More American Inspirations For You
As Urbanites we often talk about alienation from nature, whatever that might mean. For me it is the phenomena of living in a world which is highly artificial and increasingly virtual. So here is another great quote from the Americans Scott and Lauren Ogden and their book Plant Driven Design: "Plants in a garden extend a strong connection to the natural world, through both their individual spirit and their deeply rooted relationship with one another and the site. Just as powerful is their ability to touch us, sensually and emotionally...Plants, exceptionally diverse living beings that they are, grant a richness that architecture or artifact cannot. The power to elicit a sensory or an emotional response gives plants presence. A garden that allows them their full potency makes all sorts of experiences possible, from the universal down to the highly personal. Through our senses’ interaction with the green world, we connect with nature, with the uniqueness of place, and with the garden maker." Great stuff!
Posted by John, March 11th, 2010
Pilot Perennials Planting Scheme
I have just started work on a perennials planting scheme for the council here in Edinburgh. It is a pilot that I am funding to try and promote this style of planting in public spaces. Key plants are likely to be Deschampsia cespitosa 'Schottland' and Geranium 'patricia'. Once the details are firmed up I'll say more here.
Posted by John, March 5th, 2010
Avant Garden Winner
I've just heard the great news that my design entry into the New Hopetoun Avant Garden Festival competition, at New Hopetoun Gardens has been selected as one of the six winners. I was selected last year with my design for a meditation garden. This year the theme is Treasure and inspired me to design a garden about the preciousness of planet earth. I hope you will get along to see it this spring and summer. It is a garden full of grasses so it will change a lot through the year making it worthy of several visits over the season.
Posted by John, Feb 11th, 2010
Logo
So at last plantforms has a logo. This is a project I've had on the go for ages. Well what I mean is that it is something I have been trying to sort out for ages! Anyway I finally came up with this design last week and really love it. I scanned in a doodle from my sketch book and got it into photoshop to transform it into a worthy logo. I have changed the masthead on my website three times since the original one went live in early 2007. Apart from colour changes to perhaps reflect the seasons (or just my moods) I hope this masthead with my new logo will be around for a long time.
Posted by John, Feb 8th, 2010
American Inspiration
I thought I would share some inspiration with you. I have just begun reading a book called PLANT DRIVEN DESIGN by an American couple, Scott and Lauren Ogden. The sub-title gives it all away, Creating Gardens That Honor Plants, Place, and Spirit. They are passionate about plants and the importance of including their consideration from the beginning of any garden making project. Too often, they say, plants are an afterthought, a mere decoration of the garden architecture. They are deeply opinionated and are not afraid to express their views. Even if I don't quiet agree with every view, I find their enthusiasm for planting design infectious and their robust opinions refreshing; a welcome change from insipid and soulless books on plants that treat them as just another commodity. They say "At its heart a garden is a relationship, an ongoing dialog between people, plants, and the place in which they both live and grow. What separates garden making from architecture, sculpture, and other arts is that this living creation is not something we will into being ourselves. Plants and nature are our partners; our relationship with them is what builds a garden." I think I'll drop in a few more quotes as I make my way through the book, the text is rich with insights into this relationship that is garden making at its best.
Posted by John, Jan 28th, 2010
Happy New Year
2010 is underway and here in Edinburgh we are under several inches of snow. Gardens might be the last thing on your mind but I just want to remind you of the planting design course running at Balerno Community High School starting on the 12th of this month. If you can't make that one I'm doing a shorter course over five weeks from the end of April at St Thomas Aquinas high school. Other news is that I've decided to enter again the Avant Garden competition at New Hopetoun Gardens. This years theme is treasure and I have come up with a very nice interpretation this time. The deadline is the 17th so I better get cracking. Also this year I'm planning to offer a new service: It can be surprisingly difficult to source interesting bedding plants for container gardening so I'm going to offer a container gardening service - re-filling your pots with lots of the traditional and more unusual annuals. There will be a page appearing on the web site soon with more information. Send me an e-mail if you need any information before then.&\8243
Posted by John, Jan 28th, 2010
Balerno Community Education Spring Term
I'll be running a planting design course as part of the Balerno Community Education programme at Balerno High School in the Spring term. The ten week course will take you through the planting design process, working on a plan for your own garden along the way. Course starts Tuesday the 12th of January, 7pm till 9pm. It will be fun, informative and creative - no experience required. I'm really looking forward to it.
Posted by John, Nov 14th, 2009
Winter Price drop on Online Designs.
I have cut the price of my online service up to the end of January. It's simply a supply and demand thing. These are super budget planting plans now so take advantage while the offer lasts.
Posted by John, Nov 13th, 2009
Readymade borders are back for Christmas
Three brand new readymade plans have just been uploaded to the site today. They are all easy schemes suitable for beginners full of beautiful plants combining well. Unlike previously I am now sending out hard copies through the post. These plans will make a new gardener or someone thinking of renovating their planting a great present.
Posted by John, Oct 20th, 2009
Your Healthy Living Magazine
There are a few tips from me in this months issue of Your Healthy Living magazine which you can pick up in your local health food store for free. I was asked to contribute some tips on combining veg and ornamental plants and some tips on planting for wildlife.
