Call of the wild: a house in the woods of the South Downs

A home that sees the wood for the trees in its clever use of timber and light

There are some lovely things in Jenny Stevinson’s home – paintings, ceramics, mid-20th-century pieces, not to mention the cracking architecture itself – but she admits to no longer paying much attention to them as she is so smitten with the views outside. “I find myself constantly drawn to the trees and the plants; the vegetation is very powerful,” she says.

The setting is indeed impressive. Nestled in a five-acre plot within the South Downs National Park in Hampshire, the house is surrounded by majestic woodland, juxtaposed with contemporary landscaping. As you move through the building, the greenery outside is a constant presence, thanks to abundant glazing. “I like to sit in different places according to the time of day,” says Stevinson.

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from Home And Garden | The Guardian http://bit.ly/2MnuDRA
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Call of the wild: a house in the woods of the South Downs

A home that sees the wood for the trees in its clever use of timber and light

There are some lovely things in Jenny Stevinson’s home – paintings, ceramics, mid-20th-century pieces, not to mention the cracking architecture itself – but she admits to no longer paying much attention to them as she is so smitten with the views outside. “I find myself constantly drawn to the trees and the plants; the vegetation is very powerful,” she says.

The setting is indeed impressive. Nestled in a five-acre plot within the South Downs National Park in Hampshire, the house is surrounded by majestic woodland, juxtaposed with contemporary landscaping. As you move through the building, the greenery outside is a constant presence, thanks to abundant glazing. “I like to sit in different places according to the time of day,” says Stevinson.

Continue reading...

from Property | The Guardian http://bit.ly/2MnuDRA
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Gardening tips: plant Chinese meadow rue

Plus, don’t be alarmed by falling apples, and visit a children’s plant trail at RHS Wisley

Plant this If you’re looking for something tall and airy for a border, try Chinese meadow rue. A cloud of fluffy flowers in pale lilac or pink sits atop a rosette of ferny foliage. Thalictrum ‘Black Stockings’ flowers in early summer, while ‘Elin’ continues the show to late summer. Height and spread: 2m x 75cm.

Check this Don’t worry if your apple tree is jettisoning tiny fruits: this is the June drop, the tree’s way of regulating fruit production so the remaining crop gets to a decent size. Next month, check the apples and remove any that are distorted or weedy-looking, so you’re left with one fruit per cluster.

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The best scented flowers and foliage | Alys Fowler

The house might have been dark and the fridge half-empty, but these scented plants in my front garden said, ‘Welcome home’

I came home late to a damp road and an empty house. In the neon glow of the street lamp, I could smell the purple honesty, Lunaria annua, their heads popping over the front-garden wall. I could smell them before I opened the gate, subtle, sweet and strong in the cool air after the rain. The house might have been dark and the fridge half-empty, but these scented plants in my front garden said, “Welcome home.”

Lilac’s glory may be brief; the flowers last for only a few weeks but, oh, how fragrant and divine they are. There are numerous varieties of Syringa vulgaris, the common lilac, such as ‘Katherine Havemeyer’ with its lavender-blue flowers, or the elegant, white double ‘Madame Lemoine’. But as both will eventually grow to 7m tall, if allowed, they are not the best for very small spaces.

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from Home And Garden | The Guardian http://bit.ly/2Z1TmMq
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Gardening tips: plant Chinese meadow rue

Plus, don’t be alarmed by falling apples, and visit a children’s plant trail at RHS Wisley

Plant this If you’re looking for something tall and airy for a border, try Chinese meadow rue. A cloud of fluffy flowers in pale lilac or pink sits atop a rosette of ferny foliage. Thalictrum ‘Black Stockings’ flowers in early summer, while ‘Elin’ continues the show to late summer. Height and spread: 2m x 75cm.

Check this Don’t worry if your apple tree is jettisoning tiny fruits: this is the June drop, the tree’s way of regulating fruit production so the remaining crop gets to a decent size. Next month, check the apples and remove any that are distorted or weedy-looking, so you’re left with one fruit per cluster.

Continue reading...

from Property | The Guardian http://bit.ly/2ENcq9P
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The best scented flowers and foliage | Alys Fowler

The house might have been dark and the fridge half-empty, but these scented plants in my front garden said, ‘Welcome home’

I came home late to a damp road and an empty house. In the neon glow of the street lamp, I could smell the purple honesty, Lunaria annua, their heads popping over the front-garden wall. I could smell them before I opened the gate, subtle, sweet and strong in the cool air after the rain. The house might have been dark and the fridge half-empty, but these scented plants in my front garden said, “Welcome home.”

Lilac’s glory may be brief; the flowers last for only a few weeks but, oh, how fragrant and divine they are. There are numerous varieties of Syringa vulgaris, the common lilac, such as ‘Katherine Havemeyer’ with its lavender-blue flowers, or the elegant, white double ‘Madame Lemoine’. But as both will eventually grow to 7m tall, if allowed, they are not the best for very small spaces.

Continue reading...

from Property | The Guardian http://bit.ly/2Z1TmMq
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All change: how to leave the city and find a new career

As growing numbers abandon London and other expensive cities for a better quality of life, some are using the big move to start their own business

Filling up a removal van with your belongings and heading to a new area can mean huge upheavals across every aspect of your life, whether it’s a new school for the children, saying goodbye to old friends or just a whole new neighbourhood to explore and find your way around. But for some, it can lead to another drastic life change: a brand new career.

Moving to another part of the country can allow renters and homebuyers alike – particularly those leaving London and its sky-high property costs – to not only begin afresh but also get more bang for their buck and start up that long-dreamed-about business, perhaps a coffee shop, a music venue or yoga studio.

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