East Meets West

About East Meets West

The back garden of our semi-detached ex-council house has a predominantly Japanese feel. We constructed a pond with golden orfe and goldfish that over the last few years have grown from fingerlings up to 10 inch long specimens. There is a waterfall and water lilies. We have also created a stream that pumps from the pond and flows back to it. This flows past a metal heron ornament, a cloud pruned shrub and under a granite bridge. We have a number of sizable acers, Japanese lanterns and bamboo plants.

We have 2 seating areas. On the patio we laid under the pergola we erected with typical garden furniture – which is decorated in oriental cushions, pendants and wind chime – and one next to the conservatory where we have matching Japanese bench and foo dogs. These are joined by a stone sett path we laid ourselves.

Next to the lawn whose turf we laid is an arch shaped ‘rainbow’ flower bed that is planted with cottagey type plants in a red, orange, yellow, green, blue colour scheme. There are other flower beds, a shady one next to the house – with ferns, brunnera, bluebells and ivy – and pink and white themed beds on the edges of a recently laid imprinted concrete front drive.

We also have a trompe d’oeil arch. This mirrored arch we created ourselves that reflects our lovely garden giving the illusion that it is the gateway though the fence to a further garden. Our plot is not large but typical of many homes in our area and so we think many people would be interested to see what it possible with very little space and how it might transfer to their own garden. The timed entry slots will enable visitors to experience the calming beauty of the garden and provide the opportunity to talk to us and see photos showing how the garden developed.
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