the place

Located in Peckham, south east London, this was Dan’s first ground level garden after he left Bonnington Square in 1997.

the brief

This garden was designed to provide a sanctuary in the midst of the urban clamour and Dan with somewhere to experiment with new plant varieties and combinations.

the design

Neglected by the previous owner the garden was completely stripped out. For the first 18 months the ground was given over to vegetables and annuals, as Dan took note of the particular conditions of the site. Landscaping was kept to a minimum, with the creation of a large split level stone terrace immediately behind the house for outside living and entertaining, and a wooden deck half way down the garden for shade. These spaces were balanced by riotous and colourful naturalistic plantings. A small vegetable garden provided salad and herbs in the summer months.

In a gritty south east London neighborhood, this romantic garden serves as both refuge and laboratory. Free from the considerations of the landscapes and native plants that guide him in the country, Pearson has indulged in an urban jungle of exotics. For his small garden he favors the pointillistic effect of tiny flowers and leaves, such as Dierama pulcherrimum bending over the path, and the delicate willow Salix exigua. Pearson favors delicate, wild-looking plants that give his city garden a soft, naturalistic feeling. The Japanese influence is apparent in the contrast between the empty spaces and the lush plantings.

Deborah Needleman | House & Garden US