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Home
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Main Portfolio
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MIFGS 2023
MIFGS 2023
MIFGS 2024
MIFGS 2024
About Us
About Us
Our Process
Our Process
Services
Services
Design Fees & Packages
Design Fees & Packages
Media Publications
Media Publications
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Design Resources
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Plants

All the posts published

Recent Posts

Simple Garden Tips to Set Your Garden Up for 2026
Prediction – Landscape Garden Trends For 2026 in Australia
How to Create a Slow Living Garden
When Landscape Designers and Architects Join Forces, Gardens Come Alive
Making Your Garden Wildlife-Friendly This Spring

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inspiringlandscapes.com.au

As we say goodbye to another year, we’re feeling

As we say goodbye to another year, we’re feeling incredibly grateful for beautiful gardens, amazing clients, creative projects, and every little moment spent outdoors. 🎇⁠
⁠
Here’s to the memories made in our gardens, the growth we’ve seen (in plants and in ourselves!), and the fresh possibilities waiting for us in the year ahead.⁠
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Whether you’re celebrating with friends and family or enjoying a quiet night under the stars, we hope your evening is filled with joy, reflection, and a touch of magic. ✨⁠
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🎆 Cheers to a bright, blooming, and inspiring New Year!⁠
We can’t wait to create even more beautiful spaces with you in the year to come.⁠

Who says garden design is only about plants and pa

Who says garden design is only about plants and pathways? Sometimes, the most unexpected showstopper is a mural tucked into your outdoor space. And wow, can it transform a garden!⁠
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It’s one of the quickest, boldest ways to transform a plain space into something unforgettable.⁠
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A mural can:⁠
🎨 Add personality and colour⁠
🎨 Create a stunning focal point⁠
🎨 Bring depth to small spaces⁠
🎨 Make your garden feel intentional and artistic⁠
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Whether it’s botanical, abstract, geometric, or deeply personal, a mural turns a blank wall into a story — one that grows more beautiful as the garden surrounds it.⁠
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Would you add a mural to your outdoor space? What style would you choose?⁠
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📸:⁠ Mural by Wongi ‘Freak’ Wilson, New Regent Street, Christchurch, New Zealand. Depicting a stunning woman in a glamourous dress, highlighting the eventful and theatrical history of the area which was established in 1932⁠

Snap from my gorgeous client in Berwick⁠ ⁠ Cre

Snap from my gorgeous client in Berwick⁠
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Cream clivia’s - looks so delish that you can eat them!!⁠
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Hope that everyone’s having an awesome Xmas break!!! 🥳🥳🥳💚💚💚🍷🍷🍷🎄🎄🎄

Wishing you a day filled with sunshine, good compa

Wishing you a day filled with sunshine, good company, and the simple joys that make this season feel magical. ⁠
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Whether you’re celebrating in the garden with a long lunch, splashing around the pool, or relaxing under the shade of your favourite tree, we hope today brings you peace, laughter, and moments to slow down and soak up what truly matters. 🌿💚⁠
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Thank you for your support, your stories, and your love of beautiful outdoor spaces, which inspire us every single day.⁠
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From our family to yours , Merry Christmas. May your garden be blooming with joy today and always 🎁⁠

Some quotes just hit home. It’s a gentle reminde

Some quotes just hit home. It’s a gentle reminder of why time spent in the garden is never wasted. 💚⁠
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Gardening isn’t just about plants. It’s about slowing down. Breathing deeper.⁠
Finding joy in tiny moments: a new shoot, a bud about to open, the smell of fresh soil, the sound of birds joining you while you work.⁠
⁠
Every bit of time you spend outdoors gives something back:⁠
🌱 A calmer mind⁠
🌤️ A lighter heart⁠
💪 A healthier body⁠
🍃 A sense of purpose⁠
💚 And that beautiful connection to nature we all crave⁠
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And the incredible thing? You don’t need a huge backyard to feel it. A balcony, a courtyard, a sunny windowsill; anywhere you can nurture a plant is somewhere you can nurture yourself.⁠
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So here’s your reminder: get outside, get your hands in the soil, and let your garden give you a little “life” back today.⁠
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👉 What has gardening added to your life?⁠

2025 reflections, recap and goals for next year 💚

1. Revisiting clients & continuing proper handover for best long-term results!

2. New trade relationships & definite keepers, which have enhanced the experience of creating beautiful spaces.

It’s been a challenging year, emotionally & physically. The key to making it through is that I’ve stayed true to my moral compass, design ethics & supported my clients through the different challenges they’ve faced.

