How to Create an Art-Inspired Garden

I'm Jodi Dickinson and I'm the gardener here at the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. Artist Hepworth acquired the garden in St Ives in 1949.

During her time here she transformed the space from a traditional and geometric rose garden, to the more informal and naturalistic space that we have here now. It became a place for her to work, as well as a home to many of her sculptures. Today we take great care to maintain the garden as it was towards the end of her lifetime, but while embracing the natural forces of growth and change within the planting.

One key tip is to think about height, as this can help you to approach your space in a more dynamic and three-dimensional way. In this garden we have great structural diversity, from the perennial and ground cover layer, to the shrub and bamboo layer, to a collection of magnificent trees. Interestingly, out of the eight mature trees in the garden Hepworth thoughtfully planted six.

I love the way the tree canopy creates a beautiful dappled light on the planting and sculptures below.

As you move through the garden there is a distinct change in atmosphere, from the rear which has a more woodland type feel, to the front of the garden which basks in full sun and has a Mediterranean feel. This mix of structural environments is something that you can play with in your own garden, to create more interest in the planting and habitat for wildlife even if only on a small scale.

Before she passed away in 1975, Hepworth voiced concerns about the state of our environment and that which we are handing over to future generations. This has impacted the way we manage the garden now and we feel it's important to focus on sustainability wherever we can.

Self-seeding plants are a great way to develop a more sustainable garden and avoid having to repeatedly go to the garden center to buy new plants. Examples that we have in this garden are the native Hellebore, Helleborus foetidus and a Florist's Cineraria, Pericallis × hybridas. Plants that self-seed choose themselves where they are located in the garden and this gives the garden a greater internal agency. As the populations of these plants grow and develop through the garden it creates more ground cover, which protects the soil from weathering and drying out. If you can, allow them to die back and die naturally they feed the soil ecology, which then in turn will feed the plants once more.This increased ground cover means there are less weeds which is great news for us gardeners.

In Cornwall we enjoy a maritime climate and the milder winters allow for a broader range of plants to be grown. Hepworth took advantage of this and grew plants from places

such as New Zealand and the Mediterranean. When selecting plants for your own garden it is important to consider the local climate, but also the microclimates within your garden. Good questions to ask are, which areas are exposed to strong and drying winds, and whether some hedging or coastal species can be used to protect more delicate planting behind. Also which areas are exposed to full sun, here it is a good idea to plant drought tolerant species to reduce watering requirements. Silver leafed plants such as lavender and lamb's ear are ideally suited to thrive in these conditions. In this garden we grow Teucrium fruticans and the Canary Island marguerite, both of which are very beautiful plants but it is important to provide good drainage for such species.

Textures are really important in Hepworth's garden, they are integral to the calm and contemplative atmosphere that she so carefully curated. Textures are defined as the different sizes and shapes of the leaves. There aren't any plants or flowers that feel too dramatic, instead it is largely about evergreen plants and the subtle contrasts in texture. But they are really important in creating a vibrant and interesting space all year round.

I hope you've enjoyed those gardening tips and feel inspired to add a little bit of Hepworth Gardens to your own green spaces.

A bit of background

Artist Barbara Hepworth moved to Cornwall at the outbreak of war in 1939. She lived and worked in Trewyn studios, now the Hepworth Museum, from 1949 until her death in 1975. 'Finding Trewyn Studio was a sort of magic', wrote Hepworth; 'here was a studio, a yard and garden where I could work in open air and space'. Today, Jodi Dickinson, Head Gardener at the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden takes great care to maintain the garden as it was towards the end of Hepworth's life. Here he shares his top tips on texture, height, climate and sustainability.

Re-defining weeds

Himalayan honeysuckle (*Leycesteria formosa*) in the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, Photo: © Jodi Dickinson

*Erigeron kervinskianua* in the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, Photo: © Jodi Dickinson

[to] despoil places of rare beauty and quiet solitude… [would be] a crime on our part, if we do not preserve for our children what we ourselves have been bequeathed

Barbara Hepworth

A weed is any plant that grows in a location where humans do not want it to grow. Plants that self-seed and grow rapidly are commonly labelled as weeds. These plants may either come from other regions, like the Himalayan honeysuckle, or be native to the local environment. Typically, these plants have adapted to thrive in disturbed soil, such as when a wild boar has snuffled through the soil. In the case of native plants, they may serve as the sole food source for a particular moth or butterfly larvae, so they play a vital role in a complex and interdependent ecosystem.

