Creating a Show Garden

WITH JULIAN DOWLE

Julian Dowle stole the show at England's Chelsea show this year, with his winning exhibit, the West Midlands' Shizuoka Goodwill Garden. As the People's Choice, some people had to queue for 2 1/2 hours to see it!
Mature trees brought in from Europe, were used in his representation of a farmyard, including the rusty old tractor in a wooden barn. Wild flowers, placed to look as if they had self -seeded, captured the wild look of nature taking a hold.
Nature in the form of a landslide that was 50 years old, was the beginning of Julian's passion in plants and flowers. He was captivated by the beauty that Nature had created, as self sown plants began to populate the slide.
"Getting away from man's hand gives a richness in natural creation, "he said, "we would like to match this but can't quite make it. Always keep an eye on Mother Nature and how she does it, Nature makes it right every time.
When the hand of man is evident there is great danger of 'official vandalism', which we have to do to make roads etc. Be conscious of what is going on in your community, such as buildings painted white when they could be painted in a colour that helps them settle down into the landscape and disappear."

Peoples' choice garden at Chelsea by Julian Dowle

A frog fountain for children at Ellersie Flower Show

"With a garden, they need to reflect Nature, but they also have to be highly functional," Julian said.
"There has to be a practical side of things but good management and good design go hand in hand. You need to decide how to get in and out of your garden, how you are going to enjoy it, as it has to be a living space you can enjoy and for it to be be a part of your home. If a show garden you see gives you peace, ask the question, 'Why?' and how you too, can make a peaceful retreat.
The practical functions of a garden need to be mentally ticked off as you look at the drive way and how you are going to get the car in, the lawns and for somewhere to sit and and for children to play. A patio or terrace needs to be planned if you want somewhere dry to sit and entertain. Perhaps you need to plan for a vegetable garden to provide food for the household, shelter belts to protect you from the elements and the neighbors or unsightly landscapes beyond, and steps, retaining walls and terraces if sloping banks are on the section.

Children's play areas need to be considered. When children grow up, these areas will become obsolete, and therefore consider, instead, that children should be encouraged for their play areas to become part of the garden."
Manukau City, in New Zealand, commissioned a garden design by Jan Latham. Shown at Auckland's Ellerslie Flower Show this year, it was designed to introduce children to, and educate them about New Zealand's environment and ecology. Discovery areas included a giant weta (insect) to play on, the interactive frog fountain where they push a lily pad to make a fountain spray, and tunnels into secret areas.
Julian was very impressed with these ideas and said,
"This garden is a journey for kids, and also great for adults, so much better than bright swing sets , as it invites children to become part of the landscape.

There are ways to transform utilitarian areas into attractive places by asking yourself a series of questions.
Does the drive have to be straight?
Can the reversing bay be landscaped?
Is the path to the front door wide enough for two people to walk side by side?
Can the entryway around the front door be decorated with pots, and interesting plants as a signature to the nature of the owner of the house?"

A giant weta lurks in the Manakau City garden waiting for children to pounce on its back

A country garden North of Auckland, New Zealand invites you around the corner with a lawn pathway, or sit a while under the grapes on the pergola.

"Lawns complement the landscape and plants," Julian said." Green is a very good colour to work through. When designing your lawn area, think of the shape of the lawn, not the garden flower beds. Does the lawn shape invite you in? It should be an interesting and practical part of your garden design.
Are you going to have a patio, to sit in the shade or the sun, perhaps covered in part with a pergola, with grapes or honeysuckle growing over it? Make a little sitting area there or add it somewhere else in your garden design.
If you have an ugly fence, hide it with plants that will cover it. Landscapes that are beyond your garden need to be invited in. Add a gate in the boundary. It need never be opened, but it gives a visual invitation to go through."
Julian concluded," When planning your plantings, don't look for anything pretty, sit with a good plant book and map out that perennial or mixed border, work out on paper the colours, textures, sizes, seasons for flowering. It is a complex job but do it, make mistakes and get advice from your local garden centre"