Creating a Relaxing Garden Retreat: Tips for a Tranquil Outdoor Space

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, finding moments of tranquility is essential for our mental and emotional well-being. One way to cultivate peace and serenity is by creating a relaxing garden retreat right in the comfort of your own backyard. 

A tranquil outdoor space can serve as a sanctuary where you can escape the stresses of the day and reconnect with nature. Whether you have a sprawling backyard or a cozy balcony, here are some tips to help you transform your outdoor space into a serene oasis:

Start with a Clear Vision: Before you begin designing your garden retreat, take some time to envision what you want it to look and feel like. Consider the atmosphere you want to create, do you prefer a Zen-inspired space with clean lines and minimalistic elements, or a lush, cottage-style garden filled with flowers and foliage? Having a clear vision will guide your design choices and ensure cohesiveness throughout the space.

Choose the Right Plants: Plants play a crucial role in creating a calming atmosphere in your garden retreat. Opt for varieties known for their soothing scents, such as lavender, jasmine, and chamomile. Incorporate plenty of greenery to add a sense of serenity, and consider planting a mix of perennials and evergreens to maintain visual interest year-round. Additionally, select low-maintenance plants to minimise upkeep and maximise relaxation.

Create Zones for Relaxation: Divide your outdoor space into different zones to accommodate various activities and moods. Dedicate a cozy corner for reading or meditation, complete with a comfortable seating area and perhaps a small fountain or trickling water feature to provide auditory tranquility. Designate another area for alfresco dining, with a table and chairs surrounded by potted plants or hanging lanterns for ambiance.

Incorporate Natural Elements: Embrace the natural beauty of your surroundings by incorporating elements like stone, wood, and water into your garden retreat. Use natural materials for pathways, seating, and decorative accents to create a harmonious connection with the environment. 

A gently babbling stream or a bubbling pond can add a sense of movement and serenity to your outdoor space, while a wooden pergola or trellis draped with climbing vines can provide shade and privacy.

Add Ambient Lighting: Extend the hours of enjoyment in your garden retreat by incorporating ambient lighting. Soft, diffused lighting such as string lights, lanterns, or candles can create a warm and inviting atmosphere after the sun sets. Consider installing solar-powered lights along pathways or around seating areas for added safety and convenience. Avoid harsh, bright lights that can disrupt the peaceful ambiance you’ve worked so hard to create.

Focus on Comfort and Coziness: Make your garden retreat a place where you can truly unwind by prioritizing comfort and coziness. Invest in high-quality outdoor furniture with plush cushions and throw blankets for chilly evenings. 

Arrange seating and lounging areas strategically to take advantage of natural shade and breezes. Incorporate soft textiles like outdoor rugs and curtains to add warmth and texture to the space.

Personalise with Decorative Touches: Infuse your garden retreat with your personality and style by adding decorative touches that speak to your interests and preferences. Display potted plants in decorative containers, hang artwork or mirrors on walls to create focal points, and incorporate meaningful accessories like wind chimes or sculptures. 

Choose colours and patterns that evoke a sense of calm and relaxation, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different combinations until you find what feels right for you.

Creating a relaxing garden retreat is not just about aesthetics, it’s about cultivating a space where you can nourish your mind, body, and soul. By incorporating elements of nature, comfort, and personalisation, you can design an outdoor sanctuary that provides solace and rejuvenation whenever you need it. So roll up your sleeves, dig in the dirt, and let your garden retreat become a haven of tranquility in your busy life.

(Image courtesy of Manfred Richter from Pixabay)

Top head gardener to speak exclusively for The London College of Garden Design

Stephen Crisp, who is the Head Gardener Winfield House (US Ambassador’s Residence in London) will be speaking exclusively for the London College of Garden Design next month to explain some of the best aftercare strategies for modern plantings in large gardens.

