Blue Daisy Blog

A garden is not just for summer it’s for 12 months of the year!

Some people often think that as soon as the leaves fall and the dark nights come everything stops in the garden.  Well, they couldn’t be more wrong – while, for most of the year your garden is an entertaining space,  a playground for children or a showcase for your favourite plants – it’s also there for 12 months of the year and since I’m sure you’ll be able to see it from more than one window of your home, it's also a winter vista, so why not make the most of it?

Personal style
We all have a preferred way we like our home and gardens to look and that identity is very personal, it isn’t right or wrong, it is our choice.  Some people like to have their garden pristine with lawn edges sharp, any sign of dead or decaying plants quickly removed;perennials that are beginning to die down and over winter underground are swiftly cut back.  This results in a very neat and tidy garden for winter which more often than not just leaves the evergreen plants or shrubs and any deciduous trees or shrubs as the only structure in the garden.

A ha-ha looks like a ditch that has a vertical brick retaining wall on one side which is unseen from the main house and gardens, the ditch is usually turf and slopes back up to ground level.  The ha-ha is situated at the edge of the garden or pleasure grounds that surround the main house, the main purpose is to provide uninterrupted views of the estate or parklands and distant coutryside views.

Visually from the house or pleasure grounds there are seamless views however it also stops livestock such as cows, deer or sheep from entering and destroying the gardens yet allows them close enough to graze and been seen.

According to various reports the colour purple is bang on trend this year and fashionistas everywhere will be purpling themselves up!  So, what does this mean for gardens and garden designs then?  Basically incorporating the colour purple into your plant schemes will bring your gardens right up to date. 

Check out one of our previous articles from last year  where we have recommended using purple and orange plants together creating an energised and vibrant mood. If you're after a more calming, romantic and peaceful mood try soft pinks and purples.   Not only do we love orange and purple together but this year it is reported that RHS Chelsea have a garden or two that are using these colours!  

Having a productive garden – it’s all the rage, bang on trend and everyone seems to want one.  The only thing is no-one seems to have the time to tend one and as much as they’re popular now, they can be time consuming and, for beginners, confusing. 

You could start small, think about what you like to eat, (take a look at what is in your fridge right now if you’re short on ideas) and rather than having to think about things like crop rotation if you’re growing vegetables you can grow some in containers instead - but if that’s not for you (and it’s not for everyone) – my advice is to think about fruit.  It is generally easier to grow, not as time consuming to look after and the rewards are truly wonderful (as our picture shows!).

Well it has been a very exiting day today I have been to see one of my garden designs being brought to life.  When I arrived at my customers house the builders were there working away and have so far laid the patio, built a wall and given it a first render, built the pond (see below), installed the water chute and the electrician was there too!