• Home
    Home
  • Main Portfolio
    Main Portfolio
  • About Us
    About Us
  • Our Process
    Our Process
  • Services
    Services
    • Custom Design
      Custom Design
      • Feng Shui Garden Design
        Feng Shui Garden Design
    • Design Implementation
      Design Implementation
    • Construction & Maintenance
      Construction & Maintenance
    • DIY – DesignedBliss4U
      DIY – DesignedBliss4U
    • Other Services
      Other Services
      • Staging for sale
        Staging for sale
      • Productive gardens
        Productive gardens
      • Rejuvenation projects
        Rejuvenation projects
  • Design Fees & Packages
    Design Fees & Packages
  • Media Publications
    Media Publications
  • Design Resources
    Design Resources
    • FAQs
      FAQs
    • Why use a designer?
      Why use a designer?
    • Ebooks & Videos
      Ebooks & Videos
    • Blog
      Blog
    • Before & After – Glen Waverley Garden Design
      Before & After – Glen Waverley Garden Design
    • Before & After – Blackburn Garden Design
      Before & After – Blackburn Garden Design
    • Before & After – Hawthorn Garden Design
      Before & After – Hawthorn Garden Design
    • Case study – Water Features
      Case study – Water Features
    • Case Study – Productive Garden Design
      Case Study – Productive Garden Design
    • Case study – Vertical Gardens
      Case study – Vertical Gardens
    • Case Study – Vegetable patches
      Case Study – Vegetable patches
    • Case Study – Soil testing
      Case Study – Soil testing
  • Contact Us
    Contact Us
  • Home
    Home
  • Main Portfolio
    Main Portfolio
  • About Us
    About Us
  • Our Process
    Our Process
  • Services
    Services
    • Custom Design
      Custom Design
      • Feng Shui Garden Design
        Feng Shui Garden Design
    • Design Implementation
      Design Implementation
    • Construction & Maintenance
      Construction & Maintenance
    • DIY – DesignedBliss4U
      DIY – DesignedBliss4U
    • Other Services
      Other Services
      • Staging for sale
        Staging for sale
      • Productive gardens
        Productive gardens
      • Rejuvenation projects
        Rejuvenation projects
  • Design Fees & Packages
    Design Fees & Packages
  • Media Publications
    Media Publications
  • Design Resources
    Design Resources
    • FAQs
      FAQs
    • Why use a designer?
      Why use a designer?
    • Ebooks & Videos
      Ebooks & Videos
    • Blog
      Blog
    • Before & After – Glen Waverley Garden Design
      Before & After – Glen Waverley Garden Design
    • Before & After – Blackburn Garden Design
      Before & After – Blackburn Garden Design
    • Before & After – Hawthorn Garden Design
      Before & After – Hawthorn Garden Design
    • Case study – Water Features
      Case study – Water Features
    • Case Study – Productive Garden Design
      Case Study – Productive Garden Design
    • Case study – Vertical Gardens
      Case study – Vertical Gardens
    • Case Study – Vegetable patches
      Case Study – Vegetable patches
    • Case Study – Soil testing
      Case Study – Soil testing
  • Contact Us
    Contact Us
To Blog

Sound effects in the garden

January 7, 2019
-
Landscape Design
-
Posted by Parveen

What sort of sounds?

What does “sounds in the garden” mean for me, personally? Is it the rustle of leaves and undergrowth as we walk path? Could it be the wind billowing softly that makes it exciting to be in the garden? What about the birds and then buzz of the bees? Other insects maybe? What about the delightful sounds of moving water as it laps around edges of a pond or as it cascades from a water feature? Wind chimes?
For me it’s any single one and all of the above. Gardens are habitats. Life is abundant and all around. That makes it interesting and a happy place for me to be in.

Relevance to design

Ask yourself, and be honest, do I want these sounds in my garden? Which ones in particular are attractive to me? Do I really want to attract insects and frogs into the garden? Can I share my space with them?

Yup lots of questions and lots to think about!

It helps when you have clear answers to the above questions when designing a garden. It impacts the practical aspects of the design (eg hardscaping, material choice) and the softscaping component (plant choice).

Importance to your wellbeing

I’d argue that having some form of sound in your garden is important and therapeutic. How strange would it be if the garden ‘sat still’? It ‘feels’ almost clinical and unnatural. Almost ‘lonely’!

