Ballincollig

Meditation Garden

This concept for this garden, designed by Shane Murphy at Lavender Landscapes, is ‘Mindfulness’. Large white snowdrops are mirrored by a pleached floating white-flowering hedge in spring, with deep autumn colours and berries later in the year. Mid-level are rare white-flowing standards rhododendron. The blue limestone path flows around the lawn connecting the paved areas – symbolising the breath and reminding us to stay on the path. The stillness of the water bowl gives presence in every moment, while huge buxus balls give structure. This naturalistic grown cover planting scheme, with the richness of a miniature purple magnolia, creates a low-maintenance colourful balanced garden.

North west CORK

Country escape garden

This garden was designed by Shane Murphy, resident at Lavender Landscapes. The theme here has always been ‘More’ – more surprises and more planting to complement the existing architecture. From the entrance this garden has style and so many surprises that unfold as you journey through it. An ongoing project due to its size, and a firm favourite with a lot of people, it simply never stops flowering. In the lawn alone some 13,000 different shaded purple crocus welcome in each year. Early-flowering cherries, toned with structural planting, with large masses of perennial planting create a vivid display of colours throughout the seasons. The water feature allows the client to enjoy the natural sound of running water all year around.

Cork

A gardener’s dream

A large country garden with all the trappings of country living, this lovely couple relocated from London to this beautiful setting. Amazing panoramic views provided an ideal backdrop to this colourful garden. High maintenance slopes were seeded with meadow, leaving a very low-maintenance colourful display. The surprise of paths wandering through is a child’s delight. Microclimates for vegetable production were created by using edible hedging as wind block. Polytunnels and chicken coups complete the scene.

Integrated mass planting of grasses creates an intriguing atmosphere as they dance with the breeze. All are visible from the outdoor room/office. Sunset is centred on the sunken fireplace as entertainment continues into the evening and night. The playground is set under an old ask tree and visible from all areas of the garden.

Cork City - West

A garden of relaxation

A simple ‘Relax’ brief was asked for in this garden. This somewhat famous garden featured in Horticulture Connected has everything going for it, views, relaxing sounds of water, the scent of white lavender, stepping stones through bubbling water, rustic steps, groves of flowering trees, contrasting beautiful autumn colours and the sprinkle of hopeful flowers of the amelanchier in late January.

DOUGLAS, CORK

Urban oasis

Urban city living, privacy, low maintenance, a usable space with all year round colour and structure and style was the brief offered by this client.

Very important to my clients (one an interior designer) were the tall limestone pots (featured first in this garden and then on Room to Improve), the structural clipped pom pom planting and preached clumping bamboo forming screening. Crocus ‘Jeanne d’Arc’ excites the lawn in early spring followed by the endless summer offering of hydrangea ‘Blushing Bride’. White is the dominant colour with pops of two-tone agapanthus throughout.

East CORK

A family garden

Lush green with a fearless use of colour ushering brightness to the grey tones often seen in Irish weather – a smile in the darkness of winter. Below the water blade pebbles are suspended by a steel grid designed to be removed when your children are at a safe age and adjusted to aquatic life in the garden. Assortment of areas designed to relax as the day changes – you follow the sun on the journey through the garden. Enjoyed by both children and adults equally.