Director of Garden Design Studies Andrew Wilson said "Stephen has been at Winfield house in The Regent`s Park, for the past 25 Years. We are very proud to have a gardener of Stephen’s calibre who has enhanced and restored the extensive 12.5 acre garden with a designers' eye but also with a practical approach informed by being a working craftsman in the art of horticulture."

Winfield House garden is regularly described as being one of the best private gardens in central London displaying innovative vision in the care of this busy representational residence. In his presentation Stephen will discuss how he manages to achieve high standards of presentation and management of the landscape detail, with a limited staff and resources.

The talk is on 6th March 2012 at the Coach & Horses, 8 Kew Green TW9 3BH from 6.00pm to 8.00pm and tickets cost £30.

FACTFILE:
The London College of Garden Design aims to offer the best professional garden design courses available in the UK. Launched in 2008 by three of the UK’s leading garden professionals, the London College of Garden Design one-year Garden Design Diploma classes take place in the Orangery conference facilities at the world famous Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Contact: e-zine@lcgd.org.uk
Find out more at http://www.lcgd.org.uk/

CGD Landscape Design Asked to Enter International Design Competition in Germany

Cgd landscape design, a UK based garden and landscape design practice, has been contacted in connection with several overseas projects including a submission for an international design competition in Germany. This was the first landscape design competition of this nature for cgd directors, Helen Billetop and Sally Court. Over the past twenty years or so they have, as garden and landscape designers, been asked to design and build many show gardens but never enter an international design competition of this nature and complexity.

Sally explained that “We were flattered and more than a little proud to have been short-listed along with four large established landscape architect practices. What an unique experience!"

Having attended the colloquium with the other contenders, the directors became aware of the amount of work and detail required for this large area of neglected and partially derelict land which had been designated for the “English Themed Garden”. This area required a design incorporating three distinct sections including a functioning café/tearoom and access roads, all to be costed out including labour, annual maintenance and not to exceed a budget of €1 million.

“An English theme was required, subject matter which we felt really comfortable with. Initially it sounded like a substantial budget and in normal circumstances it would be. After the colloquium when we were briefed on the criteria required for the parklands, we quickly realised that the budget allocated would barely meet the needs. Four hectares in all to landscape into gardens and parklands as well as a fully functioning café and offices meant that we had to bring in an architect who understood people flow, Eco structures and budgets.”

The design required both pedestrian and vehicular access for deliveries to the café with paths to connect the new gardens with the existing and proposed infrastructures. Not least a comprehensive creative solution that not only conveys the essence of an English landscape but also links seamlessly into the existing and future landscaped parklands. No small task.

Having sketched out their initial concept, honed down the ideas and hand-drawn up the plans on drawing boards the schemes were then transferred onto CAD. Two freelance landscape design experts were brought in to interpret the concepts and drawings. Working as a team, not always communicating on the same level did cause a few misunderstandings initially, quickly became a very positive experience.

“The whole competition has been exciting and put a new impetus into our business. Whether or not we win this landscape design competition has proved to us, garden designers, that we can compete alongside the big guns, landscape architects, with their entire backup and enter a truly professional design. Bring on the next competition, we are ready and waiting.”

FACTFILE:
cgd landscape design is a new landscape architecture and design practice brings together the creativity, expertise and experience of two of the UK's top garden designers, Helen Billetop and Sally Court, based in London, England

The practice specialises in providing a comprehensive and personalised landscape design service for private individuals and corporate clients in the UK and overseas.

With expertise in planting design across all climate zones and working with locally sourced materials and quality contractors, they are currently commissioned on several prestigious projects in the UK, Moscow, Russia and in New York State, USA.

Their philosophy combines the functional with the artistic to create inspired and sustainable gardens and landscapes. They embrace local characteristics and conditions to develop landscape design solutions which are sympathetic and can be surprising in their simplicity.

enquiries@cgd-landscape-design.com
www.cgd-landscape-design.com/

Zeno Perfetti wins National Trust and London College of Garden Design competition

Zeno Perfetti

The National Trust and the London College of Garden Design are proud to announce the winner of the competition to design the National Trust Garden Collection showcase stand at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2012.

