Daniel Kehlmann’s latest novel, Tyll, is based on a German folktale about

a wandering trickster, set against the backdrop of the Thirty Years’ War

BY J.W. MCCORMACK

© beowulf sheehan
n Daniel Kehlmann’s bestselling 2005 historical adven-
ture story, Measuring the World, the gentleman botanist
Alexander von Humboldt travels to the Amazon and
painstakingly classifies every flower bud, poison, para-
site, and bend of the Orinoco River, certain that the
grand unity of the cosmos is waiting to be revealed under his
microscope. Exasperated at Humboldt’s completism, his French
sidekick Bonpland asks, “Did one always have to be so German?”
Though born in Munich in 1975, Kehlmann happens to be
Austrian, the son of a Viennese theater director. His novels and
plays are exactly the kind of corpus one might expect from a
post-Enlightenment-era German-language writer transposed to
the present, straddling both playful modernity and classical
romanticism. Kleist would approve of his taste for quasihis-
torical folktales, Thomas Mann would be quite at home in
Kehlmann’s frequent juxtaposition of Enlightenment-era logic
and superstitious barbarism, and his baroque, puzzle-box
approach to psychology and philosophy would appeal to
Hölderlin. (It is no accident that Kehlmann happens has netted
the Kleist, Thomas Mann, and Friedrich Hölderlin prizes in
Germany.) And yet, Kehlmann’s books are page-turners, running
the gamut from picaresque and family chronicles to gothic
horror. They are nothing if not approachable and generous with
their pleasures, even as they bound from genre to genre,
coalescing into an ultimately impossible-to-categorize vision of
contemporary literature, its past, and its potential.
In person, Kehlmann is gregarious, charming, self-effacing,
and disarmingly fascinated by nearly everything; upon meeting
at a cavernous restaurant a stone’s throw from NYU, where he
is a visiting scholar in the German department, our interview
lapsed into considerations of the science behind spotting to German history and describes his earliest literary heroes as
dragons (“Where you don’t see the dragon, that’s where it is, coming from the U.S., Russia, and Latin America. As a teenager,
because it’s hiding”), the vogue for “nonfiction novels” he read everything from Nabokov to Pet Sematary, and by age
(Kehlmann prefers Emmanuel Carrère and forerunner Max 20 he had already completed his first novel, the as-yet-untrans-
Frisch to Knausgaard), American gun violence, and the contro- lated Beerholms Vorstellung, written from the perspective of a
versy engulfing the new Joker movie (“It’s apparently easier on stage magician. That novel was followed by Mahlers Zeit, the
the conscience to ban fiction than guns”). Despite his work’s story of a frustrated scientist, and Me and Kaminski, in which
perceived Teutonism, Kehlmann maintains that he came slowly the influence of Nabokov is evidenced in the story of a journalist

48 P U B L I S H E R S W E E K L Y ■ O C T O B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 9
 Author Profile
who becomes increasingly enveloped by his subject, the oddball
painter Manuel Kaminski. Then came Measuring the World,
translated into English in 2006 by the late Carol Brown Janeway,
the legendary Knopf editor whom he describes as family and
who worked with Kehlmann to bring his novels into English
during her summer holidays.
A success in nearly every language it appeared in, Measuring
the World established Kehlmann’s light touch regarding subject
matter that would otherwise be encumbered with mind-bog-
gling complexity. Tracing the origins of modern science
through the diametrically opposed genius of curmudgeonly
mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss and that of indefatigable
natural scientist Humboldt, and featuring supporting characters
such as Louis Daguerre, Thomas Jefferson, and Immanuel Kant,
the novel extracts a bracingly funny and altogether thrilling
human story from the birth of science as we know it, in the
pocket of time just before “people would go up in balloons
and measure off distances on magnetic scales... and work out
distances by the diminution of electrical intensity.” Like many
of Kehlmann’s novels, Measuring the World went on to become a
movie, with the author cowriting the screenplay.
His reputation—and bankability—firmly established,
Kehlmann’s next two books veered toward formal experimen-
talism: F deconstructs the family chronicle with healthy doses
of hypnotism, forgery, religious mysticism, and overlapping
narratives, while Fame follows the ramifications of a series of
calls to a wrong number into nine interconnected stories of
writers, their creations, movie stars, and mistaken identities.
During this time, Kehlmann also wrote plays; 2012’s The Mentor
was staged in London’s West End with F. Murray Abraham in
the lead.
All of which brings us to Tyll (Pantheon, Feb. 2020), almost
certainly Kehlmann’s magnum opus. Taken from the well-
known German folktale of a wandering trickster and infused
with the detail of a painting by Bruegel the Elder, Tyll humanizes
its hero, Tyll Ulenspiegel, while bringing him from the 13th
century to the 17th. “I wanted Tyll to be a kind of guide for the
reader into the hell of the early modernity, when there existed
nothing but superstition—a world comprised of death, miracles,
and dark magic,” Kehlmann says. As the Thirty Years’ War
ravages the countryside, the acrobat and jack-of-all-trades
Tyll roves with his company through flash points of European
history, sometimes as protagonist and sometimes as observer. He
witnesses, for starters, the exile of King Frederick of Bohemia,
for whom Tyll becomes court jester; the rise of the Jesuits, who
put Tyll’s heretical father to death; and the utter destruction of
German villages at the hands of a soldiery run rampant.
Kehlmann describes the Thirty Years’ War as“a dark moment
in European history,” noting that, as a result of the war, “50%
of the civilian population of Northern Europe was wiped out.”
As to why he chose to set his novel in this bleakest of periods,
Kehlmann says it’s because he was frightened by it. He quotes
his friend Jonathan Franzen as advising him that “when you
have the strong feeling that there is something you shouldn’t
write about, you should take it as a sign that you must.”
Just as Tyll is Kehlmann’s most ambitious work, it also had
the longest gestation period—not that he didn’t put his time
to good use. During a lull in its composition, he wrote the
horror novella You Should Have Left (translated, like Tyll, by Ross
Benjamin), about a screenwriter and his family who are menaced
by a haunted rental high in the mountains. When he returned
to Tyll, the world had changed with the election of Donald
Trump, the devastation of Syria, and the newfound prevalence
of “fake news”—all of which made their way, in some fashion,
into the novel.
“In a sense,” Kehlmann says, “all news was fake because it was
propaganda, as the public was flooded with pamphlets that
claimed their enemies were in league with the devil, or that they
had won battles that had actually been lost. It was a time of
darkness and destruction, when all political order totally failed.”
This synergy between past and present clearly hit a nerve: Tyll
is being developed as a show for Netflix. (Meanwhile You Should
Have Left is forthcoming from the horror movie giant Blumhouse,
starring Kevin Bacon.)
Kehlmann considers the key to all his novels to be a sense
of personal stakes. His personality—curious, scholarly, and
intellectually good-humored—suffuses his work, whether
modern, premodern, or altogether mythical. As for what Tyll
has done for Kehlmann’s sense of the present, he says, “I feel
more relaxed. This new dark age is really terrible. But we’ve
survived worse.” ■
Recent work by J.W. McCormack has appeared in the Baffler, Bomb,
Longreads, and the New York Times.
W W W . P U B L I S H E R S W E E K LY. C O M 49
 Perfect Moments
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 PROJECT T
here’s a whole new trend in pergolas
that has cleverly turned them into

