Little corners of the garden 4

a simple little corner - simple garden furniture, pavers, a pergola, screening 

worn adirondack chairs, just waiting to be used

a kitchen courtyard - herbs in pots, a rustic table to enjoy breakfasts or lunches at

vintage garden furniture set on gravel against lavender - perfect spot for tea

cast iron garden furniture in a secluded spot of a wild garden

This is the fourth post on my series of Little Corners of the garden - really simple ideas on what can be done to make your garden a "living" space.  

To view my previous posts on Little Corners of the Garden, click here

All images taken in and around Johannesburg at open gardens or at friend's gardens.
View more Outdoor Wednesday posts, here

All Images: All rights reserved Copyright 2010 Gena D Images

Little corners of the garden 3.

vintage chairs under the trees

a spot to enjoy tea ..

a metal bench in the herb garden

a rustic sleeper wood bench ....

a bistro style chair ....

so as you can see,  anything can be used and really any spot in the garden will do, to create a little haven to rest and enjoy.   To see other posts in the series "Little corners of the Carden" click here.

All pictures taken at Johannesburg open gardens and/ or friends homes.

to view other Outdoor Wednesday participants, click here

Picture Credits : Gena D Images 2009

Little corners of the garden 2.

a pair of adirondack chairs, just waiting to be sat on ...

The second in a series of interesting little spaces in the garden.   The idea being to bring you some inspiration to get you thinking about your space...  after all there is nothing more inviting than having a shady little corner where you can read your book, sip your tea, watch the sunset, sip champagne, chat to friends, enjoy an alfresco dinner or brunch or lunch for that matter, or whatever else takes your fancy .....

a concrete bench under the shade of large tree...

a little spot surrounded by roses....

benches, inviting you to relax and take in the scent of lavender ...

a simple wrought iron bench  near the pool ...

a classical wooden bench, offset beautifully against the stone wall

and surrounding roses (it's hiding a pool pump!) ....

So there you go ... hopefully this has inspired you to go out a relook at your garden or your current garden seating .....

To see the previous post on "little corners of the garden", click here.

All pictures taken at Open Gardens and/ or friends gardens

Picture Credits: Gena D Images

What to do with your garden as you head into winter (especially for the Northern hemisphere)

This is a repost of an article which I put out during the South African Autumn/ Winter transition. As a rule we tend to go indoors and forget about our poor gardens. Here are some good tips and ideas on what you need to be doing and thinking about at this stage of the seasonal calender. Click here to go to post.

Picture Credit: Gena D Photography

Pathways through the garden

Pathways are central to a garden and generally a necessity in that not only do they keep our shoes out of the sand, dust, mud, but also lead, guide and invite us through the garden. Especially when strategically placed, so that you are "almost forced" to go and investigate, take a peek, see what is beyond that corner, shrub, shed, or whatever else it may be.

Pathways can pretty much be in any material whether bark chips, sleeper logs, gravel, pavers, pieces of slate (as per picture above), concrete square pavers or even actual brick paving. In my mind, the simpler the path the better - both in design and material - such as slate or even gravel, which are less formal, more relaxed and certainly more organic in shape, feel and texture. And more likely therefore to last you a lot longer, than a more formal structured path, which will need to be kept immaculate as every little thing that is out of place will show up.

What is important is to try link the material(s) chosen with the "theme" or overall look and feel of the garden, so that the path is part of the garden, appears seemless and not something obtrusive, that pulls the eye away from all the other more interesting things to look at.

I will be posting more pictures of interesting pathways over the next few months, under the tag "pathways" .....

Picture Credit : Country Living magazine

A Grand Entrance - First Impressions 2.

A great example of an effective entrance area! This is, after all, what people first see when arriving at your home - first impressions, so to speak. In this case, an exceptionally attractive introduction to the home - a wall clad in slate, loads of lavender in abundant flower, and perfect signage indicating the address - all very inviting and providing a hint of what is to come, once inside the gate.

For more on Making a Grand Entrance click here

Picture Credit: Gena D Photography

Spring has Sprung

The weather is warmer and everywhere you look, there is new growth - be it new leaves, blossoms, the early flowering plants ...

This past weekend I spent a lot of time outdoors (as always armed with my camera), and was in awe of the vast array of growth and colour,

after what was considered by most to be a very long, cold and dreary winter.

These are but a few pictures of early flowering blooms ....

For those who wish to see more, here's a link to my "Shades of Spring" album on facebook: click here

All pictures: Gena D Photography

Formal Gardens

Formal Gardens can be defined by straight lines, lots of symmetry, neatened edges, mass, simple planting and/ or loads of hedges.

