THE SHIFTING GARDEN

BY THE CHELSEA GARDENER

Our garden is designed to maximise the limited space of typical urban gardens, whilst adapting to our changing climate through the utilisation of drought tolerant plants. An emphasis on sustainability is carried through the garden with the materials utilised in construction being of natural, bio-composite provenance.

Upon entry into the garden, you are greeted by a sentinel free standing Albizia julibrissin tree planted into a large clay planter. The filigree canopy provided by the silk tree produces a sense of enclosed sanctuary and the loose feathery texture of the foliage contrasts strongly against the lines prominent throughout the rest of the garden.

In a drought tolerant setting, a reeded glass screen involves the sitting area and symbolizes water.
Against the back wall a series of three large, staggered containers are constructed from the bio-composite material. Hypertufa has a naturally lithic appearance and is significantly more environmentally friendly than concrete.

The angularity of these containers is broken by a combination of soft textured foliage and trailing plants cascading over the edges. An inbuilt seating area invites a would-be visitor to enter and a mirror placed besides it, reflects the planting in the bed in front and further breaks the definitive contours of the garden.

The second feature plant of the garden, a large Cycas revoluta, provides interest with intense verdant foliage. The soft colour palette of the flowers grown in the tallest back container contrasts against the saturated dark slate back wall cladding. The addition of a dark backdrop and bright party boundaries, also trick the eye into thinking the garden is larger.