The Cloister Style Pergola, Part Two

You may not have read in November of last year a post about a landscape renovation that we have had underway since June of 2018. A part of this project in process involves the design and fabrication of a large scale cloister style pergola. The story behind the design and fabrication? Click here for the [...]

from Dirt Simple http://deborahsilver.com/blog/the-cloister-style-pergola-part-two/

Glen Iris Project – Garden Design

Typically our garden design process begins with a brief from our clients on what they want from their space, we present our solutions to meet these needs, then execute our agreed design in its entirety. In the case of our Glen Iris project it ran a little differently. Our design was constructed over four stages between 2013 and 2017 to coincide with our clients extensive home renovation.

The landscape design brief given to us by our clients, a garden loving family of four, was to update their tired, run down garden and give it a new lease on life. We were encouraged to take our design to the edge of contemporary without straying too far from the traditional.

Taking on this project, we faced many landscaping challenges. Arguably the most pressing, to disguise the unattractive neighbouring block of units visible from the rear garden and provide a new ‘positive’ focal point. Towards the latter part of the construction, we also faced privacy issues with a new property being built next door.

Disguising neighbouring dwellings was not our only hurdle, we needed ways to improve the overall flow of the garden.

In theory, the fundamentals of the garden were to remain, a lawn area, pool and pavilion but all were in need of a functional, modern face lift.

Given the size of the property it afforded the opportunity to design different zones. Although considered to be self-contained gardens with their own purpose and feel, it was vital that these zones shared a common thread to help tie them together and give the entire garden design cohesion.

We chose classic plants reminiscent of the era but ensured the layout had a modern edge. To link the hard landscape surfaces we laid Travertine paving in a traditional method but in a contemporary layout to give it a slick sharp finish.

On our first site visit, we were delighted to find a magnificent specimen Golden Elm tree at the rear of the property, a key feature we happily worked around.

At the rear, to draw the eye down and create interest, Buxus spheres were “randomly placed” in the lawn (a nod to one of our favourite designers Tom Stuart-Smith).

To combat the neighbouring eyesore, screening was erected to block the units. Deciduous Pears previously used to hide the units were transplanted to another part of the garden to bulk up the effectiveness of the screening. A double row of evergreen Ficus ‘Flash’ were then used to form a continuous solid pleached hedge in helping to block out the flats while also providing a dark background for the bright light green foliage of the Golden Elm to stand out and become even more of a feature.

The garden bed under the double row of pleached Ficus has been planted out with mixed perennials. Viewed from the pavilion, the long bed extends for the length of the lawn with a client selected sculpture placed at the end to draw your eye through the differing perennials.

To improve the flow of the space, we levelled out the lawn and removed many unnecessary steps making it easier to move around the garden.

We relocated and rebuilt the stairs off the residence to the backyard, adding a landing area to increase functionality and safety.

We sourced a beautiful large mature evergreen Magnolia from NSW which we installed down the side of the property to assist with the screening and privacy to the new dwelling next door.

On the North side of the property, we created a terrace above the garage. A functional area designed for casual dining, we used large Lilly Pillys to screen this space and added a sun shielding pergola to keep the house cool in summer.

As with all jobs but especially ones with heritage front facades, keeping healthy, original planting is of utmost importance. This existing front garden contained a number of established traditional plants. We chose to continue with the planting palette of Camellias, Azaleas, Hydrangea and Lilacs but executed the styling with a more modern approach. Japanese Maples, Iris and Ajuga were integrated to help connect the front and rear gardens.

After four years in the making, we’re thrilled with how this design has come to fruition and even happier knowing that we’ve created a space that our clients enjoy and are proud to call their own.

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from Ian Barker Gardens https://www.landscape.net.au/glen-iris-project-garden-design/

‘Dreamscapes’ by Claire Takacs

‘Dreamscapes – Inspiration and beauty in gardens near and far’ is a stunning collection of over fifty of the world’s most beautiful gardens from across the globe. Photographed by one of our absolute favourites, internationally renowned and awarded photographer Claire Takacs.

Primarily Melbourne based, Claire is a highly recognised garden photographer who has visited and photographed some of the best and most innovative gardens around the world. She spends half of every year travelling internationally and her photographs are regularly included in the top international gardening magazines. Claire’s work is also represented in many international gardening books.

‘Dreamscapes’ includes many gardens designed by famous designers such as Piet Oudolf and Spanish designer Fernando Martos among others, with photographed locations including New Zealand, UK, USA, Europe and Asia.

