GARDEN
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fragranced plants around seating areas and opt for some that are renowned for releasing their scent in the evenings. Oenothera biennis, (common evening primrose) will be a talking point as it opens its flowers at dusk and hardy annual Mattihola longipetala (night-scented stock) is good for the front of a south or westfacing border where it will flower from April to September.
IT’S A WAY OF LIFE Garden writer Julia Heaton has design inspiration and planting ideas to suit the way you live.
It’s so important to choose a garden design to match your lifestyle. There’s nothing more disheartening than not having the time to care for a courtyard garden full of high maintenance pots. And what’s the point of having numerous borders to dig if you find it physically demanding and would prefer to potter around raised beds? The trick is to treat your outdoor space in the same way you would when configuring a room indoors. Think about how you live and what purpose you want the space to serve. Get it right and it really will be an extension of your home. Here’s some different garden styles to fit the way you live. A garden for entertaining Seating zones Give guests the opportunity to form clusters. Use a mix of classic garden furniture, fold-away seats and surfaces built into raised beds. This allows you to keep the dining table as the main event and people to mingle. Make your primary seating area a space that can be used throughout the year by including an outdoor fireplace and
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seating that can store outdoor rugs and soft cosy blankets. Keep the weather in mind by designing in spaces for shade and rain like a pergola, clad in climbing plants, or a summer house. Alternatively, a gazebo with a plastic corrugated roof will take the guesswork out of what the weather will do. Or go for a more permanent one that fits against the house and incorporates polycarbonate or glass roofing. Light the way Fairy lights always have a magical look in the evening. Team these with spotlights angled on focal points like statues or particular plants. Place up lights amongst the foliage to create mood lighting and torch lights on spikes in the borders and at the garden gate. A water feature incorporating a light is a point of difference, while hurricane lamps are purpose-made for the table. Scented planting Gorgeous wafts of perfume add to the ambiance of a gathering. Introduce
Cooking area The area you devote to this will depend on whether you just want to throw the odd barbecue or go all out to replicate your indoor kitchen. Consider whether you want storage to keep kitchen accessories. Do you need wired lighting or will solar be fine? Most importantly, what fuel will you be using to cook with as this will also have a bearing on where you’ll position your kitchen in relation to neighbouring properties. Outside bar Whether a simple wall-mounted, dropdown surface made from pallets or a gazebo-covered counter, this creates another space where people can gather. Where you site it needs consideration. Keep it as a simple surface outside the kitchen window, where drinks can be served directly from the fridge. Alternatively, it could be an extension to the cooking area, where food prep can also take place. Or, if your garden enjoys a good view, then position it over-looking the scenery. Garden for relaxation and wellbeing Landscaping and plant colours A winding path will encourage you to walk it and forget the outside world. If it can be circular, so that you don’t have to retrace your steps, then even better. Along the way introduce features that appeal to the senses.You may want this to be a feast for the eyes in the shape of a sculpture you love or some fragrant planting. Pale, weathered brick pavers set against pale cream painted fencing have a natural, easy-on-the- eye look. Use a planting palette of whites to
