Garden Designing & Homestyle Ideas With Garden Designer And Horticultural Stylist, Judy Fenyvesi

Furzey Gardens

gardendesigning — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:15:09 +0000

Last weekend hubby and I visited 2 gardens that I’ve wanted to see for a very long time; Furzey Gardens and Spinners Garden.

I’ll post about our trip to Spinners Garden in my next post and tell you about a little treat I picked up there, however, for this posting I’ll write about Furzey Gardens.

Furzey Gardens is situated in Minstead, a short picturesque drive from Lyndhurst along the A337 and a perfect prelude for what awaits visitors at Furzey Gardens.

We arrived nice and early on Saturday. Luckily the weather was sunny and just the right temperature for a good walk around gardens.

The first thing you notice when arriving at Furzey Gardens is the peaceful, tranquil atmosphere. It’s the perfect setting for the Christian Retreat House which is situated in the beautiful grounds where individuals or small groups may visit and enjoy quiet and tranquility.

As well as the retreat, Furzey gardens also works together with the Minstead Training Project to provide horticultural training and care for young people with learning difficulties and when you see the setting you’ll understand how Furzey Gardens can provide such a worthwhile service.

When you get your entrance ticket to Furzey Gardens in the shop, do remember to pick up a leaflet with a map of all the things to look out for during your walk around the gardens, because if you don’t, you’re bound to be so spellbound by the banks and banks Azaleas and Rhododendrons that you’ll easily miss out on some of the “hidden gems” around the grounds.

I won’t spoil the surprises that await you, but needless to say, Furzey Gardens has a whole host of “hidden gems” for you to hunt ensuring that you’re bound to take in the whole grounds and not miss anything if you follow the trail on the map.

In Furzey Gardens you’ll eventually get to the tree houses and play area, a perfect spot for children of all ages where you’ll find African style round houses, the tree house, swings, a boat and a lovely picnic area.

With a play area, the picnic area, the abundance of plants, the lake, the gift shop and the gallery, Furzey Gardens provides the perfect day out for all the family whether you’re into gardening or not.

To find out more about Furzey Gardens, do visit their website at
www.furzey-gardens.org

Furzey Gardens
School Lane
Minstead
Lyndhurst
Hampshire
SO43 7GL
Tel: 02380 812464

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Shoreline Furniture

gardendesigning — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:10:26 +0000

I recently came into contact with Martin Scorey and his range of Shoreline Furniture via an exhibition in Lyndhurst arranged by Angelico Creative

As you know, I simply love driftwood furniture and accents and Martin makes the most exceptional pieces.

From a wide range of furniture, to decorative accents for you home and garden, Martin’s artistic talents turn seemingly ordinary driftwood into unique and exceptional pieces that could grace any home or garden.

From chairs to tables to cupboards and more, you’re bound to find something at Martin Scorey’s Shoreline Furniture to delight you.

More Details:
Martin Scorey is an exceptional craftsman who produces innovative Driftwood furniture using

Martin, who initially trained in traditional boat building skills, has been established since 1977 and over the years has developed a long list of loyal clients.

To satisfy the strong tide of requests for private commissions Shoreline Furniture was established and continues to fulfil the growing demand for original and memorable furniture that blends the traditional with the modern tastes of today.

Visit Shoreline Furniture At www.shorelinefurniture.co.uk

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© Copyright Judy Fenyvesi

The Magnificence Of May

gardendesigning — Sat, 03 May 2008 12:39:54 +0000

May is my favourite month of the gardening year as spring moves into summer and the weather warms up, and nearly everything in the garden is in full leaf. Lovely spring flowering plants in our gardens will soon give way to super summer flowering blooms.

If you’re tempted to dash out and buy your bedding plants, I’d advise that you wait for a while until the middle of the month as there still could still be some sudden sharp frosts at night, so just keep an eye on the weather forecast. If however you have a greenhouse, then you could store them in there for the time being.

Around this time of this month, you could now give your lawn a good “feed and weed” as a lawn in good condition really sets off a garden. Also don’t forget to mow regularly to encourage healthy growth.