How can you create sound

Well it’s sort of hinted to at the outset. Either naturally with ‘enticing’ some fauna into the garden or using accessories like a water feature and wind chimes as you see fit.

Recent trends - garden acoustics!

Another area we haven’t discussed is a recent trend in garden design for garden music or acoustics to be incorporated. Ie again lending itself to extending our living space into the ‘outside’. Think Bose systems and the like (and lots of partying and family entertainment lol). What better way than to enjoy the outdoors fully and all year round!

I’d actually like to incorporate more of this into my designs and encourage my clients to have a think about investing into such outdoor systems. I’ve had a recent project which has installed such a system and the family wouldn’t have it any other way!

Acoustics - where in the garden?

Aha. That’s the question I suppose. The usual spot would be ‘attached’ to the house in some manner and project it outside. Well that’s probably the basic idea. What about to specific sites? Eg at the pool if you have one?

An amazing idea I came cross was a design at the Chelsea Flower Show a couple of years ago. Acoustics attached to the water feature, creating movement and rhythm. Ie the acoustics couldn’t be heard but the gentle sound from the water feature movement could. Inspiring idea for sure!

In sum

Anyway I could go on lol. But I’ll leave it here. Sounds in a garden is a must have in my book. Something will certainly be amiss without it. Like a garden without a ‘soul’.

Surrey Hills - garden sound system

Image Not Found On Media Library

If you need further suggestions or plantscaping both indoors and outdoors, please contact us for an onsite 90 minute consultation.  We charge $250.00 for the visit and can subsequently quote on implementing the entire transformation for you within your budget.

Our passion your garden! xx

Follow us on social media
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Houzz
PREVIOUS POST
Movement in the Garden
NEXT POST
Choosing the perfect tree for your garden

Parveen

Recent Posts
  • Modern cottage gardens in Melbourne
  • Gardening with passion! The story behind Sophie and Daniel’s garden
  • Gardens for life – the story of Cate’s garden
  • Clivias
  • Creating a family garden with amazing aesthetic – Gurnik and Sarah
Instagram