Open to 2010 and 2011 graduates of the London College of Garden Design, Zeno Perfetti’s impressive vision for the National Trust Garden Collection stand scooped the top prize.

Turning the design brief on its head, {{Perfetti showcases the National Trust Garden Collection within a garden setting, but adds a sense of drama and mystery}} by displaying the products as surreal sculptures.

“I wanted to create something unexpected” Perfetti explains, “in my design the products have become interesting, sculptural elements displayed on lawn or gravel areas enhanced by decorative, upright and coloured posts.”

On winning the competition, Perfetti said: "To create a garden space for the National Trust- a great British institution at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show-the largest flower show in the world is a dream project for me. I'm thrilled to be a part of the team."

Phillippa Green, Brand Licensing Manager at the National Trust said, “This garden is really exciting. By re-imagining the products in the National Trust Garden Collection range Perfetti makes us look again at everyday garden tools and showcases their design and craftsmanship.”

The garden – which includes products from Alitex Greenhouses, Gaze Burvill outdoor furniture, Oak Leaf Gates, Scotts of Thrapston Summerhouses and Westminster Stone - will be on display at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in July.

FACTFILE:
Nine British companies came together in 2010 to form the National Trust Garden Collection, offering a range of gardening items from summerhouses to spades, sales of which generate income for the Trust’s conservation work including that of its gardens.

Each item in the Garden collection takes inspiration from the extensive gardens, buildings, collections and land in the National Trust’s care and all are produced using traditional crafts and techniques. Examples include Scotts of Thrapston Summerhouses who base its licensed designs on outdoor structures cared for by the Trust, including the converted garden building used by George Bernard Shaw to create many of his masterpieces; and Gaze Burvill who concentrate on traditional wood crafts seen at many National Trust places to design and produce garden furniture.
Find out more at http://www.nationaltrustgardencollection.co.uk/

The London College of Garden Design aims to offer the best professional garden design courses available in the UK. Launched in 2008 by three of the UK’s leading garden professionals, the London College of Garden Design one-year Garden Design Diploma classes take place in the Orangery conference facilities at the world famous Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Find out more at http://www.lcgd.org.uk/

Create Your Garden Vision at Tatton Park 2012

The RHS is calling on garden designers, landscapers, artists and architects to create an exclusive Visionary Garden for RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2012. This category offers the chance to break the mould and go beyond commercial garden design by pushing boundaries and using horticulture as a medium of expression, installation and art.

Show Manager, Kris Hulewicz says: “The Visionary Gardens category encourages designers to have a strong creative imagination and the foresight to deliver gardens that provide both eye-catching beauty and intellectual inspiration.”

The designers chosen by the RHS Garden Selection Panel will receive financial support of £6,000. This can be used to pay for the garden or as a contribution towards the total cost. The gardens will then be judged at the show against RHS garden criteria and will be eligible for an RHS medal.

With extensive media coverage reaching millions of people, the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park is an ideal forum at which designers can showcase and promote their portfolio.

The deadline for the return of applications is 2nd December 2011 and successful applicants will be informed by mid-January 2012.

For more information on the Visionary Gardens category, please contact the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park Manager, Kris Hulewicz on 020 7821 3335 or email krishulewicz@rhs.org.uk If you would like an application form please email exhibitorapplications@rhs.org.uk

FACTFILE:

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s foremost gardening charity, helping and inspiring millions of people to garden. We do this at our gardens and shows and through our scientific research, publications, libraries and our education and community programmes. We are entirely funded by our members, visitors and supporters.

RHS membership is for anyone with an interest in gardening. Support the RHS and secure a healthy future for gardening. For more information call: 0845 130 4646, or visit www.rhs.org.uk

RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262

New Garden and Landscape Design Work for cgd landscape design ltd. in Moscow Region

Having recently completed their first private garden in Rubliovka, Moscow, cgd landscape design ltd have been awarded a new contract for a 1 acre naturalistic woodland garden in the same region.