I feel myself growing professionally & setting clear boundaries of who I want to work with & bringing my clients’ visions⁠ to life.

3. I’ve had fun experimenting with new plants⁠. There have been so many new plant babies that have entered my radar, and my clients and I have been delighted to play with all of them!

4. Family time & recharging. I need more! It is more important than we realise. I had to work through Christmas and New Year’s last year, so by June I was already feeling exhausted & burnt out!

5. New ideas and wonderful new clients⁠ = creating new, beautiful aesthetics to fall in love with 💚

6.⁠ Back to basics. I love lightboxes and how simple this idea is. You’re able to jazz up a small space, and it’s super low-maintenance, too!

7. Some people don’t like bold colours, but I’m certainly not one of those. I can adapt and evolve. I trust in myself⁠ and my inner compass to guide what feels right.

8.⁠ Another Houzz award. It’s definitely a plus after putting your heart and soul into a garden. I’m continuing to learn, grow, and create whilst having fun.

9. I continue to invest in new and fresh ideas that are unique to me.

📹️10 and 11 are past designs

12. Pictures from past clients telling me that they still love their garden, which means the world to me 💚

13. “Repeat” clients. It’s terrific to work with old clients again.⁠ It’s also the reality of a small business. I can’t stress enough how essential reviews and word of mouth are.

I’m very grateful for the support I receive from friends, family, current and past clients, and my suppliers. Thank you for being a part of my community and letting me share my passion with you.

Here’s to a wonderful 2026 and beyond!! 💚

🌺💥 Bromeliads: The Drama Queens Your Garden

🌺💥 Bromeliads: The Drama Queens Your Garden Secretly Needs⁠
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If your garden is looking a little too well-behaved… it might be time to invite in the bromeliads. 😍⁠
These beauties don’t whisper “look at me”, they shout it in neon colours, wild patterns, and shapes that make you wonder if they’ve arrived straight from another planet.⁠
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And honestly? We LOVE them for it.⁠
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Bromeliads are:⁠
🌿 Low-maintenance⁠
🌈 Vibrant and sculptural⁠
🌞 Perfect for bright Aussie gardens⁠
🏡 Amazing in pots or garden beds⁠
💦 Surprisingly drought-tolerant⁠
✨ Total showstoppers without even trying⁠
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They’re the kind of plant that instantly transforms a space. The moment you tuck one into a garden bed or place a cluster on your patio, your whole outdoor area feels more tropical, more alive, more fun.⁠
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In our latest blog, we dive into:⁠
✔️ The best bromeliad varieties for Aussie gardens⁠
✔️ How to care for them (spoiler: it’s ridiculously easy)⁠
✔️ Where to plant them for maximum impact⁠
✔️ How to mix them in with other plants for a lush, layered, designer look⁠
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If your garden is craving colour, texture, or just a little attitude… bromeliads might be your new best friends.⁠
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Read the full blog and get inspired here: https://inspiringlandscapes.com.au/bromeliads/⁠

Final design for 2025! The St Kilda project is all

Final design for 2025! The St Kilda project is all done! 💚⁠
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Lovely client, simple features, enhanced spaces and a few nifty tricks up my sleeve to maximise the aesthetics and get all of my client’s practical needs sorted!⁠ Can’t wait to see this constructed in early 2026!!⁠
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P.S. This project will also showcase some unique tiles for the paved areas, so it’s been a super cool experience to work with my amazing client on this to achieve the aesthetics she wants to come home to, whilst also not decreasing the resale value of the house!⁠ 💚💚💚⁠
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Definitely the project to end 2025 with sweet and creative notes!! See you all in 2026!! 💚 ⁠

