Redesign following extension - REVISIT 1 YEAR ON

I returned to revisit this client ONE YEAR AFTER COMPLETION of their project. They tell me that they continue to enjoy the garden daily, and spend a lot more time outdoors now with a choice of seating areas.  They look after it very well, and it was a pleasure for me to return to see how much they are enjoying it.  I designed and planted both Back and Front Gardens.

BACK GARDEN - 1 Year after completion

The border next to the pond now full with perennials. The pond is
viewed from the patio area and also the bench in the shade.

Clematis Arabella. A very floriforious variety

The gravel path gives access to the green house and shed
but also serves as a place for the clients many seasonal pots to be displayed

Digital Alba in the shadier part of the garden, where the bench offer relief from the mid day sun.

In the sunny border next the pond, silver Stachys with Pink Geraniums, will soon be joined by
deep pink Echinaceas, and purple Verbena.

One of the clients own Clematis in a pot adds a vibrant pink colour.

The brick edge to the lawn makes cutting the lawn quick and easy
and keeps the gravel in place.

FRONT GARDEN - 1 Year after completion

The  front garden now filling out, and the box hedging beginning to take shape.
Euphorbia Mysinities in the foreground just passing, and in a week or so will be replaced
by blue flowers of Campanula poscharskyana. Still to come Blue Geraniums and pink Persicaria Rosea.

Next to the front door, the dark leaves of Actea Pink Spire, which will give late season colour with
fabulous scent. The round leaves and white flowers of  Brunnera just finishing. The other dark
foliage beyond is Eupatorium Chocolate, which will be accompanied by Trycyrtis (Toad Lily).

A reliable shade loving Geranium is  Geranium Phaem.

THE PROJECT
Rather than move, people seem to be staying and extending their property these days. And as a result, many Acorn Garden Design customers have built over what was once the patio area. Time for a rethink.

THE BRIEF

Seating area
Vegetable raised bed
Places for pots
Interesting to look at year round

Both the customer, and I, were keen to keep a number of established trees and shrubs, allowing the garden to retain its established feel. Some pruning was necessary to remove some tree branches, and lift the canopy of some shrubs too, to allow more space and light to perennial planting below.

The stone patio leads onto a curvaceous lawn., and planting softens the edge of the pond. A small paved area was built for  a seat in the shady corner under the Prunus. The seat gets morning sun, so pleasant early in the day for sunshine, as well as somewhere to get afternoon shade.

Under the existing pergola. The new paving transitions to a small deck area to overhang the pond

The view looking back from the bench. 

The curved lawn.  A small raised bed for vegetables re positioned in the new design. The trellis with climbers, will soon screen the greenhouse from view.

  A narrow path allows access for picking the vegetables from the back of the raised bed, as well as access for maintenance to the borders under the trees

The trellis will disguise the greenhouse, clothed with Trachelospersum Jasminoides, and Golden Hop.
A sizable gravel area serves as a place to have pots as well as a path to the shed and greenhouse.

BEFORE, and the lawn extended right up the pond

BEFORE. Lacking structure and form, with lawn extending around the pond, and Ivy out of control on the fence

BEFORE. The Greenhouse and shed in full view, and the only planting areas around the edges, mostly shrubs.

Greenhouses are not the prettiest looking buildings, so I always try to screen them somehow so they are not quite so noticeable.

A more unusual request - a place for the telescope?

A new build with a blank canvas.

THE BRIEF

1. A patio for entertaining, to include somewhere to hang fairy lights
2. A separate seating area for a firepit ( a recent gift)
3. A separate paved area for setting up the telescope.
4. A Mediterranean influenced planting scheme (Tricky in clay soil, so needs careful plant choice).

The telescope space was a first for me!  With the customer identifying the best space for this within the garden (back right), this was the starting point. I prefer not to put paving against the fence into a corner unless it can't be avoided, so opted for a circular patio, cutting into the lawn space and allowing space of approx 2mtres behind for planting. A French Lavender Hedge echoes the circle shape, and behind it many of the "Mediterranean " influenced plants, in this south facing corner.  The customers ordered a Pod style swing seat to use on the "telescope" patio, when telescope not being used.

Typically silvery foliage and including Cistus, Potentilla, Sedums, Perovskia and Helanthemums.  For bulk and evergreen backdrop I used Arbutus, which is often found in the Macci of the Mediterrean. (the Strawberry Tree), and the contrasting smaller foliage of a Pittosporum which will fill the entire corner to around 3m height. Other  key sub shrubs include Euphorbia, with their glaucous foliage.

Crocosmia Emily McKenzie with the pod seat sitting on the smaller circular patio, which double up at telescope patio

The idea of somewhere for fairy lights then called for some verticals, but rather than a pergola which the customer had asked for, I suggested that a 3 post, 2 sided timber structure would keep the space more open and not restrict the width of the patio to the length of the timber beams. Climbing up 2 of the 3 posts is Trachelospernum Jasminoides. Slow growing, and with a beautiful scent, it will climb steadily, and twine around the posts and beams of the structure. (Many other climbers are too prolific for this type of situation.)

The evening patio with the firepit

Pretty cushions with Verbena Bonariensis catching the sunlight

Pink Veronica spires

Verbena repeating across the borders

Small unit pavers lead to the dining area where fairy light are strung around the timber posts

Box hedging lines the path edges.

From the Indian Sandstone path from the house, a path with matching small tumbled units lined with box hedge, leads to the main entertaining space.  On the back wall, a Honeysuckle will soon clothe the fence and brick wall, and meet up the Clematis Montana on the other fence.

A garden for relaxing... whilst kids play on the trampoline

Since finishing this project 3 weeks ago, the customers have used the garden "more than they have in the preceding 5 years". 

THE BRIEF. Following an extension, the garden needed a rethink

ADULTS- a space to relax in with pleasing surroundings.

KIDS - to keep the trampoline

The garden was on a slight slope, so to avoid a big dig with a retaining wall towards the back of the garden, the patio area steps up from the pathway running along the back of the house.  A corner of the garden was given over to the trampoline space, with trellis screening and climbers which will by next year make a big impact in screening the trampoline further. I chose to plant Solanum Glasnevin (The potato Vine) which is fast growing and flowers for many weeks. I also planted a Humulus Lupulus (Golden Hop) a perennial climber which starts from ground level each spring, but grows really fast giving a gorgeous injection of golden foliage, and lights up the garden.

The couple opted for a curved sofa which sits happily on the sizable patio area, now surrounded by plenty of seasonal interest.  In August the plants in flower include Rudbekia, Verbena, Veronicastrum, and Echinacea White Swan. Sedums will soon join in, along with Asters, and Alchemilla Mollis will be back in flower for the second flush. The beautifully scented Actea Brunette will also give a beautiful scent next to the seating area late season.

To screen the fencing, Trachelospernum Jasminoides will give a scent behind the seating area in summer, whilst Clematis Montana will speedily clothe the back fence and  give spring interest.

The trampoline now screened with trellising which will soon be clothed with foliage

Rudbekia Goldsturm next to Verbena Lollipop, which will have been flowering since late June

The cat even matches the furniture!

BEFORE. The house has just been extended and so the garden needed a rethink.