Blog 7

I'm amazed by the contrasts you've achieved in your garden.

Throughout the garden we contrast colour, shape and form. We don't put too many plants that lose their leaves in the winter close to each other - we mingle them with evergreens. We have tall plants next to dome ones, and put in some spreading ones - always contrasting them. We play on the colours red, blue and yellow (except in the jungle where blue doesn't look right). The garden isn't that large, but it now looks much bigger than it used to. You can't see very far and we have to ring a bell to call the family in for meals! There is a distinct change in character in various parts of the garden - "rooms", they call it. The top half is formal with lawn and summer bedding and tightly clipped conifers. The middle part is jungle and the pagoda with a tranquil area with buddha and small waterfall. The bottom part has a long, manmade stream and we let the plants grow into each other. There are lots of perennials and the end of the garden is more like a woodland because it is in the shade of very large decidious trees from the adjoining park.

Wow! It's so impressive and so obviously a lot of hard work. If I could achieve a fraction of that in my garden I would be pleased. I'll try and take on board some of your tips.