We have been inspired by the design principles of the Far East in this garden, using structure to frame and shape the natural world.  Clean lines and simplicity are key here.

The dominant feature in this garden is clearly the screen frame, set diagonally to the garden’s axis.  Not many people would have been brave enough to paint it bright red but it actually works brilliantly with the natural elements in two ways.  Firstly, because green and red are opposites on the colour wheel, this means it provides natural contrast to all the green foliage around it.  Secondly, because we have chosen some plants – notably the acers – which turn shades of orange and red in the autumn, the screen really enhances them. The off-set square also serves to draw the eye away from the fact that this garden is quite narrow, twice as long as it is wide.

The rest of the planting here hints at the orient, too.  As well as the acers – known as Japanese maples – we have fresh green bamboo and some clipped topiary that provide height as well as formality.

The other hard landscaping materials in this garden have a more subtle role to play, providing the canvas to the bright screen and the planting.  The mixed-size slab paving provides a solid base for tables or chairs and the pea gravel under the water feature subtly echoes a Zen gravel garden.

Talking of water features, many oriental gardens incorporate gentle water sounds as an aid to meditation.  The feature we have chosen here is actually a ready made one. It has a built-in reservoir to recycle its own water, so you don’t need to sit it over a reservoir trough, and you just need an external-grade electricity supply to power it. We have a selection of similar water features in the centre.

Find your inner calm in our Eastern-inspired garden and find out how you can take that feeling home to your own.