WHAT? Benton End: A Paradise of Pollen and Paint

WHERE? Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7LB

WHEN? Now until 20th September

WHY GO? For the joy of gardening with friends. Known as the 'artist plantsman', Cedric Morris is legendary to fans who have been inspired by his naturalistic garden at Benton End in Suffolk where he and his partner Arthur Lett-Haines ran the legendary East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing from 1940–1978.

His once thriving garden, where he famously grew rare plants and specialised in cultivating irises, was admired far and wide and has been restored, revived and is once again open and this atmospheric exhibition celebrates the renewal.

Morris was a source of inspiration for many famous names, including culinary whizz Elizabeth David, artist Lucian Freud who was a student at the art school and most notably writer Beth Chatto who credited Morris with her own passion for gardens.

The exhibition recreates the free-thinking atmosphere of the bohemian art school and gardens that the community experienced through memorabilia.

Morris died in 1982 claiming that, "Gardening must be good for the ageing process" and at 92, he was certainly right!

Nostalgic photographs of him and his friends reinforces the joy that gardening and painting can provide in bringing people together.

His paintings reflect his passion for plants, and displayed in the fitting setting of the Garden Museum, it's enough to tempt city gardeners to dig out their gardening shears.

IN THE KNOW An accompanying film, The Story of Benton End: A Paradise of Pollen and Paint, tells the history of Benton End with interviews behind the scenes. Head Gardener Matt Collins shares his botanical knowledge and the Garden Museum's Director Christopher Woodward is host.