Gailey
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- May 14, 2008
- Messages
- 3,783
Wha-d-ya-know! I''m a Gloucestershire lass. Born in Gloucester itself. Can''t say I have ever been to East Leach House though.Date: 6/17/2010 11:17:24 AM
Author: lcom
Wow! I got called in to work the night shift and look what happens! These ideas are fantastic, first off Thank you Lulu, there is catmint in there, and ditto the request to please post pics of your garden.
Gailey and Gardengloves, Thank you so much for your very kind words and input! After I read this then I had to go google a rill and partere, yes a little overwhelming! I then spent about an hour on a website about East Leach House in Glocestershire, beautiful!
I like the idea of a pond, I had been thinking about a small circle knot garden at the end of the path or maybe something with a fountain in it, I have a few issues with shape and couldn''t decide if it should be round to encourage flow of traffic around it or square to continue the square edged theme, but now I am liking the suggestion of a pond within a rectangle bed. My husband bought a bobcat a few years ago ''to clear snow you know'' well it has mostly taken up space, he has spread some dirt for me on occasion but I think he would love to dig a hole! Would you make the space the equal width as the bed at the other end? making the paths a capital I?
Icom, I''d still like to see a view of the back from your deck or main viewing window if you could manage that. That way I can print it out and draw on it to give you an idea of layout.
You must have been reading up on garden design because round or moundy repeated shapes encourge the eye to move forward and encourage flow. That said, a formal garden is all about straight lines and repetition. If you Google Wisley Gardens, you will see their formal pond at the entrance and see what I mean. Similarly Burford House, Tenbury should give you a similar shot.
What ever you do on one side, must be replicated exactly in shape size and distances from the other.
If you don''t want the hassle of low clipped hedges such as in a formal knot garden, then you could anchor the beds with clipped shrubs in each of the corners (Cotoneaster would be an excellent choice for this and cheap). Korean Lilac or Palabin Lilac would also be a good choice and they would give you a shot of colour too. I have one and I clip it once a year to within an inch of it''s life after it''s flowered. I would caution against low formal hedges. Although, they really complete the look to a parterre or knot garden, where you live, you are going to be subject to winter kill from time to time and the last thing you need is part of a hedge dying off.
Ahh, a man with a bobcat, my ultimate dream - you lucky girl!