A Fusion of East and West: Unveiling a Tranquil Garden Oasis in South London’s Urban Jungle

Designer Jane Brockbank was tasked with creating a unique and informal garden that harmoniously blends Eastern and Western influences. She achieved this by incorporating unstructured plantings in interconnected borders, resulting in captivating views at every turn.

Frida Kim was instantly captivated by the walnut tree in the garden when she discovered her new home in south London. Despite the garden’s untidy appearance, the allure of the walnut tree was enough for her. Frida, a floral designer from Seoul, sought to find a designer who could create a natural and slightly unconventional garden with elements of both East and West. Richard Eden, the architect who worked on Frida’s home extension, recommended Jane Brockbank due to her artistic approach to planting.

Upon seeing the garden for the first time, Jane encountered a jumble of trees and shrubs, but amidst the chaos, she discovered not one, but two majestic walnut trees. One of the trees, located near the house, was carefully preserved, while the other required urgent support due to its dramatic lean. By clearing the space and allowing these sculptural trees to breathe, Jane instilled the garden with a sense of age and enchantment that would be difficult to achieve with entirely new plantings.

Frida’s instructions to Jane were clear: she wanted an abundance of plants and no lawn. Additionally, Frida desired a garden that would remain visually interesting throughout the year. Jane recalls, “Frida likes dead plants more than new plants. No one has ever said that to me before.” The central idea was to ensure a seamless flow from the house to Frida’s studio at the end of the garden.

Jane strategically created several deep beds resembling islands with a path meandering through them. She then planted a series of flowering trees to provide sequential bursts of color throughout the garden. The Japanese apricot Prunus mume is the first to bloom, followed by the delicate pink Yoshino cherry and the white Malus ‘Evereste,’ creating ethereal clouds of blossoms. In early summer, the elegant white bracts of Cornus kousa var. chinensis take center stage. As autumn arrives, the crab apple tree becomes adorned with red-flushed fruits, while the cornus foliage transforms into a deep claret hue.

The garden resembles a richly textured tapestry with exquisite shrubs that catch the eye at every turn. In late winter, pale green tassels of Stachyurus praecox emerge on bare stems, followed by the graceful Rosa xanthina ‘Canary Bird’ in May. Late summer brings the lovely Fuchsia magellanica ‘Alba’ with its dangling soft pink blooms.

Against a backdrop of ferns, euphorbia, and brunnera, Jane incorporated bold and inspired choices for a shady London garden. Pools of Lunaria annua ‘Chedglow’ with its chocolate-colored leaves and radiant lilac flowers, accompanied by ornamental seedheads, create striking contrasts. Every detail, including the delicate speckled Viola sororia ‘Freckles’ edging the borders in early spring and the waist-high toad lily Tricyrtis formosana with its dark purple freckles in summer, contributes to the garden’s allure.

Jane skillfully choreographed the garden’s path using reclaimed granite sets and compacted gravel. The textural contrast of the granite complements the smooth surfaces of the house’s interior. On the upper level of the garden, the sets expand and contract, forming inviting seating areas along the path. Adjacent to the studio, an old French limestone cistern transformed into a water feature adds a layer of gentle sound to the dappled light and delicate plantings.

Within the permanent borders, Frida enjoys adding ever-changing accents, planting vibrant tulips in the raised beds visible from the kitchen window and adorning large bowls with her beloved Iris germanica. Jane describes her collaboration with Frida as a dream job. For Frida, the garden is a source of delight, combining a sense of calmness with a touch of wildness, all seamlessly connected.

A water feature crafted from an old French limestone cistern creates a soothing soundscape.

Vibrant lilac honesty and delicate hellebores illuminate the path leading from the house to the studio. This is followed by Libertia grandiflora, Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing,’ Silene fimbriata, and Chaerophyllum hirsutum ‘Roseum’ in late spring. The dappled shade cast by an old walnut tree adds to the garden’s structure, complemented by shrubs such as Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum,’ Deutzia scabra, and Chaenomeles.

Granite sets and compacted gravel form the path leading to Frida’s studio at the end of the garden. Here, vivid ‘Chedglow’ honesty, Chasmanthium latifolium, Epimedium x rubrum, and Geranium nodosum ‘Clos de Coudray’ emerge from the fine bark mulch beneath the walnut tree.

Viola sororia ‘Freckles’ delicately edges the borders in early spring.

An overhanging Yoshino cherry tree provides shade over the dining area

An overhanging Yoshino cherry tree provides shade over the dining area in the upper section of the garden, accompanied by tulip drifts and the white blossoms of Exochorda x macrantha ‘The Bride.’

The spotted deadnettle Lamium maculatum.

Concrete steps lead past terraced beds filled with tulips.

Lunaria annua ‘Chedglow’ serves as a striking companion to the delicate-hued tulips.

The deep purple flowers of Lunaria annua ‘Chedglow’ beautifully contrast with its chocolate-colored foliage.