PERGOLA
modern focal points, and it’s all about
the shape. These curved centrepieces
feature an open frame of posts and beams
but no roof or walls and are generally made
from strong wood. They are a clever way to
add height and privacy to a garden and when
smothered with plants will create an outdoor
room all of their own.
“Circular pergolas are sometimes referred to
Create an EYE-CATCHING as radial pergolas, as the rafters radiate from one
central point and rest on an attractive curved

FEATURE in your garden with the beam,” explains Sue Baxter, director at The
Internet Gardener (theinternetgardener.co.uk).

latest curved pergolas “The rafters fan out from one central post,
which creates an attractive spoke-style effect.”

i o n y o u r p e rg o l a
TIP Posit t he
a t r ee a n d u s e
unde r n o p y
n a t u ra l c a
shade a s a

THE CAROUSEL PERGOLA

is a timeless garden structure
with plenty of dramatic appeal.
The pressure-treated timber
protects from wood rot and
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for years to come. £544.99
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SIT BACK AND RELAX
in a hanging chair fixed
to your pergola using
weather-proof, adjustable
rope and carabiner hooks.
Distressed
Estate Lantern,
£39.99
lights4fun.co.uk
GOOD IDEA
Despite being a
pergola manages to cleverly rame a seating
area creating a whole new ‘space’ within your
garden. You could place your table and chairs
within the space and use it as a dining area or
have a garden sofa set in situ for somewhere
laid-back to enjoy a drink. Or maybe you just
want to use it for relaxing, with a couple of
sunloungers to stretch out on.
Because of their shape, they tend to look best
in the middle of a garden or positioned away
from walls so they can be truly appreciated. It
is also worth noting where the sun will be at
different times of day in the location you would
like to position one. Check that the spot works
with when you plan to use it and if you prefer
sun or shade.
F E ATU R E: K ATE SL EE MA N
PLAN YOUR PLANTS
Pergolas provide ideal support for climbing
plants such as clematis or honeysuckle. Make
your choice based not only on climbing ability
but for the shade they will provide and also for
their scent. Some climbing roses, star jasmine
PROJECTS
Good to know
✽ Installing a pergola is at least a
two-person job. Posts need to be sunk
into the ground to keep it secure and a
ladder needed to position rafters.
✽ When you are positioning your
pergola, think about what you will be
looking at when using it, what is the best
view available?
✽ Climbing plants are generally
easy to grow but will need regular
maintenance to stop them taking over.
✽ String lights are an easy option and
provide lovely soft lighting. Leave them
to hang down, string across the top or
wrap them around the posts.
PH OTO : A L A MY
Lilies String
Lights, £16.99
etsy.com
Easy
Wicker Garden to
Armchair, £292.50
maisonsdumonde.com
hang
and wisteria are all wonderfully fragrant. What
could beat enjoying a glass of wine in the
sunshine with the aroma of beautifully scented
flowers around you? Allowing them to trail up
posts and across rafters will help embed the
pergola into the garden rather than looking like
a standalone structure.
GET STYLING
As the plants grow, they will enfold the pergola,
creating the effect of an outdoor room, your
own peaceful refuge. Surround it with pots and
planters to create a cosy intimate spot. You
can add additional colour this way with bright ➣
JUNE 2019 M O D E R N G A R D E N S 113
CHOOSE FAST-GROWING
scented plants that give a burst
of colour when they flower.

GOOD IDEA

creeper

3 scented climbers
Colour, cover and fragrance are key to
pergola planting. These are all fast-growing.

OME CLIMBING
OSES produce easy-
to-grow deliciously
fragranced blooms containers and flowers to suit the season. Then to wrap around the sides and top. Or opt for a
with plenty of repeat go to town, decorating it with hanging lanterns, large shade sail positioned above the roof. In no
flowering July-August. garlands and fairy lights so you can still enjoy time, it will become the highlight of your garden
Try The Generous the space as the sun sets. and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
Gardener rose. Height
5m Spread 3m. Grows GOT YOU COVERED
90cm/year. £18 This must-have trend offers protection from a
d id ustinroses.co.uk light breeze and provides welcome shade from
the midday sun. The open roof allows plenty
✽ STAR JASMINE of light and ventilation. But should you want to
is a pretty climber with cover it, consider positioning it near a tree for
clusters of fragrant, instant shade, or plant large growers close by
pure white flowers
that are produced
June-August. Height
m Spread 3m. Grows
to 90cm/year. £14.99
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THE JAGRAM
WISTERIA will fill LETO offers a
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Pruning regularly sight. It’s made from
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0m Spread 20m. Grows and has a canvas roof,
o 3m/year. £18.99 sold separately.
primrose.co.uk £1,499, canvas roof,
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 THE APOLLO’S
PROJECTS
distinctive dome-shaped
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your garden a strong LOVE
focal point. £1,049.99
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this!