Iconic gardens included are the stunning Welsh garden Dyffryn Fernant, Martha Stewart’s private garden, the beautiful Edwardian idyll of Bryan’s Ground in Herefordshire, the former home of Vita Sackville-West, Long Barn in Kent, the naturalistic French garden of Le Jardin Plume in Normandy, Hermannshof in Germany at the forefront of planting design, and Kenrokuen, one of Japan’s most beautiful public gardens.

This stunning book will astound and delight you with the diversity and creativity of the gardens featured, all captured at that rare moment when they are at their most breathtaking.

In theory it would make the ideal mother’s day gift, but realistically it’s too hard to give away. Maybe mum could just flick through when she visits?

For more on this spectacular book, click here

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from Ian Barker Gardens https://www.landscape.net.au/dreamscapes-by-claire-takacs/

A Spring Mix

We plant loads of containers in April in celebration of the spring season. The length, depth, and breadth of that planting is informed and driven by those materials available that can tolerate the chill. Farmed twigs are shipped to us in early spring and late fall. They provide mass, volume and height to our container [...]

from Dirt Simple http://deborahsilver.com/blog/a-spring-mix/

Daphne ‘Eternal Fragrance’

Awarded ‘Best New Product’ at the 2011 Australian Business Awards, Daphne ‘Eternal Fragrance’ is a must have plant. Backed by thirty years of research and development ‘Eternal Fragrance’ is the creation of renowned plant breeder, Robin White.

Overcoming the traditional hurdles associated with growing Daphne’s, this variety stands above all others with its ability to perform in full sun as well as part shade. With exquisite sweetly fragrant flowers on deep green foliage, ‘Eternal Fragrance’ offers repeat flowing throughout the year. First flush is in late winter, then in early summer and again in autumn.

A truly outstanding garden and pot performer, ‘Eternal Fragrance’ is stunning as a low, perfumed informal hedge or border, or under-planted beneath open tree canopies. It’s also ideal for small gardens, patios and courtyards.

Growing to 60cm in height by 90cm wide, ‘Eternal Fragrance’ requires a well-drained position in the garden and once established requires only occasional deep watering during periods of extended heat.

This plant was a perfect choice for our Glen Iris project – low maintenance, hardy, with beauty and fragrance. It definitely gets a big tick from us.

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from Ian Barker Gardens https://www.landscape.net.au/daphne-eternal-fragrance/

April 2, 2019

What was noteworthy about this past Tuesday, the second of April? We planted containers and flower beds at 5095 for spring, 3 weeks earlier than last year. Our first spring planting. The morning was decidedly chilly, but the afternoon was sunny and warm. I could not have been more pleased or content to be outside [...]

from Dirt Simple http://deborahsilver.com/blog/april-2-2019/

James van Sweden – International Garden Designer

James van Sweden was an innovative landscape architect who in the 1970s successfully reinvented the look and character of the American garden. He passed away in 2013 at the age of 78.

Partnering with Wolfgang Oehme in 1975, he was well regarded internationally for his radically different approach to landscape design — replacing staid evergreen hedging, bedding annuals and groomed lawns with broad sweeps of long-flowering perennials and ornamental grasses.

The vision was a rejection of passive vegetative landscape architecture in favour of the bold massing of grasses and perennials that placed the observer in the midst of a living tapestry. The result was a garden that actively responded to light, wind and seasonal change.  The author of 5 books on the discipline, in “Gardening With Nature” (1997), James stated “they move in the breeze and sparkle like stained glass”.

The look became known as the “New American Garden” and seized the imagination of clients. The duo’s work ranged from private homes, including Oprah Winfrey’s garden, to major public spaces such as the Nelson A. Rockefeller Park overlooking the Hudson River in lower Manhattan.

Van Sweden advocated his style in even small urban spaces as a way of capturing the natural exuberance of the prairie and meadow. He also espoused the idea that gardens should be planted for year-round interest. James’ objective is “to lead the eye deeper into a scene which is not completely revealed, even in so tiny a space.”

An avid art collector, various artists influenced James’ work: abstract expressionists taught him to mass colours, while painters such as Edward Hopper and David Hockney showed the value of creating hard edges and delineation.

James’ work has clearly left a huge mark on the landscaping industry worldwide and we’re truly thankful for his contribution in shaping the way we consider design.

For more on this incredible designer, click here

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from Ian Barker Gardens https://www.landscape.net.au/james-van-sweden-international-garden-designer/