A redesign of a garden from 11 years ago following an extension

"Don't worry, your garden won't suffer", said her builder.   He lied!!

I designed this garden originally about 12 years ago, and following a large extension, it was a pleasure to be invited back to redesign the space to suit the needs of the family today. There were no children 12 years ago, when a huge pond was installed as part of the brief. Now a family of 4, more important was a large patio space, and some raised beds for vegetables.... with some nice planting too of course, and a much smaller wildlife pond.

Newly planted, it will of course look quite different by next year as the young plants bulk out, and begin to spread.

The garden slopes, and the patio steps down to the lawn area. A bed within the patio space can be enjoyed close to the house
through the large bi fold doors. Plants for this sunny spot include Stipa Gigantea, Asters, Crocosmia, Echinacea,
Caryopteris, Salvia, Sedum, and Stachys, with edgers of Euphorbia Myrsinities, and Thyme.

Stepping down from the patio, the left of the garden is shaded by a large wall and fence, so plants with interesting foliage
are crucial here for textural interest including Sarcococca (for it's beautiful winter scent), Euonymous,
Brunnera Jack Frost, Carex Evergrold, Ferns, and Actea.

Next to the wildlife pond, Sedum, Pennisetum grass and Heuchera enjoy the sunshine. In the distance,a brick edged
gravel path leads to 3 vegetable beds which await planting once the sunflowers are removed, and connects back to the patio.

The garden as we found it, after the extension

Why have lawn when you can have a pond!

I was asked to design a garden for a couple whose main desire was plenty of space for table and chairs, two garden sofas, a swing seat, and also two benches. Almost at the last minute, they also said they fancied a pond.        

By the time I had planned the seating areas, and pond, I decided there was little point having any lawn, so made the pond bigger instead. The garden is only just planted, so it will of course be very different next year, but here is the new layout. They have employed a gardener now who will ensure the garden is kept neat and weedfree for them to sit and enjoy, so I can look forward to revisit knowing that it is well tended.

Sofas now have plenty of space and overlook the pond.

The new patio  large enough for table, chairs and sofas.

The gravel path leads to the shed

The gravel path continues past the pond, to a swing seat, offering this alternative
view of the garden.

How it looked before..........

A mature garden with a revamp

This customer's garden was nicely mature, but the owners wanted to somehow freshen it up. Photos taken in February do not show any garden at it's best, although it had lots of evergreens. These are great for winter, but if too many are planted, leave little space for seasonal changes.

The problems......

1. The garden is large, however both patio areas are barely big enough to fit a table for 6, since they both have raised beds included within the patio space.
2. The garden's entire length can be seen from one end to the other. It would benefit from some sub division.
3. All of the planting is around the edges, and therefore mostly covered by shade from the many trees. Also very rooty to work with new planting around the trees.
4. The fish pond is a square brick raised pond, on a second patio area, and can only be enjoyed if standing over it looking in.
5. A wildlife pond is looking tired, and would benefit from enlarging.
6. The Amelanchier is looking very sad, having fallen over and been propped up last winter.
7. The Shed, and dustbins are the main focal point from the patio doors

THE BEFORE SHOTS....

The fish pond was a raised brick pool taking up lots of patio space.

The garden cried out for sub-division, and the bamboo seemed
the idea starting point.

The other patio with a circular raised bed eating into the patio space.

The customer kindly supplied a few "during" photos of work in progress.

Extending the existing patio. They chose to use the same paving,
which will soon weather in given a couple of years.

The pergola with brick detail below will subdivide the long garden, once the planting is also added to the right hand
side of the pergola. A concrete trench was placed around the bamboo to stop if from further encroaching.

As parts of the old patio are dug up, a new timber raised bed will
provide depth for vegetable production

The AFTER pictures...

The square raised pond now gone, and a new patio laid.  A new 2 pond system was built with waterfall from upper to lower pool. A bark path now  cuts through what was a difficult area to maintain. The path now allowing access to maintain the garden , but also to enjoying walking between the planting.

This second patio, now has plenty of  space for entertaining, and overlooking the ponds. Trellis will soon be clothed with climbing plants to screen to shed .

The new Island bed will enjoy full sun for several hours each day, and by next year will be much fuller
with perennial plants. In the background, a large Eleagnus shrub was also removed from next to the fence,
and a small area for a bench introduced. This offers a different view across the garden towards the ponds.

The patio now larger, with a step leading onto the lawn. plenty space now for a party!

Happy Insects!

