Unveil the techniques for creating artistically crafted plant pots, as envisioned by the chief gardener at Benton End
Artful Plant Arrangement at Benton End Revives Cedric Morris's Legacy
At Benton End, a repurposed paint kettle now serves as a unique planter for a shade-loving collection of plants. This creative arrangement pays homage to the artistic and horticultural legacy of Benton End, once the home and garden of artist Cedric Morris.
Cedric Morris and his partner Arthur Lett-Haines transformed Benton End into a celebrated garden, a harmonious blend of a working nursery and an artistic landscape. Their approach to planting emphasised creativity, diversity, and the adaptation of the garden's natural conditions, such as shade, for growing plants.
The use of a paint kettle as a planter echoes the spirit of innovation and artistic re-use that characterised Benton End’s garden. It embodies the idea that everyday objects can be transformed into artful containers supporting plant life.
In this arrangement, the Begonia soli-mutata with its scallop-shaped, dark-green foliage measuring 40cm x 50cm, thrives alongside the Begonia bowerae var*. nigramarga, known for its curiously dimming venation and bright center, and is the same size. The Begonia 'Solid Silver', a Rex type begonia with hairy leaf stems, requiring frost-free protection, adds a touch of silver with its 30cm x 40cm size.
The arrangement also includes the Persicaria 'Purple Fantasy', a herbaceous perennial with a running habit, measuring 60cm x 70cm. This plant is suitable for USDA zones 3a-9b, making it a versatile addition to the collection.
The voodoo lily, Sauromatum venosum, a hardy plant in the arum family, completes the collection with its 50cm x 30cm size. This plant is suitable for USDA zones 6a-10b.
The arrangement doesn't stop there. Allium sikkimense, a dwarf allium suitable for a pot or a position with little competition, and measuring 30cm x 20cm, adds a touch of elegance. The Polypodium glycyrrhiza 'Malahatense', a hardy, robust, winter-green fern that is 25cm x 30cm in size, provides a touch of greenery.
This artful plant arrangement at Benton End not only showcases the garden's historic merging of art and gardening but also honours Cedric Morris's legacy of creative plant cultivation and environmental adaptability. It combines this with a resourceful and artistic re-interpretation of materials connected to the site's artistic history.
The artful plant arrangement at Benton End, with its diverse collection, replicates the creative and adaptive gardening approach advocated by Cedric Morris. It includes a variety of plants such as Begonia soli-mutata, Begonia bowerae var.* nigramarga, Begonia 'Solid Silver', Persicaria 'Purple Fantasy', voodoo lily (Sauromatum venosum), Allium sikkimense, and Polypodium glycyrrhiza 'Malahatense'. This assembly embodies the home-and-garden lifestyle, emphasizing innovation and the repurposing of items like the paint kettle, paying homage to Morris's legacy while integrating elements from the site's artistic history.
