My childhood summers were spent picking fruit on my nan’s farm, and I wanted to be a farmer like my dad. When I left school, I couldn’t get a job, so I went to work in the landscape division of the local nursery and, after the hurricane of 1987, I specialised in removing large trees.
In 1994, the new opera house opened at Glyndebourne and someone with the skills to surround it with big trees and shrubs was needed. I was originally employed for six months; this is my 22nd season. We produce a lot of our own plants from seeds and cuttings. I like a project: my hardest month is August, when everything is done and the garden is looking after itself.
I am Glyndebourne’s in-house flower arranger as well as head gardener, and the displays in the Organ Room are quite large. Apart from the lilies on the first night, all the flowers come from the gardens. I use roses and grasses such as stipa, sweet william and tulips, with structural stuff such as the evergreen shrubs choisya and danae.
Opera inspires the arrangements. Carmen is flamboyant with lots of bright red, so I lean that way with reds and oranges from the garden. Opera with a big chorus makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. The first one I liked was The Marriage Of Figaro, and my favourite is Eugene Onegin.
At home I used to have a lovely garden, with vegetables and a pond. Then I bought myself a Harley-Davidson. I’m a bit embarrassed about the garden at the moment, but I have a plan to plant a meadow. Buying the bike was probably a midlife crisis. I am part of the HOG 1066 Chapter, a Harley owners’ group. We go on organised rides, it is safe and fun, and we raise money for charity. My wife comes out on the Harley, too. It is an expensive hobby, but it is justified if you are both into it.
This year we are launching the Mary Christie Rose Garden in honour of Lady Christie’s contribution to running Glyndebourne. I love working with roses and creating their winter structure. Whatever you give them, they give back.
My favourite spot
The Bourne Garden: it is jungly and there are no boundaries. It is lush and unusual, filled with big and bold plants, a fun contrast to the formal gardens. I also like it down by the lake; it is so tranquil. All you can hear is wildlife.
• The Glyndebourne Festival runs until 30 August.
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