🧱 When Brickwork Becomes Art 🧱⁠ ⁠ Ever s

🧱 When Brickwork Becomes Art 🧱⁠
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Ever stopped and really looked at the brickwork on a home? Because honestly, it’s a masterpiece hiding in plain sight.⁠
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The colours, the texture, the laying pattern; they’re not just construction choices. They’re creative choices. And when done well, the exterior of a house becomes a piece of art all on its own. 🎨✨⁠
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I love the bricking technique used in this photo, and how the garden seat and pots frame the window. Everything complements each other, including the choice of paving. ⁠
⁠
Think about the different colours of bricks used in design:⁠
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🧱 Warm rustic clay tones that bring depth and character⁠
🧱 Sleek charcoal or greige bricks that feel modern and architectural⁠
🧱 Mixed patterns like herringbone, stack bond, or Flemish bond that add rhythm and movement⁠
🧱 Subtle variations in each brick that give the façade a natural, hand-crafted feel⁠
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Brickwork tells a story. It sets the mood before you even step inside a home.⁠
And when paired with the right garden design, greenery trailing beside textured walls, shadows dancing across the surface at sunset, that “ordinary” wall becomes a living, breathing artwork.⁠
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Next time you walk past a home, take a moment to notice the bricks.⁠
You might discover a whole new layer of beauty you’ve never paid attention to before.⁠
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📸 Garden designed by Paul Pritchard, Brighton

Nothing beats the magic of Christmas lights twinkl

Nothing beats the magic of Christmas lights twinkling through the garden. But before you plug everything in and light up the neighbourhood, a little maintenance goes a long way in keeping things safe and shining bright. ✨💡⁠
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Here are a few essential but often forgotten tips to keep your Christmas lights (and year-round garden lighting) safe and looking great:⁠
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🔌 1. Check all cords, plugs, and bulbs before installing⁠
🌧️ 2. Use lights designed for outdoor use only⁠
🧯 3. Keep lights away from dry branches and flammable materials⁠
📏 4. Secure cables properly so there are no tripping hazards!⁠
🔌 5. Don’t overload powerboards⁠
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Soft garden lighting isn’t just for the holidays; it transforms your outdoor space year-round.⁠ It can:⁠
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🌙 Create a warm, welcoming atmosphere⁠
🌿 Highlight feature plants or pathways⁠
🛋️ Make outdoor entertaining more enjoyable⁠
🏡 Improve safety around steps and uneven surfaces⁠
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Year-round lighting can highlight plants, brighten pathways, and make your garden feel warm and welcoming every night. Just keep up those quick safety checks.⁠
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If you have lights in your garden, please share your photos. I would love to see them 💚⁠
⁠

You don’t need a sprawling estate or a luxury se

You don’t need a sprawling estate or a luxury setup to feel like you’ve stepped into your own private paradise. Sometimes, it’s the most minor changes: a cosy seating corner, a cluster of your favourite plants, or a pathway lit softly at night that turns everyday moments into something unforgettable.⁠
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A well-designed garden doesn’t just look beautiful… it changes how you live.⁠
It becomes:⁠
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🌸 The place you drink your morning coffee in peace⁠
🧒 The space where kids create memories barefoot on the lawn⁠
🐦 The haven where birds stop to visit⁠
🌙 The backdrop to warm summer nights with friends⁠
💚 The part of your home that reminds you to slow down and breathe⁠
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Your garden has the power to transform time; to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. All you need is intention, a little creativity, and a few thoughtful design choices.⁠
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👉 What’s one small thing you’ve added to your garden that made it feel special?⁠

