How to enjoy your garden

People often ask me how I and my family can get real enjoyment from the garden, bearing in mind it has been open to the public for the last 15 summers. Well, there is no question that in-between all those 23,000 garden visitors, my 96-year-old mother, who lives with us and our gorgeous terrier, Chester, maximise the space for their own enjoyment.

Mum and Chester in the garden at Driftwood — Geoff’s Mum and Chester the terrier enjoying some time in the garden. Image: Geoff Stonebanks

Separate rooms

In some ways, it has helped by creating the different garden rooms which means that the plot is split into several different areas, so you can easily split away from visitors if needed.

There is the general view that Driftwood is a seaside garden, which is certainly the case at the front, with the beach garden. It is a view that will lift anyone’s spirit, no matter what time of the year. There is an unquestionable beach vibe going on there all year round and it’s a great pleasure to look out on it from the front porch through the winter months too. The borrowed landscape of the sea on the horizon helps a great deal too.

Meanwhile at the back there are several different areas including the large upper patio near the cosy Summer House. There are many personal items on show in there and it’s a great place to sit and view the garden once the visitors have gone. The one main benefit for visitors is that they can sit and enjoy tea and cake in the dry if it rains during their visit. But, for me this holds a special place as my father gave me the money to purchase the building, weeks before he passed away in 2007. It has since been named Dad’s Place.

the summer house at Driftwood — Dad’s Place. Image: Geoff Stonebanks

Patio perfect

To the side of the summer house is another small patio that is the perfect place to sit in the early morning as it catches the morning sun. The bistro set is perfect for the spot too as it is made from recycled ropes to reduce ocean waste, it’s fully recycled and recyclable, and breaks new ground by utilising recycled maritime plastic. I just fell in love with the colour and it goes well with the white rope behind, which used to tie the cross-channel ferry up in Newhaven harbour.

the bistro garden set at Driftwood — The fully recycled bistro set which utilises recycled maritime plastic. Image: Geoff Stonebanks

Private space

A garden view never experienced by visitors is the new sunken patio, lit up at night. It is a lovely sheltered spot behind the house, easily accessible from the dining room, meaning we can enjoy meals outside in the warm summer months. It really takes on the air of an additional room, dressed with so many objets d’art and plants.

Night time in the sunken area at Driftwood — The sunken patio area lit up at night. Image: Geoff Stonebanks

Unquestionably a plant that gives me great joy is my large container brimming with red and orange lilies in the early spring. It has a special meaning for me, as the pot originally belonged to my aunt. She passed away in 2004 and I inherited the pot and the lilies she had planted in it some years before. I have never removed them, they are still just as she planted them, all I do is feed them with Flower Power each spring and they rise like a phoenix every year reminding me of Auntie Margaret. There are actually several plants in the garden that evoke memories for me but this is the main one.