Fantasy garden tables

Those of you who are regular viewers of BBC Gardeners’ World will most likely have noted Monty Don’s table of potted plants, which varies throughout the seasons and looks like something most of us can only dream of! In a recent article by Alice Vincent, she describes what she calls Monty Don’s ‘Fantasy table’. (My latest garden fantasy? An elegant table covered in flower pots)

The scale of Don’s table and the amount he has displayed is something many of us may aspire to, myself included! On a recent visit to Anna L’s garden, I was impressed by how she had similarly grouped a range of plants in pots, a mix of bulbs, a small Phlox stolonifera, Violas, a Clematis waiting to be planted and a miniature Hosta. Anna very kindly listed the plants for me and you can see from this that a display does not have to be carefully curated, but a selection of whatever takes your fancy!

My own little table has offered lots of pleasure for several months now. Starting with Narcissi and then Muscari and now the double Primulas (Belarina series). The latter were bought as plug plants last year and I have managed to keep some of them. The Violas have been absolute champions, in flower for the last two months and still going strong. The smaller violet primulas used to grow rampantly in my mother’s garden many years ago and I still have two pots of these. I’m not sure of the variety, but think it may be P. ‘Wanda’. Not quite a fantasy garden, but offering me a constant source of enjoyment nonetheless.

Whether a balcony, small table or windowsill, it is possible to create a ‘fantasy table’ in miniature!

Vija V