I've just returned from a lovely month in Sicily. Whilst, there wasn't exactly an abundance of gardens to visit in the area I was staying in, here are some design tips I picked up... 1. Shape and Form Of course, we can't all grow cacti, but even so, take a look at how their form and structure really bring clarity to the planting scheme... So regardless of the actual … [Read more...] about Garden Design Tips – Sicilian Inspiration
About Rachel Mathews
Drought tolerant gardens – lush Xeriscaping not Zeroscaping deserts!
How do you create a beautiful garden in a dry, low water region without needing to constantly irrigate or risk having it look like a desert? I'm going to draw examples from the unlikely bedfellows of Colchester (Britain's oldest recorded town) and the US state of California... The main takeaway I got from a recent trip to California was how skillfully they combined … [Read more...] about Drought tolerant gardens – lush Xeriscaping not Zeroscaping deserts!
Garden Design Takeaways – Chelsea Flower Show 2019
The inspiration for this year's Chelsea Flower Show (the most prestigious gardening show in the UK) was very much about getting back to nature in the garden. As you might have seen with Kate Middleton's involvement with the RHS Back to Nature Garden. I'm delighted to say the natural theme permeated the entire show in a very pleasing and design conscious way... I … [Read more...] about Garden Design Takeaways – Chelsea Flower Show 2019
Awkward shaped garden design tips
Having a garden that is an unusual or awkward shape can often feel like a nightmare to deal with. Actually, though, an awkward shape garden is often a blessing because it enables you to come up with a design that is very unique, that you wouldn't have been able to do in a regular rectangular shape garden. So how do you transform an awkward shape garden? First off, you … [Read more...] about Awkward shaped garden design tips
Natural Garden Design Styles Vs Native & Wildflower Planting for Wildlife
I'm often asked by people how they can either create a more natural looking garden because they live in the countryside and don't want anything that's 'overly designed' or folks that are deeply concerned for the environment and want to do their bit for wildlife. There are also a lot of people who want to attract wildlife to their garden without having it look like a … [Read more...] about Natural Garden Design Styles Vs Native & Wildflower Planting for Wildlife
