Shenley Garden

Designed by Gillie Leaf Garden Design. A north-west facing garden with an awkward shape and slope to the rear boundary on a new development. The developers left the garden laid to lawn. The strong triangular shape of this very empty garden needed to be disguised.

The design included introducing three circular lawn areas to camouflage the unusual shape and new borders to increase planting opportunities. A gravel path was laid for access to the bench seat with arbour and the summer house.

The boundaries and arbour were clothed in a mixture of evergreen and herbaceous climbers, chosen for scent and strong colour.

Plants were selected for their cottage garden style with hues of purples, pinks & white. Some pale yellow was introduced for contrast.

Further seasonal interest was provided from evergreen shrubs with strong architectural accents.

Swathes of bulbs were planted for Winter and Spring interest.

Plant list

SHRUBS CLIMBERS & HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS

Clematis armandii 'Apple Blossom'	Abelia x grandiflora	Trachelospermum jasminoides
Viburnum davidii	Verbena bonariensis	Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'
Phyllostachys nigra	Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba'	Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'
Passiflora caerulea	Agapanthus africanus	Euphorbia x martinii
Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla 'Black Lace'	Anemone hupehensis 'Hadspen Abundance'	Clematis 'Mrs Cholmondeley'
Clematis 'Nelly Moser'	Libertia grandiflora	Ceanothus 'Skylark'
Geranium cinereum 'Ballerina'	Geranium 'Rozanne'	Geranium phaeum
Agapanthus africanus 'Albus'	Sisyrinchium striatum	Euonymus fortunei 'Golden Harlequin'
Penstemon 'Dark Towers'	Garrya elliptica 'James Roof'	Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote Pink'