|
|
Post by andy on Feb 27, 2007 11:46:50 GMT
If you had a one acre plot as your back garden and unlimited cash....what theme would you have your garden in. The plot is flat and just undug soil with a 6' wall around the plot. You can get large plant (machinery) in the garden to help with landscaping. Would you have an English cottage garden scene with a little veranda for afternoon tea or maybe a tropical garden with large foliage and gaudy colours ? Maybe you'd opt for an arid garden or an alpine scene. I'd almost certainly go for a Japanese garden. A Tea house, pergoda and large lake with a bridge would be the focal points with large drifts of japanese plants giving beautiful reflections off the water. Large Foo dog statues would guard the temple and there would be a vast expanse of white gravel raked into patterns. Rocks would provide structure and seating areas too and moss would be encouraged alongside pathways. Simple lanterns would provide subtle lighting and the whole area would be based on peace and tranquility.     Discuss |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2007 12:56:06 GMT
Oh, what a dream. I'm assuming this garden is attached to the house, and (well, it is a dream) is in the inner city.
I'd divide it between an ornamental garden (the two-thirds closest to the house) and a fruit and vegetable garden (the final third, seperated from the ornamental garden by a dry stone wall and a pergola gate with climbers.
The ornamental garden would have curved borders, so that the lawn is more or less circular, and the path leading to the veggie garden would be in a broad 'S' shape. Within one of the path's curves would be a large wildlife pond echoing the curve; within the S's curve on the other side would be a rowan tree.
The planting would focus on native Irish plants, but one border would include all the plants naturalised in Ireland during the past two centuries, often brought back by plant hunters (aka gardeners doing the risky work on behalf of their masters). The walls (all dry stone or old brick) would be covered with ivy, solanums, passionflowers, honeysuckle, with rooms for annual climbers to scramble between them, and since it's such a big garden there's be lots of blackberries trained up the walls too, along with really old-fashioned climbing roses.
The 'plant-hunter' border would include fuchsias (lots), arum lilies, cannas, agapanthus, the Bishop-type dahlias, all intermixed with lots of evergreens - hebes and Fatsia spring to mind.
And that's just for starters. Oh dear, back to reality and my 30 foot x 18 foot plot ... cheers ...
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2007 13:10:08 GMT
OOH!!! Well, I'd have a real old fashioned cottage garden, with a bit of lawn near the house for the kids, and lots of winding, narrow pathways amongst lots of beautiful plants. Of course, roses would feature heavily, probably rambling across every wall. I'd have a veggie patch at the bottom, screened off with a hawthorn hedge. Possibly a wildlife pond alongside it. And, a couple of mature trees; an oak for the kids to climb in and a fabulous apple tree. I would spend my days wandering about in my wellies with my wide brimmed hat, occasionally picking flowers or produce. There would be no garden pests allowed, and cats would only visit and NEVER use my garden as a giant toilet. Ah, what a lovely daydream ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by lottielady on Feb 27, 2007 13:40:27 GMT
Can I have bigger walls? If I can I would like a Victorian walled kitchen garden - with a big glass house and a proper potting shed, brick built hot beds with glass covers and fruit trees against the walls. I would have a section as a cutting garden for flowers too, and pergolas and arches for roses and clems oh and a pond in there somewhere. I would like a thatched cottage too please with a traditional cottage garden, just outside the walls. Bliss......sigh!
LLx
|
|
|
|
Post by madonplants on Feb 27, 2007 13:48:05 GMT
Somehow I would have it part japanese part wildlife friendly. At the house side it would have a japanese feel with a large koi pond, bridge over and various statues and the like, maybe even a tea house. Then behind this there would be a wood full of silver birches, wildlife pond, driftwood and wildflowers. Have I got space for all this?
We can only dream, can't we?
Love your pictures, Andy, especially the top one!! ;D
Keith
|
|
|
|
Post by Mr Grinch on Feb 27, 2007 16:18:37 GMT
Rosemother that sounds fantastic ! That would be my favorite too ! I love Roses, Aquilegia etc....
Mr G
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2007 20:54:06 GMT
Could I knock down the furthest wall & find that there is a river swirling gently by with a mooring for my (imaginary) little boat?
hic
|
|
|
|
Post by madonplants on Feb 27, 2007 21:26:29 GMT
Could I knock down the furthest wall & find that there is a river swirling gently by with a mooring for my (imaginary) little boat? hic Oh I had forgotten about that, can I add the Hampshire Avon at the bottom of mine? Pleeeeeease!  Keith |
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on Feb 27, 2007 22:01:47 GMT
I'd replicate my own gdn just as it is, it would be fab on a 1 acre plot with walls, I'd like heavenisclosers idea though of the river at one end ;D ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2007 1:21:51 GMT
Ooooh a courtyard bordered by large greenhouses with fruit and veg growing in beds in the courtyard.....leading to a wild meadow area with paths cut from grass. An orchard with bees buzzing on a hot summers day. Closer to the house an ornamental garden with a lovely green lawn and plenty of trees and shrubs. Oh i could go on!  |
|
|
|
Post by Cheerypeabrain on Feb 28, 2007 16:25:28 GMT
Heligan ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2007 17:55:26 GMT
Must have is a well manicured lawn stretching all the way to the river bank. Wisteria covering the wall on the right, passion flower, ivy, climbing roses on the wall on the left. Deep borders running along both side walls, crammed to the gills with ENGLISH lavender. Weeping willows on both the far left & right sides (sitting on the river bank with thier lower branches lightly, almost dreamily touching the water), framing the river & my little boat and jetty, which are central. There are several benches & arbours scattered around (this a garden of leisure & relaxation, you understand), & slap bang in the middle of the lawn is an obsidian obelisk water feature(8ft high perhaps), with water running down all four side of it. Planted around the base of the obelisk is hidcote lavender (darker coloured flowers to offset against the paler english lavender).
OMG! I never knew such a place as this existed, but now that I've created it, I soooooo want to win the lottery!
hic
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2007 18:23:42 GMT
Perhaps I should mention, I am really useless when it comes to measurements & sizes (happy husband then), but I have absolutely no idea how big or small an acre is.
hic
|
|
