OUTDOOR LIVING JAZZ UP YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE FOR SUMMER With the days getting longer and warmer we will all be looking forward to spending more time outdoors. Ponsonby News has spoken to some landscape designers to get their top tips for how to improve your outdoor space in time for summer. VERTICAL GARDENS Who says that your garden has to be horizontal? Margaret McKegg of Ponsonby based Bradbury McKegg Landscape Architecture knows the limitations often smaller Ponsonby gardens can present. She is currently planning a vertical garden for her Paget Street home and premises. “We have a small courtyard so we are planning to build a fence then put punga logs vertically along it. We will then plant into the punga logs perhaps with bromeliads and ferns growing up the logs to create a vertical garden. This frees up the courtyard space so you can have plenty of room for outdoor furniture but still be surrounded by walls of garden.” illustration: Dave Bradley, Design by Ditch
LIGHTING Solar lighting can be an inexpensive way to give subtle illumination to your garden. But it is how you use the lighting that will make the difference, advises McKegg. “Place the lights perhaps behind a plant as long as you make sure the solar light still has access to the sunlight. This can be a lovely way to illuminate a special plant creating a lovely feature.” BRIGHT SHADE Some of the best entertainment areas can be used all year round because they are designed for protection against the elements. A shade sail is not only practical but can add a splash of colour to your space. DECORATIVE VEGETABLE GARDENS A vegetable garden can become a feature as well as being edible. McKegg suggests combining vegetables with flowering plants to create a vegetable garden with a difference. “Your garden could evolve over the year with bulbs coming into flower in spring, vegetables in summer then autumnal plants or vegetables.” If you don’t have space for a garden in the ground try experimenting with pots or troughs that can be moved around to change the look of the space as you desire. CITRUS TREES Citrus trees are an inexpensive way to liven up your garden space and work on many levels. They release a delicious scent, add a burst of colourful fruit and loads of green goodness to your space. For a different look try planting citrus trees into pots and plant lettuces underneath. CREATE WARMTH For the ‘wow’ factor when the sun goes down consider adding a fire feature to your space. Fire features not only add visual interest but also provide warmth making your space user friendly year-round. Choose a gas operated fire feature or candles in jars for a cheap alternative, suggests Ian Wilson from NZ Garden Design. HERBS IN POTS Jamie Oliver made leaning out the window to pluck a few fresh herbs look easy and
appealing. Herbs are a great way to create interest in your outdoor space as the beautiful scents float through your garden on a warm summer’s night. Select herbs that you think you would use regularly in cooking such as basil, mint, thyme or rosemary and plant in pots and group together on a deck. WATER FEATURES In any outdoor area it’s good to add a focal point. Wilson advises a simple water feature saying that modern water features are easy to install and low maintenance. Water features bring the added bonus of adding sound to your outdoor space with the relaxing trickling of water also helping to mask unpleasant noises such as traffic noise. CREATE MEMORIES For many Aucklanders summer is all about the beach. And inevitably kids, and sometimes adults too, come home with treasures they have found on the shore. Place a bowl on your outdoor table with a candle in the middle. It’s a great place to drop off treasures when you return from a walk on the beach and it makes an instant centrepiece for entertaining. COPY THE EXPERTS For more ideas check out local gardens and the botanical gardens for concepts that you can use in your own garden, advises Wilson. “Write the names down and sketch the combination of plants or take photos so that you can remember how they were grouped.” (KAREN PHELPS) PN
MAGIC HOLE AT KARTELL A SERIES OF OUTDOOR FURNISHINGS CREATED FOR KARTELL BY PHILIPPE Starck with Eugeni Quitllet. Created using a rotational moulding technique, the Magic Hole two-seater sofa, armchair and smaller table-front armchair complete the “Magic Hole” series. The new trio fuses function and style in a clean, light silhouette that is suitable for use in the garden, on the terrace, roof deck, poolside or for public places. The collection takes its name from the flared pocket in the arms, which is available in tone-on-tone white, grey or black, or in contrasting fluorescent orange or green. Add some magic to your outdoor living this summer! PN KARTELL, 35 Teed Street T: 09 522 7099 www.kartell.co.nz
The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied
DEADLINE – 20TH OF THE MONTH October 2011 PONSONBY NEWS+
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