🍁Some plant pairings don’t just look good; th

🍁Some plant pairings don’t just look good; they IGNITE the garden!⁠
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Take the fiery Japanese Maple Acer palmatum ‘Orangeola’ with its cascading red–orange leaves. Pair it with the crisp, clean, pure white blooms of Rhaphiolepis indica’ Snow Maiden’, and suddenly both plants become showstoppers. It’s contrast done perfectly.⁠
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🌶️ The Japanese Maple’ Orangeola’⁠
With its weeping form, delicate lace-like foliage, and rich red–burnt orange tones, it brings drama, warmth, and movement to the garden. It glows, especially in the morning and late afternoon sun.⁠
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❄️ Rhaphiolepis’ Snow Maiden’⁠
Evergreen, tidy, and beautifully textured, the Snow Maiden softens the scene with her white blossoms and deep glossy green leaves. She’s the calm voice next to the maple’s fiery personality.⁠
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And when they’re planted together? Pure visual harmony. The Snow Maiden makes the maple look even brighter and bolder. The maple makes the Snow Maiden appear even more elegant and refined.⁠
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It’s a reminder that contrast breathes life into a garden. Light with dark, bold with soft, fiery with serene. When colours oppose each other thoughtfully, they elevate the entire space.⁠
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Have you tried pairing opposites in your garden? What combinations do you love?⁠
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📸: Narre Warren project detail, 2023⁠

Mount Waverley is one of my favourite projects. It

Mount Waverley is one of my favourite projects. It’s the project where we celebrate the natural style of crazy pave patterns.⁠
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We recreated the front entrance, making it aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly (with steps), and used natural materials, including stone.⁠
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“Parveen assisted with the selection of contractors to do everything from the removal of the current garden, intricate stonework, to finalising the decorative pebbles and toppings, plus sourcing of the plants.”⁠
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To read more about the stunning Mt Waverley design, head on over to our website and read the review: https://inspiringlandscapes.com.au/portfolios/mount-waverley/⁠

🌿✨ Landscape Garden Trends 2026 — Let’s T

🌿✨ Landscape Garden Trends 2026 — Let’s Talk About What’s Coming!⁠
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If you’ve been thinking about updating your garden, 2026 is bringing some excellent vibes. The latest landscape garden trends are all about living brighter, lighter, and more connected to nature, and honestly, they’re trends anyone can try.⁠
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Here’s a quick peek at what’s taking over Aussie backyards next year:⁠
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🌱 Climate-smart planting: natives, low-water heroes, and gardens that basically look after themselves.⁠
🪑 Outdoor zones that do more: dining here, relaxing there, maybe even a reading nook under a tree.⁠
🪵 Natural textures: stone, timber, gravel. Warm, earthy, and totally timeless.⁠
🌸 Wellness-focused spaces: think calming spots, soft layers, sensory plants, and slow-living energy.⁠
🍓 Edible gardens everywhere: herbs, berries, citrus, veggie pots. Practical and beautiful.⁠
🐦 Wildlife-friendly design: inviting birds, bees, and butterflies back into the garden.⁠
💡 Easy garden tech: smart irrigation, solar lighting, and low-maintenance features.⁠
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It’s all about creating outdoor spaces that feel good, look amazing, and work for real life.⁠
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👉 Want the full breakdown?⁠
Check out our blog: https://inspiringlandscapes.com.au/prediction-landscape-garden-trends-for-2026-in-australia/⁠