THE RADIAL WOODEN Corner Pergola covers

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it. £229.99 internetgardener.co.uk

SURROUND A SOFA
with dense planting

Style your
to create an intimate
haven. For a similar
sofa, try the Rowlinson

pergola Bunbury Rattan Set,

£700 homebase.co.uk

Wisteria
PH OTO: G A P

Mini wall
baskets, £48/3
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Outsunny
Sun Shade
Sail, £13.99
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b i n e a c c e s s o r i e s in
TIP Com i n c to
i c k e r a n d z
rattan, w e d s t y l e
a l, r e l a x
create a natur

Zinc
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Hanging
Toba Woven
P HOTO : G A P

Planter, £7.99
clasohlson.com Rattan Birdcage
Stool, £70
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JUNE 2019 M O D E R N G A R D E N S 115
 EASY IDEAS

OUR GARDEN CRUSH

This small, town garden is low on effort, high on style with
a FIRE BOWL FOCAL POINT

T
he owners of this North London home
wanted a garden suitable for
entertaining. It needed to be bold, but
simple and easy to maintain, so they
asked award-winning landscape and garden
designer Bunny Guinness (bunnyguinness.com)
to come up with a plan.
The five-metre wide garden has been
separated into squares and rectangles,
producing a grid-like effect. The straight edges
complement the shape of the house and its
modern extension. “We used generous oak
beams to edge the beds on either side of the
garden, with Breedon gravel for an
easy-maintenance path in-between,” explains
Bunny. “For the terrace we used Indian stone
setts to complement the surface inside the
house, but in a much smaller size. This adds
contrast but still allows the indoor and outdoor
spaces to blend smoothly so the garden flows
into the house all year-round.”
CLEVER PLANTING
The main focal point of this garden, however, is
the fire bowl. With identical all-weather rattan
sofas on either side, it provides the perfect
entertaining area, even on chillier evenings.
When it came to the plants, Bunny chose box,
which is evergreen, bright and colourful. The
box has been clipped into balls and as it grows,
it will eventually produce a low, curvy hedge to
add shape and texture. Spots of additional
colour are provided in shades of purple and
white using alliums and Mexican daisies.
There are six medlar trees, four along the
boundary and two in pots on the terrace, to
provide shade as well as structure. These
elegant, spreading trees also provide additional
privacy from overlooking houses. Bunny likes to
plant her trees in terracotta pots to elevate their
status in the garden. To prevent the containers
being outgrown, she has the bases removed by
Suffolk-based Italian Terrace. “The pots still look
just as decorative but the roots of the tree are
secretly growing down into the soil below the
container and they stay far healthier, so it won’t
become pot-bound and there’s no need to
worry about watering in summer,” she says.

Medlar trees produce To increase privacy, a

beautiful blossom in late trellis has been added to
spring and rich colour the low brick wall on one
and fruit in autum side of the garden, while
opposite sits a slatted,
cedar wood fence

F E ATU R E: K AR E N YO UN G S. P H OTO : M M G I / M AR I AN N E M A J ERU S,

Additional lengths of
oak timber placed in
the gravel produce
the effect of a rug
between the two sofas.
D ES I G N : B U N N Y G U IN N E S S.

130 M O D E R N G A R D E N S J U N E 2 0 1 9
“We love to sit outside
in the evenings now”
Allan and Mamta Mertner s shady London plot has been
brought to life with CREATIVE LIGHTING
and layers of easy-grow leaves
GARDEN
makeover
Hibis
W
hen Allan and Mamta
Mertner added a new
extension to their
six-bedroom Edwardian
semi-detached house in Acton, London,
their garden suddenly looked like one big
waste of space! With expansive windows
in the new kitchen-diner to bring plenty
of light into the new living area, the
unloved plot just couldn’t be ignored.
“Looking through the new six-metre
windows, the garden looked so desolate,”
says Mamta.
26 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 2 1
But she and husband Allan were at a
loss as to how to transform this tricky
north-facing space. “We’re not gardeners
– we don’t have a green finger between
us,” laughs Mamta. The couple weren’t
sure how they wanted to use their garden
either. “I’ve always dreamed of making
the garden nice but we didn’t know
where to begin,” says Mamta. “I looked
at Pinterest and magazines for ideas but
quickly became overwhelmed by the
choice. We knew we needed a
➣
professional to help.” And, with a friend’s
Magnolia
grandiflora
recommendation to try Nick Gough
and Douglas Vieira of The Distinctive
Gardener (thedistinctivegardener.com),
the process of turning this bare, boring
plot into a contemporary outdoor living
space got off to a strong start.
ZONED LIVING
“We hit it off with Nick and Douglas, and
they really listened to our needs,” says
Mamta. The design brief centred around
a low-maintenance garden where time
would be spent relaxing rather than ➣
 GARDEN MAKEOVER

SMART IDEAS
TO STEAL
BUY SOLAR SPIKE
UPLIGHTERS
and turn evergreen foliage into
a shimmering light show.
BEFORE
USE A LINE OF
SPACED VERTICAL POSTS
to zone a cosy seating area
without enclosing it.
This London plot was a ba LAY PAVING SLABS
of boring grass before the rere square into faux turf to make it look
design
like a real grass lawn.