As with most things, you either like the look of a formal garden or not ......I like to think that most pople love the look of formal gardems, but battle to implement or maintain the look themselves - after all, formality by it's nature, requires a lot more attention to keep it looking good.

Personally I like to take the benefits of formal gardens, the neatness, the simplicty, the straight lines and incorporate it with a "looser" garden design, so in effect, even if it includes hedging, the hedging will be more relaxed as opposed to the severe clipping seen in these pictures, above.

And remember that you can still have a formal look with pots - it's all about the plants you choose, how you group them and then just ensuring that you keep the look neat by the odd clipping here and there.
Picture credits: Better Homes and Gardens Gallery

Using Pots to Great Effect (1)

A potted Iceberg Rose in terracotta pot.

Picture: Gena D Photography shot on location, Irene.

Using pots is a great way to add interest to your entrance, patio, courtyard, a secluded corner or passageway. I have touched on this topic briefly in a number of other garden articles on this blog, but today will cover this in a little more detail.

Pots work can work very well, especially when used as features and focal points (the grander and larger the pot, the greater the impact) or when massed together in a group i.e. in the same colour or style or made from the same material, such as terracotta, always makes a great impression, more so, when planted with the same plant - see example below.

Of course pots are fantastic for those with very small garden spaces, and they work very well for growing herbs and vegetables (and I will touch on this in more detail in a future post).Even succulents do well in pots (see pic above) - just remember to water according to the specific plant's requirements.

But, like everything, pots do have their negative aspects, in particular needing more frequent watering, especially in the hotter/ drier months. It may be a good idea to add some form of vermiculite (speak to your local nursery) to the soil - in the right quantities of course, to assist in retaining moisture in the soil for a longer period. Over time you will assess how much is too much/ too little - a good way is to use the simple "finger test" - lightly press you finger into the soil - if it's damp, no need to water, if the soil is bone dry or you need to press deeper to establish moisture - then the pot needs watering.

When choosing plants for your pots, also, always bear in mind, where you wish to place the pot taking into account the actual plant's light/ sun requirements. As for the rest, quite simply you treat your potted plants with the same respect and care as the rest of your garden, you feed, add compost, mulch, water etc. etc. etc. as may be required...

Pictures: Gena D Photography

Water feature to complement an old rock wall

An example on how easy it is to create a great water feature, taking into account the existing and surrounding materials.

On this historical property, the boundary walls were mostly made of stone, so an alcove was created to place the lion head spout and the basin set in against the wall. A great use of space and the weathered look on the "bowl' already complements the colours on the wall.

Picture: taken on location at JEC, Parktown. GenaD Pohtography

Herb & Vegetable Gardening

In my recent article on herb and vegetable gardening, one of the options I suggested was making a raised bed in order to plant your edible garden. The latest copy of SA Garden (South African magazine) shows some wonderful examples of how you can do this, very easily with wood, logs and other items. See pictures/ article for inspiration.....

To read my previous article on "Growing your own Herbs and Vegetables " click here

Winter Gardening

This article was posted in May 2009 on another blog I write for, in an effort to create awareness of what you should be doing in the garden over the colder months. Normally one assumes, well, it's freezing, what the heck, I'm heading indoors. But, alas there are a few things, and by that I really mean a few, that need to be done, which will pay dividends when spring comes knocking! Evidently this applies at present to those in the southern hemisphere, and for others' - well just take note ....

As we head into the cooler months of the year, most people “hibernate” indoors and abandon all efforts in the garden, expecting the garden to perform miracles come 1st September (or 1st April depending on where you are). In most cases, the majority of plants do rebound well and carry on like old faithful, however there is a little bit of work that can be done over autumn/ winter, that will ensure your garden looks like a paradise in spring.

Firstly, just because the weather is cooler and some plants look worse for wear, does not mean we stop feeding or watering. On the contrary! Remember although plants may have no flowers or in some cases no leaves does not mean that the roots are not alive. So right now, a good layer of compost and mulch will go a long way to keeping the roots moist and protected from the cold, as well a keeping them fed. Watering can slow down somewhat maybe to once or twice a week (depending on whether you are in a winter rainfall area or not), and then in August (or March in the northern hemisphere) you repeat the process with another layer of compost all over the garden.

As soon as spring starts coming out of its shell, the lawn can be fed and watered well, and it’s then that you fertilize your garden too! A good organic fertilizer is best – good for the environment and it’s normally more beneficial to plants anyway. Watering then steps up appropriately and before you know it your garden is abounding with life.

