Sense of harmony

While large, gracious old trees and glades of flowering camellias are beautiful in their own way, they can also make a garden appear dark and overcrowded.

The owners of this rural property felt their house, set amongst heavily treed gardens, didn't connect well with the outdoors or the pool area. They also wanted their garden to feel calm and peaceful, and reflect their interest in complimentary medicine.

Landscape designer Fiona George was asked by the owners to redesign the garden to achieve this.

"As well as these goals, we also aimed to design a garden that complemented the architecture of the house, which was fairly contemporary," says George.

"The new look is a modern take on a traditional Japanese garden. First, we cleared away much of the existing planting around the pool, then built stone walls between the garden and the neighbouring countryside. This has created an inner landscape that is at odds with the rural landscape outside the walls, and defines the garden as a separate entity," the designer says.

Some connection between the two is maintained with views through windows in the gardens walls and over low hedges.

"The main Japanese influence on the garden is in its use of space. Planting in asymmetric groups with space in between has created a variety of separate areas.

"The result is a garden that looks much lighter and cleaner," George says.

The owners says that adding structure to the design and altering the pool fence has improved the connections and sight-lines between the house, garden and pool.

The fence around the pool area has been extended and plants were grouped around it. Now the fence has less impact and the garden appears to stretch all the way from the house and through into the pool area.

"The simplicity of the design also helps to create a sense of well-being and peace, which we wanted," says the owner.

Enhancing this is a healing circle in the pool area, where people can sit in peaceful contemplation. Close by is a simple wooden platform, which doubles as a seat and a table.

The use of water is another important Japanese influence in the design with several ponds, water features and water sculptures located around the garden.

Plants add to the air of peace and harmony. There are few brightly coloured flowers, and instead the garden features Japanese maple and coral bark maple trees, as well as Japanese-style plants such as Choisyia, Pieris japonica, Liriope muscari cv, star jasmine, dwarf mondo, mosses and dainty clumps of weavers' bamboo.

"The bamboo sways gently in the breeze and attracts tiny, brightly coloured birds, enhancing the serenity of the garden," says the owner.

Story by: Trendsideas