Pitlochry proceeds

Despite times of heavy rain, much of the construction of walls and steps is now complete, Unlikely that seeding of a lawn will happen before the onset of cold weather as the soil is far too wet for seed-bed preparation.

Loch Tay revisited

It's always enjoyable to return to a project after 10 years to see how it has matured, how the spaces work to create an integrated landscape, what works and what could have been done better. The setting for this garden made it a challenge - you can't compete with a loch and mountains but you can introduce human scale and allow them to set the scene.

Pitlochry garden under construction. Out of chaos comes forth?

At first it looked like this.

And now it looks like this.  Retaining walls to terrace a slope end then allow a level lawn to be installed. In the meantime chaos reigns.

grounded design: Beyond the Border 4: Maintaining Perennials to Las...

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grounded design: Beyond the Border Part 2: Massing Matters

grounded design: Beyond the Border Part 2: Massing Matters: "The same rules that create impact and drama in art can be applied to perennial planting. My last post set up my proposition that perennia..."

Light and shade

Spent the day yesterday visiting existing clients. The projects are at different stages of development but one thing they have in common is that they have areas of woodland which allows the interplay of light and shadow as an element of the design.

First sketch design of the year

First of the year and hopefully many more to come. A historical site showing up in 19th century maps so the style references what was there at that time although with a more contemporary twist (note the cars!).

Winter aftermath in Argyll

Across to Loch Fyne to meet with client and gardener and to see the results of the harsh winter. Deer jumped the nearby deer fence and got into the garden and nibbled Azaleas of all things! This may have contributed to the death of one of them found in a nearby field. Both a wildcat and a pine marten were spotted in the vicinity during the harsh conditions so the wildlife were severely under stress. 

The ornamental meadow has been left uncut until now giving an air of happy chaos to the entrance drive with its mixture of straw and seed heads. It has given much needed protection to the resting plants and shelter no doubt to many overwintering larvae and even small mammals. It will be cut soon to reveal the new basal growth and to let the light in. The year is moving into spring and optimism!

grounded design: The Urban Wilderness: The Poetics of Industrial Ruins and Untamed Nature

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grounded design: Is Your Planting Evocative or Provocative?: "The secret of great planting revealed. Of all my various rants, one point I am consistent: planting design is an art. Planting design..."

Pitlochry at last

Snow is gone from the site so finally managed to have the meeting with contractors on site scheduled for late November! Snow still lying at Dunkeld and lots of ice covering fields on either side of the Tay, left over from the floods. Is this a sign of things to come?