By Nottinghamshire garden gesigner Alice Bowe. This contemporary garden design in Nottinghamshire was built to complement the bold architecture of a modern double-storey glass extension.

The new garden was designed to balance the large open plan
spaces and changes of levels inside the property whilst providing
both a dramatic view to look upon and a tranquil space to inhabit.
A major challenge of this contemporary garden design project was to
create a space intimate enough to be a private family garden yet
capable of hosting large parties.

The main planting follows the same bold sweep of the landscape
design with a matrix of grasses punctuated by a succession of
bulbs. In late winter, the garden is dominated by a swathe of over
8,000 snowdrops, which are followed by purple crocus and pale dwarf
narcissus. As these begin to fade, the translucent Molinia grows
steadily up throughout the summer, colouring butternut in late
summer. This changes the whole dynamic of the garden by enclosing
spaces that were previously open.

This simple, dramatic planting is obliquely balanced by generous
mixed herbaceous borders in rainbow colours. This tranquil garden
cleverly blends clean modern lines with traditional country garden
themes and is lit at night to create spectacular views from inside
the house
Other gardens by this designer