CAMPBELL JOHN Welcome The season is changing again, and as we transition from late summer into autumn, that back-to-school feeling gives a renewed sense of possibility. One of the real stalwarts in the garden right now is the Japanese anemone, and you can discover the best new cultivars, and why we really shouldn’t be calling them Japanese, in our plant profile (page 44). We dive into the world of pumpkins and ornamental gourds with an aficionado who shares his favourite varieties to grow to eat and for decoration (page 74), and Andrea Brunsendorf gives us her expert picks of plants for September (page 16), plus designer Jo Thompson has three more stylish container combinations for autumn (page 58). Naturalistic planting with ornamental grasses and prairie-style plants comes into its own at this time of year, and we have a bevy of beautiful gardens in this style for you this issue. Hans Gieszen’s dream was to create a perennial garden in the style of Piet Oudolf, and his passion and dedication have more than paid off (page 32). In Cambridgeshire, landscape architect Robert Myers drew inspiration from a historic house to create a garden that marries traditional and contemporary elements (page 52). We return to Arvensis in Wiltshire to see how the nursery’s display borders have been redeveloped with aplomb (page 64); and find out how things have changed at the garden and nursery of Marchants Hardy Plants in East Sussex, where a new team is continuing to innovate (page 82). The wonderful stories behind each of these spaces are sure to inspire you. STEPHANIE MAHON, EDITOR ONLINE THIS MONTH Is gardening cool? Fashion houses cer tainly think so. Discover how fashion is having a moment with horticulture right now. gardensillustrated.com/hort-couture Instagram @gardens_illustrated Twitter @GdnsIllustrated Facebook @gardensillustrated C A M P B E L L J O H N Find warty ‘Lunch Lady’ among the weird and wonderful cucurbits featured on page 74. SEPTEMBER 2024 gardensillustrated.com 3