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Author Archives: George Smith

A show garden in the making

by George Smith / on 28th April 2015 / in Blog, Gardens

Our clients have lived in their house in the delightful village of Ewelme for nearly 20 years. Their back garden overlooks the watercress beds while the front is on the main road through the village. Both enjoy spending time in their garden, but felt the front, in particular, was ready for a refresh and a new look. They needed to strike a balance between having enough parking for their two cars while creating a space where they could share a drink with friends and family or just sit and watch the world go by. As keen gardeners, they also wanted a variety of plants that would create interest and impact all year round.

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Garden Tips for May

by George Smith / on 28th April 2015 / in Blog, Gardens, Ponds, Tips

Personally, I think that May is one of the best months in the garden. As magnolia and cherry blossom begin to fade, wisteria, rhododendrons, poppies and foxgloves all start to take centre stage. As this year’s new foliage starts to appear, we’re treated to a burst of sharp acid green that creates a vibrant backdrop to the emerging flowering plants. Herbaceous plants almost seem to be growing in front of your very eyes and any water in the garden – from streams to ponds to patio pots – begins to team with life.

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Do you want to do a job you can be proud of?

by George Smith / on 27th February 2015 / in Blog

Here at GreenArt we take great pride in our work, so finding the right people to join the team is really important.

To support the growth of the business and the development of our existing team, we’re currently recruiting for a Trainee Landscaper. The role is a vital one to ensure our landscapers work efficiently and effectively and to the highest standards.

Do you, or do you know anyone who fits the bill?

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Adaptability – weighing up the risks for survival

by George Smith / on 5th February 2015 / in Blog

Over the years I think the word ‘adaptability’ has featured in every job advert I have ever written. Something I feel is vital in a young person learning to be a landscaper or gardener. We have to anticipate, changing direction or task and often having to use or rely on what is available, local or native.

We are though really just tinkering with a blend of practicality and aesthetics relating to a luxury, a nice to have. Unlike the animals and plants whose environment we are encroaching on. Adaptability to many of them is no luxury – it’s the way to survive.

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Colour and song to brighten winter mornings

by George Smith / on 23rd January 2015 / in Blog

It might well be below freezing this morning, but it’s the wind in the past week or so that’s been causing problems with nest-building for a pair of Kites, busy in one of Wallingford’s many aging Lime trees. They do often start early giving their young a potentially harsh start, high up in late winter’s naked trees. The timing is probably aimed at cashing in on the harshness itself though – feeding as they do on the dead creatures their parents find.

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Enjoy the great outdoors – whatever the weather

by George Smith / on 16th December 2014 / in Blog

A recent study by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) showed that the average new family home had less than 100 square metres of floor space while it had 75 square metres of rear garden. As homes are getting smaller and gardens represent a significant proportion of our living space, homeowners are thinking carefully about how to get the best use from their outside space.

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