If you have any evergreen shrubs which may have been damage by frost during winter, then this is a good time to give them a pruning to generally tidy them up and get them back into shape. Early flowering shrubs and climbers such as Kerria japonica and Clematis Montana can also be pruned around this time now. Evergreen hedges can now be given a trim, but only give them a light trim just to keep its shape and this will make it easier to cut next time.

If you would like some plants for free, then now is a good time to take softwood cuttings from shrubs. Most shrubs in the garden will now be producing young fresh shoots and these will be excellent for softwood cuttings. Another economical way to get some splashes of summer colour into your garden is with flowering annuals, and these can now be sown directly onto the soil.

If you enjoy eating runner or French beans then try planting some now. I think that this crop has such pretty flowers and can quite easily be incorporated into any garden and can look attractive growing over supporting structures. If you want your very own fresh salad than have a go at growing some salad crops this month too.

As the weather warms up this month don’t forget to get into the habit of watering your garden; also start feeding any hungry plants in the garden, particularly those in containers and in hanging baskets.

By putting in some extra effort this month, your garden will get a good head start and not only will it start looking good, but your efforts will pay off later in the summer months.

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© Copyright Judy Fenyvesi

#gduk 157

Focus On Design

gardendesigning — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:48:37 +0000

One question that I ask my clients before designing their gardens is, “How much time would you like to spend maintaining your garden?”

More often than not the response I get is, “I hadn’t thought of that.”

When you think about it, it really does need some thought, doesn’t it?

Although most people generally at first say that they would prefer a garden with as little maintenance as possible, it is only after careful consideration that they come to the decision that they actually would like something to do in their newly designed garden… even if this just means “pottering around”.

After all if you’re going to be in your garden when it’s been re-designed, then why not do something while you’re out there - something that can help you build a “relationship” with your new garden.

A well designed garden can have this “maintenance-factor” built into it by an experienced garden designer – even if it’s as simple as providing small hedges which the owner can themselves trim and prune now and then. They can still however leave the more horticultural maintenance aspects to the professional gardener.

Perhaps this might be something for you to bear in mind as you develop your own garden.

Maybe you would really like a garden where the time you spend working in it is different to what you are currently doing.

Perhaps you really would prefer neat trimming and tidying instead of hacking through unkempt bushes, or perhaps you really would prefer “gentle weeding” on a nice balmy summer’s days as opposed to hacking through wild tangled weeds.

Think about it carefully and I’ll bet that you really would prefer to spend more time in your garden – but only doing the things you really want to do.

In a well designed garden… you can!

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Inspiration…

gardendesigning — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:11:04 +0000

One of my regular New Year resolutions is to make time during the year to get out and about as much as I can to visit some of the lovely public gardens and wonderful gardening shows.

The Royal Horticultural Society is Britain’s gardening charity organisation and has many wonderful gardens that you too can take time out to visit. The aim of the Royal Horticultural Society is to inspire, inform and to educate those who are interested in horticulture and gardening. Even if you haven’t got green fingers, a day out in the fresh air, taking in the atmosphere surrounded by plants can be very therapeutic and a great stress buster.

Many of the RHS gardens have their plants labelled, so if you see something that you find really attractive then you can simply make a note of the name and the have a go at growing it for yourself. By visiting these gardens you can also get ideas for planting schemes and exciting planting combinations. It’s also worth taking a camera so you can take photos to use for reference.

As well as gardens to visit, the RHS also arranges superb seasonal gardening shows, with the highlight of the gardening year being the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. You can catch the Chelsea Flower Show next month between the 20th and 24th of May.

If you can’t wait for Chelsea then here are some additional dates for forthcoming gardening events where you’re sure to find inspiration like I always do

Hampton Court Flower Show - 8th - 13th July 2008
Click here for more info at the RHS website

Tatton Park Flower Show - 23rd - 27th July 2008
Click here for more info at the RHS website

Even if you’re not a gardener, visiting these shows is great fun for all the family and who knows… you might even get green fingers!

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© Copyright Judy Fenyvesi

#gduk 156

My Passion…

gardendesigning — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:10:01 +0000

Have you ever taken a close-up look of a passion flower? I’m always amazed at how nature can create something so extraordinarily beautiful.

