General

The main purpose of the garden was to create a showcase for local talent and to promote ourselves and hopefully raise our profile as designers. Susan and I wanted to make effective use of a relatively small space, incorporating both original and more traditional ideas, inspiring visitors to look afresh at their own gardens. Most ideas are a revival or renewal of old ones; we have tried to apply a modern twist to some traditional materials.

The garden is intended to be a private, intimate space to relax in. It was designed to be used as the central focus within a larger garden but could easily be adapted to be complete in itself. The aim was to create an area where the mood could be altered considerably depending on the colours and materials chosen. We have tried to evoke feelings of tranquillity and restfulness!

The garden is circular and intended to be viewed from any point around the circumference, the idea being that different vistas will emerge as you wander round the perimeter.

Planting

The planting (Buckingham Garden Centre) reflects the millennium colour scheme of purple, silver and black. We want to show how effective a limited colour range can be and how soothing to the eye and (hopefully!) the spirit. The planting consists mainly of herbaceous perennials (due mainly to the lack of time to grow plants on) and we have tried to create a hazy meadow effect by drifting grasses throughout the garden.

The boundary 'fedge' was designed to look great all year round. It is made up of metal roads (Culworth Forge) with twisted finials, black stemmed Goat Willow and silver stemmed White Poplar, all arranged in a criss-cross pattern.

Click here for the plant list.

Water Feature

A metal water feature is at the hub of the garden (Copper Cascades). The feature is a piece of sculpture combining the cold, inanimate nature of metal with the gentle movement of water and the changing reflection of the sky overhead. The design is intentionally simple and intended to have the mesmerising qualities of a crystal ball.

Structures

Four metal gazebos (Culworth Forge) punctuate the design; each gazebo is made up of a basic framework with organic looking detail added, making it more ornamental. Each one is hand crafted so is slightly different from the next. Culworth Forge has made the two metal benches in a similar way.

Miscellaneous

We are using metal birds and lizards, imported from Africa and made from reclaimed metal, in the garden. They will be dotted around the garden, scurrying amongst the foliage, sitting on the arm of a bench or climbing one of the gazebos! I think it is important to put little details in the garden that are only apparent to the more discerning eye and therefore create more levels of interest.

The paths are constructed from a mixture of charcoal grey paddlestones and aluminium gravel (Specialist Aggregates) - difficult to describe! Small aluminium smelts. The aluminium will be underlaid with cornish grit, which has a soft, silvery hue to it.

Plant List

SHRUBS
Buddleja davidii Black Knight	Populus alba	Salix gracilis Nana
Buxus sempervirens	Salix caprea	Santolina rosmarinifolia canescens
Cotinus coggygria Royal Purple	Salix exigua	Santolina virens
Lavandula vera
CLIMBERS
Clematis fusca	Clematis Jim Follis	Clematis viticella Polish Spirit
HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS
Acaena Blue Haze	Euphorbia amygdaloides robbiae	Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens
Acaena buchananii	Euphorbia characias wulfenii	Penstemon Sour Grapes
Acanthus spinosus	Euphorbia cyparissus Clarice Howard	Sedum Bertram Anderson
Aconitum cammarum Bicolor	Geranium pratense Victor Reiter	Soleirolia soleirolii
Ajuga reptans Tricolor	Geranium renardii	Stachys Silver Carpet
Alchemilla conjuncta	Hemerocallis Prairie Blue Eyes	Thalictrum aquilegiifolium Thundercloud
Artemesia Valerie Finnis	Hemerocallis Royal Robe	Verbena bonariensis
Campanula latiloba Hidcote Amethyst	Heuchera Plum Puddin	Verbena hastata
Cynara cardunculus	Iris chrysographes	Viola Bowles Black
Eryngium planum	Linaria purpurea	Viola labradorica Purpurea
Eryngium tripartitum	Nepeta Souvenir d'Andre Chaudron	Viola Molly Sanderson
Euphorbia amygdaloides Purpurea	Onopordum acanthium
GRASSES
Briza media	Elymus magellenicus	Miscanthus sinensis Silberspinne
Calamagrostis acutiflora Overdam	Festuca Elijah Blue	Molina caerulea
Carex greyii	Koeleria glauca	Stipa tenuissima
Carex trifida
BULBS
Allium cristophii
ANNUALS
Cerinthe major Purpurascens	Lathyrus Charlie's Angel	Salvia discolor
Heliotropium	Nicotiana langsdorfii	Salvia Rhea
HERBS
Foeniculum vulgare	Salvia officinalis	Thymus pseudolanuginosus
Foeniculum vulgare Purpureum	Salvia officinalis Pupurascens	Thymus Siver Posie
Mentha requienii