Lucky for me I don't have to imagine.
Amazingly the county library, based in my home town, has yards (maybe that should be meters?) of garden design and horticultural books.
Over the seasonal holiday I trudged home with 12 heavy hardback volumes bursting with information and images to inspire me. This week yet more new books graced the shelves, how could I resist? I couldn't! A couple of samples of current reading are:
The Garden Design Sourcebook
Hardscape
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Useful lists for Gardens to visit and seasons they excel during
I am regularly hunting for recommendations for spectacular gardens to visit in each season. These lists are the ones I have found useful so far and any additions or suggestions would be most welcome. Surely there must be many more!
Winter
Spring
Summer - small gardens via the NGS
Autumn - Jane Perrone
Autumn - Roy Lancaster
Then of course there is
Future gardens
and for Top 50 gardening websites try this:
http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/gardens/article6831347.ece
then she added one!
http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/gardens/article2538034.ece
Last but not least is the very useful Garden Finder, which is worldwide.
http://www.gardenvisit.com/gardens/in/england
Winter
Spring
Summer - small gardens via the NGS
Autumn - Jane Perrone
Autumn - Roy Lancaster
Then of course there is
Future gardens
and for Top 50 gardening websites try this:
http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/gardens/article6831347.ece
then she added one!
http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/gardens/article2538034.ece
Last but not least is the very useful Garden Finder, which is worldwide.
http://www.gardenvisit.com/gardens/in/england
Sunday, February 7, 2010
What is a Hard Landscape Portfolio?
I was asked this lately and realise I have skirted around the details in previous postings.
The task was to prepare full construction drawings from Plan, Elevation and Section through to the Detail. Enough to allow a contractor to build each project successfully.
Furnished with some plans, some photographs and some written material the level of detail was up to each person to decide upon.
For some of the students, me included, this meant learning the 'how' of what to build i.e foundation width, depth and content, how does a retaining wall retain, what are the components of a decking structure and how do they fit together, how deep is a pond? and what sits beneath it? how deep is a step riser?, what are the dims of a brick?, a concrete slab? and even a roof tile? plus endless beams, joists, noggins, hoggin, mortar and sub-base components. This detail fathomed, how to brace, hang, support and wedge (!) together. Lastly to gather it all elegantly and efficiently into the CAD program of choice, Vectorworks 2010 which turned out to be stage two of the steep climb to knowledge.
Stage three was printing it all out with perfect titling, positioning, labeling and the right amount of information. Each requiring detailed knowledge of printer performance, features and why DPI might be relevant.
The learning aim was clearly about getting the written construction material off the page and into heads. Then from heads and sketch pads into Vectorworks. Upping skills in both areas, pronto. Having a real project is, for me at least, a blessing, something to actually 'do' rather than play at doing.
I leanrt more than I needed to in some areas and not enough in others.
The final part was a Bespoke portfolio of 12 pieces drawn with enough detail for a craftsman or woman to build for our clients. A creative exercise and most enjoyable although some of my crafts people will need to be magicians as well!
All in all my HLP and bespoke took me 192 hours (curtesy of www.tickspot.com) to complete. That's sitting down at the computer hours, not faffing about making tea, reading, researching, getting help, discussing with peers, tutors, sending 'help' emails, completing Vectorworks tutorial book, deciphering VW help text (bad, really bad!) and the many other tasks that surrounded it. For that, Tickspot reckons another 40 hrs, give or take.
All will be on show at the end of year exhibition in June (16/17), of course updated per instructions from those marking them in the coming weeks.
The task was to prepare full construction drawings from Plan, Elevation and Section through to the Detail. Enough to allow a contractor to build each project successfully.
Furnished with some plans, some photographs and some written material the level of detail was up to each person to decide upon.
For some of the students, me included, this meant learning the 'how' of what to build i.e foundation width, depth and content, how does a retaining wall retain, what are the components of a decking structure and how do they fit together, how deep is a pond? and what sits beneath it? how deep is a step riser?, what are the dims of a brick?, a concrete slab? and even a roof tile? plus endless beams, joists, noggins, hoggin, mortar and sub-base components. This detail fathomed, how to brace, hang, support and wedge (!) together. Lastly to gather it all elegantly and efficiently into the CAD program of choice, Vectorworks 2010 which turned out to be stage two of the steep climb to knowledge.
Stage three was printing it all out with perfect titling, positioning, labeling and the right amount of information. Each requiring detailed knowledge of printer performance, features and why DPI might be relevant.
The learning aim was clearly about getting the written construction material off the page and into heads. Then from heads and sketch pads into Vectorworks. Upping skills in both areas, pronto. Having a real project is, for me at least, a blessing, something to actually 'do' rather than play at doing.
I leanrt more than I needed to in some areas and not enough in others.
The final part was a Bespoke portfolio of 12 pieces drawn with enough detail for a craftsman or woman to build for our clients. A creative exercise and most enjoyable although some of my crafts people will need to be magicians as well!
All in all my HLP and bespoke took me 192 hours (curtesy of www.tickspot.com) to complete. That's sitting down at the computer hours, not faffing about making tea, reading, researching, getting help, discussing with peers, tutors, sending 'help' emails, completing Vectorworks tutorial book, deciphering VW help text (bad, really bad!) and the many other tasks that surrounded it. For that, Tickspot reckons another 40 hrs, give or take.
All will be on show at the end of year exhibition in June (16/17), of course updated per instructions from those marking them in the coming weeks.
Winter Gardening
A regular listener to GQT and today (well Friday!) Bob Flowerdew headed off to Cambridge Botanic gardens to investigate the winter garden there. Plenty of reference to Mahonia japonica, Lonicera purpusii, Cornus alba(dogwood), Berberis, Rubrus cobernii, Prunus subhertella autunmnalis, Festuca glauca and so on.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Night Lighting
An interesting afternoon lecture on lighting with John Marriott of Lighting for Landscapes including the ins and out of armour cabling (!) followed by a demonstration in situ at the beautiful Greystone garden of Duncan and Carol Heather.
Features lit up in the pitch black - a rural property took on an eerie and mystical glow when lit by a variety of lamps including LED (Light Emitting Diode)and Metal halide examples.
The Hunza 'Euro' range being my favorite especially tiny spot in a coppery bronze, defining elegant details of individual plants or textures.
Features lit up in the pitch black - a rural property took on an eerie and mystical glow when lit by a variety of lamps including LED (Light Emitting Diode)and Metal halide examples.
The Hunza 'Euro' range being my favorite especially tiny spot in a coppery bronze, defining elegant details of individual plants or textures.
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