Visualisation of the entrance courtyard (1)

should probably add some notes but its been a mad week and i’m tired. one thing springs to mind. following Christines notes about water fall, it could be important to work a drainage scheme into the design, in which case we’d need to find out what gradients (if any) are present. i suspect site conditions are going to place restrctions on our planting scheme, esp if we want to stick to the white theme, but thats something i’d like to work out once i’ve got the layout nailed. (besides, i suspect out of the three of us Tom is the most proficient plantsman!)

all comments/criticisms welcome, by the way!

London has just had its heaviest fall of snow for 20 years, making me wonder about global warming and, as a natural contrarian, whether I should be preparing a Winter Edition of the Principles of Garden Design eBook. Amongst other things it would explain how to make ice fountains and how to include rich colours which harmonize with whites and greys. When frost damage becomes a serious problem we will also need to think about making more use of fiberglass. The first few items in our Online Garden Products Shop include some well-made fiberglass planters.

Fiberglass was invented in 1938 and is much used for small boats, cars bodies, bows and arrows, etc. The components are glass fiber and resin. Compared to terracotta, the advantages of fiberglass are (1) high strength (2) moisture retention (2) 100% frost-resistance. Compared to lead, fiberglass is (1) lighter (2) safer.

Fiberglass takes a range of finishes and when detailed as well as these planters can be difficult to distinguish from terracotta and lead. We are also pleased to offer modern designs which take advantage of the inherent qualities of, in garden history terms, an excellent new material. Since the planters are lightweight as well as strong they are very well suited to mail order.  We would welcome suggestions for other items to include!

so we have our site!

i’ve marked down a likely location for the wine bar area, and a couple of other things beside. the surrounding buildings cast a lot of shade.  of course we’ve know way of knowing what time of day/year the image was taken, but can count on the bottom (south) end of the site at least getting less light.

cant make out whats in the alcove created by the buildings at the bottom of the site, it could be a lower rooftop or something at ground level. it looks structural

the right hand side of the site (which i’ve marked down as the formal entrance) could presently be used for parking. an annoyance depending on whether or not we decide to acknowledge it.

also note how the building at the top of the site reflects a lot of light back into the site, creating patterns upon the ground. useful?

to go along with the discussion about planting design raging below, i thought i’d post this as an example of what can happen when a good designer and a good plantsman work together.

as part of Chicagos Millenium Park it references the indigenous landscape of the Midwest. the beds are contoured so the visitors walk along with the gardens at knee and waist height immersing them in colour. the native perennials (over 200 species) were carefully selected to create a dramatic sequence of colour and seasonal change. the effect is like a painting whose tone continually shifts throughout the year. if anything, i think it shows, if you want to create abstract effects 1. you cant be lazy about it and 2. you have to know your stuff

photograph copyright: Scott McDonald

drawings copyright: Gustafson Porter Ltd