It is hard to believe that August marks 18 years since Diana, Princess of Wales died following a car crash in Paris. A garden built in her memory at Capel Manor Gardens in Enfield has been redesigned by Richard Beales to create a scented rose garden.
On the eve of what would have been Princess Diana’s 54th birthday, The Diana Legacy Rose Garden was officially opened. Richard told me it was an enormous privilege to be invited to design such a special garden.
The roses he picked add to the concept of legacy and moving on with varieties such as the climbing rose New Dawn, to Rosa Prosperity and William and Catherine. The centre aisle is made of red and white varieties which were her favourites.
I particularly like the large obelisks’ which stand at nine feet high and will allow the climbing roses to develop and will look particularly fantastic when they are in full bloom.
When I spoke to Earl Spencer he was flattered that people still related to his sister and all the good work she achieved through her lifetime, and was he thrilled to see a new garden designed in her honour.
Whilst admitting to not being a gardener himself, his Canadian wife Karen Gordon has a keen interest. When she joined the conversation, she admitted that between them they had nine children. Part of her plans for the grounds at their home is to revamp the old walled garden, with a section dedicated to each child reflecting their individual personalities. I think it’s an interesting approach to gardening.
For more information visit http://www.capelmanorgardens.co.uk/
Enjoy your garden
Ken
