The Garden WOW list – Hello again!

Hello again! It’s been a wee while but we are back! We’ve had a few Garden ‘WOW’s’ since our last posting and thought we’d share some with you. The Simon Scott Landscaping team have been super busy building beautiful projects and in this ‘WOW’ list, we’re excited to share a particular favourite with you. We celebrate the charm of a quick visit to the garden at Charleston and are WOWED by the opening of their new gallery space in our home town of Lewes. We share some of the memories of a Summer gone by with the colours of the ever developing beautiful Sussex Prairies and the oh so bright and captivating Sunflowers of East Chiltington. We hope to be in more regular ‘WOW’ post contact, but for now, we hope you enjoy this one!

Simon Scott Landscaping Project ‘WOW’

The Simon Scott landscaping team have been super busy building garden projects this year, we haven’t stopped! So it was really lovely to take a pause this Summer one sunny afternoon to re-visit one of our most favourite projects. It’s always great to see a project as the planting really comes into it’s own, casting shadows on the the hardscape, softening the lines and wrapping around the edges. Expertly designed by Bo Cook of Bo Cook Garden and Landscape Design, it was a real delight to see and a ‘WOW’ moment for us. The beautiful Rivet Firebowl pictured was commisioned direct by our lovely clients from our talented friend, Blacksmith and Designer James Price. Do check out his beautiful work on his website and see his portfolio of amongst other beauties some outstanding bespoke garden related commissions.

The ‘WOW’ of the New Charleston Gallery in Lewes

As we write this, Halloween is approaching and we think back to the hazy days of the Charleston Garden this Summer and this dark pumpkin we spied resting on the top of the wall, basking in the sun. It’s always so nice to pop into the garden (Free and open from Wednesdays to Sundays) and whilst there to find out what a full programme of workshops, garden and cultural events Charleston have on their calender and in their galleries.

It was a real ‘WOW’ when we found out that a new Charleston gallery was opening up in Lewes, where we are based. Current exhibitions are the FREE Jonathan Baldock, through the joy of the senses and the ticketed Bring no Clothes: Bloomsbury and Fashion. Both on in Lewes (Wednesday to Sunday) until 7th January 2024. We really recommend seeing both exhibitions. Baldock’s exhibition is full of myth and humour and Bring no clothes, explores the fascinating influence of Charleston on fashion and politics. A real must for anyone interested in this subject.

A little collection of Jonathan Baldock, through the joy of the senses.

Vanessa Bell, Mother and Child c.1955

Bring no Clothes contextualises beautifully why so much of the art created by the Bloomsbury set was significant in relation to politics and fashion and the exhibition exemplifies just how influential their impact had and indeed still has, even today. Do check out the Charleston website page Dior x Duncan Grant x Charleston , which also links to the incredible film of Paris Men’s Fashion week in 2022, inspired by the Artistic Director of Dior Men’s fascination with Duncan Grant, Charleston and it’s connection to Christian Dior. The exhibition itself shows the actual Dior garments that connect to the drawings of Duncan Grant. So much more to see in this exhibition, highlighting the influence of many of the artists including why the striking Vanessa Bell image above was so radical in its day. Do check it out yourself.

‘Wow’s not to miss for next Summer:

East Chiltington Sunflower ‘WOW’

Local East Sussex social media were full of images of the beautiful Sunflower fields of East Chiltington this Summer so we went on a mission to seek them out and find them we did! We love how their faces turn towards the Sun, even if that does mean that their ‘backs’ are turned away from us! The classic red phone box in East Chiltington provided maps for people to follow to find the best Sunflower walk routes to take. Watch out for this lovely opportunity in Summer 2024. It was a very happy walk and a wonder to be surrounded by the mass of bright yellow. Reminiscant of the epic Sunflower fields of our childhoods on French holidays, where the views run to endless fields of gold, which always lift the soul. Wonderful to have this on the doorstep.

Garden ‘Wow’ pollinators at Sussex Prairies

Those of you who regularly follow the Garden ‘WOW’ list know what a favourite Sussex Prairies is of ours. Sadly, their open season is now closed (re-opens 1st June 2024) but get that date in the diary for next year to experience this lovely place and the garden ‘WOW’ it creates. Bold swathes of planting, unusual plant combinations and most wonderful this year was the deafening sound of buzzing pollinators, which felt worrying lacking in many other places. It never fails to impress! See our previous ‘WOW’ list posts for details. Really great for walks, talks, cake and tea catch ups. Also very welcoming for kids and dog friendly too!