The Tales of Terracotta<\/em><\/strong> continue and this time the person who talks to us about her vision and vast knowledge of greenery<\/strong> is Arabella Lennox-Boyd<\/strong><\/a>, the Italian-English landscape gardener<\/strong> who for fifty years has been creating<\/strong>, imagining<\/strong> and revisiting<\/strong> the most beautiful gardens in the UK and beyond<\/strong>, and who<\/strong> has always loved Poggi Ugo’s handmade terracotta<\/strong> so much that she has designed a vase <\/strong>for us, christened after her name: Vaso Arabella<\/a>.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/p> <\/p> The original designs<\/strong> that gave birth to the Arabella Vase<\/strong>, available in two versions<\/strong>: the Snake Pot<\/u><\/strong> <\/a><\/em>, decorated with handmade snakes<\/strong> and a special saucer with hemispheres<\/strong>, and the Terracota Tub<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/em>, which is instead more linear<\/strong>, both characterised by perfect proportions<\/strong> and unparalleled elegance<\/strong>. Both bear the signature of Mrs. Arabella Lennox-Boyd<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p><\/p> <\/p> – First of all, we would like to talk a little about your history: can you introduce yourself and tell us how you got into this profession? <\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/li><\/ul> <\/p> I started<\/strong> in the profession in the late 1960s<\/strong> when I moved to London<\/strong> and began studying landscape architecture at Thames Polytechnic<\/em><\/strong> – now Greenwich University<\/strong> – in 1969.
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\nArabella Lennox-Boyd Landscape & Architectural Design<\/strong> was established in 1975<\/strong>.
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\nSince then I have designed over 800 gardens around the world<\/strong>.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Being Italian<\/strong>, I have always been familiar with Poggi Ugo vases<\/strong>. Poggi’s excellence<\/strong> lies not only in design<\/strong>, but also in the production<\/strong> of durable<\/strong>, high quality pots<\/strong> that we can use in northern climates<\/strong> such as my home, Gresgarth<\/strong>, in Lancashire<\/strong>.
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\nBeing Italian, I grew up with terracotta pots<\/strong>: they are part of my childhood<\/strong> memories and my ideal of a garden.<\/strong>
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\nThroughout my life as a designer I have used them in many different ways<\/strong>.<\/p> <\/p> Two beautiful images of the garden at Gresgarth Hall<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, a project begun by Arabella Lennox-Boyd in 1980<\/strong>, where she combined her love of symmetry<\/strong> with the striking landscape and wilderness that characterise the property<\/strong>. The landscape designer used many terracotta pots, such as the Due Orli<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, which fit perfectly into the harmony of the design.<\/strong> Today Gresgarth Garden<\/strong> is open<\/strong> to the public<\/strong> and can<\/strong> be<\/strong> visited<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> My approach to design is based on the importance of relating the garden<\/strong> not only to the landscape<\/strong> but also to the spirit of the house<\/strong> and the individuality of the owner<\/strong>.
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\nEach<\/strong> garden<\/strong> is unique<\/strong>, a world of its own, and must take into account the owner’s wishes<\/strong> and constraints, including<\/strong> the workforce that can support<\/strong> a given project.
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\nObservation<\/strong> and garden walks<\/strong> are an essential part of the initial design phase<\/strong>, as is thinking<\/strong> outside the box<\/strong> to overcome difficulties.
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\nOver the years I have found that my first instinct<\/strong> is what I carry through the various stages<\/strong> of designing a garden and I always check that when it is finished it still has the integrity of my first reaction.<\/p> <\/p> Arabella Lennox-Boyd’s designs relate the garden to the surrounding landscape and to the individuality of the clients. The terracotta pots and basins<\/u><\/strong><\/a> <\/em>fit in as important elements<\/strong> to accommodate<\/strong> seasonal<\/strong> flowers<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Everywhere there is a patio or garden<\/strong> that needs pots. They can provide a finish<\/strong>, a frame<\/strong>, a break<\/strong> or simply an attractive<\/strong> addition<\/strong> to the view. They can form an avenue<\/strong>, add height<\/strong> to formal<\/strong> or informal<\/strong> borders<\/strong>, provide extra space for plants<\/strong> where space is limited and add colour<\/strong> at times of year when colour is scarce. In other words, pots are an essential part of many gardens<\/strong>. For me, pots need to be an integral part of the design, not just randomly placed. <\/strong>They may look informal, but they are not, because when we place pots in the garden<\/strong>, we always make a careful arrangement<\/strong>.<\/p> <\/p> In Arabella Lennox-Boyd’s signature gardens<\/strong>, vases are filled with vibrant colours and seasonal flowers<\/strong>. In these two photos, the ‘Due Orli<\/a>‘ vase<\/strong> <\/em>is the undisputed star of the scene, filled with a multitude of colourful flowers<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> I have used the pots in both city and country gardens.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Arabella’ pots<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/a> were selected for the d\u00e9cor of a very elegant hotel<\/strong> in the centre of Madrid<\/strong>, where terracotta pots provide extra space<\/strong> for greenery, especially in city settings<\/strong> where space can be more limited.<\/em><\/p> <\/p> Spring gardens:<\/strong> Tulips<\/strong>, narcissi<\/strong>, muscari<\/strong>, forget-me-nots<\/strong> and violets<\/strong> are just a few of my favourite spring plants<\/strong>, and in almost every garden I design<\/strong> I have pots filled with vibrant spring colours<\/strong> that are best brought into the garden in a terracotta pot rather than planted directly in the beds.
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\nEven tulips<\/strong>, for example<\/strong>, which make a mess in beds, are much easier and more beautiful when planted in pots.<\/strong><\/p> <\/p> Terracotta pots can be used to enhance green spaces<\/em><\/strong> and gardens in all seasons<\/strong>. The ‘Camellia with Fruit<\/a>‘<\/u><\/strong> pots<\/u><\/em>\u00a0are filled with tulips and spring flowers<\/strong>, adding colour<\/strong> and<\/strong> movement<\/strong> without disrupting the garden design<\/strong>. Terracotta<\/strong> pots<\/strong> make it easier to manage and move seasonal plants and flowers.<\/strong><\/em><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Mediterranean gardens<\/strong>: In the Mediterranean I like pots to create a sense of order<\/strong> and sometimes even formality<\/strong>.
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\nIn hot weather, simplicity is key<\/strong> – in summer it is too hot to be bothered with too much gardening! – Or maybe it is just my Italian blood<\/strong> that drives me to use pots<\/strong>, as they<\/strong> have<\/strong> always<\/strong> been<\/strong> used<\/strong> historically as accents<\/strong>, staples<\/strong>, architectural elements<\/strong>, whether in a formal parterre with orange trees<\/strong>, or as colour around the pool.<\/strong><\/p>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/poggiugo.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1.jpg\")
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