ilandscapesolns

Probably my favourite view of this design and prob Probably my favourite view of this design and probably one of my best experiences of 2020.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
It belongs to a lovely couple I've come to know and who have worked tirelessly in making this design come to life.  My role here was as designer, plant enthusiast and a helping hand in empowering them to take the step to do it mostly on their own with some assistance.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
I love the fact that they continue to share their enthusiasm and garden updates with me whenever they can.  Really brightening up my day whenever I hear from them and seeing how the garden continues to mature! 💚⁠⁠
⁠⁠
The backbones to this garden were strong so we kept the large trees and resurfaced the deck, modernising it's look (but remaining consistent with the house). ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Styled with some new pots and added new undergrowth plants that will survive the shade and heat in this garden, after properly documenting and understanding what didn't work in the past.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
So here you have it - a layered approach using curves (which I love and keeping the original structure of the garden intact (why waste money and some plants you can reuse)!⁠⁠
⁠⁠
And yup - I've used some of my usual favourites in this one - see if you can spot them! ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Can't wait to take some professional shots of this garden later this year come Spring!! 💚💚💚
Garden Statues and Ornaments.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Do you Garden Statues and Ornaments.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Do you have any in your garden?⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I love seeing these in my client's gardens as they are heaps of fun and add so much personality into a design!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
This lovely creation was by a client's parent who loves creating 3D mosaic pieces and came all the way from NZ!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Do try styling your outdoors with some wonderful pieces like these and it really doesn't have to be something new - upcyle and use your imagination to create something wonderful and unique!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Have a go and let me know what you come up with! 💚
Grasses.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ One element to design I real Grasses.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
One element to design I really love using is to incorporate different types of "grasses" into my designs⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I find them easy going maintenance wise and if used properly, quite visually and physically textural.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Here is an example where I've used about 5 types - from broader leaved versions to thin and wispy flowering types! A couple of my favourite's have a quirky "Mr It" type effect! ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Which grass types appeal to you? And what do you love about them? 💚⁠⠀
Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to be Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Beginning makes the condition perfect ... and anytime is a perfect to play in your garden! 💚
Do you have a favourite nook in your garden that y Do you have a favourite nook in your garden that you can relax in?⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Perhaps somewhere to read a book or a magazine or to just laze about?⁠⠀
⁠⠀
These things are important when designing your garden as it's not only about creating something special to look at but also creating a space to be part of and to immerse yourself in. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
What is your favourite gardening spot and how do you spend time in it? 💚 ⁠⠀
A snippet from a favourite design from 2020! ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Completed last Sept and about to arrange for some professional shots of it soon!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Probably the best part of the design for me was to see my client's fervour around building the nautilus feature and actually making that happen!  You'll have to see it in real life to believe it as it not only looks amazing but gives her a sense of pride whenever she drives home!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
No more a boring front garden with a square grassed area but something unique to come home to, surrounded by plants that make her happy and a garden she loved designing for herself! 💚
This is one thing that continues to fascinate me!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I LOVE it when ferns unfurl.  It's almost magical and done with such grace of movement!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
From the alternating leaf pattern, the prominent lateral veins to the spores that finally appear underneath their leaves, it's so well planned and amazing!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Isn't nature simply beautiful!!? 💚⁠⠀
⁠⠀
What's your favourite fern?
Feature pots for smaller spaces or courtyards. ⁠ Feature pots for smaller spaces or courtyards. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
The decision is a little trickier than you would initially think but here are some tips that can help!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
🌿Colours - lighter to make the area larger⁠⠀
🌿Size & number - would also depend on what you intend to plant and the aesthetic you'd want to create but if space is really limited I'd perhaps chose a single reasonably sized pot (to facilitate good root growth) that would allow for some layering of plants⁠⠀
🌿Opening - what  I mean by this is the "mouth" of the pot.  This has practical implication for on-going repotting and maintenance.  The wider the opening the easier to repot down the track!⁠⠀
🌿Texture - i love the earthy ones as they feel natural and similarly anything with laid stone or are handcrafted just adds that something extra but these tend to be expensive!⁠⠀
🌿Type - chose the look that compliments the overall style and aesthetic for your space.  For example, you'd not want to chose an ultra modern geometric pot for a farmhouse style cottagey space!  The pot here was chosen to compliment the earthy paving colour and was in line with the shapes of other structures in the courtyard!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
What are your key styling tips!  Do share! 💚⁠⠀
⁠⠀
⁠Slow and steady gets there eventually!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Finally my dwarf senecio has got to a reasonable size and is looking very adorable at the moment!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
What especially I love about it is that it has a rounded growth and almost 'shines' at night against the moonlight which is why I've planted it next to the path!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
What's your favourite succulent? 💚⁠⠀
Load More…
Archives
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
Categories
  • Balcony Gardens
  • Biophilia
  • Blog
  • Budgeting
  • Construction
  • Feng Shui
  • Gardens for Life
  • Home office
  • Irrigation
  • Landscape Design
  • Landscaping
  • Maintenance
  • Materials
  • Paving
  • Plants
  • Productive gardening
  • Productive gardens
  • Propagation
  • Pruning
  • Scented gardens
  • Seasonal tips
  • Staging for sale
  • Structures
  • Sustainable Gardening
  • Uncategorized
  • Water Features

Related News

Other posts that you should not miss
Salvia used in Vermont South landscape design

Growing herbs [Part 2]

August 8, 2019
-
Posted by Parveen

Given that spring is around the corner, I thought of writing up on this topic as a value add so that …

Read More →
Landscape Design, Plants, Productive gardens
10 MIN READ
Brown pebbles for landscaping Melbourne

What is rock mulch?

March 3, 2020
-
Posted by Parveen

What is it? What is rock mulch? I get this question a lot. It stems from the general perception that “mulch” …

Read More →
Construction, Landscape Design, Landscaping, Maintenance, Materials
4 MIN READ
Red king protea in Glen Waverley landscape design

The lovely Proteas

June 2, 2020
-
Posted by Parveen

One of my absolute favourite family of plants to use in my designs and one I absolutely look forward to in …

Read More →
Landscape Design, Plants
4 MIN READ

Follow us on social media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Houzz

ACN: 617 529 914

contact +614 0332 9128

contact@inspiringlandscapes.com.au

 
Sound effects in the garden | Inspiring Landscape Solutions