Episode 2 - Garden Design Notes
Episode Two - Bronca Fox,
Takanini
GARDEN DESIGN NOTES by Tony Murrell
Bronca Fox must have felt like many of us do when we have a
relatively small house on a fairly large section. An often
repeated question is - where do we start first. In fact Bronca
often asked this question of herself, and ended up going
round in circles.
She did create a garden bed in memory of the son she lost and I
took great care to incorporate this special area into my design.
The rest of the section had been largely untouched.
Bronca and I had a good chat and I soon realised that with her
family and community commitments gardening for her would have been
not only a luxury, but would have ended up being a
chore.
It was good to get this information early in the piece as there was
no point in designing a garden that would suffer neglect and would
ultimately lead to frustration for Bronca.
A young family needs an area where they can come together over a
meal, or simply to play. Narrow garden paths and a patchy lawn with
signs of alapasia simply just don't cut the mustard.
Readylawn and the right variety of lawn is the ultimate when
renovating or installing a new lawn area. It's instant and it
just feels good underfoot.
Bronca and her family kick their shoes off as soon as they get out
of the car so I knew they would enjoy this underfoot.
Patio areas are the ultimate when it comes to outdoor
living. Flagstone pavers laid on a diagonal not only make for
a nice level area but visually enhance the space. A
collection of tables and chairs completed the look.
They could all now enjoy the link from the home to the courtyard in
jut a few steps. As a focal point and way of cooling this
Summer hotspot I designed and installed a simple cascading water
feature using a large crucible pot and decorative pebbles to
displace the depth of water for safety sake.
The effect was almost instant as the water bubbled up and over into
the reservoir below. The local birdlife and Bronca's
children could all enjoy the benefits of this wonderful cooling
element.
I love to use trees top form a canopy in a courtyard
space. No only does it add structure to the garden, it filters
light and air whilst providing an opportunity for insects and birds
to habitat.
Titoki really thrive in the Auckland region and are commonly known
as the New Zealand Oak Tree. They can be easily shaped, pruned
and display glossy deep green leaves with a slender chocolate
trunk.
They are a real favourite of a lot of garden designers and offer
relative ease of maintenance and, more importantly, are really
lovely to live with.
I designed garden areas to wrap around the new lawn, to frame
the courtyard and a border in front of the house - all of which
added movement, texture and attractants to wildlife - with the
emphasis of low maintenance gardening.
Bronca would never stress over the ongoing care and upkeep as this
style of garden would only require infrequent titivation. For
this particular I kept the plant pallet to a select group of
varieties and repeated it front and rear. This, in time, would
create cohesion for the entire property thus reducing the
overwhelming space.
The garden is now complete - gone are the days of self questioning and frustration over the starter's gun. Bronca and her family have now connected all the dots and we have shaded all of the spaces. Time and the seasons will only further enhance the new works in her garden and, in time, will not only offer aesthetic value but a much better place to be.
