Transform a shady border

This side of my client's garden faces north.

I was invited to look at the garden in the middle of winter. The border is mostly planted with deciduous trees and a few low level shrubs and there are lots of curves and pots and statues.

My lovely clients, Teresa and Jan wanted to filter the view of the fence and add some colour.

We went back in the spring and this is what we did ....

We concentrated on making simple changes with big impact. We widened the border and took away the curves. We painted the green fence black. We moved all the pots and also the pencil pine on the right.

We added two evergreen camilias as a foil for the deciduous plants and then two groups of low level evergreen shrubs to generate that additional layer of interest.

The black fence makes the plants really pop and the evergreen structure anchors the scheme making it look permanent and considered.

and after a days work Teresa wrote to me and said,

"I hope you had a good night's rest after your hard work in the garden yesterday.

It looks beautiful. We are so pleased.

Also thank you for all your advice and tips which Jan and I will put into action in the future days to come. I loved working alongside of your easy going, inspiring, talented and most of all a lovely human being ..."

I was blown away.