Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Outside Thoughts....

Now that our veranda is underway my thoughts have turned, naturally to the decorating of this space and the new garden beyond. I have been pouring through your blogs, Magazines and file photos to try and come up with a concept for it all. I have a rough plan as to how it will all go and have started sketching these spaces to keep me on track. We would love a place to sit with coffee and watch the kids and garden in the shade of our huge Sycamore tree.
Country Home Ideas
I am thinking more along the lines of padded or wicker seating as it would withstand our harsh weather here...and be comfy at the same time.

This is our little Crab Apple tree I planted out the backyard (Christmas 07, and it is triple the size now). We have decided to have a line of these down our driveway with a native grass (flax) or maybe Agapantha's. I has to be something low maintenance as our property is just over 3/4 of an acre. Underneath this tree I planted Lavender, Snow in Summer and Seaside daises, which have all done so well they will be making an appearance elsewhere in the new garden layout.

I love this tree and as it sheds to bare sculptural branches in Winter to let in the Winter sun, it is ideal....and it is oh so cute. I cant wait to be able to cut small branches of this to bring inside. I am a lover of formal gardens, although I do love casual wild looking areas too and would ultimately love a wild flower meadow somewhere.

Country Home Ideas
One of my Dads bird houses is being painted up to match the house. It will be hoisted on to a pole to sit in between our Hydrangeas. Although I am loving the Star Jasmine version too. maybe I will have one in the backyard like this also...

...this is for certain. I have already got my cross wire supports with jasmine growing up them along one of the back entrance fences. I have put skinny pines at intervals along them with Sea Side Daisies in the front. I want it to bush up like this....now!

Le Forge
An Architectural piece like these iron gates would be superb somewhere. I imagine them in a corner part of the yard, leading you on to another secret section, or with mirrors behinds the bars to reflect and open up a space, maybe hiding something ugly like the bins.

Le Forge
One thing we want somewhere is a water feature. Maybe something formal like a beautiful Urn surrounded by clipped box hedges, or something more natural looking like a rock water fall...with hedges. I love low box hedging.
Mic has taken a photo of the Paul Bangay book I want to help with the garden makeover as I love how he he uses mainly green in the garden with out a lot of flowers. If I win the lottery however, Mr Bangay will be coming to do it all himself!!
Ness xx

18 comments:

  1. I love all your ideas. It sounds fabulous!
    Oh and thank you for the tip about the etsy shop with the vintage signs - I'll go and have a look.

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  2. Not a problem. If I find any where else I will let you know.
    Ness xx

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  3. With all these wonderful ideas your garden is going to look gorgeous with or without the help of Mr Bangay!

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  4. THe iron gate is absolutely stunning! What a great idea :)

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  5. Your garden sounds lovely! We have a rather large block too and I must say our agapantha's have been great, we bought them as tube stock and have been splitting them every year...now we have hundreds, and they are so hardy...and so pretty swaying in the breeze.

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  6. I love all of your ideas, Ness.
    I can just imagine your blooming crab apple trees all in a row. I'm also a huge fan of the fragrant star jasmine.
    I always like to mix formal and informal in my gardens. Have you thought about doing some little hedges in places too? I like using them to create a structure in parts of the garden and doing more informal planting inside (roses and lavender etc...).
    A pair of beautiful old gates would be perfect in your garden. I am so jealous of you 3/4 acre! We live on a postage stamp!

    xo
    Brooke

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  7. I can't wait for spring to get outside. Lovely pics.

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  8. Great ideas! I just moved into my house less than a year ago and decided to work on the inside last summer instead of the garden. I'm dying to get out there this year and beautify things a bit.

    I can't wait to see what you end up doing with your garden!

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  9. I love the cross wire jasmine! I've never seen that arrangement before!

    I run short on patience for things to grow and fill in, we live in Austin and late last summer I planted a dutchman's pipe that attracted a lot of butterflies to the yard and completely covered a large trellis in 7 weeks, it died back with our frost last month and I'm not sure if it will come back again. But it was fun to have something grow up a trellis so quickly!

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  10. interesting stuff.loved these urns/pots.i am new but i've put some pottery on my blog ,i too love interiors and in the next few days i'll put out more stuff on my blog

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  11. Oh Ness, your garden plans sound so pretty. You have included every element that I just love. I can't wait to see your plans under way. I don't have much room for a planted garden just hedges and lots of pots so I will live my garden dreams through you... no pressure or anything! A-M xx

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  12. Ness, your garden is going to look absolutely gorgeous. Love your plant selection.
    X
    V

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  13. what beautiful ideas! can't wait to see how it all turns out! the crab apple trees are just lovely :)

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  14. What great ideas, I enjoyed your blog~
    Bristol

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  15. Hi! Sounds great. I am into grey and white at the moment (as you know!) and yesterday I saw the most gorgeous cane grey-wash outdoor chairs. Divine!

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  16. The x's of jasmine is fabulous! I've never seen anything like that before. Your yard is not only going to be gorgeous, it's going to smell heavenly. Lavender, jasmine, apple tree blossoms?! Yum!
    xo Isa

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