Time for a grown up garden

I see a lot of small gardens where a trampoline is the focal point, and am always much relieved when the client agrees it's time for it to go!  Top of this family's list was somewhere to store their bikes, and have good, easy access to them.

BEFORE photos at the end

THE BRIEF

• Bike Storage
• Vegetable raised beds
• Improved view from dining room (currently look out onto dustbins/recycling)
• Improved view from the kitchen sink
• Compost area
• Improvement on what they have
• Colourful planting, with Magenta and Purple as favourites
• Rotary washing line

THE SOLUTION

After a fair amount of research both by myself, and the client, it was agreed that the shed they had was actually the best option.   However, the position of the shed was not making the most of the garden space, and behind it had become a dumping area for compost, not actually very accessible to use.

• Reposition the existing shed, into the back corner
• Build new raised beds using timber retaining walls
• Provide a gate and fence to screen necessary utility area for dustbins etc
• Break up the patio area by using some small units to add texture, which also suggest a "route" to the bike shed
• A timber arch near the kitchen window will frame the view, and have a colourful climber to add to the scene.
• A new compost area, with two timber bays tucked near an existing tree with a paved access means that it can be easily reached, turned, and emptied into a wheelbarrow, when ready to use.

Colourful planting includes grasses for height and texture, and shrubs including Buddleia, Cistus, Hydrangea, and Daphne. Perennials include Geranium Psilostemon, Lobelia, Asters, Phlox, , Geranium Rozanne, Sedum, Echinacea, Alchemilla Mollis, Erysimum Bowles Mauve,  Wisteria, Clematis, Bright pink Jasmine.

Lots of pinks and purples will flower from now until October

Shady border with Evergreen Camelia (red), Sarcococca Confusa for winter scent,
Anemone September Charm, Astilbe. Red Primula for spring colour.
Towards the back a Griselinia Hedge will screen the new compost area.

Entering the garden from the side gate. The pergola with have Golden Hop growing over it all summer.
Easy route with plenty of space to the bike shed in the corner. The path at the shed is edged with
Lavender to one side, and Oregano to the other side.

Next to the raised vegetable beds, a new storage area where "stuff" can be hidden from view.

The new patio area, broken up with smaller units to add texture and suggest a path to the bike shed.
The planting along the back wall is full of brightly coloured plants, which will transform the garden during the summer months.

Purple Anemone for spring colour. Will disappear amongst the perennials in a few weeks
and the space taken over by Phlox, Sedum, Verbena, Penstemon to name a few

The shady border, where Red is the spring colour but  will  be
replaced by pink flowering Dicentra, Astilbe, Aquilegia and 'Fuschia

Amongst some tree roots, Euphorbia Robbiae will find its way, along with
Geranium Macrorrhizum 

Bright Pink Anemone with Stipa Tenuissima Pony Tails. The Anemone will die back
and be replaced by bright pink Lobelia just coming though the soil now

BEFORE....

The shed had a fair bit of space behind it, and trhs is one of the sunnier part of the
garden, so an ideal place for some plants.

Not much space to sit without walking around the Rotary line

The focal point

Another focal point - the washing line

Modernising a patio space

Usually, once a garden design is approved, the work starts as soon as possible, which can be a few months at the busier times of year.    But it's not too often that it is delayed for two years, and then needs a complete rethink since an extension has been added!    But this is exactly what happened with this client.

(Before photos at the end.)

THE BRIEF

• To create a large patio space for entertaining, seamlessly flowing from the bi-fold doors
• Clean, simple lines to echo the modern extension
• To give a softer feel to the patio area, which currently has no planting

THE SOLUTION .....and a few problems

• Since the extension has exaggerated the difference in height to ground level, a seamless continuation from indoor to outdoors would need a huge built up of patio height. I did design this to the brief, however it later changed, so that the first  2 steps came from the house level, and a further 3 steps came at the end of the patio, to lawn level. 
• The design is very linear,  to be in keeping, and also allow plenty of space for dining table and also lounge seats (still to be purchased)
• Planting areas within the patio space, at patio height, means that the plants can be enjoyed from inside the house, and also sitting on the patio. As they mature they will soften the look of all the paving.
• Further planting space was designed in front of the substantial walling, so that walking towards the house from the lawn end of the garden, the walling will be not so imposing.

Plenty of space for a couple of sofas, still to be purchased.
The right hand border has height with Rose Gertrude Jekyll,  and Euphorbia Wulfenii, joined by Aster Frikartii, Penstemon which will flower for many weeks in summer.
The left hand border has height from Physocarpus Diablo, and colour from Rose The Fairy, Sedum, Alchemilla Mollis,
Poppy and Thyme.

The broad welcoming steps leading up from lawn level to the patio space.
The Box hedging will develop to keep the clean lines of the garden and prevent footballs from running into the beds too!
The sunny right hand border will soon look very different, with tall Stipa Gigantea and 
Molinia grasses, joined by Sedum, Aster, Gypsophila, and Geranium Rozanne. 

A second set of steps joins from the side entrance to the garden

A Lavender hedge will offer a scented arrival to the garden, and tiny pink flowers of Gypsophila will froth over the nearer edge, giving flowers for months. An Amelanchier shrub will grow to a a round 10 feet adding height in this border, underplanted with 5 Geranium Rozanne. Knautia Macedonica will also giving good ground cover and many months of  colour.  Rose The Fairy is again in this border along with Rosemary, Sage and Thyme.

Lavender Hidcote with fresh top growth 

Silvery Stachys is used to underplant Rose The Fairy which is used 3 times crossing
borders in the garden. Again, good ground cover with interesting texture.
The pretty white primula in full flower each spring.

Texture and movement from evergreen Stipa Tenuissima.

Plenty lawn for the boys to play football beyond the grown up patio space

Used across 3 borders, Euphorbia Wulfenii offers zesty spring acidity,but also evergreen structure.
Pretty variegated Aubretia lines the edges of this bed and will soften the coping edges of the walling. 

BEFORE

The old patio was large enough, but a bit soleless as an extension to
the driveway paving. (The garage is not used for cars, so access was not an issue)

The old patio area next to the house, was an odd shape and did not "flow".

During the extension work, and back to remeasure for Plan B