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Photo Philippe Perdereau
I just love this hedge! It may be a bit over the top for my small yard but it is a great image.
The garden was designed by the landscape architect Piet Blanckaert for a client in Belgium. The grass used for these amazing feathery hedges is Pennisetum alopecuroides Hamelm. Maintenance is easy, the plants are just cut down in spring with shears and then they will grow to acheive their full potention by the end of summer. Wow.
This Mobile Studio Kitchen can be made by following free plans from www.studiomama.com
It is simple and stylish but you are warned in th instructions that you need some carpentry skills or get a carpenter to make it for you.
Conifers have been out of fashion for the last thirty years with the increase in popularity first of shrubs and mixed borders and then perennials and grasses. But now they are making a come back with more being seen at the Chelsea Flower Show this year.
Conifers can be great for small spaces as they provide not only evergreen colour but also an architectual feature throughout the year. Try planting in formal blocks of the same variety separated by evergreen shrubs or grasses.
The Danish manufacturer Eva Solo launched this tool set earlier this year which I'm sure would make a great Christmas present.
The set consists of a trowel and hand fork made from stainless steel with plastic-rubber handles for a comfortable firm grip. The fork handle fits neatly into the concave trowel handle for easy storage.
Available in lime green or cool grey.
www.madeindesign.co.uk £47.00
Callicarpa, the Beauty Berry, is looking at its best now. The brilliant violet berries stand out from the bare stems of this deciduous shrub. Though it can reach up to two metres high it can be pruned to a framework in spring to allow it to be container grown. The berries generally last through the winter as birds tend to go for other berries first - may be the colour is not so easily detected by birds. The foliage starts a bronze-purple in spring turning dark green in summer and then tinged violet in autumn.
The violet purple berries look amazing set above an underplanting of deep pink Miracle Cyclamen.
www.crocus.co.uk £8.99
www.grayconcrete.co.uk produce this classic three seat Chesterfield cast in concrete. The sofa is, I understand, surprisingly comfortable. It is cast using fine moulding techniques that pick up astonishing detail - from the hairline patina of the leather to the loose chain lost down the side of the cushions!
A new offering from one of my favourite sites www.gardenbeet.com are these colourful Rice bag Planters. They are a Fair Trade product being made in Cambodia from recycled bags. They can be planted directly into the bags or used as a decorative pot holder.
As the rain and winds cover the North Devon autumn landscape outside its refreshing to to see how those in warmer climes garden. I found these succulents on www.faroutflora.wordpress.com a fun site that's really worth a visit.
What a great idea though planting in a regular pattern with succulents or any other mound forming evergreen - I think hanging baskets could be spectacular planted with succulents in this way.
Viburnum tinus has been a popular evergreen shrub in gardens for many years but is rather large for yards. A new variety, Viburnum tinus Lady Bird grows to only 120cm high forming a sphere shape. It has fragrant flowers that last through the winter from September to March combined with wonderful shiny evergreen foliage.
Well worth looking out for.
