By London garden designer Josh Ward Garden Design. This typical London garden had low snaking walls, an awkward slope, limited light, a mirrored back wall and a very large protected Robinia pseudoacacia.
The brief was to create a contemporary garden design which acted as a natural extension of the contemporary styled, Victorian house without losing the all-important light.
Large glass doors opened onto the outside space and a sense of unity and calm were the main objectives as well as introducing a contemporary planting design with a cottage planting twist. A serene space to hide away from the outside world and entertain.
Reflected light was introduced into the garden with generous slabs of silver slate, which tied the whole space together. Generous inviting steps were created to intice people into the garden space and a low wall that doubled-up as an informal sitting area for impromptu party guests. An aubergine wall replaced the mirrored back wall to add depth and mood whilst acting as a chic foil for the green foliage. Steel tensioned wires were incorporated for climbers to venture-up and offer a pseudo floral wallpaper effect, especially when backlit in the evening. The knarled Robinia pseudoacacia became a dramatic feature when up-lit in the evening and the heavenly scented planting ensures drinks and dinner parties are a treat.
Planting was to be an inspired mix of contemporary and cottage styles whilst employing a calm, clean but striking palette of green, white and purples. Versatile white climbing Floribunda rose 'Iceberg' (Rosa 'Iceberg' - climbing) clad both sides of the garden and offered heady honey scents along with the shade and sun tolerant Confederate jasmine (Trachelospermum jasmiminoides). Small but perfectly formed Lavender 'Hidcote Blue' Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote Blue) was introduced in the sunnier stepped transition area, so the clients would brush against them as they sat on the wall having a glass of wine or sunbathing.
In the shadier areas a mix of Japanese aralia (Fatsia japonica), Soft shield fern (Polistichum setiferum), Japanese anemone 'Honerine Jobert' (Anemone x hybrida 'Honerine Jobert') and the variegated blue lilyturf (Liriope muscari 'Variegata') offered a lively textural contrast with the aubergine backdrop.
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Cynara cardunculus
Heuchera 'Amethyst
Mist'
Libertia
peregrinans
Stachys byzantina
'Silver Carpet'
Carex elata 'Aurea'
Foeniculum vulgare
'Purpureum'
Acanthus spinosus
Euphorbia characias subsp. Wulfenii 'John Tomlinson'
Stipa barbata ('Silver Feather')
Artemisia
ludoviciana var albula
Artemisia 'Powys
Castle'
Salvia officinalis
'Purpurescens'
Eryngium giganteum
Uncinia rubra
Dierama 'Merlin'
Lavandula
angustifolia 'Hidcote Blue'
Verbena bonariensis
Eryngium bourgatii
'Picos Blue'
Festuca glauca 'Elijah
Blue'
Salvia
verticillata 'Purple Rain'
Sarcococca confusa
Carex oshimensis
'Evergold'
Aquilegia
vulgaris var. stellata 'Black Barlow'
Pleioblastus
variegatus
Zantedeschia
aethiopica 'Crowborough'
Dierama 'Guinevere'
Euphorbia cornigera
Cotinus 'Grace'
Helleborus argutifolius 'Silver Lace'
Helleborus
purpurascens
Helleborus
orientalis 'White Spotted'
Heuchara 'Lime
Rickey'
Astrantia 'Snow
Star'
Aconitum x cammarum
'Bicolor'
Ophipogon
planiscapus 'Nigrescens'
Fatsia japonica
Liriope muscari
'Variegata'
Asplenium
scolopendrium
Lamium maculatum
'White Nancy'
Polystichum
setiferum 'Acutilobum Group'
Juniperus
scopulorum 'Blue Arrow'
Digitalis purpurea
'Alba'
Digitalis purpurea
Astrantia 'Snow
Star'
Hydrangea
paniculata 'Limelight'
Anemone x
hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'
Schizophragma
integrifolium
Clematis 'Etoile
Violette'
Clematis
macropetala White Swan
Clematis
macropetala Purple Spider
Clematis Marie
Boisselot
Trachelospermum
jasminoides
Ophiopogon intermedians alba variegata
Sarcococca humilis