As for pruning, that’s another interesting one – come winter, some people feel the need to just cut or chop down everything that is not covered in leaves!! First off, establish which plants/ shrubs should be/ can be pruned. Bear in mind that some plants are not evergreen, but flower first in spring, so if you prune them, no flowers!!! Also not all plants need to be pruned, aside from a clean up here or there.

So in essence there is still work to be done in the garden in the cooler months, but it’s certainly worth the effort when your garden rebounds in burst of leaf and flower as soon as the weather warms up!! And the benefit to you? Well you’re outdoors in the warmth of the sun and “fresh” air and its good exercise too!

Have fun!

Postscript: don't forget to move tender plants under shelter or if in the garden, cover them with an appropriate textile to avoid them being "frost bitten"!

For more info on Naturally Inspired: http://www.naturallyinspired.co.za/

Stone & Gravel in the Garden (2)

Garden 9 months after completion.

I recently wrote on how the use of gravel and stone in the garden is considered a water-wise thing to do. Today I continue in that theme, but will use an example of a garden that we have worked on.

Here we have a garden corner which was technically abandoned and in dire need of attention, not to mention the waste of space, and the fact that this area was eyesore - overlooked by bedrooms. The idea was to design this "garden room" in such a way that it would not only be appealing to the eye, but could be put to use as well, whilst being waterwise and easy to maintain in the long run.

Before

As the shape of the space was difficult to start with - a meandering path runs next to it (see pics), to create interest we decided to work with the curves and create a circular bed of gravel in the centre of the "workable space", with plants surounding approxiamtely two thirds, and the open aspect being in the direction of the remainder of the garden

The planting was kept simple, with a variety of white flowering plants (Star Jasmine, Iceberg Roses, White Agapanthus) and a wall of Johannesburg Gold on one wall and Viburnum sinesis on another - these will eventually form two "green barriers" which will create a feeling of depth in that space. In the centre we placed a concrete table and two benches.

After

The end result: a wasted space turned into something that not only can be used, but looks appealing from all angles. The choice of plants for the most part are waterwise i.e. not requiring copious amounts of water, and since they flower at different stages, there is interest in that area at multiple stages during the summer months.

Further reading: see my previous entry on the use of Gravel and Stone and also click on gravel, stone ,waterwise tabs for more articles.

For more on Naturally Inspired Projects go to our website: http://www.naturallyinspired.co.za/

African Poolside

A tranquil pool garden setting. I took this pic at a private home whilst on a Heritage walk. The two carved African chairs just look perfect next to the pool - so inviting and yet remaining so elegant - you almost don't want to disturb!

Come sit with me

We all love the thought and aspire to have a quiet spot in the garden to sit and contemplate life ..... a chill zone, a place to meditate the future.

This picture, taken in Irene, Johannesburg, depicts a simple seat placed under the trees facing a lake (not shown). The light structure of the chair, complements the Japanese maple and the airiness of the space.

So you really do not need to invest in a huge, solid garden bench, but can use almost anything (even sawn pieces of tree trunk), but, just make sure that where you place your seat(ing), is where you want the focus to be, and ideally place it somewhere where you can enjoy "a view" of sorts as well - whether it's a water feature, a view beyond your garden, interesting flowers, shrubs or trees, or quite simply a quiet, shady spot.

Picture: Gena D Photography. Irene, South Africa

Making a Grand Entrance

We all know the importance of first impressions, in this instance though, I am referring to the entrance to your property. In South Africa, certainly, this is often a wall and pavement garden, and beyond that some garden space leading to the front door, but in no way is the entrance garden limited to these aspects. Essentially though, it really doesn’t matter what that “entrance” or “first impression” area is, the point is, that this area is attractive and serves as a positive introduction to you and your home.

More often than not, the outside wall or garden gives a glimpse of what the interior of the property is like, in simple terms, if the pavement or entrance garden is unkempt and untidy, normally the interior of the property will be the same. If the outside wall or entrance area, gives an indication of a theme such as Ethnic, Rustic, Georgian, Tuscan or other (most often by virtue of the style and colour of the wall or garden area), then this leads you to believe that the interior will follow suit. And in most cases, where proper planning and thought has occurred, it does.

