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.

L - Shaped Garden with Large Pine Trees... what to do?

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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 

View from the Wendy House

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.

The raised bed with silver, white and purples

BEFORE..... Very uninspiring.

The side view to the Garage

The back of the house . Path and patio, but the patio not big enough to be comfortable, so this was extended further out.

The Wendy house corner.

Conifer hedge gone - and now for some more interesting planting!

This customer's garden was dominated by a conifer hedge all along the back boundary, and of course we all know that plants struggle to grow next to conifer hedges. So they asked my advice, and I did not hesitate to encourage them to have it removed.  A bold step after they had lived with it for so many years, but they decided to go for it. It is a sunny garden and they were missing a trick by not being  able to plant in the south facing back border.

The new planting on the back boundary include an Amelanchier Tree, Choisya, Physocarpus and a selection of climbers which will cover the new fence over the next 3 years. New perennials which will give good impact THIS YEAR, include early flowering Alliums, Geraniums, Alchemilla Mollis, Achillia, Lavender,  and for colour right into October, Asters, Sedums, Crocosmia, and Rudbekia.

The planting was previously stuck to the edges, so the new arch with its offset circular border adds a new dimension to the garden, and since the customer has lot of pots, plenty of space for them on the generous gravel path......... and less lawn to cut too!

Newly planted, and with new patio, step, pathway and arch

BEFORE, THE CONIFER HEDGE ON THE BACK BOUNDARY WAS A WASTE OF A SOUTH FACING BORDER.....

Before. The right border, and back border

Before. The tired brickwork patio and all planting around the edges of the garden. 

Signs of spring

I love this time of year. Cold, bright and colour starts to appear in the garden.

Hellebore Argutifolius

Primula

Hellebore Orientalis

Iris Reticulata

Anmone Blanda

Crocus

Two years later

I received some photos in the last few days from a customer whose garden was brought up to date two years ago. I do not like to remove shrubs if they are working, so keeping a good deal of maturity, it was a case of working with a new layout to inject some further interest into the garden space, and adding perennials within existing borders to make them more dynamic.

I also split up the expanse of lawn, with brick edged gravel pathway, which leads to new steps and a second patio on the raised part of the garden, and the evening sun.

BEFORE photos are at the end of the blog

BEFORE, a rather predictable layout with large lawn and borders around the edges.

Adding another dimension to a tired garden

This garden is walking distance from my home, so I know exactly what the soil conditions are like...... clay!  That said, there are a huge number of plants which do very well in clay, and  it's a case of breaking it down, working in organic matter, and selecting plants which will be thrive. The garden is southwest facing, so plenty of sun, near the house and side borders, where the soil will dry out in summer, but shade from the garden wall along the  back border, allows for different plants, which will enjoy the shade.

The patio near the house was replaced recently, so it was to stay, but the rest of the garden was basically lawn, with empty borders where conifers had been removed.

Rather than simply replant the empty borders, I suggested that an arch should be built with a pathway leading to a second seating area. This allows instant height within the garden,  the opportunity to walk between planting, and enjoy an alternative view of the garden too.

I look forward to a revisit next year. It's going to look fantastic.

Sedum, Aster Frikartii, Lavender and early Allium bulbs will enjoy
this sunny spot,

The south facing border will next year be full of Roses, Day Lilies, Oregano, Balotta, Stipa Gigantea
Knautia Macedonica, Geranium Rozanne and Verbena Bonariesis. The shed previously very
prominent in the garden, will soon be hidden by Jasmine and Goldren Hop clad trellis

The dainty glaucous foliage of Dianthus will edge the border next to the patio, in contrast to 
the chunky foliage of Euphorbia Myrsinites

The new arch, and brick edged path is one route to the seating area. A climbing Rose
will make it's way up the trellis on the right, and on the leflt , Panicum Heavy Metal grasses, will
subtlety block the view to the left and also catch the westerly evening sun. In the far corner a

Silver Birch tree which was in a pot, has been planted, and in time will screen the houses beyond. 

Schitzostylis  Mrs Haggerty. A lovely late season surprise with grassy foliage
which has looked good all season. Viburnum Davidii will provide a green back drop.

A spring plant, Tiarella Wherryi flowering for a second time due to the mild autumn.
Dark Heuchera Obsidan in the back ground add a touch of dark foliage amongst the greens.

I selected useful ground cover plants for the shady areas, which will knit together amongst the old conifer roots, including Viburnum Davidii, Euonoymous, Geranium Nodosum, Geranium Macrorhyzum, Dryopteris Felix- mas, Epimediums and Geranium Phaem.

Shrubs to add height to the shadier parts of the garden included Viburnum Tinus, Aucuba, Hydrangea, Ilex and Viburnum Dawn.  Perennials in the wetter areas include Ligularia, Trollius and Lythrum.


And in the sunnier parts, Roses, Daphne, Lavender, Stipa Gigantea, Deutzia and Physocarpus, will add height to the many sun loving perennials.


BEFORE.   
The garden before had the typical patio, lawn, shed and planting around all the edges. Now it will offer so much more interest.

BEFORE

BEFORE. Empty border after conifers had been removed.