Got a
north-facing
plot too? Find
shady solutions
on p30
Black birch

O C T O B E R 2 0 2 1 M O D E R N G A R D E N S 27
 gardening, that would work year-round and
after dark as much as during the day. “We really
wanted a space to relax in during the evenings,”
adds Mamta. “We also requested an area our
teenage son, Iain, could share with his friends.”
For Nick and Douglas, the empty plot was a
blank canvas but there were some constraints.
The garden backs onto a busy railway line, and
large trees add to the shade in the north-facing
space. But it wasn’t long before a design was
agreed and work could begin.
The landscapers arrived to start the build in
March, in the face of late winter storms. “They
were working in the snow!” remembers Mamta.
in And the following thaw turned the plot into a
Mamta and Allan can now chill d sea of mud as pipes and cables were installed
un
their easy-care space all year ro for the irrigation and lighting systems, new
fencing was erected and lots of organic matter
OUR GARDEN
dug into the heavy clay soil. The family were
away for the second half of the build, so weren’t
witness to the day-to-day progress as the
PL AN garden was slowly rebuilt into a glorious space.
It meant that the reveal was a memorable
LOCATION moment on their return. “We were speechless
Acton, London when we came back and saw the finished result,
THE LOOK it was so beautiful,” says Mamta.
Contemporary living space
DESIGN FOR LIVING
SITE To catch the sun for most of the day, the
Size 23.4 x 8.6m Faces North pergola was positioned in the centre of the
Soil Heavy London clay with lots of garden, making a great focal point. “We wanted
organic matter dug in it to be a real statement, so we painted it black,
giving a lovely contemporary feel,” explains
OUR BUDGET Nick. “We also added an extensive lighting
Pergola £3,000 Lighting system system with a large pendant light above the
£3,000 Plants & planting £7,000 table, giving it a wonderful warm glow, and
Irrigation £2,000 Hard landscaping installed hidden halogen heaters in the beams.”
(including fencing) £20,000 Water features mask the noise from passing
TOTAL: £35,000 trains, ensuring this is a comfy space for supper
conversations to last long into the evening, and
HOW LONG IT TOOK also a peaceful, sunny spot for lunch. “The
Hard landscaping 3 weeks dining area is Allan’s favourite place,” says
Installing irrigation & lighting Mamta. “He has his lunch out there listening to
systems 1 week the water features and we always sit outside to
Building pergola 1 week eat when the weather is good now. It’s been a
Planting 1 week sanity saver during lockdown.”
TOTAL: 6 WEEKS For Mamta, the fireplace area at the back
F E ATU R E: G A P P H OTOS / K I RS TY M CN E I L- O’CO N N O R P HOTOS : G AP PH OTOS/ PAUL D E BO I S
with simple pallet seating – originally designed
with son Iain in mind – is the hideaway of choice.
“I just love the fireplace area, it’s private and I’m
hidden away by the grasses,” she says.
These NO-TROUBLE BLOOMS couldn’t be easier to look after…
PLANT
EAVE
D ES I G N : W W W T H ED IS T IN C TI V EG A RD E N E R CO M
Bronze fennel Clematis ‘Perle d’Azur’ Salvia ‘Amistad’
28 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 2 1
Everything has been designed with ease of
use in mind. “We can operate the water feature
and lights with a remote control from the house,
illuminating the lawn, dining area and water
features at the touch of a button,” says Mamta.
Artificial turf means there’s no need to mow,
and inlaid stepping stones make it look like the
real thing. The stones continue into the gravel,
gently linking the areas of the garden. “From
a design point of view, repeating a feature is a
good idea – it can really bring everything
together,” says Nick.
BOUNTIFUL BLOOMS
Although the couple are self-confessed
non-gardeners, there’s no shortage of interest
from faff-free flowers and foliage. “As with all
the gardens we design, plants are very much the
star of the show,” says Nick. “We planted plenty
of spring bulbs in the woodland area. In the
centre, there are early flowering perennials such
as Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’. Many of these keep
going until August when the area nearest to the
house really comes alive, bursting into colour
and taking us through to October and
November. And then the evergreens bring
fantastic structure and interest to this garden
even in the bleakest winter months.”
The plants have been chosen to offer
maximum effect for the minimum of effort.
Containers of golden bamboo create a natural
screen, providing privacy on the patio.
Dogwood gives a vibrant display of glowing red
stems in winter in return for minimal care, and a
Magnolia grandiflora looks good year-round with
glossy, evergreen leaves. The fluffy foliage of
bronze fennel is another staple, with pretty
yellow flowers and architectural seedheads
ensuring months of interest. But the undisputed
star of this show is hydrangea ‘Annabelle’, its
fabulous blooms which fade from green to
cream repeated in blocks around the garden.
“It’s like we have a different garden in every
season,” adds Mamta. “We’re still not gardeners
but we have much more of an appreciation of
what a lovely garden can bring. Not just the
plants, trees and shrubs, but all the wildlife that
comes with them. We have lots of fun watching
the squirrels, foxes and birds out there now.”
AN EXTRA ROOM
The couple’s new garden has meant they spend
far more time outside, with the different seating
areas offering sun or shade through the day.
“I think of it as another room now and find
myself buying stuff for it as I would for the
house,” says Mamta. “I’ve added a few things
such as the fairylights on the pergola. I also
bought a ceramic poppy form the Tower of
London Remembers art installation, which is a
lovely addition. And I received a beautiful
Buddha statue for my 50th birthday and that
has pride of place in the dining area.”
Further personal touches have been added
with old chimney pots used as decorative side
tables. “We kept three of the original chimneys
after we had some work done to the house roof,
and they’re perfect as little tables around the
garden,” Mamta adds.
 Cornus alba GARDEN MAKEOVER
Want a ‘Sibirica’
sleek chiminea
too? Turn
to p35

GLOW UP
A Kaixoxin Solar Lantern
(£19, amazon.co.uk)
creates shapely shadows.

