The clients have owned this site for several years. During this time, they have built a two-stored house, a sauna, a summer terrace with a barbecue, a garage, a swimming pool, and a greenhouse. All constructions together with paved pathways are occupied half of the site. Two open areas of ground are left for lawn and plantings. The clients’ request was to create a low maintenance garden with a place to sit by the fire pit, with a small vegetable garden. In front of the site there is a piece of land of 150m2 that doesn’t belong to the clients. However, they intend to plant trees and shrubs there as a screen for the garden from the road.
I suggested three conceptual options for the site. The clients have chosen the option with the limited planting area. The greenhouse and a couple of vegetable beds are moved to the far corner behind the terrace. The wooden podium with a large swing in the middle has occupied a lot of space and looked very bare and dominant in this part of the site. It was suggested to soften its surface with planting and use it as a scene for a beautiful tree with interesting canopy planted in the hole made in the podium. A contorted specimen pine would provide a magnificent focal point. Lonicera caprifolium covering the fence behind provides the enclosure as well as rich colour and delicate scent of the blooms. The ground between the house and the pool is left for the lawn. Planting here is restrained with Juniperus squamata, with flame like Spirea japonica and black Elderberry, with rising golden arrays of Calamagrostis acutiflora, with Hydrangea planted along the house.
On the west side of the garden the area is divided into rectangular blocks with plants of various sizes, forms and textures. The densely packed informal planting obscures and soften the ordered layout. Shrub roses and peonies are underplanted with Nepeta and Geranium Rosana providing interest for the whole season. The flower bed is connected to the plantings in the shady part by the fence with a simple wooden arch that covered with climbing roses and clematis. Semi-shade conditions under the shrubs suit very well for Anemones and hardy Geraniums. Mix of green shades and wine-coloured of Hostas and Heuhera provides a colorful foil for larger plants. A hedge of Philadelphus coronarius and Rosa rugosa provides soft structure within the space creating a cozy corner for a quiet rest in the garden. On the opposite side there is a place to get the family together near the movable fire pit.