DESIGN LESSONS FROM A PANDEMIC

Patricia Tyrell speaks to fellow GLDA members on their thoughts during the lockdown and on the future of horticulture post-COVID 19

As lockdown came into force, Eamonn Ryan, leader of the Green Party, stood up in the Dail and begged for the garden centres to remain open so people could garden and perhaps produce some of their own food. It may have seemed a little frivolous in the face of a pandemic, but it turned out that he had a closer handle than most on what people would need at this time. People locked down, looked to their own gardens and houses to see what they could do to occupy their time and improve their immediate surroundings; but the tools and materials were not available. Who would have predicted that a business usually fairly low-key would be mentioned most nights on the national news, significant by its absence.

Perhaps it could have been different if it had rained but mother nature gave us the best weather we could possibly have hoped for. Confined to the house, those of us lucky enough to have a garden escaped there whenever possible and took solace in nature. The long dry spell allowed for evenings spent cooking and eating outdoors. Those who had, up to now, considered the garden low on their priority list, were dragging the kitchen furniture out onto the motheaten lawn and averting their eyes from the block walls or broken-down fence in an attempt to escape the house and dine al fresco. With more time to hand they trawled the internet, Houzz and Pinterest for those delicious garden images and dreamed of a garden makeover.

The garden has become the new holiday destination for many this year and holiday budgets are now being redirected. There were a few weeks at the beginning of lockdown when people paused to take stock but what started out as a trickle of new design enquiries has turned into a flood.

Will this sudden and wonderful appreciation of our outdoor space be sustained or will it disappear with the virus? Many will continue to work from home for the foreseeable future. The need for a green and meditative space is unlikely to go away. As a garden designer, I feel that people are now starting to really appreciate the service we provide. The creation of a space that is beautiful and everchanging. A gift that keeps on giving.

LIVING AND WORKING THROUGH A PANDEMIC

During this period I have carried out some work remotely. Clients sent me measurements and I sent back the designs. I felt a gaping hole in the way that I worked. From the perspective of efficiency, not leaving the house illustrated how much time is consumed with client interaction, but conversely how important that interaction is with the client and the site.

DESIGN LESSONS FROM A PANDEMIC

The recent rush of enquiries has made me realise the value of what I do each day and the difference it can make to people's lives particularly now. The pandemic has influenced trends. I’ve noticed that people want greener and wilder gardens; bringing them closer to the natural world. What was once taken for granted is now less than certain.

I asked GLDA full members Gary Foran, Lisa Murphy, Kinta Oakes, Elizabeth O’Connell and Marion Keogh how they have fared through the crisis.

HOW HAVE YOU ADAPTED TO THE 'NEW NORMAL' IN TERMS OF DOING BUSINESS?

GF: Thankfully working from home is not new to me, so this time of lockdown hasn't been a big culture shock. Equally, a portion of my work has always operated remotely and online. So overall I would say I feel lucky to have been in the right headspace somewhat from the beginning of this pandemic experience.

LM: I have a good list of clients with work on going so finding new work has not been an issue. I am actually surprised that I have had a few new enquiries during this time. Being forced to stay in the home office has meant I’ve had time to catch up with a heavy workload. I am working Monday to Friday approximately seven hours a day at an even pace. Before the pandemic, I had to really manage my time so that I had office time so I am finding that I am producing work at an even pace.

KO: The use of the internet has enabled us to hold meetings with several people at once from our homes. People who didn’t want to know about computer technology have been forced to adapt to this new way of working to keep in contact with colleagues etc.

EO’C: I’ve had time to plan ahead, to take stock of the direction I am going and if I wish to head in another direction. Who knows if I will, but it has given me the time to think. I’ve had time to concentrate on my studies in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture, which I’ve enjoyed and it is making me so aware of how beneficial our profession can be for so many less fortunate than us.

MK: I was lucky that I had a few design jobs to start on just as the lockdown kicked in, so I concentrated on designing all the details and getting the projects ready for delivery once construction was permitted. Technology has been the key for effective communication – WhatsApp and Zoom for meetings and sharing files through my Google Drive.

I am also a gardener, so all that work completely stopped until May 18 when I was able to get back to garden maintenance and planting projects. Side passages in clients’ gardens are now crucial to keep a distance rather than coming through a house. Garden suppliers closed doors but remained virtually open, delivering plants, soil etc – that was a huge bonus.

