Interviews by Zia Allaway

GARDEN 1 – site number MA18

With three Chelsea medals under his belt, Philip Nixon this year is designing his third show garden for Savills. Here, he describes the inspiration behind his elegant geometric design, pictured.

Designer Profile
A former broker, Philip Nixon swapped his career in the City five years ago for a new life in garden design. Having graduated top of his class at the Inchbald School of Garden Design in London, he then set up his own business and is now an internationally acclaimed designer, working on projects in Sweden, Russia, France, Switzerland and Canada as well as here in Britain. Philip is also a Trustee of The Landscape Design Trust, a charity that aims to influence and educate those who create outdoor environments.

The Brief
“With a completely open brief from Savills, I looked for an idea that would suit my style of planting design and explore my interest in art and gardening.

“The notion for the garden came to me while wandering through the Tate Modern. I was struck by a row of abstract paintings displayed in a line, which inspired the idea of creating a gallery of framed plantings. The rhythm and geometry of the pictures hanging on the wall is also evident in the geometric structure of my design – the garden is divided into randomly rectilinear spaces, and visitors move from one space to another to view the framed exhibits.

“The frames will be created with clipped Buxus hedging and powder-coated aluminium three-dimensional structures, with the textures and forms of the plants anchoring the design. In five of the frames I am using a mix of perennials and multi-stemmed Cornelian cherry trees (Cornus mas), which have a beautiful sculptural quality. In contrast to the planted areas are pools of reflective water that offer a changing picture of plants and sky, depending on what angle you view them from. The aluminium structures frame bold containers made from polished plaster, which mirror the plastered walls along one side of the garden. The paving, made from hand-finished basalt, has a scratched up, rough texture, while the ridged leaves of the hornbeam (Carpinus) hedge at the back of the garden add another exciting texture.'

Philip's hot tips
• Creating reflective pools
“First, look at where the light is coming from and what will be reflected in the water. The water must also be kept clean, either by adding a sterilizing solution or by keeping it moving. In my design, each pool is actually made from two tanks, one smaller tank set within a slightly large outer one: the water in the inner tank spills over the top into the outer tank and is then pumped back again, creating the illusion of a still table of water.”

• Successful plant combinations
“I always think of form and texture before flower colour when choosing plants, since stems and foliage create permanent design structure, while flowers come and go. I also look for contrasts, setting large-leaved plants next to those with grassy, strappy foliage, and using contrasting foliage colours, such as dark green Buxus with silvery-grey santolina. Lastly, it's important to keep your colour palette simple, and use just three to five different types of plants set out in large groups.”

• Making a bold statement with containers
“A few large containers set in a line make a dramatic statement in a garden, but good ones can be hard to find. I often have my containers made to order, which is not as expensive as many people think. Here, the pots are made from the same material as the polished plaster boundary and this is a good way of visually linking different areas of the garden and creating a balanced design.”

In Philip's showgarden, you will see:
Plants
Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas)
Heuchera 'White Spires'
Geranium phaeum 'Lily Lovell'
Marginal iris (Iris laevigata)

Where to buy
Bressingham Gardens
01379 688282; www.bressinghamgardens.com
Supplier of a wide range of heucheras and other perennials

Mickfield Water Garden Centre
Tel: 01449 711336; www.watergardenshop.co.uk
Specialist in marginal and bog plants, including Iris laevigata

Crocus
Tel: 0870 787 1413; www.crocus.co.uk
Offers a wide range of perennials, shrubs and trees

Ornamental Tree Nurseries
Tel: 01568 708016; www.ornamental-trees.co.uk
Tree specialist and supplier of Cornus mas

Landscape Materials
The paving is made from basalt stone, and the containers and walls are in polished plaster, which has a grey, shiny finish. The box frame structures are made from white powder-coated aluminium.

Where to buy
Devon Stone
Tel: 01395 222525;www.devonstone.com
Specialist in hand-finished basalt stone

Polished Plaster Company
Tel: 020 7125 0096; www.polishedplaster.co.uk
Polished plaster specialist

Haddoncraft Forge
Tel: 01604 772027; www.haddoncraft.co.uk
Supplier of bespoke metal garden structures

Contact Details
See Philip's garden at site number MA18
Philip Nixon Design; tel: 020 7371 0066; www.philipnixondesign.com

Read more about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2008.