Olivers House — Neil Ross Gardens

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Olivers’ House: Norton St Philip

I have worked with Linda and John Oliver for several years to maintain and develop their medium-sized village garden. Initially they needed a redesign on both sides of a new garage but Linda is a plant addict and is always happy to allow me to rip up more lawn and play with drama and texture. This is a garden of true year-round interest thanks to the clients love of bold foliage and evergreens overlaid with an eclectic mix of traditional cottage plants and contemporary grasses for interest all Summer and beyond. The rule is; Linda buys it - and I have to find a place for it!

BEFORE: A new garage presented a challenge at the side of the garden where the clients wanted a Mediterranean style gravel garden. — BEFORE: A new garage presented a challenge at the side of the garden where the clients wanted a Mediterranean style gravel garden.

BEFORE: Entrance garden - how to disguise a multitude of eyesores. — BEFORE: Entrance garden - how to disguise a multitude of eyesores.

Bay tree trained up to hide a neighbour and a mix of evergreens such as Euphorbia charachias (right) plus good value flowers like sedums which provide essential seedheads all through winter.

When a sick tree was removed, the view from the terrace was of a large, plain conifer hedge. The design of two interlocking beech hedges enclosing a new flowerbed in front have provided a lower-tier curtain across this side.

Before: Changes in level and a small lawn would make mowing impractical so I laid weed matting and created a gravel garden. — Before: Changes in level and a small lawn would make mowing impractical so I laid weed matting and created a gravel garden.

Before: The clients are always excited when we rip up a little more lawn…. — Before: The clients are always excited when we rip up a little more lawn….

A swirl of quiet, low-maintenance planting to make a smart setting for the cherry and lead the eye to the beautiful wall and secret garden beyond.

BEFORE: Almond- scented Clematis armandii and vines clothe the garage and new steps accentuate a new central axis to the space. — AFTER: Almond- scented Clematis armandii and vines clothe the garage and new steps accentuate a new central axis to the space.

AFTER: A curve of photinia with a hedge of evergreen sedge and strong shapes. — AFTER: A curve of photinia with a hedge of evergreen sedge and strong shapes.

The proportion of Winter foliage and seedheads has to be balanced to allow space for the flowers and bulbs of the warmer months.

After : Soft pinks of Erigeron daisy, Sedum and Persicaria ‘Superbum’ flower for months and need little maintenance. — After : Soft pinks of Erigeron daisy, Sedum and Persicaria ‘Superbum’ flower for months and need little maintenance.

After: The new bed with Giant Oat Grass making a veil under which alliums and violas appear in spring followed by repeated lavenders chosen to reflect the blue spruce in their winter foliage. — After: The new bed with Giant Oat Grass making a veil under which alliums and violas appear in spring followed by repeated lavenders chosen to reflect the blue spruce in their winter foliage.

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