A picture speaks a 1000 words

I thought the best way to start off the blog would be to use some pictures. I obviously have my own preferences when it comes to style, but I always try to plan a design around 3 factors:

1. The specific site, architecture and surrounds
2. The clients needs and wants
3. Something new or interesting to add some originality

All too often, I see garden designers working to a formulaic style, with the same plants, used in the same way every time. To a certain extent this is affected by the client, who's reference point is generally the gardens seen around their neighbourhood. However, it is the responsibility of the landscaper to educate, and sometimes stretch the client, by introducing new ideas, concepts, plants and materials.

South African garden design is definitely in need of some stretching - there are some great international designers that we can learn from. From the sometimes outlandish Diarmuid Gavin, to flowing tropical Burle Marx, and water-coloured Gertrude Jekyll.

If there is a South African style garden, it would be the use of indigenous plants in a fairly natural way. But even this can be developed further.

The following are pictures of some of the gardens that I have designed. Each of them were as different as the clients that I designed them for.