A big change has happened in the Greenbook world – we’ve moved! Both the business and our lives have made the exciting journey down to Exeter, Devon, a place that’s close to our hearts. It’s also where Chris first picked up his gardening tools and discovered his passion for all things gardens. With its rolling […]
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Garden designers naturally have a real interest in how their actions impact the spaces they work in. But as responsible designers, we also need to understand how these actions impact the wider world.
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It really is possible to live the dream, without spending wheelbarrow loads of money or having lots of experience and knowledge.
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Whilst forest fires blaze on one side of the globe and pandemic status is issued on another, you may feel guilty about being so concerned with the top garden
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Street dogs always have a hide out, even when they’re not a street dog anymore 😂.
Today’s Garden Rescue was a big transformation! Ripping out a lawn can be a bold move, but sometimes it just makes life easier and opens up other design opportunities.
It has made the garden easier to maintain for Anne, whilst also creating more of a journey through the garden.
The raised beds and raised water feature that you can perch on, makes it easy to potter in the garden, or just sit and relax under the pergola!
Not all gardens need crazy over the top design elements. Just a simple pergola, some nice paving details, and the sound of water is all you need for a dream garden. Oh.. and the plants of course!! 🪴
Today’s Garden Rescue was a big transformation! Ripping out a lawn can be a bold move, but sometimes it just makes life easier and opens up other design opportunities.
It has made the garden easier to maintain for Anne, whilst also creating more of a journey through the garden.
The raised beds and raised water feature that you can perch on, makes it easy to potter in the garden, or just sit and relax under the pergola!
Not all gardens need crazy over the top design elements. Just a simple pergola, some nice paving details, and the sound of water is all you need for a dream garden. Oh.. and the plants of course!! 🪴
People often have awkward spaces like this (before pic at the end) that they don’t know how to deal with. My lovely clients in Bradford on Avon wanted somewhere to catch the morning sun, surrounded by plants, all within a tiny corner of a courtyard.
The Bath stone walls make a beautiful backdrop for the garden. I used reclaimed pennant flagstones underfoot, 300mm steel edging to make a bed and deal with levels and a bespoke larch corner bench. We also used pebbles in mortar to make a threshold between the reclaimed pennant and existing cobbles.
There is even planting under the bench to maximise planting space, and a Star Jasmine on the wall. An Acer palmatum adds height and makes the garden feel more snug.
The combo of white Salvia and Geranium ‘Anne Folkard’ is a real triumph!
People often have awkward spaces like this (before pic at the end) that they don’t know how to deal with. My lovely clients in Bradford on Avon wanted somewhere to catch the morning sun, surrounded by plants, all within a tiny corner of a courtyard.
The Bath stone walls make a beautiful backdrop for the garden. I used reclaimed pennant flagstones underfoot, 300mm steel edging to make a bed and deal with levels and a bespoke larch corner bench. We also used pebbles in mortar to make a threshold between the reclaimed pennant and existing cobbles.
There is even planting under the bench to maximise planting space, and a Star Jasmine on the wall. An Acer palmatum adds height and makes the garden feel more snug.
The combo of white Salvia and Geranium ‘Anne Folkard’ is a real triumph!
Now this was a quirky garden rescue brief! A garden to show off all of the large animal sculptures that the client had collected.
Sculptures are very subjective and whilst one might not be your cup of tea, they can mean a lot to someone else. Joe absolutely adored his sculptures but they needed to be immersed in the garden so the whole family could enjoy them.
Using strong lines and vistas, the sculptures became focal points around the garden, immersed in planting. When it all grows out over the years this will be an absolutely cracking garden!
‘Luigi’ the Ligustrum topiary stag, modelled by myself and @jac_broccoli , was an extra special feature in the garden. It’s amazing what you can do with some very skilled hands, some steel wire and some privet plants! This was bespoke made by @agrumitopiary
And it was @ameliabouquetgardendesign Garden Rescue debut! I think she smashed it, can’t wait to see one of her designs built too 👌
Legendary build team too @benjaminrichardpope and co 💪
Now this was a quirky garden rescue brief! A garden to show off all of the large animal sculptures that the client had collected.
