2009

While we have continued to design private gardens nationwide throughout 2009, the year has also seen us carrying out more of the practical hands on planting work associated with our designs, which is an expanding area of our business.  

In June we were delighted to receive an award of Silver at Bloom in Dublin for our garden entitled ‘Harmonium’.  A contemporary garden, inspired by the life’s work of artist, philosopher and humanitarian Sri Chinmoy (1931-2007) whose creative output expressed his aspirations for a world founded on oneness and harmony, and his hopes for the happiness and fulfilment of each and every human being.

The garden’s theme of harmony was crafted into each of our design elements - our water sculpture and circular glass mosaics captured and echoed our drop motif, as did the ripple effect in our paved areas. Added to this, carefully chosen materials, soft planting, subtle lighting, contemplative artwork, uplifting poetry and music were all brought together, offering the visitor the chance to reflect on what harmony meant to them in their own lives and in the world around them.

One notable design feature was the use and demonstration of the effectiveness of swales in a garden, as one way of dealing with the increasingly prevalent problem of storm water runoff from paved surfaces that can cause flooding in urban environments.

2010

The Europe wide cold snap of 2010 that has lasted well into March has seen a number of our designed garden planting in need of attention.  Much replanting work of those less hardy, as well as some hardy plant species, is currently ongoing.  A number of new and exciting private garden design commissions are currently at the early design stage with construction schedules due to begin in the early summer months.   

Summer 2010

May and June have brought us welcome temperature rises, and a rapid growth in vegetation across gardens generally.  Sunny days for the most part, were welcome during the build up of the Garden & Landscape Designer’s Association ‘Sanctuary Garden’ at Bloom early in June.  We along with other members of the association built the garden as a welcoming and relaxing space for the visiting public to come and meet us informally and to learn about the garden design process.  A series of ‘Ask the Experts’ slots in the floral pavilion provided further opportunities for myself and colleagues to jointly host daily talks on gardening and garden design, and to answer questions from an audience of gardening enthusiasts.