Showing results for 'loseley park'

Where did that year go!?

0 Written by Lisa on 31st Dec 2013 in From the drawing board

Christmas tree

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to celebrating the arrival of 2014.  I can’t quite believe just how quickly 2013 flew by but now that I’ve looked back at what happened over the course of the year, it makes complete sense!

What sticks in my mind the most is the barmy weather we had.  Freezing cold temperatures lasting well into spring and then scorching hot sunny days in the summer, it was one extreme to the other and another rather confusing time for nature.

Autumn at RHS Garden Wisley Lisa Cox Designs

The leaves were very late to arrive but we were well into December before they fell and if we hadn’t seen stormy weather over the past couple of weeks, I wonder whether there would have been leaves on the trees over Christmas!

View of deck from under willow tree Lisa Cox Garden Designs Surrey

2013 was a great year for me and I saw the completion of five projects ranging from a town garden in Walton-on-Thames to a large informal garden in East Horsley.

Barlow Tyrie lounger East Horsley Garden Design Lisa Cox

All the projects had their challenges, mostly caused by the weather I might add, but I’m thrilled with the end result of each and my clients thankfully are too.

But 2013 wasn’t all about work.  I finally got to see Rome (my delayed 40th birthday present!) which was absolutely everything I thought it would be and more.

Walls in the Colosseum in Rome by Lisa Cox

I studied Ancient History once upon a time so it was wonderful to see some of the monuments I had written essays about.  The Forum and Colosseum for me were the highlights but I’d love to go back again and see the things we didn’t have time to see.

The Telegraph Gdn at Chelsea Flower Show 2013

Another highlight was being able to visit the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on press day again.  I don’t take this for granted at all, not everyone gets to see the show before it officially opens to the public.

M&G Garden by Roger Platts Chelsea 2013

I love getting there really early when all the exhibitors are putting the final touches to their gardens and displays, there’s a real buzz in the air.

Bluebell by Lisa Cox for The Room Outside

Photography has also played a part in making 2013 a very enjoyable year.  I love the fact that writing The Room Outside gives me a reason to get out with my camera regularly.

Bluebell wood in Kent - Monet effect - Lisa Cox Garden Designs

Cowslips taken with wide angle lense Lisa Cox Garden Designs

Particular highlights of the year include a day with Robert Canis taking pictures of wildflowers in the Kent countryside and the other of course has to be winning the Loseley Park photography competition!

Cephalaria gigantea at Loseley Park Lisa Cox Garden Designs

I hope when you reflect on what’s happened to you over the last year that it brings you good memories too and that 2014 brings you much happiness and success, whatever you do.

 

Happy New Year!

 

 

Garden Flowers: Spectacular Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’

0 Written by Lisa on 12th Aug 2013 in Garden Flowers, Plants

White garden at Loseley Lisa Cox Designs

This month’s Garden Flowers post, which I write with Rona Wheeldon of Flowerona, features Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’. Read more

What’s in a planting plan?

2 Written by Lisa on 6th Nov 2012 in Design Tips

I have five planting plans to do at the moment, of which three are for large gardens that will easily need a few hundred plants to fill up the beds.  For many people it’s the plants that get them excited about the garden so it’s really important that this element reflects their personal style and ignites their desire to be out there amongst them. Read more

Plant of the month: Verbena bonariensis

0 Written by Lisa on 9th Oct 2012 in Plants

Verbena bonariensis was really fashionable in the garden world a few years ago and I still think it’s popular, but I certainly haven’t seen it at the flower shows in such abundance over the past couple of years. Read more

Garden Flowers: Warm & vibrant Heleniums…

0 Written by Lisa on 3rd Aug 2012 in Garden Flowers, Plants

This month’s Garden Flowers post,which I write with Rona Wheeldon of Flowerona, features HeleniumsThe flower’s common name is Sneezeweed which is derived from the false belief that they cause hay fever. Read more

Basic design principles, how do you want to move around the space?

0 Written by Lisa on 24th Feb 2012 in Design Tips

Deciding how you want to move around your garden is one of the defining moments in its creation.  The very act of walking around the space on paper has this amazing ability to make you start thinking about the design in a three dimentional way.  I think this is probably because you know what your garden looks and feels like before you start the design process so you are familiar with it already even if it doesn’t really inspire you. Read more

6 Late Flowering Perennials

0 Written by Lisa on 3rd Aug 2011 in Design Tips

The weather has been a challenge for most gardeners this year, a very hot dry spring followed by a wet cool spell and now it can’t quite work out what it’s doing!  One thing that is certain is the early arrival of the late flowering perennials and my garden is a bloom with plants that don’t normally come into their own until September. Read more

Thoughts About Chelsea Flower Show for the Surrey Advertiser

0 Written by Lisa on 13th Jul 2011 in Design Tips, Inspiration

When I was recently invited to Loseley Park for a special tour I met Rebecca Younger, Features Editor for the Surrey Advertiser.  We got talking about the Chelsea Flower Show and she asked me if I would like to contribute to the next House and Garden Supplement with my views about Chelsea and how the readers might be able to recreate some of the design ideas in their own gardens. 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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