Posts Tagged ‘Focal points’
The Value of Negative Space in Design
'Cramscaping' may be fun in container gardens but the value of leaving open areas within the landscape cannot be overstated. Not every square inch of your garden has to be planted. Negative space refers to the areas that we don't plant. They are intentionally left open and are typically framed by "positive" elements such as…
Read MoreDesigners Eye: using light in the garden
What do a cactus, swimming pool and a smoke bush have in common? Keep reading. I want to encourage you see gardens through a designer's eye: going beyond the 'can I grow that?', or in the case of a swimming pool 'that's nice but don't have/want/need one'. I promise that in every garden, large or…
Read MoreThe Ugly Duckling – 1 Year Later
Do you remember just how bad it was? The 'warehouse with ample parking meets multiple personality disorder' house we bought last August?? This blog post(opens in new tab) will refresh your memory, and while a year is a mere blink of an eye in garden terms, there has been significant progress in the front garden…
Read MoreYour Garden Story – The Final Chapter
Think back to your favorite book. The introduction drew you in, you followed the key characters with interest as the story was woven through a series of events and in the final chapter you were left feeling…..what? Surprise because there was an unexpected plot twist that you didn't see coming? Contentment as you read the…
Read MoreFisherman's Bay Garden – a treasure trove of ideas
Tucked away down a steep, winding lane near the charming French whaling village of Akaroa, South Island, New Zealand is Fishermans' Bay Garden, home to Jill and Richard Simpson. Accessing this gem is not for the faint of heart as the homeowners discovered in December 2021 after extreme rain caused the gravel access road to…
Read More