A Tropical Garden

Situated in the far north of England overlooking the Solway Firth with views into the land beyond the wall, the clients were adamant that they wanted a tropical garden. This posed a number of challenges due to the sites northern aspect with little shelter from those cold north easterly winds. Plants had to be chosen with great care, along with specific care instructions to ensure that this tropical garden could come from concept to reality and thrive despite both the geography and elements. Two Trachycarpus Fortunei were chosen for their hardiness and several huge fern trees were imported with specific care instructions to ensure that they thrive in their new space. A corten steel water fountain was added to the garden to be surrounded by tree ferns and underplanted with Hakonechloa to create a beautifully lush and serendipitous space. A huge variety of hardy tropical plants were added to the rest of the borders with a bespoke oak pergola being built to provide a space facing the setting sun. Reclaimed oak sleepers were used as steps depending down into the space and the pathways were created with a cream/white gravel in stark contrast to the dark of the trunks of the palms and ferns and to make to lush greens pop. This was a highly exciting build that offered many enjoyable challenges, it just goes to show that with the right knowledge and careful planning that there are plants to suit almost any space and desire.

Click on the images below for a closer look at the before and after pictures along with further information.