Sculptures are very subjective and whilst one might not be your cup of tea, they can mean a lot to someone else. Joe absolutely adored his sculptures but they needed to be immersed in the garden so the whole family could enjoy them.
Using strong lines and vistas, the sculptures became focal points around the garden, immersed in planting. When it all grows out over the years this will be an absolutely cracking garden!
‘Luigi’ the Ligustrum topiary stag, modelled by myself and @jac_broccoli , was an extra special feature in the garden. It’s amazing what you can do with some very skilled hands, some steel wire and some privet plants! This was bespoke made by @agrumitopiary
And it was @ameliabouquetgardendesign Garden Rescue debut! I think she smashed it, can’t wait to see one of her designs built too 👌
Legendary build team too @benjaminrichardpope and co 💪
What an awesome brief for this Garden Rescue. I love designing exotic style contemporary gardens and this one really had it all!
Putting in the water feature that you can actually walk over really made this garden feel like you were in a luxury exotic resort. Combining that with some big feature plants, bespoke chairs, and Charlie’s bar area, this ticked all the boxes.
Small gardens don’t have to be boring!
Thanks to the team as always for pulling out all the stops to make this garden.
What an awesome brief for this Garden Rescue. I love designing exotic style contemporary gardens and this one really had it all!
Putting in the water feature that you can actually walk over really made this garden feel like you were in a luxury exotic resort. Combining that with some big feature plants, bespoke chairs, and Charlie’s bar area, this ticked all the boxes.
Small gardens don’t have to be boring!
Thanks to the team as always for pulling out all the stops to make this garden.
Terraces or stepped planting gives you the opportunity to see planting from different heights and play with perspective and layering.
We have only recently planted this, but as it grows up there will be a haze of tall grasses and flowering perennials in front of these amazing stone walls.
I have repeated perennials A-symmetrically across each terrace, to draw the eye up the levels.
You can see the evergreen structure clearly at the moment, which will keep the scheme looking strong even through winter.
It definitely helps when you’ve got views as amazing as these 👀!
Terraces or stepped planting gives you the opportunity to see planting from different heights and play with perspective and layering.
We have only recently planted this, but as it grows up there will be a haze of tall grasses and flowering perennials in front of these amazing stone walls.
I have repeated perennials A-symmetrically across each terrace, to draw the eye up the levels.
You can see the evergreen structure clearly at the moment, which will keep the scheme looking strong even through winter.
It definitely helps when you’ve got views as amazing as these 👀!
The secret to making a tiny garden is actually to add MORE to it!
It seems counter intuitive, but if there are large features and every inch of the space is packed with detail, it takes you longer to see all of the garden. Whilst your brain is absorbing all of the detail it then makes seem bigger!
This was the Pocket Garden Makeover that I did with @bbctheoneshow and @the_rhs 🙌.
Let me know what your favourite bits of this garden are and if you have any challenging small spaces yourself 🪴
The secret to making a tiny garden is actually to add MORE to it!
It seems counter intuitive, but if there are large features and every inch of the space is packed with detail, it takes you longer to see all of the garden. Whilst your brain is absorbing all of the detail it then makes seem bigger!
This was the Pocket Garden Makeover that I did with @bbctheoneshow and @the_rhs 🙌.
Let me know what your favourite bits of this garden are and if you have any challenging small spaces yourself 🪴
EVENT ALERT 🪴 - I’ve got the pleasure of being a special guest at @beardygardener Garden Gathering.
I will be on stage in conversation with @beardygardener about all things gardening, design, and mental health.
It’s mental health awareness week this week, so whilst that’s fresh in your mind please go and buy tickets for the event. It all goes to support @andovermind and there is a jam packed schedule of amazing speakers and great garden activities!
EVENT ALERT 🪴 - I’ve got the pleasure of being a special guest at @beardygardener Garden Gathering.
I will be on stage in conversation with @beardygardener about all things gardening, design, and mental health.
It’s mental health awareness week this week, so whilst that’s fresh in your mind please go and buy tickets for the event. It all goes to support @andovermind and there is a jam packed schedule of amazing speakers and great garden activities!