HOW DO YOU IMAGINE THE PANDEMIC WILL ALTER THE INDUSTRY IN THE YEARS TO COME?

GF: A longing to return to what was before will be a natural reaction for many in the horticultural industry. However, I anticipate changes in how we do business are inevitable as this unprecedented situation continues to unfold. First and foremost, public health and safety is a paramount driving force for this change, which needs to continue to curb the ever-present threat of a ‘second wave’ of the virus and any potential future pandemics.

LM: There will be less face-to-face meetings, which is good for the environment – less driving. Zoom is the new meeting room for clients and professionals alike and will enable more time for design work in the office.

Until a vaccine is found and the need for social distancing remains, there will be fewer industry gettogethers in large numbers i.e. shows, seminars. We will miss the informal chats with our peers where we learn so much.

Supplies will be slower with the nurseries and building supplies giving longer lead-in times. On-site, times and programmes will be longer and expenses will rise and more PPE will be required: masks, hand gel, flasks of hot water, soap and towel for own use.

KO: As garden designers, I think we should look at the most sustainable way to construct our gardens from hard landscaping to planting. I currently have the opportunity to turn a small town garden into a green oasis of vertical planting, green walls and roof gardens. Underpinning our garden designs should be a theme of sustainability. I have recently completed a planting plan for a business park in the Wicklow Countryside with boundary planting of only native trees and shrubs to increase biodiversity. This is an opportune time to advise and educate our clients about adopting a more sustainable approach to garden design. Our relationship to nature and its benefits to our health is fresh in all our minds.

EO’C: People have had time to rediscover their gardens and realise how therapeutic it is to garden especially in times of trouble. The only problem is a lot of them don’t really know what they are doing as this is all new to them. So from a garden designer’s point of view, I feel people will be seeking out professional services to advise and to design their gardens for them. MK: Online shopping has been a great help with suppliers who have good websites. Most of my suppliers email me weekly updated availability lists. I have shared this retail information on social media to keep the word-of-mouth going, as I’m not meeting clients face-to-face. The future of the horticultural industry is safe once suppliers and designers have good technological connectivity.

MK: Online shopping has been a great help with suppliers who have good websites. Most of my suppliers email me weekly updated availability lists. I have shared this retail information on social media to keep the word-of-mouth going, as I’m not meeting clients face-to-face. The future of the horticultural industry is safe once suppliers and designers have good technological connectivity.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM LIVING AND WORKING THROUGH A PANDEMIC?

GF: Over the last couple of months of being somewhat 'cocooned' I've found having fewer distractions tends to focus the mind. Getting to grips with those tasks that were on the long-finger for long enough have now largely been completed such as, software self-training and home office re-organisation. More personal goals have included upping my fitness game and of course getting our own garden up to show garden standard; well, someday! Along with clients, it's been great staying connected with my GLDA colleagues via online meetings and more generally to offer our mutual support as we continue to navigate our collective way through this 'new normal'.

LM: The general public during lockdown have realised that their gardens are an important piece of the home fabric and they are looking to do something about it. It is encouraging that their first point-of-call is the garden and landscape designer and many have found my name through the GLDA website.

Zoom meetings are handy for discussing the design and the finer points, but the initial client meeting and viewing of the garden is so important to feel the essence of the garden and to imagine its potential. It’s uplifting to travel around again to existing client gardens and new gardens of potential clients.

KO: The most positive element of the lockdown was the quieter world; the birds were far more apparent and I enjoyed not racing around. I suppose this is where technology and the likes of Zoom meetings have proved their importance. I also find it interesting with the Green Party initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint by 7%; this should be easier to achieve after re-emerging from lockdown.

EO’C: I’ve learnt my health is my wealth and that of my family. Life does not have to be so stressful.

What makes God laugh is people making plans (never a truer word spoken.) Pandemics are not for the faint-hearted!

MK: An important lesson I have learnt is about my creativity; it can’t just be switched on. It can be difficult to create a garden design when you’re worried about a deadly disease, trying to motivate kids doing school and college exams, extended family members’ illnesses and just not being allowed out to see people. My biggest ‘take-home’ from this weird time is to be kind to me and not put too much pressure on myself to deliver the workload I usually do. ✽