SMOKIN’ HOT
Mamta and Allen stay cosy with
a Colorado Black Medium Steel
Chiminea, £119.99 garden4less.co.uk

GO WITH THE FLOW

Triple Fall Zinc Water Feature, COSY UP!
£350 outdoorlivinguk.co.uk
Clever lighting, soothing cascades of
water and comfy corners to hide away SEE THE LIGHT
in complete this evening paradise A pendant light hangs
from the pergola roof.

SOOTHING SOUND SIT BACK AND RELAX

A stylish waterfall from
outdoorlivinguk.co.uk Tree fe The L-shaped bench is made from
pallets (£250, palletfurnitureuk.co.uk)
helps mask train noise. with chic cushions (£140, zippyuk.com).

PAVE THE WAY

Pale Stonemarket Knotwood
Vitrified Paving (£POA,
Turn your
pavingsuperstore.co.uk) plot into a
brightens the shady plot. charming night
garden too –
p20

Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 1 M O D E R N G A R D E N S 29
 Ferns love
a shady plot –
find your fave
on p47

HAVE FUN WITH FOLIAGE

If you’ve struggled to grow anything of interest in your darkest corners,
don’t despair. There are plenty of beautiful foliage plants and shrubs that
will feel right at home in a shady spot and positively thrive. There’s a big
trend right now to use just one or two plants, but in loads of different
varieties, and this works brilliantly in a shady plot. Hostas and ferns should
be your first choice as there are so many different types which will
add stunning textures and a host of luscious green shades.
Euphorbia amygdaloides robbiae (£14.50/3 x 9cm pots,
sarahraven.com) loves life in the shade and will liven up a
foliage bed with shots of fabulous acid-green. Because the
flowers are green and cupped with leaf-like bracts, it’s the
perfect bloom for a foliage bed, adding a punch of colour
without taking over. Plant now and they’ll flower Feb-June next
year, their shapely evergreen rosettes looking good all winter.
PH OTO : H A M I LTO N CO DY.CO.U K

CREATE A BOLD SKELETON

THAT DOESN’T RELY ON BLOOMS
The biggest trick to making a north-facing garden
gorgeous is to ensure it looks fabulous without any
blooms. Shady plots will inevitably feature lots of
foliage, and if there’s oodles of colour and texture
from the manmade elements of your garden, these
leaves will serve to make these tones look even
LIVE WITHOUT A LAWN brighter and lighter. In this stunning compact
P H OTO: G EO RG IA L I NDSAYG A RD E N D E S I G N .CO M

While there are many positives to be had in a north-facing garden,
enjoying a lush lawn isn’t one of them. Due to the constant lack of direct
sunlight, even a grass mix chosen specifically for shade will struggle no
matter how much you tend it. A better option is to replace it with areas
of paving or decking and extra-wide flowerbeds packed with lush, spilling
planting. Hamilton Cody Garden Design (hamiltoncody.co.uk) created
this beautiful space that certainly isn’t lacking in style or creativity because
it doesn’t have any grass. Repeating the same plants around the garden
gives a cohesive appearance and makes it really easy to look after.
Plant plenty of Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ (£10.99/2L pot,
knollgardens.co.uk) in the beds to bring the feel of lush grass to your
garden, without the need to mow! It will even thrive in dry shade.
courtyard garden designed by Georgia Lindsay
(georgialindsaygardendesign.com) the patterned
and textured wall panels in rusty-orange Corten
steel are matched with striking wooden, built-in
seating and accessories in orange and yellow.
Get the look with the Starter Kit of 3 Corten
Steel Fence Panels in the Branches design
which can be lined up against an existing boundary
fence or wall. Each panel measures H1.78 x
W1.19m, and the kit includes 4 posts, 18 clamps and
4 end caps (£1,851.30, starkandgreensmith.com).

30 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 2 1

Magnolia
grandiflora
SHADY
beautiful space with these expert tips and tricks
Y
ou love your home and your garden but, oh,
how you wish it wasn’t north-facing! Well,
despair no longer… with these insider tips
and design ideas, you can make the very
most of your shady outside space. And there are many
benefits to having a plot that faces north as you’ll enjoy
spots that are in shade and sun and all the gradients
in-between – you just need to get clever and work out
EASY IDEAS
Smart
design
solutions
ets
where’s shady at what time of day. The garden area
closest to your house will be overshadowed until the sun
is high in the sky, so mark this space out for shade-loving
plants. The end of your plot is where you’ll get late
afternoon and evening sun, so it’s the perfect spot for
an outdoor kitchen, which should never be positioned in
full midday sun, or an entertaining area with pots of sun-
and-shade-loving blooms. Let’s get started…
➣
OCTOBER 2021 M O D E R N G A R D E N S 31
 Alpine wood
fern

FAKE THE LIGHT BY

HANGING MIRRORS
Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ This is a tried-and-tested idea used by
many garden designers, and there’s a
good reason for that – it really works!
GO UP THE WALL Positioning mirrors on boundary
Garden designers love a vertical living wall, and
walls or fences helps to brighten up a
it works perfectly in a north-facing garden as
gloomy space and make it look much
the higher it goes, the more light it will catch,
bigger in an instant.
so you can experiment with plants that aren’t
Buy the largest size you can
just shade-lovers at the top. If you’ve got a dull
afford and place two opposite
boundary wall, turn it into a spectacular feature.
each other to bounce the light back
The Plantbox Vertical Gardening Kit Set
and forth. Equestrian dressage/
with 10 troughs (H2m x W60cm,
training mirrors are far cheaper
£185, marshallsgarden.com) is an easy way to
than made-for-the-garden products
add a living wall to your plot. The system is
and do exactly the same job
modular, so you can add more troughs at a late
– mirrors4riding.co.uk now offers
PH OTO : L A A RACO P L EYS M I TH GA RD E N S.CO M

date, and water level indicators take the

garden mirrors from £102 (2 x 1m)
guesswork out of watering.
and can supply bespoke sizes to order.

