August 17th, 2010
Överflödig dräneringsjord.
Som blandat med "riktig" jord kan forma grunden till en ny gräsmatta.
Och som underlag till stenläggning. My way.
När jag började mitt senaste dräneringsprojekt satte jag som mål att jobbet skulle vara slutfört i september. Eftersom jag började gräva den 17e juni är det idag exakt två månader sedan första spadtaget togs. En ytterst moderat ansats om dagen innebär att jag nu till 85% är klar, men pga det ständiga regnandet de senaste veckorna känns det lite som projektplanen börjar förskjutas. Men nog måste jag vara klar med det hela om sex veckor …?
Ja, det återstår ju att se. Har dock faktiskt börjat tackla högarna av all överflödig jord/lera från “diket” som jag vet inte kommer att återanvändas. Åtminstone inte på samma plats.
För att undvika ansträngningen att forsla bort massorna mekaniskt – via bil e. d. – tittade jag mig omkring i trädgården efter lämplig plats att avyttra dem. Och hittade faktiskt några, vilket känns bra med tanke på att min tomt inte direkt är av gigantiska proportioner. Har skapat lite merjobb på kuppen men det är sådant man får leva med.
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August 16th, 2010
Section of the Roman Wall in the City of London
Section of the Roman Wall in the City of London
The Roman Wall in the City of London is mighty impressive. And OLD.
Like how it has been used as a backdrop here for this courtyard. Still filling a function after all this time … Do appreciate though that this kind of feature may not be available to all garden designers. Pity, eh?
Posted in Design, Garden / Trädgård, Historic, Landscaping, Public spaces, Urban | No Comments »
August 15th, 2010
A modern take on a walled garden?
Surrounding walls. Flowering borders. Pergola. Strategically placed benches. All are components of an old-fashioned English walled garden.
As they are in the garden in the above photo. Which can, on the face of it, hardly be described as old-fashioned. Nor particularly English-looking. Mind you, the latter might be explained by the fact that it’s situated in Sweden. Gothenburg to be more specific.
In this case, the walls are not as high as they would have been in a classical example. And they consist of massive greyish granite slabs rather than redish brick. The borders do, however, dazzle with obligatory roses and lavender. Although the pergola is a tad difficult to spot towards the back of the photo, it’s most definitely there. But rather than having been constructed in traditional wood material, it’s made out of steel.
Needless to say the ultra modern apartment block adjacent to the garden is not the backdrop one would expect to see next to a traditional walled garden.
Differences aside, however – there are too many similarities here to be a coincidence. At least the way I see it. Sweden may be a country 1000% dedicated to modernism (read functionalism), but this particular garden is certainly not without references to the traditional.
Posted in Exteriors / Exteriör, Garden / Trädgård, Green spaces, Landscaping, Plants / växter, Public spaces | No Comments »
August 14th, 2010
Sett paving.
Like this sett / cobblestone design! The wide-spaced setts on the top photo infilled with gravel is rather cool. And so is the fountain!
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August 12th, 2010
My house without hedge.
My house with hedge 11 years later.
Planting this Thuja occidentalis hedge when I first moved into my house 11 years ago is probably the best thing I’ve done. Not to mention the best investment. Through the kindness of the previous owner’s heart I actually got permission to plant it before I formally acquired access to the house. Shows you how keen I was to kick-start some kind of privacy in that garden.
It was only today though that I decided it was about time to purchase an electrical hedge cutter (cut it with a manual one before). Being a total novice to that kind of equipment initially thought it was great fun cutting away. For about 20 minutes or so – before my body began to realise the hard work involved. The cutter might speed up the cutting process, but carrying around 2.8 kg for a longish period of time take its toll!
By then it was too late, however. All I could see was the amazing result and just had to finish the project. Which in all took about 2 1/2 hours (inluding cleaning up the offcuts afterwards). By then my arms felt like they were about to fall off.
But I reckon it was all worth it!
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August 10th, 2010
Water gate Victoria Embankement Gardens
The water gate in Victoria Embankement Gardens was built in 1626 as an entry to the Thames for the Duke of Buckingham. The gate was part of the now gone York House, once the home to the Archbishops of York, before becoming the Duke’s residence. Its position might appear to be in a strange position today, but shows the impact the building of the Embankement had on the Thames’ width – the gate now stands 330 feet from the edge of the river.
No longer in use as originally intended the monument has been turned into a neat little garden area. A very classy one too in my opinion. I find the combination of gravel, bamboos, sub-tropical pot plants and stylish terraces very elegant.
Posted in Architecture / Arkitektur, Garden / Trädgård, Historic, Plants / växter | No Comments »
August 9th, 2010
"Natural" pergolas
Not sure if that is the intention, but to me the above trees planted symmetrically in groups of four look like “naturally” made pergolas. Quite a good idea planting smallish trees like that, saves one both time and effort making a pergola the carpenter way.
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August 8th, 2010
Beckenham Place Park
In a different life when I used to stay in the area, I visited the formal garden in Beckenham Place Park almost on a daily basis. Weather permitting of course. It’s just such an amazingly beautiful garden for several months of the year.
Today went back for the first time in a long time and was again bowled over by it. The colourful borders are as vibrant as ever and the homestead backdrop just as charming. A real treasure in other words. Compliments to the garden’s management team.
Posted in Exteriors / Exteriör, Garden / Trädgård, Historic, Plants / växter, Public spaces | No Comments »
August 7th, 2010
Pond Keillers Park
If you have a moment left over and happens to be in Gothenburg, Sweden on a summer’s day make your way up Keillers Park to this charming pond. Off the beaten track taking in the beauty of the pond and the surrounding grass area is soothing to the soul. You will also be able to check out a fountain by the renowned Carl Milles.
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August 7th, 2010
A bit too many plants here?
As much as I love lushness I have my reservations about the amount of plants in this basement stairwell. Looks quite exotic and mysterious in a way I suppose. But the accompanying shade and dampness may not be all that suitable for a basement area. Just a thought.
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