Inspiration

Highlights from RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019

0 Written by Lisa on 22nd May 2019 in Inspiration

I haven’t been to Chelsea for a couple of years so I was really looking forward to this year.  There’s always something there to provide inspiration and, as we’re finally about to embark on creating our garden (at last!), I was on the lookout for ideas that would get the creative juices flowing.

The two standout gardens for me on Main Avenue were the M&G garden, designed by Andy Sturgeon , and The Resilience Garden, designed by Sarah Eberle.  Both designers are seasoned Chelsea exhibitors but I’m sure that doesn’t make the job any easier.

There was a lot of talk before the show about the burnt oak and it definitely made a strong statement.  Black always brings the plants to life and here the texture of the timber was beautiful.  I became a little bit obsessed taking photos of it!

The Resilience Garden was obviously designed to send a strong message about climate change but for me it was the garden that felt most akin to the natural landscape and our garden at home.

I loved all the natural stone and reclaimed materials.  I really want our garden to feel as though it’s always been there.  Sometimes I think as a designer that it’s tempting to make everything perfect, but steps can be as simple as a few rocks bedded into a slope and that would work perfectly at home.

I want our garden to feel quite wild and natural and I think the planting here achieves this effortlessly. The key will be to balance the need for some cultivation near the house with the welsh hills beyond the boundaries.

 

(Images: Lisa Cox)

A trip to Purton Hulks, the ships’ graveyard

0 Written by Lisa on 11th Mar 2019 in Inspiration

It’s been a while since I’ve ventured out with my camera, and indeed had the time to write a blog post, but yesterday we decided to venture over to Purton Hulks in Gloucestershire to visit the Ships’ graveyard. Read more

The Almond Groves of Granada

0 Written by Lisa on 23rd Nov 2018 in Inspiration

Two months ago we were in Spain and I really don’t know how we’ve got to the end of November quite so quickly.  I’ve been rather remiss at writing anything here but, despite the delay, I still wanted to share some of the photos I took whilst we were away. Read more

Getting creative with garden wall cladding

0 Written by Lisa on 30th Jul 2018 in Design Tips, Inspiration

I’m working on the detail for a project near Cardiff at the moment and we’re looking at different wall cladding which will enhance the garden and help to zone each area. Read more

Sunsets in South Wales

0 Written by Lisa on 5th Jul 2018 in Inspiration

I was supposed to be planting last week at one of my local projects but the ground is so hard and dry, and the weather so hot, that we have postponed it until we’ve had some rain.  Amazingly we haven’t had a drop here for over 3 weeks.  Even the promised thunder storm seemed to miss us last weekend. Read more

Introducing Iron Fire

0 Written by Lisa on 1st May 2018 in Garden accessories, Inspiration

I’ve recently been introduced to Iron Fire, a Wiltshire-based company who use an ancient Japanese technique for preserving wood called Shou Sugi-ban. Read more

Wild County Kerry

0 Written by Lisa on 26th Sep 2017 in Inspiration

I’ve just returned from a week in Ireland where we had the most fabulous weather and were properly able to enjoy the amazing rugged landscape. Read more

A Dewy August morning in South Wales

1 Written by Lisa on 11th Sep 2017 in Inspiration

It’s been feeling quite autumnal in South Wales over the past couple of weeks and we’ve had some gorgeous dewy mornings where the light has been catching the water droplets and lighting up the landscape. Read more

A visit to Stockton Bury Gardens in Herefordshire

0 Written by Lisa on 8th Aug 2017 in Inspiration

My goodness the time has flown this year and I realised this morning that I still haven’t shared the photos I took at Stockton Bury Gardens back in April this year! Read more

Wild flowers in the Swiss Alps

0 Written by Lisa on 29th Jun 2017 in Inspiration, Plants

We went to the Swiss Alps last weekend for a few days.  we’ve never been to Switzerland before and my Stepson is living there are the moment so we thought, why not? Read more

Lisa Cox Welcome

I specialise in helping families to turn their gardens into an extension of their home and into a space that can be used and enjoyed all year round.

read more >

Sign up to the Newsletter
Thank you for signing up.
Let me create the Right Garden For you click here >
Find me elsewhere
Twitter
Website

Websites by Flourish, Guildford, Surrey