The Passiflora caerulea is the blue passion flower and has a real exotic appearance. Even though it originates from a tropical climate, the blue passion flower grows quite happily in our British climate. This lovely vigorous climber likes to be grown against a nice sunny warm spot against a wall or a sheltered fence in moderately fertile, moist but well drained soil. In return, it will bloom all summer long and look stunning and in milder areas this passion flower will keep its five lobed foliage throughout the winter.

This climber is also useful for autumn interest as it produces soft apricot coloured passion fruits, but as the fruits don’t ripen fully in this country and in theory could be edible, I really wouldn’t advise eating them. Another decorative feature of this plant is its winding tendrils, which will cling on to and help support this plant in its climb.

The flowers of the Passiflora caerulea are wonderfully intricate and are zoned in blue, white and purple and have an interesting historical tale. The structure of the flower was said by Spanish Catholic missionaries in South America to represent certain features of Christ’s Passion and this flower was used during religious lessons to teach children about Christ’s passion.

The five sepals and petals are said to represent the ten of the twelve apostles, less Peter and Judas. The three stigmas represent the three nails of the crucifixion, the five stamens are the five wounds of Christ, the corona filaments represent the crown of thorns and the fine tendrils are the scourges.

While some of us will be familiar with the common blue passion flower, there are even more colourful exotic varieties of passion flowers, but unfortunately they are tender and not hardy enough to be grown outside and will need a nice warm conservatory or heated greenhouse to keep them happy.

There are some gorgeous purple ones like Passiflora ‘Amethyst’ or Passiflora x caeruleoracemosa. There are some hot red coloured ones like Passiflora racemosa or Passiflora coccinea. One amazing passion flower is the Passiflora quadrangularis, Giant granadilla, which looks so exotic and unusual. It has deep red petals with long striped wavy filaments of purple and white fragrant flowers.

I’m truly passionate about passion flowers, and I hope you will be too.

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#155

Brewmatic Coffee Makers Saving Space In Your Kitchen

gardendesigning — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:10:57 +0000

Anything that saves me time, money and space gets my vote and this great space-saver by Brewmatic certainly gets my seal of approval.

These coffee makers from Brewmatic can be installed on the underside of your kitchen cabinets allowing your coffee pot to take up a lot less space without the machine having to take up space on your work surface too.

Not only practical, but stylish too. Don’t you agree?

Specifications Include:
* Programmable digital clock/timer with auto on function – set at night and wake up to the invigorating smell of fresh brewed coffee.
* Three adjustable brew volume options including Full Brew, Half Brew and Quarter Brew.
* Ideal for commuters and single cup drinkers, brew directly into a travel mug for on-the-go convenience.
* Unique brewing systems assures coffee is brewed at optimum temperatures to release the coffee’s full flavor, delivering the perfect cup.
* An instant source of hot water for teas, hot chocolate, cereals and soups
* Innovative under the cabinet installation saves counter space
* Commercial grade internal components deliver years of trouble free service
* B.I.C.A.’s sleek stainless steel finish accents any décor
* Designed for use in home, office, boat or RV
* No warmer needed when brewing into one of the optional insulated servers (also available from Brewmatic)

For More Information Visit www.brewmatic.com

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© Copyright Judy Fenyvesi

Glass… Designed By Kate Hume… Inspired By Nature…

gardendesigning — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:04:40 +0000

I just can’t help it, but I love homestyle accents designed with nature being the inspiration and you can’t ignore the fact that these wonderful glass accents by Kate Hume are certainly inspired by nature.

I love these, I really do and with names like Rose, Gem, Cactus and so on, I would, wouldn’t I?

Kate’s glasswork plays with and teases light in such a magical way and I’m more than happy to feature her work here.

More Info About Kate Hume

Kate Hume has been designing and styling in various mediums for twenty years - from fashion to film sets and interiors in Europe and the USA.

An enduring interest in glass as a medium led to the design and production of a small collection of unique pieces in 1999.

Working alongside renowned glass craftsmen in the Netherlands, the group Rock/Pebble was created.
Comprising organic free-flowing shapes in jewel bright colours, the collection was launched successfully at 100% Design in London in 1999 - and instigated a huge trend for organic forms in glass.