🌞✨ Gardens: where sunlight, laughter, and mem

🌞✨ Gardens: where sunlight, laughter, and memories all grow together.⁠
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From Saturday morning coffees to barefoot races across the lawn, your garden can become one of the most-loved “rooms” in your home: when everyone has a piece of it to enjoy.⁠
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A family-friendly garden isn’t about perfection. It’s about making it shared. A place where:⁠
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👶 Little ones can dig, explore, and discover bugs⁠
🐶 Pets can run, sniff, and sunbake⁠
🧒 Older kids can climb, swing, or flop under a shady tree⁠
🥤 Adults can unwind with a cuppa or tend to their favourite plants⁠
👨‍👩‍👧 And everyone can enjoy moments together without screens⁠
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Blending your garden into your family’s lifestyle is easier than you think:⁠
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🌿 Add zones: a play corner, a seating nook, a veggie patch to grow together⁠
🌼 Choose hardy, kid-friendly plants⁠
🌳 Create shady spots for comfort (and cooling!)⁠
👧🏼 Let the kids have their own mini-garden to care for⁠
😍 Add natural play elements like logs, stepping stones, or a simple tree swing⁠
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The best family memories aren’t made in front of a TV; they’re made in the sunshine, hands dirty, hearts full.⁠
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How does your family enjoy your garden together? Share your favourite moments below! 💚⁠
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📸 Narre Warren project 2023 - “Sebastian’s truck” 💚 exactly 2 years on! ⁠

🏊‍♀️ Lush Living: Garden Care for Busy Po

🏊‍♀️ Lush Living: Garden Care for Busy Pool Days in Summer ☀️⁠
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When the pool becomes the hero of summer, your garden quietly takes a beating… and most people don’t realise it!⁠
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All that splashing, foot traffic, sunscreen, and heat can significantly impact the plants and soil in your pool area. If your garden is looking a little frazzled while the floaties are living their best life, you’re not alone.⁠
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Here are a few often-forgotten garden maintenance tips to keep things lush and thriving while the pool is getting constant use:⁠
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💦 1. Rinse Chlorine Off Your Plants⁠
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Splash-out happens, but chlorine isn’t plant-friendly.⁠ Give nearby plants a quick rinse with clean water after big swim days to prevent leaf burn and soil stress.⁠
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👣 2. Consider a Splash-Free Zone⁠
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Foot traffic (and dripping swimmers!) can damage delicate plants.⁠ Use pavers, stepping stones, or pots to create a low-wear path that guides everyone around your garden beds instead of through them.⁠
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🌿 3. Choose Tough, Pool-Friendly Plants⁠
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If your garden hugs the pool, pick species that can handle the heat, humidity, and occasional splash.⁠ Think lomandras, dianellas, cordylines, agaves, westringia, hibiscus; the hardy, good-looking types.⁠
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💧 4. Check Soil Moisture More Often⁠
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Pool paving and decking radiate heat like crazy.⁠ A quick moisture check every couple of days helps prevent stressed plants and summer wilt.⁠
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Your pool may be the star of summer, but your garden deserves a little 💚 too. ⁠
A few minor tweaks now will keep everything looking lush, healthy, and holiday-ready all season long.⁠
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👉 Got a poolside plant you swear by (or struggle with)? Tell us below!⁠
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📸Brighton rejuvenation project, 2016⁠

There’s something magical about this quote, isn’t there? Summer has this beautiful way of reminding us that life can be soft, slow, warm, and full of possibility. ⁠
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It’s the season where the days are longer, the garden grows wilder, and we finally permit ourselves to breathe a little deeper.⁠
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Summer holds the promise of what could be. New memories waiting to unfold, lazy afternoons with bare feet in the grass, and outdoor spaces that feel alive with colour, fragrance, and laughter. 🌸✨⁠
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Your garden becomes a reflection of that possibility, too.⁠
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It’s where the morning coffee tastes sweeter, where the kids play barefoot, where the pool sparkles, and where the greenery reminds you that growth, in every sense, is always happening.⁠
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Summer encourages us not just to enjoy our outdoor spaces, but to live in them. To slow down. To soak in the sun. To dream a little bigger.⁠
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What does “the best of what might be” look like for you this summer? 😎 Share your favourite memory, plan, or garden moment below.⁠