With the recent rain, it was a good opportunity today to do some gardening with the soil unusually moist for August. First job was to split a group of Iris which did not flower well this year. Discarding the old centre, a few bits of rhizome from the edges were broken off and planted. The foliage was also cut down to just about 4 " , so that the roots will get established over winter without the wind rocking the foliage. All being well, better flowers next May.

Plenty of flowers today for a variety of insects to enjoy. Here are some results using the macro lens. I can name the plants, but not the insects!

Aster Divaricatus

Aster Divaricatus

Sedum Matrona

Aster Divaricatus

Ligularia Britt Marie Crawford

Ligularia Britt Maria Crawford

Aster Frikartii Monch

Anemone Honorine Jobert. Ok, so no insects, but love this flower.

Astrantia Major back flowering for the second time, after cutting hard back about 4 weeks ago

Asttrantia Major

Veronicastrum Virginicum Alba

Insects- August

At last the sun has come out today, after what seems like weeks of grey days. The insect population loves it today, and in just a few minutes in our garden I spotted all of these, and many more. 

My only complaint is the breeze, which makes macro photography difficult, but a minor complaint..... great to see the sun. The BBQ will definitely be used this evening!

Red eyed bug on ASTER FRIKARTII MONCH

Some kind of bee on ASTER FRIKARTII MONCH

Bees love all Echincaceas. This is ECHINACEA WHITE SWAN

The bees love Veronicastrums too. This is VERONICASTRUM VIRGINICUM ALBA

Plenty of nectar to share on VERBENA BONARIENSIS

Butterflies love Verbena too.

Customer Garden - 4 months later

I was invited to add interest to this small garden earlier this year. The own had recently moved in, and the only colour in the garden was green, with no prospects of it changing throughout the year. This is just 4 months later, but by next year the planting will have filled out. The spring bulbs of Camassia, Anemone and Alliums now passed, to be replaced by the mid summer colours.

Before

A patio was already in place next to the conservatory, but I often suggest that at least one other place to sit is inviting, then the planting can be enjoyed from different viewpoints. The customer chose this pretty green bench to view the garden from the side. A trellis screen which will soon be covered with climbers, hides the access to her compost area.

An archway reached via a bricked edged gravel path zig zagging down the garden, leads to a further area for a seat in shade.

The brick path zig zags down the garden and under a pergola, with planting to both sides.
Tall Stipa Gigantea will add height and movement to the centre of the garden for many months.

Hamerocallis Stafford (Day Lily) looking very happy and echoed across both borders.

Zingy Euphorbia Wallichii

Pink flowers of Eupatorium Orchard Dene, next to Helenium Rauchtopaz, with lots more buds still to open

Box hedging will soon add structure to the path edges leading through the side of the pergola

View from the side entrance. Planting close to a Leylandii hedge, means dry shade planting. Here Ferns, Hellebores and
Geranium Nodosum will soon carpet the ground.

Customer Garden - 2 years later

Following a contemporary extension to this client's home, the garden looked very tired and needed bringing up to date. 

THE CURRENT GARDEN

With  the site sloping away from the house, the previous owners had installed some steps which didn't lead to or from anywhere. 

BEFORE and some very dated steps leading to and from nowhere.

THE BRIEF

To provide a contemporary feel to the garden, flowing from the large kitchen/family room with plenty  of patio space for tables and chairs but also outdoor sofas. Additionally, a safe play area for the couples pre -school age daughter, and a year round hard path to the home office at the far end of the garden.

THE RESULTS

Same view looking back towards the house.

The garden now split into two defined levels with plenty of flat patio space and lawn with planting borders either side.

View from the upper patio, with the playhouse partly screened by planting at lower level

The paving chosen to match the kitchen floor flows seamlessly from the bi-fold door
offering plenty of options for setting up additional seating when entertaining for large groups.

The steps leading to the lower section of garden, then lead into a wide path with planting either side. This the route to the home office via the pergola.

Agapanthus enjoy the sunny conditions

Cowparsley looking lovely against with the simplicity of the large bottom lawn area.

The path under the pergola wide enough for a small table and chairs where Mum and Dad can sit to watch
their young child in her play area off to the left.

Looking up the garden from the shady area where the home office was already in place. New planting
around the edges soften the existing deck and also make mowing the lawn easier without the vertical
edge of the deck meeting lawn.

The upper part of the garden was planted by Acorn Garden Services, then the client herself, keen to learn, planted the lower section herself.  Well done! I love when a client becomes interested in gardening.