Private garden

Client wanted color. The garden is planted in mixed palette with small groups and a successive color patterns. starting in spring in mostly yellows, then turning into whites and pinks in June on to blues, purple and reds  in mid summer and to more purple and yellow in the fall.

Due to the existing mature birch trees the front yard has quite a dry soil with a lot of shade. (Last two pics). So here the selection of plant is done in larger groups of tough plants that can handle a dry shady location. Keyplants are a matrix of the grass Anemathele lessoniana interplanted with Lunaria redivia, Geranium phaeum and a Rudbeckia fulgida.

The Manchester Garden 2019

The garden told the story of Manchester’s industrial past and the chances for the future. The project was done by Exterior Architecture (London) in commission by the city of Manchester.

Planting was a gentle blend of 4 different planting concepts, to serve as an example of options for a changing climate: Parkland (wild and edible), Remedial (pioneers), Suds (wetlands) and Urban. Am still very proud of what we build. My role was directing and creating the final layout of the planting, Improvising heavily onsite with plants delivered or exchanged with other gardens.

A happy, green garden in orange, yellow and lime. In fall a hint of purple is brought in by Callicarpa and Liriope. Stucture is simple and straightforward. A small terrace near the house with a central, winding flagstone path, providing structure & depth and leading towards the shed in the back with a lush planting on either side.

De Eendracht is an allotment park near Amsterdam. After 50 years the entrance to the park needed a facelift. I created a design for the entrance area. The central element is a 50 m long perennial border along the main avenue, separating the playground from main avenue and the orchard.

The planting of the border is done in repeating groups alongside a river of purple Salvia to provide an overall structure and rhythm. The plant palette is done with easily maintainable plants in medium sized single groups. Borders are being maintained by volunteers.

planted 2014

Graduation project – London College of Garden Design

” Flowing, Sweeping and Unbroken”

Client to be was an artcollector with a small estate. Assignment was a garden to display art and the garden had to be a piece of art on its own as well. A garden to walk around in and to explore. to get lost in. I created 5 distinctly different areas where harmony was created by using an overall scheme of white, blue and copper connecting all areas.

The small rill traversing the lawn has a flow of water comming from the “forrest”, dissapearing into the meadow planting.

Each area has its own distinct character and planting concept but at the same time the larger shapes of trees and shrubs and color groups will work as an overal design aswell.

The 15 m long raised pond is dominating this long, narrow backyard. Client had three requirements: plants and flowers to enjoy the change of the seasons, no large groups and no yellows.  My approach was a natural planting using a matrix of grasses intermixed with perennials to create an airy lush planting to soften and support the rectangular shapes and directive lines of the garden. In winter the evergreen frame of Nandinas and Pittosporum tobira ‘Nana’ contrasts nicely with the yellow of the grasses and brown wilted seadheads. Garden is cut back each year in early spring, just in time for the large amount of bulbs to pop up and shine.

Pics are taken at the end of a wet august month. plants have grown very tall and flop over.

A subtle harmony between house and garden. The rectangular pattern in the stonepaving reflects the pattern in the stained glass. The yellow brick connects to the oak floor in the living room. Looking out of the window the garden feels like an extension of the living room.

The owner wanted a green garden to experience the seasons and the garden to be a safe haven for city wildlife (Birds, butterflies, beetles, hedgehogs, etc) No need for a large dining table or lounge set. Owner wanted to walk out every day for a little bit, coffee in hand, just to see and experience nature, but yet with low maintenance.

Small city garden in wood, steel and stone. The garden is to be an extension of the living room but with enough plants to make it feel lush while still a dining table can be placed and children can play. The ladder against the shed leads to a small roof terrace where the owners will grow vegetables. (and the children can climb up) The other ladder is just a trellis for climbers. The board fence with broad horizontal planks is a reference to the old fashioned way of using one single layer of large planks touching (not overlapping). Stones are square Schellevis tiles.