Whilst I am not advocating that you spend a fortune on your pavement, exterior walls or entrance, I am suggesting that you look at those areas with a critical eye and assess what can be done to improve the “first impression” value, and also how through the use of appropriate materials, trees, shrubs, annuals, pots, trellises, rock, gravel, paint, etc. etc. etc. you can create a glimpse of what’s to come, i.e. what the inside of your home is likely to look and/ or feel like.

If your wall or fence is looking worse for wear, have it repainted or plastered (where appropriate), or have a paint effect applied, plant a creeper or climber. Introduce pots, or a reasonable planting area, that is manageable, low maintenance and water wise – by this I mean, ensure you select the type of plants carefully, so as to avoid wasting money in the first instance, and in the second, spending copious amounts of time, watering or maintaining this space. And always, before doing anything else, assess the amount of light in the area, as this impacts the types of plants you decide to introduce. The keywords are simple, effective, low maintenance and waterwise.

The pictures illustrate a few examples of entrance gardens/ areas, taken around the streets of Johannesburg. Note how simple, how effective these entrances are, but also how you can almost tell by looking at these pictures what the interior of the property will look and feel like.

So take a look at your entrance area and assess what you can do to improve it. First assess, then plan, and check what you already have that can be reused. If you’re stuck for ideas, as always, contact me.

G

Pictures: Gena D Photography - various sites around Johannesburg, South Africa

A Simple Pot

In yesterday's article on a kitchen garden, I suggested that if you have no ground/soil to work with, use pots.

Well here's a perfect example of how a great groundcover is used in a pot, being allowed to tumble over the edges, both creating a lush effect and softening the edges of the pot. This plant, which goes by the eloquent name of "Erigeron Karvinskianus" is not only perfect for pots and containers but also for hanging baskets and certainly as a true 'ground cover'.

Erigeron grows and flowers abundantly throughout the year (possibly with exception of extreme climate changes), and is not in need of lots of watering or care, needing only the odd trim/ cut back, effectively being both waterwise and low maintenance - which is, after all the idea of a perfect garden, wouldn't you agree?!

G

Picture: Gena D Photography

An "Impressionist" garden

This picture is of a kitchen window, believe it or not!!!

More often than not, we tend to get stuck for ideas on what to do in the out of the way areas, the so-called "difficult spaces". From my perspective it normally doesn't take much to enhance a space: a little bit of vision, a few materials and voila!

As this home already has a rustic, Provencal look and feel, a shutter was added to the window, painted in the same blue already used elsewhere on the property, the creepers and climbers from the courtyard and garden to the right of the kitchen (not shown) were allowed to clamber towards the window, creating an established feel. A few low growing shrubs and seasonal annuals planted, and you have a great impact area - almost an "impressionist" painting!?

You don't have ground/ soil in which to plant? Use pots or containers, and plant shrubs, topiaries or even, a lemon or bay tree in them, under plant with groundcovers and/ or annuals and the effect will be just as stunning. Just remember to take the light in the area into account, and also since pots do dry out quicker than the ground, do ensure you have the time or someone who can water (appropriately) for you. Also ensure that you select plants that are not by nature very thirsty or that require loads of attention - the objective is to create a beautiful space to enjoy, not to spend hours watering (not good for the environment anyway) or tending to them.

The best part of this little area, is that you can change the look seasonally, so every 6 months, in summer and in winter, different annuals can be planted. But for now, before you go shopping, look around your garden, shed, garage for any unused pots or interesting containers - everything looks better with a fresh coat of paint. If you need further info on how best to create this type of garden, contact me. (details under contact me).

Have fun

Gena

Photography by Gena. Highcloud, Irene, South Africa

A Tranquil Garden Space (part 2.)

This is the picture, referred to below, with the large waterfeature which separates the herb and vegetable garden from the remainder of the formal garden area.

Venue: Moon and Sixpence (see link below)

Picture taken by Gena D Photography

A Tranquil garden space.

This picture was taken at "Moon and Sixpence" (Muldersdrift, South Africa), of a small part, of what is a very large garden and property. This area encompasses predominantly the herb and vegetable garden and is a little more formal than one would normally find in a herb/ vegetable area. The beds are raised and pathways lined with gravel. In the forefront (not shown) is a large water feature surrounded by large trees. Just imagine ..... a breeze through the trees, the sound of trickling water, the crunch of gravel underfoot, the chattering of birds somewhere in the background .....a simple, effective and certainly very tranquil garden space.

For more info on this venue:

http://www.moonandsixpence.co.za/

to read my article on "Growing Your own Herbs and Vegetables":

http://www.gardenhomedesign.co.za/blog/?p=158

Picture taken by Gena D Photography