A secret garden

   A year ago we asked Carolyn Grohmann* of Secret Gardens to design a new garden for us. This was a big step, and a not inexpensive one, but a year on we can say it has been a good decision. Interpreting the brief with sensitivity and an instinctive understanding of what would suit the house and its owners, Carolyn came up with plans for both front and rear gardens which thanks to Robin Torrie and his team from Water Gems have now been made flesh.

    Work has been going on over the last few months, and while the building of the garden is now complete, the planting is at the very early stages and will continue well into next year (and beyond, of course), but in terms of the 'bones', we are utterly delighted with what Carolyn and Robin have created for us, and as to their attention to detail, the standard of their work, and the considerate way in which the job has been done, we couldn't be more impressed and appreciative.

    The picture above shows the rear garden in the drizzle this morning, the markers indicating some of the 1400 bulbs we planted over the weekend. The four parterre beds will contain mixed planting with the less formal, more shady areas towards the far end being given over to woodland plants (the picture gives a slighty skewed perspective - the whole thing is much bigger than it looks), and on the south-facing wall to the right we have espaliered apple trees, a raised bed for vegetables, and a greenhouse. We couldn't be happier with it.

    Along the way, we have given much entertainment to passers-by who have stopped to watch the work going on at the front of the house, where amongst other things we moved the entrance (a digger and other heavy machinery were involved), and to neighbours who have commented most favourably on the transformation. I, too, have found the process extremely interesting as the Water Gems men, ably led on site by Luke, coped with logistical challenges and the very hard work involved in the build with unfailing good humour and dedication. It was a pleasure to have them here, and after so many weeks in their company, I miss them now that they've gone!

    If you've noticed a lack of Friday flowers posts this year, it's because once the preparatory work started there were virtually no flowers left to feature, but now that that fallow period is over we are looking forward to plenty in future, and I hope to record the garden's progress on these pages.

   

*Just by the way, Carolyn numbers novelist Kate Atkinson among her clients, and you can see her lovely Edinburgh garden here.

Comments

[cath]

Oh, a walled garden, the design simple and so elegant. How wonderful. I love to visit a walled cloister medicinal herb garden in our neighbourhood. Already looking forward to see how your garden will look through the seasons.

[Elaine]

I love the bare bones of the garden and if it turns out anything like Kate Atkinsons then it will surely be a site to behold.

[Dark Puss]

Well you have certainly changed it since I last walked in it! Looking forward greatly to seeing the progress and (soon!) walking again amongst your new plants. P x

[B R Wombat]

I do hope Mme Alfred Carriere (sp?) has survived. Mine is still trying to flower in this very mild weather.

[Mary]

That looks so lovely. But 1400 bulbs - your poor knees!

[Claire]

What a very, very special delight to have a garden completely re-done. Please photos as it develops.

[Cornflower]

The wall doesn't go all the way round - there is a fence on one side - but we are very fortunate with the site.

[Cornflower]

KA's is lovely!

[Cornflower]

Indeed, and wait 'til you see the front - even bigger changes there.

[Cornflower]

She has, though she's been drastically cut back, but just in case she doesn't respond well to the pruning, I've bought another.

[Cornflower]

We did it over three days - I say 'we', but my two helpers dropped out supposedly injured, the wimps, (sore back and strained wrist respectively), so I did the lion's share and enjoyed it very much once I'd established an efficient method.
The knees are OK!

[Cornflower]

We've waited a long time to get it as we wanted, but it's been worth it. All credit to Carolyn for a design which really suits the site.

[Erika]

Absolutely wonderful. Do you know it much resembles a water color my daughter now has of her great-great-grandfather's garden plan pinted in Dulwich, London, in the 1870's? The basic design remained, although very overgrown and rambling, when I knew it in the 1960s.

[Erika]

Sorry for the misprint. This garden now is covered with 6 semidetached houses so you have brought back some lovely, if slightly sad, memories.

[Lizziemac]

It looks lovely already.
Looking forward to more pics in Spring and Summer.
x

[B R Wombat]

Phew!