Searched "small garden ideas" and variations of on Pinterest, spent days looking through the results until I saw a basic design I liked that I thought would work. The only similarity in planting is the trees. As for planting in general, I take the trial and error approach. I pick based on light requirements, growth in neutral soil, colour and flower/leaf shape. Sometimes the plants need repositioning, sometimes they just don't work and get given away.
More interested in plants than structures so show gardens, GW and Beechgrove visits to gardens, RHS magazine, visiting gardens myself, books, internet then trial and error.
I like to theme colours if I can and have contrasts of form in foliage and flowers but it doesn't always work. Haven't been here long and all the beds are new and made in different aspects and exposures - two against walls and all the rest are islands. The soil varies wildly across this plot so what's in my head may turn out to be impossible.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I prefer to think that my garden has "evolved" rather than been designed. I admire those who can design a garden, but l certainly couldn't do it. The thought of being presented with a blank piece of paper and told "Here's the brief, off you go" fills me with horror.
Maybe all gardens have been "designed" in some way, it depends upon the interpretation l suppose.
Exactly @AnniD - most of us, and our gardens, evolve over time, and as budget and improving skills allow us to fire our imagination and fulfil our needs and hopes.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
One year I had a beautiful bed that just 'worked' but more by luck than planning. It didn't repeat the next year. Maybe I should have lifted the dahlias!
Love garden design. Like others I collect ideas from Pinterest ,from garden designers, magazines, YouTubers and obviously from real gardens. Then through both osmosis and study this collection of ideas becomes something of my own.
I'm not that inclined to watch the TV makeover type shows for whatever reason.
I have quite the collection of gardening books that I have accumulated over the years. I particularly like Rosemary Verey and any book that shows beautiful borders. I have visited Chelsea twice and there have been corners here and there that I particularly admired. I am going to stop my subscription to Gardens Illustrated as I am losing patience with the emphasis on what seems more like architect designed gardens with artfully placed boulders etc for obviously very wealthy clients who are not gardeners themselves. None of that inspires, in the way that a border at Great Dixter say, or one depicted by Tony Lord, or the words of Graham Rice do. I agreed with the ethos behind deliberately introducing 'weeds' into gardens to encourage wildlife at Chelsea this year - something I can achieve very easily in my own garden. As for actual design - we all have to work with what we have on our plots and place our borders, vegetable patches, lawns or what have you where they will work best.
As for actual design - we all have to work with what we have on our plots and place our borders, vegetable patches, lawns or what have you where they will work best.
An excellent point @didyw, that's what many people ignore and then make expensive mistakes by not getting to know and understand their garden's soil, aspect, climate and what will grow there.
I've also cancelled my subscription to Gardens Illustrated for the same reasons. I'd much rather visit this forum to see other people's real gardens and learn from their experiences. The photographic threads are particularly helpful to discover new plants and see how combinations of plants work together, please keep them going!
All these have ideas which can be imaginative and encouraging to ones own imagination. I'm always looking at any garden program for design tips and ideas to help me with my uncreative mind (at least in the garden that is).
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
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I like to theme colours if I can and have contrasts of form in foliage and flowers but it doesn't always work. Haven't been here long and all the beds are new and made in different aspects and exposures - two against walls and all the rest are islands. The soil varies wildly across this plot so what's in my head may turn out to be impossible.
I admire those who can design a garden, but l certainly couldn't do it. The thought of being presented with a blank piece of paper and told "Here's the brief, off you go" fills me with horror.
Maybe all gardens have been "designed" in some way, it depends upon the interpretation l suppose.
I'm not that inclined to watch the TV makeover type shows for whatever reason.
I agreed with the ethos behind deliberately introducing 'weeds' into gardens to encourage wildlife at Chelsea this year - something I can achieve very easily in my own garden.
As for actual design - we all have to work with what we have on our plots and place our borders, vegetable patches, lawns or what have you where they will work best.
I've also cancelled my subscription to Gardens Illustrated for the same reasons. I'd much rather visit this forum to see other people's real gardens and learn from their experiences. The photographic threads are particularly helpful to discover new plants and see how combinations of plants work together, please keep them going!
All these have ideas which can be imaginative and encouraging to ones own imagination. I'm always looking at any garden program for design tips and ideas to help me with my uncreative mind (at least in the garden that is).
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'