Alison Penny Garden Design

Edwardian front garden (c250sq.m)

Alison — Thu, 20 May 2010 15:12:54 +0000

The project:
The owners of this garden in Harpenden wanted an elegant, uncluttered design, which was appropriate for the front of their Edwardian house. The Lutyens-style steps, the herringbone panels and the simple tile detail in the walls sit comfortably with the original structure. Practical details, such as subtle lighting and a hidden wheelie bin store were an integral part of the design. The veranda was re-tiled to harmonize with the hallway and the shrub planting will provide year round interest.

image descriptions:

1 Approach to front door.
2 View across lawn.
3 View from drive.
4 Before.

Family garden for wheelchair user (c 400sq.m.)

Alison — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:43:42 +0000

The project:
This garden had to work for the whole family including their disabled son. Having spent time holidaying as a child in Scandinavia, my client wanted to re-capture a taste of the area, so the flat site was broken up in the centre by a glade of mature silver birches enveloping a dining area for the hotter months. Like many ex-building sites it had poorly draining soils, compacted by heavy machinery, which had to be improved. We made a virtue of the shady end of the site by emphasising this with masses of elegant ferns. The pergola, adding height and interest, was clothed with climbers, which will spill their scent as people pass below.

image descriptions:

1 Detail from planting plan.
2 Before house build begins.
3 House foundations being excavated.
4 Landscaping in progress.

More images to come soon.

From building site to garden (c 1 acre)

Alison — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:10:17 +0000

The project:

Having completed a major refurbishment of her home, this client asked me to re-plant her garden. The hard landscaping at the front needed softening and I gave consideration to the view from her desk over this area. The space was filled with sun-loving plants and structural shrubs to provide year round interest. At the back we chose some mature trees (which were craned over the top of the house!) to provide additional screening along one boundary. I retained the best of the existing plants, and gaps in the long borders were filled with a mixture of shrubs and perennials.

image descriptions:

1 After – the new inviting area for relaxing.
2 Before – the bare dining area.
3 After – the scented borders in bloom.
4 Before – the borders in progress.

A shady, dry garden

Alison — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:54:32 +0000

The project:

Clients find dry shade the most difficult to tackle. Here, a beautiful but huge weeping willow sucked water and nutrients from the soil, preventing light and rain from reaching the ground. First, lots of compost (about 40 barrow loads!) was added to help retain moisture. Next, I chose plants able to cope with such a tough existence. We planted them up in the autumn to give them the best possible chance of getting established during the wetter months. Lots of woodland bulbs were added to provide sheets of colour in the spring. At last, the owners aren’t faced with bare soil but can relax surrounded by greenery.

image descriptions:

1 Polystichum felix-mas.
2 Alchemilla mollis.
3 Helleborus hybridus.
4 Before – the long border.

A tired garden transformed (c 200sq.m.)

Alison — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:41:27 +0000

The project:

This garden is attached to a lovely, old house in St Albans. Some of the hard landscaping needed repair but the bones of the garden worked well. A section of wall was rebuilt, a path re-laid using the existing bricks and steps were mended. The borders were re-shaped and planted with a mix of smoky purples and pinks. Bare, difficult patches under trees were filled with plants that would flourish and a number of large pots were introduced to provide interest while the planting matured.

image descriptions:

1 A new focal point.
2 Border after replanting.
3 Choisya ternata
4 A bare border.

Large contemporary garden for entertaining (c 3 acres)

Alison — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:41:00 +0000

The project:

The area near the house was reconfigured following extensive building works. The small, overgrown terrace was removed to make room for a much larger space for entertaining and uninterrupted views across the croquet lawn and paddocks. I suggested rendered walls to link back to the house and ways to improve access to the wider garden beyond. The contemporary design incorporated a new greenhouse and vegetable beds as well as deer-resistant plants. We worked to a tight deadline and the garden was ready for a large family party held in the early summer.

image descriptions:

1 After – newly planted herb garden.
2 After – new steps.
3 Buxus gives a structured, modern feel.
4 Before – old steps.

C16th house with cottage garden (c 250sq.m.)

Alison — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:53:36 +0000

Project description:

We were asked to transform the area nearest the house and talked through the options with the client. She wanted a relaxed, natural feel with plants spilling over the gravel paths and a colour palette focusing on blues and pinks. We complimented the blowsy catmints and cranesbills with more structural evergreens to make sure the garden still looked good in winter.

image descriptions:

1 The long border after replanting.
2 Aquilegia vulgaris.
3 The long border – before.
4 Papaver orientalis & Nepeta x faassenii.

Traditional courtyard garden (c 150sq.m.)

Alison — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:53:06 +0000

Project description:

In assessing this small garden, my first recommendation was to remove to the lawn (much to the delight of the owner who disliked the hassle of getting out a mower for such a small space). The garden overlay chalk, and had very little topsoil, so I designed a number of raised beds to extend the range of plants we could use. The pergola adds height and the way I positioned the steps and beds makes the garden look both longer and wider. The beds are filled with the owners’ favorite plants and, both keen cooks, they make the most of the new herb collection.

image descriptions:

1 First spring in the new garden.
2 New steps and raised beds.
3 Before – the old, tired lawn.
4 Nepeta and Alliums

Wildlife garden (c 250sq.m.)

Alison — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:52:34 +0000

The project:

The fences were falling down and the borders were bare in places, or swamped with overgrown shrubs. The lawn had seen better days. The owners were keen to encourage wildlife so I reinstated an old pond and chose plants to attract insects and birds. The lawn was improved and the fences replaced. The pond is now home to a colony of common newts, and a carefully constructed shallow shelf is the perfect bathing spot for birds.

image descriptions:

1 After – the pond border.
2 Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’– Chelsea Flower Show favourite loved by bees.
3 Before – the old filled-in pond and border.
4 Crataegus pedicellata berries to attract birds.