On a budget?
These shade-loving plants
will bring your garden to
life without splashing too
much cash.

1 The huge leaves USE PALE TONES TO REFLECT

of Fatsia japonica SUNLIGHT AROUND YOUR PLOT
will create instant wow. Light colours will bounce the sunshine around
It’s fast growing so your garden, making the most of the rays
op it in a big pot. that make it into your shady garden. If you’ve
0cm, £44.99 got tall boundary walls or fences, then paint
eardsanddaisies.co.uk them white and this will instantly brighten
2 The superstar of the the space and make it look bigger too. This
hosta world is ‘White garden was designed by Laara Copley-Smith
Feather’ which has (laaracopleysmithgardens.com) and the white
stunning white leaves walls, light-coloured wood and honey-hued
nd lavender flowers paving create a calm space where the shady
th a delicate fragrance. areas don’t feel as if they’re in deep shadow.
0 x S50cm, £4.99/loose Avoid brilliant white paint as you’ll
ot plant jparkers.co.uk need sunglasses on when the sun hits it,
Mix and match fern or shades with a grey or blue element as they’ll
hapes with the Native make walls look cold and miserable. Farrow & Ball’s
Fern Collection, All White (£88/5L, farrow-ball.com) is the
£16.95/3 x 9cm pots perfect shade for outdoor use, or get your
arahraven.com own tone made up by Valspar at B&Q,
(£43/5L, diy.com).

32 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 2 1
 EASY IDEAS
TRY THIS!
Raise your end-of-garden deck
to catch the most of the late
afternoon/evening light

FALL IN LOVE WITH

ELEGANT EPIMEDIUMS
Garden designers like to keep this little secret
to themselves, but we think it’s fair to share!
Epimediums love the shade and there are all
sorts of varieties in a plethora of colours to
choose from. Their blooms may be dainty but
they’re oh-so charming in a modern garden.
Have a browse online to choose your favourites
Epimedium – there’s still time to plant these in October
or November ready for blooms next spring
flavum and summer.
Save money by buying a mixed
collection such as Epimedium Mixed,
£12.99, jparkers.co.uk.

DRAW EYES TO THE SKY

Leading gazes upwards where it’s always light
is a clever trick that’s really useful for a small,
shady garden. The lollipop trees here do the job
brilliantly without taking up much space. And,
contrary to what you might think, planting trees
at the far end of a north-facing garden won’t
add to the shade, as the sun won’t ever drop
behind them to cast your plot into shadow.
Hornbeam ‘Fastigiata’ (£77.99/10L pot,
ornamental-trees.co.uk) is fast growing for
a quick result but easily clipped into shape once
a year in mid to late summer.

J OA N N A KOS SA K / MA RCU S H A R PUR / N I CO L A S TO CK EN / F IO N A L EA / TO M M Y TON S B E RG

F E ATU R E: J U L ES B A RTO N - BR EC K. P H OTOS : A L A M Y, S HU TT ER S TO CK , G A P P H OTOS /

TREAT YOUR PLOT TO

G A R D EN D ES I G N ER : TO N Y WO O DS, G A RD E N C LU B LO N D O N

SHOWSTOPPER FRONDS
Tree ferns love shade, so if you’re after a
statement plant, here’s the solution. Dicksonia
antarctica is the one go to for, with majestic
fronds that will make an instant architectural
contribution to your garden and, with just the
most basic of protection from winter frost and
winds, will survive even chilly UK winters. This is
one of the slowest-growing tree ferns so it won’t
outgrow a compact garden.
Expect to pay around £150 for a 1m log
(yougarden.com). Wait until March to add
this beauty to your garden as it’s far better to
plant it in the spring.

OCTOBER 2021 M O D E R N G A R D E N S 33
SYRINGA PALIBIN
SOPHISTICATED AND
O K
ST IN
N OC

STYLISH, THIS HIGHLY

W

SCENTED, SPRING
FLOWERING LILAC IS
NATURALLY COMPACT
Syringa makes a perfect
specimen as a standard tree
to put in the border or in a
large pot on the patio. How
about having one placed either
side of a doorway or path
to appreciate the incredible
fragrance.
Palibin bears masses of plump,
sugar-pink flower plumes
appearing on lush green
foliage in late spring and into
summer. These must-have
BUY 2 plants exude elegance and
charm in the garden and
FOR ONLY are sure to be noticed by

18
£EACH
passing admirers.
Awarded the RHS AGM for
outstanding qualities, you
will be smelling the sweetly
fragrant blooms even before
you see the luscious blossom!
Adored by bees and butterflies,
the blooms can be cut to enjoy
indoors. A hardy perennial,
Syringa can be easily trimmed
to retain the lollipop shape.
Your order is covered by our
No Quibble Guarantee and will
be confirmed together with a
copy of our latest catalogue.
Your 19cm pots – each with an
overall height of 90cm – will
be delivered in 7 days.

