The Monument, in the heart of the Hillier exhibit, normally stands alone in the centre of the grounds of The Royal Hospital. It is a monument to the memory of the 255 non-commissioned officers and privates of the 24th regiment who fell at the battle of Chilianwala on the 13th January 1849. The monument was erected by their surviving comrades in 1853. 150 years later it stands tall over the Hillier ‘ A Music Lover’s Garden’.
 

‘A Music Lover’s Garden’ was inspired by the work of some of our great English composers. The superb vista at the entrance to the pavilion portrays ‘In a Monastery Garden’ by Ketèlby, a composer who was a master at conveying his message by music as script to the silent screen. The Redwood Stone Bell Tower and Cloister surely looked the part as something out of a Hollywood film set.
 

At the very front of the garden was a Pool Surround and Small Copular Fountain from our Reclamation Stone surrounded by a rich but soft combination of shrubs and herbaceous perennials composing a picture of everyone’s idea of a classic English Garden. A warm sunny aspect is suggested by the bold foliage of Eriobotrya japonica and the soft silver hues of Eleagnus ‘Quicksilver’, Ozothamnus rosmarinifolius ‘Silver Jubilee’ and Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’.

 

The purple tones of Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’ and Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurascens’ contribute intensity to the composition, while the upright spikes of Lupinus Band of Nobles hybrids, Aquilegia ‘Blue Barlow’ and Lilium regale add vertical interest to the soft mounds of roses and perennials. A border of this type may be at its peak in early summer, but the structure provided by Hebe pinguifolia ‘Sutherlandii’, Ceanothus ‘Concha’ and Pittosporum ‘Garnettii’ hold the planting together in the quieter season.

 
Records are tumbling thick and fast in the Hillier camp at present. This year’s RHS Gold Medal was their 59th consecutive since the war, it was plantsman, Ricky Dorlay’s, 39th show and, baby of the band, designer Andrew McIndoe’s 14th in charge – the pressure is already mounting! It is also 140 years since Hillier Nurseries was founded in 1864. To share the experience why not join the Hillier Gardening Club at www.hillier.co.uk
 
 

Tim Redwood, June 2004

  
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