This long garden belonged to a traditional Victorian villa in Cardiff and the brief was to provide a segmented garden with three areas and to improve the overall level of privacy as the garden was overlooked by neighbouring properties.
To see more on this design check out it’s page here
Below is the video showing the design in 3D and photos of the finished garden
We try to put integrated seating in lots of our designs. Just for that time when the sun comes out, the kettle has boiled and you want to go and enjoy your garden.
Seats and benches can be integrated into all sorts of areas in the garden. We also use them to create focal points within designs. Here are a few different examples we’ve done recently.
Floating Slate Bench
Integrated Seat made from reclaimed flagstone
Slate Bench Detail
Long Integrated Bench under-planted with ferns
Playing with some new technology as always. Here is one of our recent designs shown in a more traditional form.
The success of the redesign of their back garden and the arrival of a large motor-home spurred this client to commission us to redesign their front garden. The brief was to create a modern and clean design for the front garden, keeping as much as possible of the mature plants while increasing the access and parking capacity.
Watch the design video below or see more details of this design on it’s page here
This modern water feature worked in all circumstances. Made from quartzitic slate tiles that sparkle in the sun it is attractive when turned off. It comes alive when switched on, the water gently cascades over the surface of the tiles.
To add a further dimension the feature is lit at night. The pump and lighting are on separate circuits so you can choose to only hear it, only see it or both.
The water reservoir is hidden and so the feature is completely safe for children.
To see the garden that features this water cascade click here
Watch the video below to see the feature in action
Here’s a modern suburban garden design that we created in 2013. We used a mixed of traditional and modern materials to create a crisp and simple design that made the most of the L shaped space.
To see more on this design check out it’s page here
Below is the video showing the design in 3D and photos of the finished garden
Although there are some lovely Primulas available in the garden centres with bright colours we tend to only use them in winter containers. We much prefer the native form Primula vulgaris which, with it’s pale yellow flowers and clump forming habit is a great addition at the base of trees, shrubs and hedges.
Appearing in early spring at the same time as the first daffodils they light up a dark corner and need to be lifted and divided every few years (do this Sept – April).
“Primrose” is ultimately from Old French primerose or medieval Latin prima rosa, meaning first “rose” Make sure you buy from a reputable source and never pick them in the wild. To prevent excessive damage to the species, picking of primroses or the removal of primrose plants from the wild is illegal
One of our favourite spring perennials is Dicentra spectabilis commonly known as Bleeding Heart. It thrives in a semi shady spot but can thrive in full sun as long as the soil stays moist. It can work well either front or mid border. The unusual flowers stand out in the garden and stay around during the whole spring and into the summer.
For those who don’t want the vibrant pink flowers the white cultivar Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’ is well worth considering.
Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’
Slow growing and gorgeous the Magnolia stellata is a perfect specimen for a small garden. The beautiful white flowers appear in early spring before the bright green leaves. If you get close, you’ll be able to catch it’s scent.
Contrast it against a dark evergreen background either in a border or a large container. It likes a a bit of ericaceous (acidic) compost but is not too fussy.
Cultivars are available, some of which have traces of pink in the flowers. Magnolia stellata ‘Rubra’ actually has dark pink flowers.
One of the best things about this time of the year is that plants with scent and flowers stand out because you’re just not expecting them. Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’ is one such plant.
Easy to grow and maintain it will get up to 8 -10 foot as a multi stemmed shrub or can be kept smaller if required. The beautifully scented flowers appear sometimes as early as November and continue right through into the spring when the mid green foliage takes over.
Depending on the weather the plant can get quite nice autumn colour too before dropping it’s leaves.
‘Dawn’ works best against a dark background or as a focal point. Position it in a spot that you walk past regularly or near a window or door to get the most of the heavenly scent.
The pictures above were taken in January and as you can see the flowers were really getting going.