HIGHLY SCENTED MINIATURE

LOLLIPOP LILAC TREE

Please Send Item Code Price Qty Total

PLEASE COMPLETE IN BLOCK CAPITALS
ORDER ONLINE 1×SYRINGA MEYERI PALIBIN
STANDARD TREE
PTSMT01-MG1021 £28

hayloft.co.uk
Name
2 × SYRINGA MEYERI PALIBIN
PTSMT02-MG1021 £36
STANDARD TREES SAVE £20
Address
P&P (UK only) £4.95
Total

PHONE Please debit my Visa/Mastercard

Card no
0333 358 2006 Postcode Tel
Valid Expiry CV2
from
Email I enclose cheque/PO for made payable to Hayloft Plants Ltd
QUOTE MG1021
Please write your name and address on the reverse of the cheque
Send to: Hayloft Plants THANK YOU, WE WILL CONFIRM YOUR ORDER
MG1021

FREEPOST RTGR-JAGJ-JETG, WR10 3HB Your details are kept securely and not shared with third parties. You will receive a catalogue, welcome email
and special offers, if you prefer not to receive them please call 01386 562999. For T&Cs see hayloft.co.uk
 BEST BUYS

ON-TREND

Taking up hardly any patio space but adding

WARMTH AND WONDER, these slender
wood burners have had a stylish makeover

E
nabling you to stay outside for
longer, snuggled in a cosy glow,
a wood-fired chiminea is a must-
have in a modern garden. Neatly
contained, these compact burners will
fit into any seating area, creating a
favourite go-to spot for a quiet after-
dinner coffee or an eye-catching focal
point for gatherings with family and
friends. There are all sorts of fabulously
sleek designs on the market this year,
so they’re also an affordable way to
update your outside space for autumn.
Available in a host of new finishes and
materials, these modern models look
good even when not lit, so you get
plenty of impact for your outlay too.
There’s a chiminea out there waiting
to warm up your time spent outside,
so treat your garden now!

WHAT DO YOU WANT? GOOD TO KNOW!

The very latest designs are sleek, It’s best to cure a new
streamlined and a far cry from the
earthy, rustic numbers of yesteryear. clay chiminea before using
Looking good all year round, they add
instant height, shape and structure to
- cover the base with sand
any patio, deck or garden, regardless and burn a small heap of
of its size, and form a welcoming focal
point no one can resist gathering round. kindling three times with
Originally 17th century Spanish
outdoor ovens, chimineas kick out
full cooling in-between
a substantial amount of heat while
keeping the burning fuel safely
contained. Flames can be viewed
through a large opening or mesh door,
while pesky sparks and smoke are swiftly NEW CLASSIC
F E ATU R E: J I L L MO RG A N

guided up through the tall chimney, The La Hacienda Bennito Clay

well away from those gazing on. And if
you have children or pets, then they’re
arguably a safer alternative to low, open
firepits, particularly in a tight space.
Chiminea, (£89, diy.com) has
all the charm of a traditional
chiminea but is undeniably up to
date. We love the cute rain lid too!
➣
OCTOBER 2021 M O D E R N G A R D E N S 35
 While many chimineas have a front opening,
some manufacturers have reacted to the current
trend for arranging garden furniture lounge-
style with models offering a 360° view of the
flames through a mesh panel. These give a little
more ambient light too. The drawback is that Clever
these designs don’t retain the heat or draw the multi-
smoke up through the flue quite as effectively.
tasking
So if you want maximum heat and minimum
design
smoke in your seating area, a full-bodied
design may be a better option for you. Other
options incorporate laser-cut panels that create
distinctive patterns when viewed against the
warm, seductive glow from within.

EVERY SHAPE AND SIZE

There are curvy designs in modern shades, as
well as contemporary cocoon shapes and sharp
cones and pyramids, as well as uber-simple
columns, so it’s easy to choose a silhouette to
suit your plot. Do think about the scale too, as
designs range from 70cm up to a lofty 1.5m VERSATILE STUNNER
high, and there’s a huge variation in the size Not just easy on the eye, this elegant teardrop
of footprint available. Freestanding monoliths design is a nifty stove too! You can cook up a
tend to have a smaller base and are perfect for tasty feast on its flat top, all while gazing at the
siting in a corner or as a central focal point in front panel’s beautiful laser-cut pattern that
front of a wall, while those with prominent legs glows when the fire’s lit. Made from sturdy raw
or a separate steel stand tend to occupy more steel with a neat footprint and slender shape,
floorspace and are great for commanding a it’s a good choice for a compact patio. Havana
central position. Decorative Stove, £299 dunelm.com
It’s important that the burner is positioned
well away from any trees or overhanging
branches, and seating, so find one that fits into
the space you have available. It’s also worth
looking at the size of the firebox’s opening, as
this will limit the maximum length and quantity
of logs that can be burnt at any one time. And
think carefully about the height you want the
flames to be – if you have a low-slung garden
sofa, a chiminea with the fire grate positioned
closer to its base may be better.

THE SMARTEST MATERIALS

Fired clay or terracotta is the traditional material
for a chiminea and it still looks great in a
modern garden. Pretty good at radiating heat,
inexpensive and tactile, it can be left to naturally
weather, be glazed or hand-painted and sealed.
The downside is that clay is fragile and, if left
unsealed, porous – meaning that it can be
prone to cracking in colder climates, rendering
the burner useless. It is also trickier to maintain
a hot, constant heat with a clay product and you
have to be careful not to overload it with logs as
this can also lead to the clay cracking.
Cast iron is a popular alternative. Made
from molten iron poured into moulds, these STURDY AND STABLE
chimineas can sometimes be cast in a single The striking lines of this dramatic steel burner
piece but are more often made in two or more are set off by a matt black finish. The large fire
sections, requiring assembly. Super-efficient at opening enables everyone to be mesmerised
radiating heat, cast iron chimineas do get very by the dancing flames, while the tall chimney
hot, but they’re capable of burning both wood – complete with handy rain cap – guides smoke
and charcoal, unlike other materials. They are and sparks safely up, up and away from the
heavy to move and store and can be costly – seating area. The splayed trio of legs form a
particularly with larger designs – although other supportive, broad base for extra peace of mind.
metals are often introduced to reduce both La Hacienda Contemporary Steel Chiminea,
weight and cost. ➣ £90 argos.co.uk

