Creating rhythm, pace and texture

Key to the success of this shared garden is the repetition of plants and hard-landscaping materials. Here are some considerations.

At ground level

Bold blocks of single-species planting, such as the blue camassias and low-growing waldsteinia (1), create repetitions of colour and texture that draw the eye across the space. In the main perennial borders (2), which line both sides of the garden, Ulf has used the Siberian conifer, Microbiota decussata, as textured ground cover. Norwegian slate (2), used for the main paths at the rear, is laid in repetitions of different widths – 40cm, 30cm and 20cm – to create a softer rhythm in the hard landscaping.

At mid height

Cylindrical slabs of granite (3), from Ulf’s garden product range, provide casual seating throughout the garden, while angled slabs break up the geometry of the metal-edged beds and suggest a visual link to the granite outcrops of the natural landscape. Umbrella forms of the dwarf Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris ‘Watereri’ are repeated through the beds (4) on both sides of the garden, creating a series of rounded punctuation points.

At head height

Four powder-coated steel arches (4) have been positioned facing each other on both sides of the garden to provide each house with a framed view of the sea and the forested islands. In summer some are softened in summer with clematis and roses; others are left unplanted. The tapering crowns of Quercus robur ‘Koster’ (4) planted in both main perennial borders create an aerial rhythm from one side of the garden to the other. Near the entrance, six of the same oaks, planted in a grid (1), have been left clear stemmed to create a more slender profile.