A quintessential English cottage garden and true work of art
Having returned to the UK after living in the American Southwest for over forty years, this couple looked forward to retiring to a country home surrounded by a picture book cottage garden.
The garden needed to be easy to look after whilst also providing the ‘wow’ factor and ‘instant gratification’ they dreamed of.
Using Indian Sandstone paving, a new raised terraced was created in the corner for outdoor seating and relaxing, shaded by a radiating quarter circle pergola planted with trailing climbers.
A curved line of stepping stones and an edged gravel path lead from the paved areas across the lawn to a sunny bench set in front of fragrant lavender and year-round ground cover.
Close to the house and seating areas, the sweeping herbaceous border was filled with cottage-garden classics of roses, geraniums, nepeta and a purple blaze of Penstemon ‘Midnight Masquerade’ to provide drama, colour and interest.
Flowing through the whole garden is the creamy, textured Yorkstone wall that not only incorporates a Douglas Fir seat, but also the structure for easy-to-manage raised beds that are home to a thick Taxus baccata (Yew) hedge.
Purple Heuchera Obsidians and Geranium ‘Brookside’ stand out against the deep green backdrop of the Yew, small fireworks of Sesleria autumnalis add some height and fluffy texture, and a small fernery sits nestled in the corner, leaves unfurling and spilling over the wall.
Duration
3 weeks
Location
Back garden
Benson, Oxon.
Dimensions
18 x 7m
Call 01491 280447
Email info@greenart.co.uk
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