I currently have 2 projects under construction, both nearing completion.
Secret Harbour - this was designed back in September last year. Construction started in April and hopefully will be finished by the end of July - see pics below 'before' and 'during'. "After" pics will be added once planting has taken place and again in about a year once the plants have become established.
Update Aug 5th 2010 - You will see below photos of the garden almost completed - just the synthetic lawn to be laid.
The plants shown are not those chosen by myself for the planting plan. I am waiting to hear from the client as to why my planting design has not been followed (which, of course, is the client's perogative).
As I state on my website, I try to design gardens that are more than just 'rows of spiky plants' - gardens which are somewhat generic. I had designed this garden with undulating drifts of a variety of mainly native plants suitable for the coastal location. This was especially the case with the road verge area. Foliage was to have been silver or mid-green with white or yellow flowers, throughout. These colours would have worked well with the burgundy garden walls.
Many of the plants actually used here are already too big for the beds in which they have been planted (yuccas). Some have been planted in places that are unsuitable and will not thrive as a consequence.
Knowing what plants should go where, how big they will grow, what colours work well together, and what materials to use, is the skill of the landscape designer. It is what the client is paying for. Ideally, the designer's role should not stop with the finished design. He or she should be involved with the building and planting of the garden so that the designer can make sure that the contractor follows the design approved by the client. The pros and cons of any alterations can be discussed with the client and contractor during the build process. It may cost a little more in project management fees, but the client will have unique a garden to be proud of and which will stand the test of time.
BEFORE
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| Rear garden |
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| Rear garden |
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| South side |
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Front garden |
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| Side path |
DURING
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| Front garden |
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| Side path |
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| South side paving and retaining wall |
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Rear garden showing circular lawn, curved seating and raised patio Rear garden showing circular lawn, post-planting - synthetic lawn still to lay. |
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South side showing retaining wall South side showing retaining wall - preparation for synthetic lawn  Front garden  Rear garden - awaiting circular synthetic lawn  Rear garden facing water wall - plants and pebbles but no synthetic lawn yet  Rear garden - from raised patio |
AFTER
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| Verge area - planted with a prostrate grevillea and kangaroo paw (in the distance). My design was to have used drifts of a variety of coastal natives of varying colours and heights. This is the contractor's design.  Front garden  Rear garden - facing raised patio, waterwall and circualr synthetic lawn  Rear garden - from raised patio  South side - retaining wall, synthetic grass, paving and grass tree. This is not a good position for a grass tree. Not only is it on the south side of the building, it is under a balcony. It will never get any direct sunlight. It needs 4-5 hours per day minimum. Not part of my design!  Front garden - grass trees  South side  Front garden |
City Beach - this was a rush job. The client wanted a full design with planting plan in only 3 weeks. Again 'before', 'during' and 'after' pics are shown below. Planting is due to start this week and the garden should be finished in mid- August. I'll update the blog over that period showing how the garden is progressing.
5th August 2010 - The final stages of planting will take place next week. This will be the verge area where 10 pencil pines will be planted along with rosemary and African box hedging. The majority will be lawned. I worked with the building company, discussing the features required and any variations to the design or building works. When it came to planting, I worked with the contractors to check that the correct plants were being ordered & delivered, alternatives were arranged and agreed with the client and that the plants were planted in the correct place. Supply of the right plants was a real problem here. There really was very little available ! Despite the planting of many advanced trees, the garden does look somewhat sparse at the moment. A short term solution to that "just planted" look is to plant annual bedding plants that can be weeded out as the shrubs grow. Clients are often surprised at how quickly plants grow in the first year. Good soil preparation is always important, especialy in the sandy soils around Perth.
Final garden photos should be posted by the end of next week.
BEFORE
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| Corner plot showing large retaining wall |
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| South side garden |
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| Driveway |
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| Rear garden |
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| Rear garden |
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| Side path |
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| South side path |
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| Front door area |
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Pool area DURING |
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South side garden |
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Garden - south side |
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| Driveway view into south side garden |
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Pool area steps and paving |
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Rear garden - trellis construction |
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| Rear garden - bay trees and trachelospermum. Trellis posts installed on top of the wall. |
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| Rear garden - bay trees against the wall. The black plastic sheeting will be removed from the sandstone columns once the garden has been completed & prior to planting of the wisteria. |
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| Verge area - awaiting planting with pencil pines, african box and rosemary |
More photos to be added later
