Crowe Garden Design - Bespoke Garden Design In Essex

The first week of June has been one of extremes. Most obvious is the arrival of a period of warm and fabulous weather bringing out the glories of the garden and the glories of humanity. The last point refers in general to humanity rather than the specifics of the tabloid, media obsessed and shallow goings on in Westminster or elsewhere. People have been smiling, gardens have been smiling. From one extreme to another as the weather fades the smiles wane and gardens wait patiently.

 

Spending a day driving around the countryside in Norfolk in summer heat was a joy. Visiting nurserymen to discuss ideas and possibilities for a show garden in July is so much more enjoyable an exercise than being stuck in an office. It would have been even more enjoyable had the ability to finalise and decide on the planting have been made with some confirmations already in place, but they will come, faith is required.

 

But one decision has been made, a lever has been pulled, construction is underway for the large, so very large and dominant centre piece for Sandringham. The amount of stress this has caused has seen a few doubts and questions raised about the sanity of this exercise. It has now been decided upon and it will materialise. Not quite sure how, not fully clear on what size crane might be needed or whether the local constabulary require to be in attendance. Others are excited, this is good, it gives confidence. The planting though is yet to be confirmed, this causes doubt.

 

This is an 'extreme' attempt on a limited scale and if it results in the purity of thought that the intial concept blossomed as then the show garden will have impact. Maintaining this purity and clarity has been knocked left and right by numerous factors; budgets, locations, logisitics, clients, interested parties and so on. It is by far the most challenging exercise, extreme in some ways and has raised the question, should garden design be 'extreme' in any way or is it simply an excuse to 'show off', blow a raspberry or flash some flesh?

 

Garden design can have elements of extreme, not always, not with every design, but on occasion. Who is the beneficiary, the audience, the garden designer, the client? Conceptual garden design is seeing a rise in interest, gardens are becoming more than just a place to eat, drink and BBQ. Another extreme might be said to be the rise in popularity to 'plough' the garden and return to 'grow you own' or the exhibiting of a plasticine garden at the world's most prestigious flower show. Which extreme will see out time?

 

Interesting that in these times of turmoil, these times of change, that extremes become more prevalent. Society when successful, prosperous and content becomes soft, idle and lethargic. Change, difficulty and adversity charge parts of society with the confidence to challenge and push out to the extreme.