Sally Court and Helen Billetop, the designers, have gained considerable experience over the past five years in working in this inclement climate and have built up a vast knowledge of plants that will not only survive the extremes of heat and cold but will also provide a stunning display of colour over a long period.

One of their great successes was to seed a large area with a pictorial meadow mix of seeds developed by de Jager, the bulb specialists and the experts at the University of Sheffield. This display of flowers started in June and is still flowering in October, a longevity not known in this part of Russia.

It is a direct result of the creation of their first garden that this new project has been awarded. Their client is looking for a classic woodland retreat with glades, walks, naturalistic planting, wild flowers and views into the wider landscape. Both the designers, Sally and Helen are excited about this commission and are looking forward to the installation which will start in spring 2012.

A new landscape architecture and design practice brings together the creativity, expertise and experience of two of the UK's top garden designers, Helen Billetop and Sally Court, based in London, England

The practice specialises in providing a comprehensive and personalised landscape design service for private individuals and corporate clients in the UK and overseas.

With expertise in planting design across all climate zones and working with locally sourced materials and quality contractors, they are currently commissioned on several prestigious projects in the UK, Moscow, Russia and in New York State, USA.

"Our philosophy combines the functional with the artistic to create inspired and sustainable gardens and landscapes. We embrace local characteristics and conditions to develop landscape design solutions which are sympathetic and can be surprising in their simplicity," they told That's Gardening.

London College of Garden Design celebrates Garden Design Diploma success with new online gallery

The London College of Garden Design celebrated student success this week when the Garden Design Diploma class of 2011 graduated. At the same time the College has launched a new interactive gallery on its website which their graduates will be able to use over the coming year to promote their services.

Founded by three of the UK’s top gardening professionals, the College prides itself on having some of the freshest and the best design teaching available.

The Director of Garden Design Studies Andrew Wilson said “This year’s student’s have completed a wide range of projects that test the breadth and scale of skills needed for a successful garden design career. The final project is a major garden or landscape design that the student chooses themselves and are often live projects that launch their career. The new graduate gallery is an ideal way to showcase their hard work.”

This year 4 distinctions were awarded with Ruth Ayoubi receiving the College prize for an outstanding final project and Fiona Silk being awarded the prize from this year’s guest examiner Cleve West who came fresh from his Best Show Garden success at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Cleve addressed the class of 2011 reminding them not to forget the skill of hand drawing alongside the computer skills that they have gained and are now the industry norm.

This is the last year that the Diploma will be taught from Regents Park as from September 2011 the London College of Garden Design one-year Garden Design Diploma classes will take place in the Orangery conference facilities at the world famous Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Founding Director Andrew Fisher Tomlin pointed out: “Our success is down to a unique combination of talents and teaching that students are finding to be a compelling reason to study with us. Our move to Kew Gardens will underscore that success and we look forward to an inspiring first year in our new location.”

FACTFILE:
The London College of Garden Design aims to offer the best professional garden design courses available in the UK. Launched in 2008 by three of the UK’s leading garden professionals, from September 2011 the London College of Garden Design one-year Garden Design Diploma classes will take place in the Orangery conference facilities at the world famous Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

In keeping with their vision to offer the best garden design training available, their new teaching facilities are world class and provide a quiet haven for study in the middle of one of the world's leading botanic gardens.

Courses

The Diploma course programme runs with two days contact time per week plus personal study time over a period of 34 weeks, divided into three academic terms. Through lectures, studio work and practical on-site training students are taken through foundation skills to professional design communication skills. As well as design and plant skills students will be equipped with business and construction skills to support their business aspirations. All teaching staff will be practitioners in their particular field enabling students to learn from their experience as well as their teaching.

Short courses for both the recently qualified garden designer and continuing professional development for established designers, are also offered by the College. An individually tailored tutoring service is also available.

www.lcgd.org.uk