See More Of Kate’s Work At
www.katehume.com

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Bending The Rules Of Garden Design

gardendesigning — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:10:53 +0000

Once you learn the rules of garden designing, you can create some interesting effects by not only bending these rules, but also by breaking them…

With some imagination, inspiration and sometimes a little perspiration, you can change your garden into an outdoor room where you’ll want to spend more time during the coming summer months.

Remember that you don’t have to do it all at once as you can spend just a few weekends transforming an ordinary garden into something very special indeed.

Let’s look at some basic rules that you can use to get you started with designing your garden.

First of all, make a list of all the essential things that you have to have in your garden like a washing line, an area for your dustbins, shed for storage and so on. Then list all the desirable things that you want to have in your garden like a patio for instance, a water feature, maybe a herb garden or vegetable beds.

The second step is to measure the garden and draw the outline of the garden including any features that will remain such as sheds, trees or any existing pathways or patio area. Also draw in the outline of the property with the doors and windows so you can take into account the new view out from them. By putting your plan on paper like this will give you a clearer direction of what you would like to achieve and help you avoid costly mistake.

Take into account the different aspects of the garden, like where the morning sun starts and where is the sun in the afternoon and evening and also which part of the garden is in deep shade. It’s a good idea to design a seating area in your garden where you can enjoy a morning cuppa in the morning sun - a perfect way to start the day in any garden. With regards to entertaining in the evening sun, plan your patio area accordingly.

After you’ve drawn up your garden plan to scale, a good idea is to put tracing paper over the top of your garden’s plan and then to start sketching over it with your designs and ideas.

Remember it’s your garden, so give your imagination free rein and try and bend the rules a little.

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#154

Here Comes April

gardendesigning — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:10:38 +0000

Gardening certainly gets into full swing this coming month of April.

Although we’d like more sunshine and less showers during the month of April, the plants in our gardens do thrive on rain to help them look their best. So with the better weather on the way, what could be nice than pottering around in the garden on a nice warm spring day?

Around this time of the year, many gardens, including mine, will benefit with some spring-cleaning to get things into some order ready for the summer.

One job that can be done around this time is to clear off the moss on many of our patios and pathways. It’s surprising how the whole garden can suddenly look a lot better just by doing this simple job. Just a pressure washer or a hose is all you need with a hard bristle broom to eliminate any unsightly moss.

Another way to get to your garden looking a lot better quickly, is to tidy up any woodwork, such as fencing, decking, sheds and trellis as these will probably need a lick of wood preserve to smarten it them up and prolong the life span.

Also during April, if you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse, then it’s a good time to give it a good wash down. Clean the glass well to allow maximum light in and a good clean on the inside will promote good hygiene and help keep away pests and diseases.

This month you’ll notice that the lawn will need some attention after the wet months of winter and many of our lawns will now have moss growing among the grass. This moss needs to be removed as it will smother out the grass and prevent surface drainage for the lawn. I prefer the organic approach to eradicating the moss is to simply rake it out with a lawn rake.

As well as getting rid of the moss on your lawn, it’s also a good idea to improve your lawn’s drainage to allow water to get down to the roots were it’s most needed. To do this push a gardening fork in about four to six inches randomly around the lawn giving it a jiggle, this will also help with aeration, also don’t forget to hand dig out any weeds that could spoil the lawn too.

Later in April or even early in May it might also be a good idea to use a spring fertiliser which you can apply to your lawn, once again to promote good healthy growth.

If you find all this isn’t giving you the result you want and your lawn is still beyond salvation then use the time this month to sow a new lawn or lay some new turf as the April showers will water in the new grass.

The month of April is a great time to generally tidy up flower borders and once you’ve weeded, then put down a nice thick layer of mulch on the soil as this’ll save you back-breaking weeding work later on in the season.

With the bank holidays approaching many of us will be taking trips to garden centres. So if you have spring-cleaned your garden then you’ll find it easier to see where the gaps are in garden and exactly where it could do with some more interest.

Just one bit of advice for shopping at garden centres; don’t be tempted to just buy plants that are all flowering now, try also to plan ahead and think about having flowering colour interest for the other months to come in the year.

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#153