Gentle Gardening is a technique that collaborates with weeds, rather than opposing them, to create a more relaxed and easily manageable garden.

Gentle Gardening tips:

Prevent Seed Production: Deadhead, or cut down plants before they go to seed to control plant numbers
Remove Spreading Plants: Get rid of plants with spreading roots, like creeping thistle
Select Beneficial Weeds: Choose certain weeds like dead nettle, plantain and Geranium robertianum for ground cover. This stops other 'weed' seeds from growing
Layering: Plant cultivated perennials, grasses and shrubs into this ground cover layer
Inexpensive Native Plants: Beautiful native plants (often viewed as weeds) like Centaurea nigra, Echium vulgare, Daucus carota and Myosotis sylvatica can be introduced cheaply with seed
Embrace Volunteer Plants: These are plants which self-seed and are often viewed as weeds. In the Barbara Hepworth Museum garden, an example is Himalayan honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa). Erigeron karvinskianus and kangaroo apple (Solanum lanciniatum) may have also started as volunteer plants

Greenhouses & Houseplants

Inside the Greenhouse at Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, Photo: © Jodi Dickinson

Greenhouse at Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, Photo: © Jodi Dickinson

Succulents in the Greenhouse at Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, Photo: © Jodi Dickinson

Growing plants indoors or in greenhouses can be helpful as it allows you to grow plants from warmer climates that wouldn't thrive in the UK's colder conditions. While the rest of her spaces were for living and work, Hepworth kept her greenhouse as a personal space for thinking and writing. Examples of plants found in Hepworth’s greenhouse are echeverias, cacti, cheeseplant, geraniums, and maidenhair fern.

Although many plants in Hepworth’s colour scheme are calming purples and blues, occasionally she liked a lively bright red. For example the bright red geraniums found in her greenhouse.

Benefits of growing houseplants plants:

They clean the air of pollutants in your indoor environment
They provide oxygen
They offer therapeutic and calming effects
They help us to reconnect with nature
They bring nature inside

Tips for growing succulents & cacti:

Watering: Allow to dry out between watering and reduce watering in winter months. Prolonged moisture around the roots of cacti and succulents, especially when they are not actively growing can lead to root rot
Light: Succulents and cacti thrive in bright light and full sun
Soil Composition: Plant in a 50/50 mix of peat free compost and horticultural grit. This emulates the stony, low-nutrient soils found in the native countries of these plants and also provides good drainage

Trees

Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, Photo: © Jodi Dickinson

Important to Hepworth's carefully curated garden are the mature trees, 6 of which she planted herself. Woodland gardens such as Hepworth’s create a sense of calm and security.

Benefits of planting trees:

Create Habitat: Trees provide habitat for wildlife, including birds who will provide a soundtrack to your outdoor space
Shade & Light: They provide shade and soft dappled light.
Seasonal Variety: Trees provide seasonal highlights as they change throughout the year
Climate Change: Plant trees for future generations, they capture carbon and help to fight climate change

Tips for planting trees:

Size: Check the expected size of the tree and plant it somewhere it has enough room to grow
Adaptation: Choose a tree adapted for warmer climes so it will be happy into a future of climate change

Working with your Garden

Recognising that its (Trewyn’s) beauty belongs to itself and not to me, I ought to regard it as a loan & never fail to recognise that what it has inspired me in it must be preserved by me and perpetuated

Barbara Hepworth

Tips for making your garden visually appealing:

Maintain Clear Views: Have clear lines of sight within your garden. This helps with both light and simplicity, making it easier to enjoy
Highlight Natural Beauty: Bring out the inherent beauty of your plants. This could be the colour of the bark or the way branches are shaped. Take inspiration from the Japanese concept, Wabi-sabi, and find beauty in imperfection and simplicity

Hepworth's garden is an inspiration for people of all ages and backgrounds. Her naturalistic approach involves planting in clearly defined layers of perennials, shrubs, and trees. If you take her garden as a model, it may help us develop a more caring relationship with the natural world.

About Jodi Dickinson

Jodi grew up in Cornwall and has 18 years experience working in horticulture. When he is not in the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, he looks after gardens around the coastline of Cornwall. Jodi is passionate about creating and developing beautiful and sustainable gardens that enhance well being and support wildlife. You can see more of his work on Jodi's website.

How to Create an Art-Inspired Garden

A bit of background