Design and planting
The existing curved larch hedge and the pergola near the present New Collection garden formed the basis for the Yellow garden. The larch hedge was the remains of an earlier experiment with hedges and roses in the central area of the garden. Neither the larch hedge nor the pergola had any real connection to their surroundings. By placing a circle in the curved part of the hedge and near the end of the pergola these two elements were connected to each other. The larch hedge was the background to the border and the curve in the hedge resulted in the border not being the same width all along. The circle of grass is also slightly concave with a difference in height of 10 cm. This gives an enclosed, private effect. Mien Ruys called this her ‘magic circle’. From the circle you see the pergola leading to the New collection garden.
The planting consists of plants in all different shades of yellow; from light cream to dark yellow and orange. In choosing one colour you are forced to use less well known plants as well and not only is the flowering important but also the shape of the leaf, structure and texture. The circular shaped top of the Prunus serrulata ‘Ukon’ is suitably chosen to blend in with the circular forms in the garden and gives extra depth.
History
The Yellow garden is based on the remains of an earlier experiment ‘Blowing bubbles’, which consisted of circular flower beds filled with roses and curved larch hedges. After removing the roses this hedge was left and subsequently used as the starting point for the Yellow garden.