From leafy passageways to rose-strewn archways, the best gardens are the ones you least expect…
I blame Alice in Wonderland, but give me one pretty-as-a-picture closed gate and I’ll give you 10 enchanted admirers who can’t wait to pass over the threshold. A design with cut-out sections gives a hint of the treasures beyond.
Great things come in small packages, but this cosy little garden dining area feels bigger than it is thanks to the mirror next the the table. Unless it’s a secret portal through to another dimension, of course…
A little bit woodland, a little bit smart conservatory… The beauty of this walled alfresco seating area is the unexpectedness of it all. Beautiful, freshly cut hydrangeas set amid creeping ivy add to the mysterious atmosphere.
If roses be the flowers love, then a rose archway must the harbinger of great romance. Well, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it… But seriously, you can’t go far wrong with an abundance of these fabulous fragrant blooms arching over a verdant pathway.
Whatever you place at the bottom of the garden, people will always want to go there. Not only will it pique their curiosity, there’s something rather romantic about a secret rendezvous on a hidden bench…
Ah, we love our families (well, most of them, anyway) but sometimes we all need a bit of ‘me’ time – or just some peace and quiet to write a report or read the paper. A secluded table and chair should do the trick.
If you don’t have much space, then you need to make the most of every inch – and this is where your wall could come in handy. Create a country idyll – or quiet leafy corner, anyway – with a pretty vertical garden, or simply hang planters for a similar effect.
Have you spotted the lovely (if somewhat stony-faced) lady lurking in the shrubbery? She adds an air of mystery and timelessness to this pretty walled garden. Be bold with your garden accessories – unexpected treasures are always a welcome surprise.
This luscious garden isn’t overgrown – it’s been left to flourish and grow at will for a magical wild mood – perfect for carefree afternoons in the sunshine with a good book.
It’s a fact of life that we always want what we can’t have or see… So make your garden more desirable by allowing just a hint of what awaits those lucky enough to enter from the outside.