Friday, October 2, 2009

Children's Garden

The children of the house wanted the garden to have a sand-made football pitch with goal posts, a climbing frame, a come for the family tortoise, and some magic and mystery.

It can designed a whale-shaped lawn which doubles as a football pitch, space was found for the frame and sandpit .ear the house and the tortoise was given its own house by :he bicycle shed. A secret area was created within a ring of Amelanchiers, and adults were not forgotten with seats and a hammock to relax on and a paved area for outdoor meals.

Once the area Outside the basement had been laid with decking, and painted yellow to match the color scheme in the house, clue timber-edged steps were built up to the terrace. This was laid with an integrated sandpit. The patio paving also extends to a seat beneath the copper beech which looks towards the house and the children's play area.

The giant whale-shaped lawn, created from tough perennial rye grass, extends almost to the crud of the garden and the shape allows the goal posts to be positioned at an angle to the house, to avoid accidents with balls.

At the far end of the garden a shed takes the bikes and in front, to one side, is the tortoise pen with plants were chosen for a range of different reasons. The whole lawn was decoratively edged with cut' I and-come-again red and green salad bowl lettuces to provide the tortoise, as well as the family, with a constant supply of food, and a pampas grass provides the whale's water spout.

The circle of amelanchiers makes a magic fairy-ring when hung with lights, and these together with the sorbus 'Joseph Rock' and the vine, Vitis coignetio, provide rids highlights of red and gold as winter approaches.

Tagetes 'Safari Tangerine' can be easily grown from seed by youngsters. The large seeds are easy to handle and can be sown in situ. They provide a patch of long-lasting, bright color.

Another great favorite with children is the sunflower, Helianthus annuus 'Russian Giant' which grows to a towering height.