5 minute read
GARDENING
Summer sanctuary
If we can’t go away on holiday, we can, at least, look to our gardens to bring us pleasure. But if yours is more Bognor than Bahamas, it could be time to think about ways to add some zing, says Elly West
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Staying at home this summer? You’re certainly not alone, and many of us have been looking to our gardens to provide that holiday vibe. The landscaping industry is one of the more fortunate ones that saw a boom as the pandemic went on (and on). Materials and plant shortages aside, many landscapers and designers have never been so busy. I saw enquiries for garden design services rocket at the start of the year and levels stayed high, as everyone spent more time at home and in the garden, and we faced another staycation summer with limited travel.
My clients’ wish lists have mostly been very similar – somewhere to entertain, socialise, relax, cook and eat – an outdoor room that can be enjoyed as an extension of the home, while still providing the visual attraction of year-round colour and soothing greenery. Hot tubs, outdoor kitchens and garden buildings are in demand, along with furniture, barbecues, garden bars and many other outdoor-living products.
If we can’t go away on holiday, then at least we can look to our gardens to bring us pleasure, and stepping out of the back door into our own summer sanctuary can be the next best thing. But if your garden is currently more Bognor than Bahamas, it could be time to think about ways to add some zing.
A good starting point is the seating area. All gardens need somewhere to sit and relax, so take a look at where the sun rises and sets, and consider what time of day you’re most likely to be outside. Do you prefer to sit in the sun or shade? Are you looking for a spot for a morning coffee, evening sundowner, or do you have room for more than one seating area? South-facing will get the most direct sunshine during the day, or west-facing for the evening, and you can always add a sail shade, screening or large parasol for days when the sun is strong.
Summer houses often turn into glorified sheds in my experience, but a simple pergola with a covered roof or sail strung between the posts is an effective way to define a seating area, provide shelter and a sense of enclosure, and also provides the opportunity to grow climbers such as clematis or roses. A pergola makes a good focal point and gives instant structure and height.
Somewhere sunny for loungers and comfy sofas, combined with a shadier spot for outdoor dining, is a good idea if you have the space. Surround your seating with fragrant plants such as herbs, jasmine, lilies and lavender, and hang some bunting, and you'll soon feel in holiday mood. If you’re lucky enough to have well-positioned trees, string up a hammock for the ultimate in holiday relaxation!
Alfresco dining is also synonymous with summer holidays, so a place to cook outside could be a good investment, whether it’s a small barbecue or full-on kitchen with worktops, a sink and places to grill, bake and fry. Pizza ovens and Japanese-style ceramic kamado grills have soared in popularity and make stylish garden features that create
a focal point in your cooking space. A brick-built barbecue is another option if you want to keep things simple. Again, think carefully about where you want the kitchen area to be. Unless it’s deluxe enough to have everything you need, then a spot close to the house (and the actual kitchen) makes sense, as well as not too far away from where you’ll be eating the food.
Long evenings spent outdoors will always be enhanced with garden lighting, and switching on lights immediately invokes a holiday-party vibe, especially if you go for fun colour-changing bulbs controllable from an app on your phone. There are also lots of hanging pendant lights that give that indoor-outdoor look, or you might want a festival feel with festoon or fairy lights. String them along fences, through trees and shrubs or over an arch or pergola. Solar lights are a good option if you don’t have an outdoor electricity supply, although they won’t be as bright or reliable, or even a collection of tealights in jam jars will provide evening atmosphere for very little cost.
Lots of accessories on the market have the indoor-outdoor look in mind, and a cosy space filled with blankets and cushions, plus an outdoor patterned rug, will entice you and your family and friends to spend longer outdoors.
And when the temperature drops, a free-standing fire pit makes another good addition to keep you warm, while creating an attractive centrepiece. Some even come with a cooking grill. Go for one with a gas tank for instant, reliable heat, Love Island style! n • ellyswellies.co.uk; Instagram: @ellyswellies1
Plant of the month: Hollyhock
Hollyhocks are reminiscent of holidays in France –their stately flowers towering against the rough stone walls of a rustic gîte –but they’re favourites in English country cottage gardens as well and it’s easy to see why. They’re easy to grow from seed and appear later in the summer after many other perennials and annuals have burnt out, their statuesque blooms ideal for the back of a border or against a house wall. I’d always thought of these as biennials, according to the books, meaning that they flower in their second year and then die. However, I moved to my current house more than seven years ago and I inherited a near-black variety that’s sprouted reliably right at the base of a cherry tree every year, proving that plants don’t follow the rules! They’re loved by bees and butterflies, and come in a range of jewel-like colours, from soft pinks through yellows and creams, red, white, blue and black. The petals can be added to salads or crystallised for cake decorations. Hollyhocks are easy to grow from seed either indoors or out, and appreciate well-drained soil in full sun, where they will reward you with a plethora of flowers that can tower at over 2m tall. The stems may need staking in a windy spot.
