THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Garden Design in Chelmsford: What Do People Look For?
1) Low Maintenance
At the start of the year we found most clients were asking for artificial lawn. This suggested to us people felt time poor and just didn’t want the hassle of looking after a garden.
Our design suggestion:
Make the lawn areas smaller, with a logical design so that the mower can reach each part of the grass easily and quickly. Job done, minimum of fuss.
2) ‘Wow’ Factor
Clients wanted the garden to be used for entertaining, so it needed to look great.
Our design suggestion:
Use tough but beautiful shrubs like rosemary and lavender – they not only attract wildlife but only need cutting back once a year, are fine if they don’t get any water (it’s not just in Chelmsford, but when designing a garden in hot, dry Essex you have to think about how to cope with the low rainfall!) and they look and smell fantastic.
You can even use them to cook with – even better when you have friends over for dinner and drinks!
3) The personal touch
Clients do not want something mass produced. The people of Chelmsford want their garden design to say something about them.
Our design suggestion:
We have searched and found a range of artisan craftspeople who can design, make and install gates, sculptures, pergolas, pots and potting sheds. We love being able to offer these unique products, because your garden should be an expression of who you are.
Modern Mint design gardens, large or small, that suit the 21st Century lifestyle.
So if you live in Chelmsford and would like to discuss garden design ideas with us, join those who already have and contact us now.
Topiary, The Art Garden at The Henderson
The Art Garden at The Henderson in Hong-Kong has now opened to the public. I joined the project last March, to work with Gillespies Landscape Architects on the topiary that had been designed for the Art Garden, which gives a calm, green space below the extraordinary Henderson skyscraper designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The garden has been designed with butterflies in mind, so lots of nectar plants, and has other art projects and installations within its footprint. The history of the site is interesting too – it was originally the first cricket ground in Hong-Kong! So still a green space….! …
ClipFest 2025
On Sunday June 22nd there will be Clipfest 2025 at Ichi-Coo Park in Surrey. It is a celebration of all things pruning and topiary, and I will be there in my capacity of teacher at the European Boxwood and Topiary Society to demonstrate tool cleaning and sharpening, and how to clip. Tickets can be found here on Eventbrite. We are hoping for great weather and to see lots of keen pruners getting their shears out and joining us at this amazing garden! And for more on topiary…
Secateur Holders
A present arrived from Norway today, from a student who visited last February to work with Chris Poole and I on learning topiary. His new hobby – a beautiful and neatly stitched secateur holder. Thrilled with this! The holder will save me keep losing my secatuers too…! Thank you Bernt! It was the same student who introduced me to the APA with whom I am doing a talk at the end of March. Tickets can be bought here for ‘Defining The Essence – Aesthetic Pruning in the Garden’. Do join the European Boxwood and Topiary Society for that!