A garden can be anything you want it to be, large or small. From a flowerpot on your windowsill to a sweeping border of perennials or wildflowers, it can be a vibrant space for entertaining, a place to grow fruit and vegetables, or a relaxing retreat from the stresses of modern life. After many years of garden design in the Scottish Highlands, my view is simple: the most important thing is that your garden pleases you and exists for you to enjoy.
A garden for the senses
Gardens are sensory by nature. What we see, hear, smell, taste and touch all combine to create a sense of atmosphere. Think of the organic shapes, forms and colours of trees, shrubs and perennials, flowers for the bees and berries for the birds, and leaves that open, unfurl, colour and fall with the seasons. Add the rich textures of bark and lichen, the softness of moss, and grasses swaying gently in the wind.
Colour sets the mood. A single theme of cool greens and whites is calming, whilst brilliant reds and yellows create a vibrant, exciting atmosphere.
Light and water in the Highlands
The ever-changing light in the Highlands can transform a garden from dawn to dusk. Foliage sparkles after a shower of rain, surface materials such as slate and pebbles are enriched, and water reflects images and light. A fountain, pool or stream can be both soothing and refreshing, and visiting wildlife adds its own special dimension to any water scene.
Sound in the garden
By extending your living space out into the garden, you can watch your favourite gardening programme from the comfort of your gazebo. You could even have music wired around the garden with speakers concealed in the shrubbery, which is great for garden parties.
Or tune into your own environment instead. Create your own garden music from leaves rustling, grasses swaying, birds singing in the trees and water trickling over pebbles in a stream.
Touch and texture
The outdoors is rich in texture, and it is almost impossible to resist touching things we like: an old, weathered piece of wood, the head of a flowering grass, the trunk of a tree at your back, or a cool pool around your toes. Natural stone and wood are warm and soothing, whilst glass and concrete can look cool and sophisticated but feel hard to the touch. Planting is the foil that cushions and blends the rough with the smooth.
Scent and taste
Walking through a pergola or arch scented with roses, clematis or jasmine can be a memorable experience. Other plants release their scent only when touched or walked on, such as thyme, lavender and rosemary. Place aromatic plants by a door or window so the perfume drifts into the room, or near the kitchen for culinary use.
Vegetables and fruit add the earthy fragrance of the garden, and one of the joys of gardening is eating your own produce. Plucking a ripe plum from the tree or a berry from the bush makes all the work worthwhile.
Garden lighting for winter
Use lighting to create your own garden theatre and transform your garden through the long winter months. Downlighters illuminate from above, and uplighters from below cast shadows and highlight a specimen or feature. Candlelight gives a seating area intimacy and ambience, whilst the glow and warmth of a firepit is best shared with friends.
Plant a tree
If you have the space, plant a tree. It gives scented flowers in spring, colourful foliage in autumn, shade in summer and berries for the birds. A tree also provides structure and height, and anchors your garden into the landscape.