FUNCTIONAL TAKE-HOME IDEAS
Show organiser and senior lecturer at Lifestyle Design College, Mike Rickhoff, says the show provides myriad ideas for those who can’t necessarily garden directly in soil, with a focus on balcony gardens and patio areas. These smallspace ideas can also be incorporated into larger gardens, with pick-up-and-put-down appeal.
“The Softly Social garden demonstrates this perfectly,” says Rickhoff. “It contains hidden places and even a bonsai garden within the space.”
Rickoff says that a number of items used in the gardens have been repurposed, with a strong push towards recycling and upcycling for cost-saving.
The Garden Guide, free to show patrons, provides a comprehensive breakdown of all the show gardens and includes advice and inspiration for you to try at home in your own garden.
Which four aspects of functionality can you consider for your garden?
Add elements of play into the garden to encourage your children to spend more time outdoors. Go bold with colour and bring in features that capture the senses.
The park area of the On Common Ground garden, the central area, features interactive activities for adventure and includes a sand playpen, tic-tac-toe frame, colourful tepees and a xylophone for music-making.
A moon gate, used in Chinese garden design, is a circular opening in a wall or a standalone structure which frames a beautiful view. Moon gates can be built from brick or stone, or made from wood or steel. They can be used as a way to separate and yet connect various garden rooms.
A greenhouse may conjure up images of large glass houses on sprawling estates, but there are several products compact enough for inclusion in a small garden.
A greenhouse allows you to grow produce throughout the year or cultivate tender ornamentals with specific temperature requirements.
A greenhouse, worm farm and composting bin are included in the garden Incredible Edible, providing evidence that these eco-friendly garden practices can be implemented in the smallest of spaces.
For centuries, gardeners have created hidden spaces within larger gardens for rest and relaxation. In Softly Social, a dramatic living space featuring gardens within gardens, the patio is covered with a bamboo pergola and features gabion seating for a striking look. A fire pit next to the patio overlooks an intimate corner, a perfect seclusion zone for gentle reflection, meditation or reading.
Such secluded areas are easy to replicate with a small table and chairs or restful bench placed under a canopy of trees or down a private pathway.