ before herbaceous plants get into their stride.

It’s also hoped that it will raise the profile of the garden and encourage visitors – The Laskett is now open twice a week and to individuals rather than just to groups.

James manages the four-acre site with the help of two part-time gardeners and a team of volunteers. Together, they planted more than 20,000 tulips with varieties often chosen for their names – ‘Virgin Queen’ is used in the Elizabeth Tudor Walk, ‘Candy Prince’, ‘Pretty Princess’ and ‘Purple Prince’ around the V&A temple, and ‘Lasting Love’ by Julia’s urn.

“I’ve tried to link them with what they’re near,” said James, who started at The Laskett last June.

One tulip that’s now on my ‘must buy’ list is ‘Light and Dreamy’, which is planted in waves through the Serpentine Walk.

“In the morning, it’s nice and tight and the colour’s quite deep. Then, as it opens, the colour is light. It’s a really brilliant tulip.”

Much of James’ work so far has been getting the garden ‘under control’ – like many gardens, it suffered during lockdown. Apart from weeding what is a densely planted space, there’s the topiary to keep in shape – more than 200 pieces of holly, yew and box, among others.

Many of the hedges that are such an important feature have also outgrown their allotted space and need cutting back. In addition, James has started a programme of pruning in the orchard, gradually thinning the apple trees to let more air and light in.

The Rose Garden has had an overhaul to give more cohesion to the planting – originally Rosa ‘Valentine’ combined with roses with a royal connection. The raised beds are now planted with Rosa ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’, Perennial’s royal patron, while Tulipa ‘Valentine’ keeps a connection with the previous design.

The roses in the central bed have been deliberately planted with a gap around the outside. This will allow the team to reduce the size of the bed in the future to allow access for wheelchairs. Along with replacing wobbly steps and even removing some, it’s part of turning what was essentially a private garden into a public space.

There are also plans to open a tearoom and small shop in the house with the possibility of an archive of photographs and information about Roy and Julia – he is the former director of the National Portrait Gallery and Victoria and Albert Museum while Julia was a designer.

Most of the changes to the garden are just tweaks to planting and design but there is a plan to create a snowdrop garden.

“We found a lovely design of Julia’s that is a snowdrop garden and there’s an area of the garden that’s the perfect space,” said James.

Elsewhere, the team will be clearing self-seeders, particularly in the hydrangea walk, adding more plants to areas that need a longer season of interest, and planting trees to celebrate the coronation.

“I think Roy would definitely be doing something to do with the coronation.”

It seems the tulips are just the first stage in a new chapter for the garden.

The Laskett is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from April to October. Timed tickets must be booked in advance via the website.

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