Sheesh, you guys are an ornery lot. The outcome for the begonia-ridden front garden seen in HPON number four was six "hots" to 9 "nots". So far none of the plots has been given a collective thumbs up by Horticultural readers. Let's see what happens for this garden, which is at Kingston Maurward in Dorset.
Just add your thoughts below: please start with a "hot" or a "not" so I can tally the votes. If you want to look back at all the previous HPONs, go here.
Tepid
(Just to be extra difficult)
Lovely, meaty topiary. Acceptable (though unoriginal) box shapes.
Horrible shiny brick paving. Odd planting that seems a bit flat (although I cannot quite see what it consists of...are those purple jobs big lettuces among the Heliotropes? probably not, ought to buy spectacles)
Am very upset by the bench.
Posted by: JamesA-S | September 29, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Hot!
At last, at last a hot plot. Lovely colours and not too many of them, it all looks very fresh and manicured, with pleasing lines.
Posted by: Arabella Sock | September 29, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Hot hot hot. Reminds me of some French gardens I've seen.. I love the contrast between the dark planting and the bright hedging. Yum.
Posted by: Melanie | September 29, 2009 at 12:26 PM
HOT
I love the colors for pensive moments, and the box gently holding it, apart from the brick, which seems too intrusive -- perhaps something with a less busy pattern and more appropriate color.
Posted by: James Golden | September 29, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Hot from me. Particularly love the hedges, arches and domes going on in the background. Slightly too restrained planting though, if i'm being picky.
Posted by: Lia Leendertz | September 29, 2009 at 01:26 PM
Hot.
*But* I don't have near the time to do that much work. You'd have to hire a gardener! I also would hope that there is an informal part of the garden somewhere nearby for balance.
Posted by: Ed | September 29, 2009 at 01:29 PM
Oddly enough I would guess hotter in winter than summer. Not a very convincing picture (no slight intended towards the photographer. More probably the shot was not taken when the garden was at its best.
The formal bits of a formal garden need to be exactly that; the hedges look as though they could do with a haircut.
On balance though more hot than not.
Posted by: Simon Suter | September 29, 2009 at 01:38 PM
Hot! I love the contrast of the velvety darkness against the bright green of the box hedges and the medium purple for contrast. I like the monochromatic colour scheme, no "tossed salad" here.
Posted by: Deborah at Kilbourne Grove | September 29, 2009 at 02:05 PM
would quite like it but the bricks kill it for me, like wearing a checked shirt with a pinstripe suit - dreadful choice and the meeting of patterns isn't entirely satisfying.
Now pondering joining thinkinggardens
Posted by: Rita Shedful East | September 29, 2009 at 06:26 PM
I agree with Rita, if we're being picky then the bricks have to go. Love the blends of purples and blues though. Hot!
Posted by: Susan | September 29, 2009 at 08:23 PM
Perilla?
Posted by: New Shoot | September 29, 2009 at 08:40 PM
Hot. Not necessarily my type of garden; I'm not keen on topiary and I agree with others that the bricks aren't great. But overall it has a peaceful feel and the purples and greens work well.
Posted by: Gwenhwyfar | September 29, 2009 at 08:51 PM
Hottish; would indeed be better if the hedges had a haircut
Posted by: Woody Wilbury | September 30, 2009 at 09:04 PM
I think I must have imagined I commented the other day instead of actually doing the act.
It's hot.
Posted by: VP | October 01, 2009 at 09:13 PM
Hot, but only because it's plainly not a Not and you vetoed my suggestion of a lukewarm category called Biggins.
Posted by: The Garden Monkey | October 02, 2009 at 01:14 PM
I am a fan of buxus, I am growing quite a lot of it, I bought some value packs of young plants from www.gardeningexpress.co.uk to make a nice low hedge around the patio, and I must say, they are doing very well. I like the nice crisp lines you can create with the softer edges of the other plants.
Posted by: bill | October 03, 2009 at 05:22 PM
Hot. I'd agree with bricks and bench comments but I love the broody planting colours and I'm a sucker for a chunky hedge.
Posted by: Dawn/LittleGreenFingers | October 07, 2009 at 06:28 PM