English Garden Style

Martha Oakes boasts an enviable slice of urban-meets-suburban land on which she grows a variety of trees, flowers and edibles in her Charlton, London neighborhood, including this Rosa alba 'Semi plena'.

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Regal Rose

British gardener Martha Oakes boasts an enviable slice of urban-meets-suburban land on which she grows a variety of trees, flowers and edibles in her Charlton, London neighborhood, including this Rosa alba 'Semi plena'.

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Olive Tree

An olive tree and euphorbia grow side by side.

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Espaliered

An espaliered sweet cherry tree.

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Red and White

Iris and red campion.

Stipa gigantea, buxus, myrtus, choisya and a tamarisk tree that has since succumbed to winter's frosts, says British gardener Martha Oakes.

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All in the Mix

Stipa gigantea, buxus, myrtus, choisya and a tamarisk tree that has since succumbed to winter's frosts, says British gardener Martha Oakes.

A bench is tucked away beneath a lilac tree at the base of this suburban London garden.

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Garden's Edge

A bench is tucked away beneath a lilac tree at the base of this suburban London garden.

Tulips and forget-me-nots are planted by the edge of the terrace.

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Terrace Garden

Tulips and forget-me-nots are planted by the edge of the terrace.

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Old Rose

London gardener Martha Oakes says that this rosa 'Souvenir du Docteur Jamain' is an old rose "with the most exquisite wine scent."

A wall of ivy accented by a silver birch jacquemontil tree provides much needed privacy in this British home garden.

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Private Space

A wall of ivy accented by a silver birch jacquemontil tree provides much needed privacy in this British home garden.

Oriental poppies self-seed in Martha Oakes' garden, keeping her in bright blooms.

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Pretty Poppy

Oriental poppies self-seed in Martha Oakes' garden, keeping her in bright blooms.

A bay tree is a lovely accent for this London garden.

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Top Tree

A bay tree is a lovely accent for this London garden.

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Lilac Tree

A shady spot underneath the lilac tree.

Even a utilitarian compost set-up somehow becomes more charming in an English garden.

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Practical Garden Necessity

Even a utilitarian compost set-up somehow becomes more charming in an English garden.

Every English garden must have roses. The side garden of Martha Oakes' pretty urban spread included rosa 'William Shakespeare' and 'Falstaff'.

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Roses Rule

Every English garden must have roses. The side garden of Martha Oakes' pretty urban spread included rosa 'William Shakespeare' and 'Falstaff'.

Every space counts in a small urban garden. Here English gardener Martha Oakes has carved out a small bed defined by a hawthorn tree, perennial geranium and wallflower.

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Little Plot

Every space counts in a small urban garden. Here English gardener Martha Oakes has carved out a small bed defined by a hawthorn tree, perennial geranium and wallflower.

Perennial geraniums punctuate this British garden.

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Happy Faces

Perennial geraniums punctuate this British garden.

Wallflowers and perennial geranium bring a splash of color to this British garden.

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Wallflowers and Perennial Geraniums

Wallflowers and perennial geranium bring a splash of color to this British garden.

English gardener Martha Oakes calls this garden nook with its small white poplar tree and silver-leaved elaegnus ebbingei is her favorite place to sit and drink coffee in the morning.

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Favorite Spot

English gardener Martha Oakes calls this garden nook with its small white poplar tree and silver-leaved elaegnus ebbingei is her favorite place to sit and drink coffee in the morning.

Pots of herbs and pelargonium sit next to California lilac on the back porch of this British garden.

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Potting Area

Pots of herbs and pelargonium sit next to California lilac on the back porch of this British garden.

This British garden affords enough open space for a game of croquet or an outdoor picnic but plenty of shrubs, trees and plants at its edges to give a sense of privacy from close-by neighbors.

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Backyard Garden

This British garden affords enough open space for a game of croquet or an outdoor picnic but plenty of shrubs, trees and plants at its edges to give a sense of privacy from close-by neighbors.

The last of the season's tulips and forget-me-nots share space with 'William Shakespeare' and 'Falstaff' roses. An early red hot poker peeks out from the fray.

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Slow Fade to Summer

The last of the season's tulips and forget-me-nots share space with 'William Shakespeare' and 'Falstaff' roses. An early red hot poker peeks out from the fray.

A pot of rosemary is handy for easy access from the kitchen.

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Garden Staple

A pot of rosemary is handy for easy access from the kitchen.

A glimpse of ceanothus, or California lilac, is visible beyond the garden hedge.

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Over the Hedge

A glimpse of ceanothus, or California lilac, is visible beyond the garden hedge.

A spray of lively color separates the terrace from the back garden.

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Border Zone

A spray of lively color separates the terrace from the back garden.

Rosa 'Madame Alfred Carriere' grows against the garden wall and trellis.

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Rose Bush

Rosa 'Madame Alfred Carriere' grows against the garden wall and trellis.

Ivy grows on the garden wall, providing low-maintenance privacy in this urban garden.

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Ever-Hardy Ivy

Ivy grows on the garden wall, providing low-maintenance privacy in this urban garden.

Silver birch, hawthorn, perennial geranium and wallflower mix it up at garden's edge.

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Mixing It Up

Silver birch, hawthorn, perennial geranium and wallflower mix it up at garden's edge.

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A Lady's Rose

Rosa 'Madame Alfred Carriere' grows in this charming small-space English garden.

Rosa 'William Shakespeare' is a "repeat-flowering English rose with a gorgeous rich scent," says British gardener Martha Oakes.

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A Writer's Rose

Rosa 'William Shakespeare' is a "repeat-flowering English rose with a gorgeous rich scent," says British gardener Martha Oakes.

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Wallflower

Wallflower thrives in this English garden.

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Hawthorn

Hawthorn lends a welcome dose of color to this English garden.

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Silverberry

Silverberry (Elaegnus ebbingei) lends some lovely shade to this English garden.

Tour a Charming English Cottage Garden