In 2016, UK horticulturalists Imogen Checketts and Kate Dumbleton broke ground on their property in southwestern France to create Le Jardin Champêtre. Since then, it has become a highly regarded demonstration garden, nursery and design practice infused with their love of the local scrubby garrigue landscape. Noel Kingsbury lavishly profiled Le Jardin for Gardens Illustrated and it’s featured in master garden photographer Claire Takacs’ book about some of the world’s most innovative and climate-smart gardens, Visionary: Gardens and Landscapes for Our Future.

Checketts and Dumbleton’s plant palette and design approach are naturalistic, ecologically based and tailored to thrive year-round in the Mediterranean climate – once established, plants receive little to no irrigation and low maintenance is key. The designers will share their most successful plant combinations, both native and nonnative, which include grasses, perennials, shrubs, bulbs, ground covers and lawn alternatives, and how to layer them for maximum visual and ecological effect.

The Pacific Northwest climate is often described as Mediterranean; as summers become drier and hotter, there are many lessons to be gleaned from the plantings and principles of Le Jardin Champêtre. Some plants will be familiar: achillea, eriogonum, miscanthus, phlomis, salvia, stipa…but prepare to discover new ones, some of which might very well enhance your own landscape.

Speakers’ Bios:

Kate Dumbleton studied horticulture at Nottingham Trent University’s Brackenhurst College, where she won the student of the year award. Prior to that, she earned a Master’s degree in French, and worked in social research and project development for cultural heritage projects, local food initiatives and environmental programs. She also qualified in permaculture design and was an active member of Ecoworks community gardens, St. Ann’s Community Orchard and the Friends of Brackenhurst’s Victorian Walled Garden.

Imogen Checketts has two degrees: horticulture and garden design and landscape and heritage. She was head gardener at Pensthorpe Wildlife and Gardens in Norfolk, where she designed and built the Wave Line Garden, the Wildlife Habitat Garden, and worked alongside Piet Oudolf to redesign and replant his first UK public project, the original Millennium Garden. Imogen is an accomplished linocut artist and her horticultural interests include mixed perennial and grass planting, planting for wildlife and dry gardens, as well as woodland habitats and edible gardening.