The most extraordinary gardens don’t always begin from scratch. Often, the finest transformations start with what is already there. The bones of an existing property, its mature planting, its established architecture and ask simply: how do we make this better?
Evidently, that was precisely the philosophy behind our latest Hawthorn garden. Paired with a beautiful classic red-brick home, the brief was considered and clear: revive the garden beds, refresh the planting palette, and retain the existing red-brick paths that draw you from the street, through the front gate, and to the front door.
The existing tree canopy was the garden’s greatest asset, and we had no intention of disturbing it. The established Betula pendula, Magnolia denudata, and Nerium oleander ‘Hardy Pink’ were all retained. Correspondingly, their maturity, height, and visual complexity provide the structural foundation that a newly planted garden simply cannot replicate. Good designers know what to keep.
The new planting palette of our latest Hawthorn garden was where the transformation truly took shape. Liriope ‘Royal Purple’ was introduced for its rich colour and textural contrast. Whereas Trachelospermum asiaticum was selected for its structural reliability and quiet elegance as a ground layer. Buxus microphylla provided the formal anchoring of the composition required. While Stachys byzantina – with its silvery, soft-toned foliage – was chosen specifically to contrast and complement the warm red tones of the existing brick paths.
However, the defining moment of the garden is the water bowl. Positioned with intention, it draws the eye into the depth of the planting and introduces a layer of sensory rhythm. The quiet sound of water moving through an otherwise still and verdant space.
What was once an afterthought is now an arrival. Our Hawthorn Garden has been restored to its rightful role – not merely a forecourt to a beautiful home, but an experience in itself. Layered, considered, and quietly unforgettable from the moment you step through the gate.
Interested in a transformation of your own? Explore a similar project in our Canterbury Garden to see what is possible.