36 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 2 1
 BEST BUYS

TRY THIS!
Add another level of cosiness
with a Table Top Chiminea,
£25, english-heritage
shop.org.uk

GOOD TO KNOW!
Initially Corten steel can
stain pale surfaces when

3
wet, so stand on a spare
paver for protection until showstop
the initial rusting process shapes
is completed Abura Metal Chiminea in black
and brass, £169 made.com

Brookridge
Steel Wood
Burning
Chiminea,
£207.99
wayfair.co.uk

Heta Tipi 96
Outdoor Modern
Chiminea,
£292 fireplace
products.co.uk

HIGH
STYLE
A firebox that’s
positioned higher
makes the fire more
of a focal point, and
this 1.5m high model
will efficiently whisk
smoke away from
your seating area.
The hexagon design
SIMPLY SCANDI is bang on-trend
Made from 1.5mm thick Corten steel with for this season.
a crisp square opening, cut on the angle, Honeycomb
this angular design couldn’t be more stylish. Chiminea
Arriving in a pre-rusted state, the rich finish With Wood
will only get better with age, developing its Store, £139.99
own unique markings. Outdoor Chiminea notonthehigh
Box, £495 morley-stoves.co.uk street.com

OCTOBER 2021 M O D E R N G A R D E N S 37
BEST BUYS

You’ll find chimineas made of newer materials,

such as Corten steel and raw steel too. With
industrial overtones, they will upgrade any
garden in an instant. Corten steel (sometimes
3 stylish
under
referred to as weathering steel) has a rich Hoole Ember Style,
rusted surface that develops and changes over £139.99 gardenesque.com
time when exposed to the elements without
weakening the metal. Raw steel is often finished
in heat-resistant paint, but this does need
repainting and sealing annually to prevent rust.
Both materials are relatively lightweight and
pliable, making these suitable for complex and
contemporary shapes.

ATTENTION TO DETAIL
With a price range from £60 to over £1,000, it’s
worth knowing what to look for. Sheet metal
designs vary in the thickness and quality of the
materials and construction techniques used.
Nicola Adams from Morley Stove Company
suggests looking for welded joints as these are
stronger and longer-lasting than flat-packed
designs that are bolted together, plus you don’t
have the hassle of self-assembly. GRACEFUL LINES
Many products come with rain lids or caps, A delicious blend of old and new, this gorgeou
which are well worth having. Place them on chiminea is handmade from clay with seductive Esschert Design
top of the smoke stack when not in use to contemporary curves. It works particularly well Terrace Heater Round
stop debris and rain falling into the chimney, with low-level seating as the fire sits low within Metal FF214, £76.07
damaging and weakening the firebox. Fitted the burner. The tactile hand-painted finish manomano.co.uk
raincovers are also handy, especially if you features subtle grey tones that look great next
intend to leave a clay or metal burner outside to green foliage, and will weather over time. Laurey Steel Wood Burning
year-round. Look for breathable or vented Contemporary Clay Chiminea, £226.26 Chiminea, £142.74 wayfair.co.uk
designs to prevent mould and mildew. uk-gardens.co.uk

Shop the easy way!

o u t t h e c o s y v i b es Scan here to shop

TIP Max l l
all these chimineas

t h a l o g p i l e w a
wi

TIMELESS DESIGN
With a generous firebox, wide opening
and tall chimney, this burner will throw out
plenty of heat, and you can stash spare fuel
in the base. Steel Chiminea with Wood
Storage, £199.95 notonthehighstreet.com

38 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 2 1
OUTDOOR LIVING

WHERE TO POSITION YOUR FIREBOWL

Your firebowl needs to be in a well-ventilated spot that’s at least 3m
away from your house or any other potentially flammable object such
as a fence, shed or garden parasol. It also needs to be kept away from
overhanging branches and precious plants as the heat can scorch and
kill leaves. Stand your firebowl on a non-flammable surface such as
gravel or paving. If you want to place it on your deck then it’s vital to
create a non-flammable layer between the two. This could be a
purpose-made mat (see page 108) or a DIY base made with sand or
paving slabs. As an additional precaution, raise the bowl on a firepit
stand or pour a layer of sand into the base of the bowl to keep the
heat away from the decking. It’s also a smart idea to use a firepit spark
screen to catch any flying embers and a poker to nudge shifting logs
back into place, and don’t light up in windy conditions.

110 M O D E R N G A R D E N S O C T O B E R 2 0 2 1
 DESIGN
SOURCEBOOK

Firepitsandfirebaskets
Stay cosy this winter with these nine stylish containers for an outdoor fire
COMPILED BY KATIE BEALE

ELEGANT HANDCRAFTED ROBUST

Nest Iron Fire Pit Bowl, Tula Firepit, 50cm, Barrington Fire Pit, large,
£219.99, Crocus, £99, Kadai, £200, Garden Trading,
waitrosegarden.com 01694 771800, kadai.co.uk 01993 845559, gardentrading.co.uk

QUIRKY TRIPOD LEGS SCANDI STYLE

Charnwood Fireball, Eva Solo Fire Globe Fireplace, Morsø Ignis Fire Pit,
£150, Charnwood, £299, Lakeland, £189, Oso Living,
01983 537773, vlaze.co 01539 488100, lakeland.co.uk 01243 956946, osoliving.com

RAISED STAND CONTEMPORARY DECORATIVE

Rust Iron Outdoor Fireball, Firebox 30 Firepit, Esschert Design Laser Cut Flowers Fire Pit,
£129.95, Sarah Raven, Price on request, Solus, £221.52, Luxury Loft Co,
0345 092 0283, sarahraven.com 020 8819 1495, thefirepit.com 07418 348418, luxuryloftco.com

103