Steps, retaining walls and levelled lawn optimising space in this garden where there is an overall 10 metre drop.
Archive for the ‘garden design’ Category
Working against a slope
Friday, February 23rd, 2018Client recommends plants
Friday, August 4th, 2017I spent a delightful morning re visiting a client in her organic wildlife garden. It is now two years after planting and some gaps have appeared in the borders, these have been put down to to snail and rabbit damage combined with a high water table. Astrantia, Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ and Viola ‘Roscastle Black’ have failed whilst Thalictrum, Periscaria amplexicaulis ‘Fire Tail’ and Veronicastrum prove to be not only tough, but they don’t require staking and the later two are particularly good for the insects.
In another part of the garden, we happened across this happy accident! Agapanthus and Stipa tenuissima
Wildflower meadow ready for seed harvest
November colour
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2016It is November and there is still plenty of colour in the garden, thanks to a record breaking warm October .
Geranium sanguineum & Geranium psilostemon, Verbena, Dahlia, Erigeron karvinskianus, Aster frikartii ‘Monch‘, Abelia grandiflora, Fuchsia, Salvia greggii ‘Lipstick‘, Cyclamen hederifolium, Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve‘, Osteospermum and Penstemon ‘Alice Hindley’ continue to provide fresh flowers whilst some roses and Anenome japonica manage one or two last flowers.
Of course it isn’t all about flowers, autumn colour is very good this year both in the herbaceous borders (e.g. Hakonechloa macra) and shrubberies (e.g. Viburnum burkwoodii, Hydrangea). Textures of foliage and brightly coloured berries all add depth of interest to our gardens too, for example the wonderful berries of Rosa moyesii, Rosa glauca, Rosa rugosa, Cotoneasters & Crataegus prunifolia or the cut foliage of many Geranium contrasting with grasses, Dianthus, Cyclamen…
Growing well – Devon
Wednesday, September 28th, 2016This garden was planted in spring 2015 and it is very exciting to see how well it has established, the hedges have bushed out well and need just a couple more season’s to start approaching the desired height.
The pools attract hundreds of dipping swallows, a spectacle to behold!
Circles – Poundbury
Monday, July 4th, 2016A new garden on the Poundbury estate just outside Dorchester. This garden is a slightly awkward shape, dominated by a lovely high curved wall, beyond the wall is another high brick wall with a circle embellishment that the clients were keen to reflect in this garden.
The new garden will be lushly planted around gravel circular areas for year round interest and enjoyment.
Summer border
Tuesday, June 28th, 2016Clients border looking good 2 years after design / planting – Allium sphaerocephalon, Catananche, Geranium ‘Rozanne’, Persicaria, Scabiosa…
Gravel steps – Nr. Bristol
Tuesday, May 17th, 2016This is a garden I designed in 2014 and was installed by the clients during 2015. We were dealing with a slope and had the issue of underground services close to the surface. The oil tank was moved, patios at the back enlarged and new retaining walls built.
My clients kindly sent me the pictures, I have copied in their email:
Dear Angela
Just thought you might like to see these photos of the garden now the trellis is in place
We are so pleased…
If you ever need trellis etc in your work we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the company we used… Stuart Garden Architecture based in Wiveliscombe
Kind Regards
C
Gardening on an angle – Nr. Shepton Mallet
Tuesday, May 17th, 2016This is a garden I designed in 2014, the client has planted it as a white garden and is finding out that white flowers are not always white. So which are good whites?
Viola cornuta ‘Alba’
Choisya ternata ‘Alba’
Armeria maritima ‘Alba’
Digitalis purpurea ‘Alba’
Allium ‘Mount Everest’
Cosmos ‘Sonata
Pulmonaria ‘Sissinghurst White’
Hesperis matrionalis
Phlox ‘Mount Fuji’
to mention a few…
Garden design – Bath
Monday, April 25th, 2016New garden design challenge, a 10 metre drop and 4 south facing terraces. We are planning a formal layout with Mediterranean style plants which when viewed from the house will work as a whole, a bit like a painting.
Wind swept garden
Tuesday, February 9th, 2016I am working on an exciting yet challenging project – a front line sea-side garden at Burton Bradstock in Dorset. Last year I visited the site on a lovely summers day, this week when I returned, storm Imogen lashed at the sea and land alike, it was good to be reminded of the power of nature.
I have yet to start the planting plan however I do not foresee any large plants in the front garden, although there is an existing 1.1 metre high wall to provide a tiny degree of shelter. To add to my challenge, there are rabbits on site too!