💙🌿 Looking for a flower that’ll steal the

💙🌿 Looking for a flower that’ll steal the show without even trying? Meet the Brunnera macrophylla! 🌿💙⁠
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Also known as Siberian Bugloss or Great Forget-Me-Not, this gorgeous perennial is renowned for its tiny, sky-blue blooms that sparkle like little jewels against its large, heart-shaped leaves. It’s like having a carpet of forget-me-nots that keep on giving! ✨⁠
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What makes Brunnera so special? It thrives in shady spots where other plants struggle. Its foliage is just as stunning as its flowers (especially the silvery-leaved varieties). And it’s super low maintenance!⁠
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🌟 Fun fact: In the Victorian language of flowers, forget-me-nots (and their cousins like Brunnera) symbolised true love and remembrance, so planting them is like adding a little poetry to your garden. 💌⁠
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Whether you want to brighten up a shady corner or create a dreamy woodland vibe, Brunnera is the plant that proves blue really is the warmest colour.⁠
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Ready to add a touch of blue beauty to your garden? Plant Brunnera and let it work its magic! 💙⁠
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📸Vermont South A project detail⁠, 2012⁠

🌈🌿 Ever noticed how a garden bursting with c

🌈🌿 Ever noticed how a garden bursting with colour just feels… happier?⁠
⁠
There’s something magical about stepping into a space filled with pinks, purples, yellows, and greens all dancing together in the sunlight. It’s not just beautiful; it’s powerful. Colour has a real effect on our minds, our moods, and even the creatures who share our gardens. 💚⁠
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🌸 For children, colourful gardens spark curiosity and creativity. They’re sensory playgrounds; full of textures, scents, and colours that encourage exploration and imagination. A bright bloom can inspire a question, a game, or even the start of a lifelong love for nature.⁠
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🌿 For adults, colour offers calm and connection. Soft greens and blues ease stress, while bursts of warm reds and oranges lift energy and mood. A multicoloured garden is more than décor; it’s therapy in disguise. It invites you to pause, breathe, and feel a little lighter.⁠
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🐝 For animals, colour can mean survival. Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds are drawn to different shades, from purple lavender to yellow daisies, helping them find the nectar they need and ensuring your garden thrives. It’s nature’s own collaboration, beautifully balanced.⁠
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And visually? A garden layered with colour tells a story. It adds depth, personality, and vibrancy; creating a space that feels alive through every season. From the cool tones of early spring to the bold hues of summer, colour brings rhythm and emotion to your outdoor world.⁠
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So next time you’re choosing plants, think like an artist. 🎨 Mix and match tones, play with contrast, and let your garden express a little bit of joy, peace, and playfulness all at once.⁠
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👉 What colour makes you happiest in the garden? Tell us below; we’d love to know! 🌺⁠
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📸Latest snap from my gorgeous client’s garden in Berwick⁠ (constructed in 2023)⁠
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⁠

✨ Light has a language all its own — and it al

✨ Light has a language all its own — and it always speaks of welcome 🏡⁠
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Across cultures and centuries, light has symbolised hope, warmth, and connection. From Diwali lamps and Hanukkah candles to lanterns guiding travellers home, it’s a universal gesture of openness; a way of saying “You belong here.”⁠
⁠
When soft candlelight flickers along the steps to a front or back door, it’s more than decoration; it’s an embrace. A quiet invitation that turns a house into a home, a space into a sanctuary. It says, come in, you’re safe here.⁠
⁠
Light connects people. Think about it. Gatherings, celebrations, even quiet conversations on a summer evening all gravitate toward the glow. It’s instinctive. 💚⁠
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Light draws us closer, not just physically but emotionally. Whether it’s candles on your doorstep or fairy lights under a pergola, that warm glow creates a sense of belonging. It’s a reminder that the heart of every home isn’t just its walls, but the feeling it gives when it shines outward.⁠
⁠
In design, we talk a lot about structure, materials, and style. But sometimes, it’s light that does the heavy lifting. It transforms the ordinary into something poetic, something alive.⁠
⁠
So tonight, light a few candles, step back, and see what story your home tells when it glows. ✨⁠
⁠
📸Phuket, Thailand

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Plants - Page 5 of 15 - Inspiring Landscape Solutions