When downsizing, most elderly couples opt for a small garden... but not this couple! Octogenarians, they were not after a low maintenance garden, they were after an
interesting garden, which would offer plenty of colour and variety of plants. Gardening is something they enjoy, and want to have something to do, to keep them active. The garden which came with their bungalow however, was very uninspiring, and other then several tall pine trees, there was nothing but grass and dead grass. (Before photos at end).
Years of pine needles had fallen and several inches had to be scraped off ,then replaced with many tons of new soil to give the new planting a chance to get established. Having a lawn amongst the pine trees were never going to work, so the design allowed for planting, but since this meant deep borders, pathways were included between, to enjoy the planting from both sides of the paths. Over the next couple of years, the plants will offer good ground cover to the beds, so maintenance will get easier.
The garden in parts is about a metre lower than the house, and steep banks made if difficult to mow particularly at the corner of the house. A long raised bed was introduced to deal with the slope and make mowing an easier task, on a level lawn. This allowed for further newly imported soil into the raised beds.
The couple had brought with them several statues, so within the design, spaces were allocated offering views of the statues from different points. (As the shrubs develop, these will make more sense.)
I revisited today just 6 weeks or so after finishing the project, and the plants are settling in well, with lots of growing of course still to do over the next couple of years.
"LITTLE PIECE OF PARADISE"
The customers already call it "Their little piece of Paradise". I look forward to a revisit in subsequent years knowing they will give the garden a lot of TLC.
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| The new archway subdivides the long thin space, and forms a "window frame" from the kitchen view. The gravel path below, edged with Lavender, curves around to a small brick patio area. Daphne Odora in the foreground will also offer a beautiful scent in the winter months as they pop in and out of the back door, and Thyme is also used as edging here. |
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| The new raised bed, previously an awkward grass slope, will soon have perennials spilling over the edges to soften the look. The taller plant is a Witchhazel so will be one of the first shrubs to flower in January. |
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| This deep corner with trees, is now a bark pathway, allowing a stroll through between the planting, and to the Wendy House, with one of their stone benches as a option to stop along the way. |
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| On route to the Wendy house, and a view of the other part of the L-Shape Garden, toward the garage. This view soon to be blocked as the shrubs grow and separate the space |
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| View from the Wendy House |
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| View from the Garage end of the garden looking back to the Wendy House. Under planting of multiples of Viburnum Davidii, Ferns, Epimediums, different Geraniums, and Euonymous, will offer a tapestry of ground cover over the next 2-3 years. |
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| The raised bed with silver, white and purples |
BEFORE..... Very uninspiring.
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| The side view to the Garage |
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| The back of the house . Path and patio, but the patio not big enough to be comfortable, so this was extended further out. |
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| The Wendy house corner. |
