Inspiration

Textures & materials: A walk with my camera in Leatherhead

2 Written by Lisa on 28th Feb 2014 in Inspiration

Pathway by St Marys Church Leatherhead Lisa Cox Garden Designs

It never ceases to amaze me how looking through the lens of a camera can change the way you see things.  I’ve lived in Leatherhead for 11 years so I know it pretty well, but it’s not until I go out with my camera that I really start to see things.

Last week I took advantage of the sunshine and went for a walk to the St Mary’s Church garden with my camera.  The garden itself needs some time to come to life again as the perennials and grasses had been cut down ready for the new growth, but the textures and materials around the church made for some quite interesting photographs.

Old brick wall in St Marys Church Garden Leatherhead Lisa Cox Designs

The old brick walls around the garden are battered and weathered but I think this just adds to the charm.  And the flint walls of the church are superb – it’s not until you’re close up that you realise they were built by very skilled craftsmen.

At eye level, each piece of flint has been split perfectly to give a dressed finish.

Flint wall at St Marys Church Leatherhead Lisa Cox Garden Designs

but as you look up, you see that there are whole pieces of flint, giving a much more textured effect.

Image of St Marys Church Leatherhead Lisa Cox Garden Designs

The picture below shows the contrast between each finish – a subtle change in textures using the same material.  I find this sort of detail quite inspiring…it’ll be stored away for use at some point in a garden!

St Marys Church Leatherhead Lisa Cox Garden Designs

The main doors of the church have really ornate ironwork bolts and hinges.  I love the contrast with the weathered timber.

St Marys Church Door Leatherhead Lisa Cox Garden Designs

And outside the door were these cobbles which, without the weeds, would have made for a rather dull photo…

Cobbles at St Marys Church Leatherhead Lisa Cox Garden Designs

And I’ll leave you with a picture of the railings outside the church which were tangled with ivy…

Railings at St Marys Church Leatherhead Lisa Cox Garden Design

 

 

(Images: Lisa Cox)

 

 

Handmade terracotta flowerpots from Whichford Pottery

0 Written by Lisa on 25th Feb 2014 in Garden accessories

Pottery_271003 1

I recently attended the Garden Media Guild Home & Garden Press Event and these handmade pots from Whichford Pottery caught my eye. Read more

Looking forward to RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2014

0 Written by Lisa on 21st Feb 2014 in Inspiration

Vital Earth The Night Sky Garden Harry & David Rich RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2014

It might seem a bit early to be talking about the Chelsea Flower Show, but the designers and exhibitors will by now be counting down the weeks and making sure everything’s in place ready for the build up.  By the time the show opens on 20th May, each garden will have been in the making for well over a year. Read more

An inspiring weekend in the Wye Valley

0 Written by Lisa on 18th Feb 2014 in Inspiration

Wye valley in Winter Lisa Cox Garden Designs

We spent an inspiring few days in the Wye Valley this weekend.  We only decided mid-week that we were going so we struggled to find a cottage that was available to rent. Read more

How does your garden grow in winter?

0 Written by Lisa on 20th Dec 2013 in Inspiration, Plants

Sir Harold Hillier Garden

We’re not in the garden very much over the winter months, but it’s still really important that it looks great and has some interest.  I always think winter is the time when you really see the structure of a garden in all its glory because there’s nothing to distract you. Read more

5 Christmas gift ideas for gardeners

0 Written by Lisa on 12th Dec 2013 in Garden accessories, Inspiration

Funky veg kit from Not on the high street

Christmas is just around the corner so I thought I’d give you a few gift ideas for people who love their garden… Read more

Five festive garden light trails around the country

0 Written by Lisa on 7th Dec 2013 in Inspiration

Waddesdon Manor Christmas trees

A couple of years ago I visited the Christmas light trail at RHS garden Wisley.  They don’t have one this year, but there are some gardens around the country that do so I thought you might like to make a visit if you’re lucky enough to live nearby… Read more

Autumnal colours in Brittany

0 Written by Lisa on 27th Nov 2013 in Inspiration

Woodland walk around Lac de Guerledan Lisa Cox Garden Designs

Some of you may know that we have a family house in Brittany.  It’s such a wonderful place, out in the country and within throwing distance of Lac de Guerledan. Read more

Thrilled to be the winner of the Loseley Park & Surrey Life photography competition

0 Written by Lisa on 22nd Nov 2013 in From the drawing board, Inspiration

Miscanthus zebrinus in Flower Garden at Loseley Lisa Cox Designs

You may remember that I spent a wonderful morning at Loseley Park back in the summer with Rona Wheeldon of Flowerona taking photographs before the garden opened.  It was following this visit that we both decided to enter the photography competition that Loseley were running in conjunction with Surrey Life magazine. Read more

Autumn colours at RHS Garden Wisley

2 Written by Lisa on 15th Nov 2013 in Inspiration

The rock garden at RHS Garden Wisley Lisa Cox

I had a meeting at Wisley yesterday so I took the opportunity to walk round the gardens and take a few pictures beforehand.  The grasses were looking stunning, especially along the glasshouse borders. 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.

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