Janice Cripps | Beautiful Gardens by design
 A family garden in Kingston |  Slender silver birch provide attractive screening |
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 Magnolia grandiflora screens the garage and box shaped evergreen oak add height and interest around the water feature |  Specially commissioned for the garden, a wire mesh sculpture by Michelle Castles |
 Bubble jet fountain |  The bubble fountain is designed to be used all day |
 Box leaf cubes at each corner of the lawn create a sculptural effect |  Shady spot on a hot day |
 Silver birch, hydrangeas and box provde the basis of a simple, contemporary planting scheme |
Before photos
Garden in Kingston Hill
My clients felt their garden was shrinking before their very eyes; the mass of shrubs planted along the boundary line had grown too large and was gradually eating into the lawn, making the space seem smaller. Furthermore their view from the house was dominated by an unattractive garage wall, summerhouse and two large trees under which nothing would grow.
My brief was to improve the view with a strong, simple design and emphasis on planting. My clients liked the formality of topiary and box hedging but also wanted seasonal colour.
In the new design, paths create a journey around the garden and link the disparate garden buildings more effectively. A raised pond with bubble fountains provides a focal point. The addition of irrigation and plants which tolerate dry shade allowed me to create a green backdrop for the garden and a foil for the water feature and new metal sculpture in the garden. Painting the existing fence black brings together old and mismatched fencing giving a much smarter, cohesive look.