Dean Garden Design
A private cottage garden in August (planted spring 2024)
A naturalistic garden calls for just as much planning as does a formal garden
Ruth Dean, my grandmother and Landscape Architect, 1917
Whether it is a place to relax, a wildlife garden, all year round colour, scent, sound and texture, a striking contemporary design, growing food, play areas for children, or making the garden easier to manage, I aim to create a garden which is right for you.
Your garden should give you moments where time stands still, where you are caught by scent or softly blowing grasses and flowers. it's a place to relax with a coffee, entertain, stroll, watch your plants grow and come into blossom and fruit or even pull out some weeds, dig, prune and forget about day to day stresses. Paradise is seen as a garden in the Islamic world for good reasons. Gardens should be part of the solution to environmental problems and be wonderfully enjoyable.
Do you have a square of green and don't know what to do with it? Perhaps your garden was lovely 10 years ago but has got a bit out of hand. Maybe you need something a bit easier to manage. How much time you have to look after it? Do you need a trampoline or goalposts? Do you want to encourage wildlife or grow your own vegetables and fruit? Every garden should have its own character reflecting the people who live there, and my job is to work with you to make that happen.
Spring is just beginning to show. There is light when we get up and the sun is higher in the sky. Primroses are blooming and buds are starting to swell. It’s wonderful to be outdoors on a sunny day. A good time to think about your garden and develop it, there’s still time to plant for flowering in summer.
Camellia japonica 'Le Lys' in March
Maybe you'd just like some advice about your garden? Would you like to do something creative or like some help with a problem?
Consultancy
I can visit and discuss your garden and work with you, including advice on trees, shrubs, perennials, style, planting, pruning etc.
I am touched at my clients' appreciation:
Gill, Committee Chair at Unit 12 (see Gardens and Inspiration) said 'Esther's attention to detail and design was impressive. The plants and flowers suggested to plant were very attractive.'
Sue from Winchester wrote 'I really enjoyed listening to your plans for the garden.. Thank you for the revised planting plan Esther, it looks lovely.'
Heather from Cornwall said 'Many thanks for your amazing plan. I am so impressed at your professionalism and detailed knowledge.'
Suzanne from Northern Ireland wrote 'Hi Esther, just saw your sketch, it's brilliant'
You may have a large or small space. Here is a design for a tiny courtyard garden. It had a high wall on the southern side, which I have used climbers to soften, provide flowers, colour and scent. It was quite shady, so I had to be careful with plant choice, using plants to brighten it .
Below, my design for a community garden.
This design for a community wildlife garden with space for quiet relaxation was drawn with CAD, (Computer Aided Design). The site had a fence with razor wire for security, making for quite a bleak impression first seen. For security reasons, the razorwire could not be removed, so the garden had to be designed with it.
I drew on contemporary industrial garden designs such as the Lipsgroen senses garden in the 2022 Floriade flower show near Amsterdam which repurposes industrial concrete pipe as water features.
https://www.lipsgroen.nl/portfolio-items/floriade-2022/ .
I decided to use the security fence as an asset and part of the design. I realised razorwire can add an interesting industrial style to a garden.
Each table is in a octagonal metal decorative pergola topped with razor wire. The pergolas have climbing plants, honeysuckle, hops and wild clematis growing up them, softening them.
Shrubs and planting between the tables give privacy. Entirely native planting with beautiful plants such as hawthorn, spindle and vetch as well as three different lengths of grass for different insects. The pond, inspired by the river Itchen, below, encourages birds, frogs and insects including dragon flies.
Business Hours
Wed- Fri 8.30-4.30
esther@deangardendesign.uk 07443 494027
