Today's guest blogger is garden designer Dawn Isaac. Dawn lives in a tiny Cambridgeshire village with three small children but it used to be so different - Dawn says on her about page:
"Once upon a time I led a glamorous life. I designed gardens for fabulous clients on big budgets. I created an award-winning Chelsea Flower Show Garden. I wore clothes that weren’t decorated with baby vomit. Then I had a family"
Here, Dawn describes challenges of designing a tiny plot on zero budget and in full gaze of the whole village.....
Well, the sun's started to shine today and I can see green buds aplenty. This would appear to be good news except it means I must stop procrastinating.
The problem I've been ignoring is that I have a garden to design. Nothing unusual there, except it isn't just any garden. It's one belonging to the local pre-school.
This is causing me headaches for a whole variety of reasons.
Number one - it's hardly a great site. Tiny (3.5m x 3m), quite shady and, most difficult of all, right opposite my own house. This means I will see the results of my design every single day - and if I get it wrong, they'll be no escaping the fact.
Number two - the only thing smaller than the space is the budget - a big fat zero. So, whatever I decide to plan will then have to be conjured into existence with little more than goodwill, garden raids and minor blackmail.
Number three - my reputation is on the line. The whole village knows I'm a garden designer - 'Chelsea Dawn' in local parlance (somewhat preferable to my other descriptor - 'Scary Dawn') and I'm more than a little wary that this could prove to be something of a damp squib.
Number four (yes, the list goes on) - for a small space, it's got a lot to do. The children would like somewhere to plant vegetables - probably a raised bed, some sensory planting, seating, stepping stones, a bird table, wildlife friendly planting and a range of species that will offer interest throughout the year. Oh, and did I mention, it should be low maintenance?
So I'm sitting here with designers block and a blank sheet of paper.To be honest, the general layout will be easy as the space is so small, there are very few options. However, the planting will be more of a challenge.
Perhaps I'll begin with climbers. With such space limitations, I shall have to maximise the verticals as much as possible. So, what shall I plant?I think I will plump for a clematis.
They'll embrace a bit of shade (especially at the base) and if I go for a late flowering species, the children will have the fun of seeing lots of growth in a single season. Plus, cutting it down every year will leave the walls and windows clear for any maintenance needed. Clematis 'Etoille Violette' is a personal favourite and positively thrives on a north wall.
So I have a feast for the eyes, but we're lacking a little on scent. I'd be
tempted by a honeysuckle but it will probably raise objections for its berries (don't get me started on parents' over cautious attitude to plants)
and the hardier cultivars will also be too rampant for the space.
I was also wondering about Rosa 'New Dawn'. It will take partial shade and it has a pleasant scent, but the under 5s and thorns aren't exactly a great mix.
Perhaps the answer is to grow some annual sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus).
I'll have to start them off at home as the seeds are poisonous, but the children could help to plant them out. Best of all, the beautiful scented flowers can be regularly picked by the children and will help decorate the pre-school.
I think those are enough decisions made for one day. Plus, it's started snowing again which I'm taking as some sort of divine reprieve.
Designing-gardens
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