Uncover techniques to craft the artistically designed plant pots, inspired by the chief garden planner at Benton End
In the heart of England, Benton End, once locally known as 'the artist's house', continues to inspire visitors with its captivating woodland plant arrangement. This picturesque garden was the creative hub of Cedric Morris and Arthur Lett-Haines in the 1950s, who established the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing there [1][2].
The arrangement, requiring a shaded site and weekly watering, showcases a variety of plants, each adding its unique charm. Among them are multiple begonia plants, including the Rex type begonia 'Solid Silver' with its hairy leaf stems and metallic marbled crumpled foliage, measuring 30cm x 40cm. The begonia bowerae var*. nigramarga, with its curiously dimming venation and bright center, also finds a home here, as does the coarsely reptilian-like, dark-green, scallop-shaped foliage of Begonia soli-mutata, awarded the AGM and hardy in USDA zones 10a-12 and RHS H1B.
Persicaria 'Purple Fantasy' adds dynamism to the arrangement. This herbaceous perennial, with a running habit measuring 60cm x 70cm, is hardy in RHS H6 and USDA 3a-9b. Its vibrant purple foliage and striking growth habit make it a standout in the arrangement.
Other plants in the arrangement include the hardy, robust, and winter-green fern Polypodium glycyrrhiza 'Malahatense', measuring 25cm x 30cm, and the dwarf allium Allium sikkimense, suitable for a pot or a position with little competition, with tiny steel-blue flowers. The voodoo lily, Sauromatum venosum, with its drip-tip foliage, also graces the arrangement. This hardy plant in the arum family, measuring 50cm x 30cm, is hardy in RHS H1C and USDS 6a-10b.
The arrangement's containers are repurposed metal paint kettles, adding a touch of artistic flair. The plants are grown in a potting soil mix of loam and composted bark or leaf mould to provide the ideal growing conditions.
Begonias, being tropical plants, are not winter hardy and need to be tucked up in a frost-free place when the weather turns. This arrangement, a testament to the artistic and horticultural legacy of Benton End, continues to inspire visitors and artists alike, who find solace and inspiration in the beauty of these plants and the history of the place.
[1] Benton End: A Paradise of Pollen and Paint. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.eastanglianartschool.org/benton-end-a-paradise-of-pollen-and-paint
[2] Benton End: The Artistic Legacy. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.artistsandillustrators.co.uk/features/benton-end-the-artistic-legacy
[3] Benton End: No Connection to Thomas Hart Benton. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.britishartstudies.ac.uk/benton-end-no-connection-to-thomas-hart-benton/
The arrangement in the gardens at Benton End, a home-and-garden haven, features an assortment of plants and flowers that add to its captivating beauty. Among these are begonia plants, such as the Rex type begonia 'Solid Silver', and Persicaria 'Purple Fantasy', a herbaceous perennial with vibrant purple foliage. The lifestyle at Benton End, once frequented by artists like Cedric Morris and Arthur Lett-Haines, is still reflected in the gardening practices, with plants like the hardy voodoo lily and dwarf allium cultivated for their unique characteristics and ideal growing conditions.
