Trentham Gardens – Part 2 – Italian Garden by Tom Stuart-Smith

A perfect example of old meets new, formal meets informal. Working from an existing traditional Italianate structure, from the 1800’s and filled with modern, naturalistic palette of plants. In 2004 it was planted with 80,000 perennial plants in 70 different flower beds. The box hedging, and topiary combined with many grasses, and architectural perennial plants provide year round interest.

The vista from where the big house once stood.

a remaining section of the building

Stipa with yellow phlomis & agapanthus

Phlomis and Stipa in beds edged with low box hedging

simple symmetry forming a central flower around a pool and fountain

Beautiful fairy wire sculpture by fantasywire.co.uk

Very satisfying, generous steps

Allium and Monarda

Mixed species topiary, edged by grasses