SOMERSET HOUSE EXHIBITION
Christmas is a good time to find space, in between family visits, to go and do something for yourself. We went to Somerset House in London to see the Forgotten Spaces exhibition. In small rooms, perhaps old stables, there were plans and exhibits set up to show how different areas of London, currently [...]
I gave a talk this afternoon to the U3A. I hoped everyone came along because they all love their gardens and not for the tea and biscuits or because my Mum had paid them. Actually, it was great to be able to talk to ‘real’ gardeners. Not for them the low maintenance border, and these are [...]
When we create our homes, we have various rooms with places to sit; sometimes to relax, and sometimes to sit upright and eat. I think that the garden should provide the same kind of seating arrangements. Gardens should have tables and chairs - a place to have breakfast and read the weekend papers, preferably not [...]
I have just started work on the plans and design for a wonderful job. It’s in Tooting and the client has bought this gorgeous house - well, it WILL be gorgeous - overlooking the green with mature trees all around with tree preservation orders in abundi. It should be fun working with all of these [...]
We have been planting up three gardens this week and getting the plants has been sooooo difficult. March is usually a great time for herbaceous plants but the nurseries seem to be struggling to fill the huge amounts of orders that have flooded in so far this month. All the initial plants that were grown [...]
Spring has sprung, and the gardens are starting to take on the lush new growth that tells us we are on the right road. The clocks will go forward very soon and the light levels will make everything grow like mad. I can’t help but feel that my emotions and passion for the garden are on hold [...]
Well, what a wonderful day! I have passed my Society of Garden Designers adjudication and I am now a Registered Member of the Society of Garden Designers. To the layman, this may not mean much, but for those hardy souls who have worked on their construction drawings, their setting out plans, their planting schedules [...]
Derelict houses are so romantic, full of promise and mystery. The broken windows, collapsing infrastructure and faded grandeur all tell of another era, a time long gone when others looked out of windows, stood on balconies and saw another world. They say that there are plans to turn these wonderful buildings into a five star [...]
I enjoyed walking around Trentham Gardens in Staffordshire yesterday, but for the novice gardener it would have been nigh on impossible to know what plants were in the borders. I spent ages writing down plant names and varieties into my notebook, but there was very little to be seen at present. I know this is [...]
It’s been a very busy week for design appointments and we are pleased to have so much work going forward for the rest of the year. I visited the most wonderful house - in the middle of nowhere and with 47 acres. I always think that owning woodland and fields is a very special responsibility. [...]
Last night I attended the 30th birthday anniversary of the Society of Garden Designers in London. It was held at the Royal Horticultural Societies’ Exhibition Halls and was a lovely event. Garden designers rarely get the chance to meet up and exchange ideas and news. Ours can be a lonely occupation at times - sitting [...]
It’s been a bit of a miserable week. Rain has stopped play a couple of times. However, Kevin’s leaving the crutches behind sometimes, so the knee progresses. I’ve realized that I’m not cut out for long-term care and would like somebody to make ME a cup of tea now. I’m enjoying going out to site and [...]
We are delighted to have won an award in this year’s prestigious BALI National Awards for a Hove garden, completed last year.
It was really disappointing that we couldn’t get to the awards ceremony, due to the suspension of all train services. The cars were stuck in the drive and we managed to get to Three [...]
