Landscape
& Garden Design

Few plants earn their place in the winter garden quite like hellebores. Flowering through the coldest months, their understated elegance brings colour and calm to days when the garden feels muted. They sit beautifully within informal planting schemes and, thanks to their long season of interest, pair effortlessly with the first spring bulbs as they emerge.

Shown here are two hellebores planted in a large country garden in the New Forest. ‘Harvington Red’ offers deep, saucer-shaped blooms, while ‘Harvington Speckled White’ is lighter and more delicate, its petals scattered with fine red markings. Both varieties can flower for up to three months, proving that winter has plenty to offer when you look closely.

#HelleboreSeason
#WinterGarden
#GardenInWinter
#WinterInterest
#CountryGarden
#NewForest
#SeasonalPlanting
#GardenDesign
#WinterBlooms
#PlantInspiration ...

A look back at my most popular post of the year: EVERGREENS: the quiet heroes of structure and rhythm - particularly apt for this time of year.

Perhaps because, quietly and without fuss, evergreens do so much of the heavy lifting in our gardens. They provide structure, rhythm and balance just when everything else is changing — anchoring a garden through autumn and winter and giving form to what comes next.

I often work with a mix of mounding and arching evergreen forms. Used symmetrically they can feel formal and ordered; loosen that symmetry and they become calmer, more contemporary and more relaxed. Texture matters as much as shape — repetition builds rhythm, strong forms increase energy, and variation keeps the eye moving. Along paths, that rhythm creates momentum; introduce arching forms and you can slow it, direct views, or bring a sense of pause.

As with all planting, it comes back to the right plant in the right place. Thoughtfully chosen and carefully positioned, evergreens create gardens that feel grounded, expressive and alive — not just for a season, but for the long term.

Quiet heroes indeed.

#evergreens #autumngardens #designtips #gardendesign #professionalgardendesign ...

🌿 Garden inspiration abroad 🌿

I’ve been speaking to The English Garden Magazine about destinations that have helped shape my own creative development.

One of the best gardens I’ve visited overseas is Le Jardin Secret in Marrakech, designed by Tom Stuart-Smith. I stumbled across it while wandering through the Medina with no expectations — and it was simply beautiful.

Marrakech is intense and full of energy, but stepping into this hidden garden feels instantly calm and cooling. The restrained palette, the quiet atmosphere, even in a heatwave, made it the perfect antidote to the city — and a powerful reminder of how gardens can offer refuge, especially as our climate continues to change.

📍 Le Jardin Secret, Marrakech

@tomstuartsmith
@lejardinsecret_marrakech
@theenglishgardenmagazine

#Marrakech #secretgarden ...

After a busy few weeks the final planting is in!

This newly renovated house sits high on a steep bank, rising from the valley floor and facing into mature woodland beyond. Architect Kate Stoddard’s design responds beautifully to the site, with layered forms that project into and away from the landscape — strong, asymmetrical and confident.

Our role was to resolve the relationship between building and ground. A series of terraces echoes the architecture’s layering, anchoring the house before gently rolling down the slope to create a softer landing within the landscape.

This marks the final phase of the garden - a moment where architecture and landscape finally settle into one another.

Built by @bluefishlandscaping
@katestoddartltd

#GardenDesign #LandscapeDesign #HampshireGardens #ModernArchitecture #KateStoddartArchitect #PlantingDesign #BlueFishLandscapes #GardenInspiration #DesignCollaboration ...

Autumn colour arrived at our New Forest Garden, revealing how fully this landscape has settled into its new form.

Once an open lawn and tennis court, it’s now anchored by a reflecting pool framed with sheltering hedges and overlooked from two new terraces. A naturally boggy hollow has been transformed into a thriving bog garden and swale, while a meadow and summerhouse create a quiet destination at the end of the boardwalk.

Grasses, perennials and meadow planting stitch the whole landscape together — offering texture, movement and seasonal interest.

Beautifully captured here by Stephen Studd — more autumn images are now live on the website: www.elks-smith.co.uk

@stephenstuddphotography

#autumngarden #autumncolours #seasonalgarden #newforestgarden ...

Winter reveals a garden’s true design. With strong bones and thoughtful structure, it stays beautiful in every season.

Pictured here a few snaps from our Buckinghamshire garden.

#WinterGardenDesign #GardenStructure #LandscapeDesigners #WinterInterestPlants #GardenStyle ...