Posted by John, Sept 3rd, 2009
Beechgrove Garden Appearance
So the show went out on Wednesday and all the gardens looked great. Fiona's won the peoples vote so congratulations to her. Remember that they are going to be on show until October so plenty time to get along and see them if you haven't already. Just got my info pack for my planting design summer school in Berlin. Sounds amazing! I'll post plenty images here, if I can figure out the technology, for you to admire.
Posted by John, August 10th, 2009
Beechgrove Garden Appearance
This Wednesday the 5th on the Beechgrove you can see my winning design along with the five other winners of the Avant Garden Festival at New Hopetoun Gardens.
Posted by John, August 1st, 2009
Beechgrove Appearance
Today I was out at New Hopetoun Gardens being filmed for the Beechgrove Garden. Lesley interviewed me about my show garden there. It was great fun and I'm looking forward to seeing the show which I think is to be shown on the 7th of August. If you haven't been to see the gardens it is well worth a trip. And as I've written already, vote for me in the peoples choice!
Posted by John, July 16th, 2009
Free Planting Plans
There is a new page on my web site with a free planting plan to download. As there are many free planting plans out there on the web I thought it would be good to include this on my web site too. Obviously this is what I do for a living and giving things for free can seem a little mad from a business point of view. But hey... a little generosity never did anyone any harm. If you do plant up this border I'd love to hear from you about how it went. Happy gardening.
Posted by John, July 7th, 2009
Sale on Online Planting Plans
I've reduced my fee for online customized planting schemes. This way of getting a plan for your garden has many advantages over the free planting plans many sites offer. These plans will be tailored to your garden and your tastes. If your budget is under pressure think about this alternative to the full design option.
Posted by John, July 7th, 2009
Beechgrove Clip
Watch a clip from the Beechgrove Garden episode that featured my show garden at this years Gardening Scotland.The footage from the Beechgrove Garden programme has been used with permission of Tern Television Productions Ltd. Thanks again to all who made it happen, especially the fantastic landscaping firm that is Gardens Galore Scotland.
Posted by John, June 22nd, 2009
Berlin Summer School
Just back from a restful meditation retreat so I'm well rested after the show garden experience, which left me quite drained. I have just received a dvd of the beechgrove episode that featured my garden. I am going to try and get the clip online for you to view - if I can work out the technology. On the subject of the Beechgrove, they are going to feature all six New Hopetoun Avant Garden winners in an episode next month. Filming is pencilled in for the July 16th. Tune in to see my meditation garden if you can't get along to see it. Other exciting news is that I have just booked onto a planting design summer school in Berlin. This five day course takes in a trip to the legendary plantsman Karl Foerster's garden in Potsdam. The broad aim of the course is educate us on the development of the German herbaceous planting tradition. They use herbaceous plants much more commonly in public spaces - even on road side verges. Where we tend to use bedding or the same old tired shrubs, they have sophisticated mixes of wonderful perennials. I'll take loads of pictures and post some here when I get back for you to see what I mean.
Posted by John, June 17th, 2009
Show Garden
I can't remember exactly how I came up with the idea of a conceptual peace garden. I knew that themed gardens were the order of the day and I knew I didn't want to fall into the old tired patterns. I also felt that quite often show gardens can be a little disappointing from the point of view of the show going public. I figure that show gardens are in a large part entertainment. So I wanted to create a show garden that was theater and also had a message. The image evolved in my mind and I came up with this sculptural 'garden'. The central screens were the main feature and these attracted the most attention. I saw this random chaotic material and new it would be great for my purposes. The material is manufactured in Germany, I didn't make it, and is made of natural fibers but coated in some sort of resin. I have even seen a dress made out of it! I glued the Nylon patches on to create the stained glass window effect, these splashes of colour transformed the fabric into something really vibrant. Fortunately the sun shone all weekend which made the colours really sing. It took me ages to make the screens. Everything was made in my workshop, even down to welding the angle brackets that held the frames together. In between my regular work I would go to the workshop and potter away. It was such an enjoyable process, making my design come to life, something I imagined became something real. I did have doubts along the way - will people like it, will it look good, what will the judges think. Well the judges didn't care much for it unfortunately, but it was worth all the effort just to see the positive reaction of so many of the public. It is a long process leading up to the show and it requires a lot of self belief and then suddenly it is all over. I find myself already thinking about next year - which is insane. I'm tempted to try and tick the judges boxes next time - but I'll have to do it in as entertaining a way as possible. I plan to experiment with the fabric used in my screens and I have already set up a trial to see how it copes with the elements. If this trial proves that it can withstand the elements I will use it again in some way. Also vertical gardens are exciting me so I plan to play about with that medium as well. Once I have properly recovered from this years show I'll seriously plan ahead. Watch this space for details. And if you need to know any more about this years show garden then please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Posted by John, June 3rd, 2009
Show Garden
So the show is over...In a day or two I plan to write in more detail about the whole experience. In brief for now I most of all enjoyed the opportunity to meet the gardening public and it was really rewarding seeing the reaction of people to my art work - the dividing screens. There was so much interest in these screens that I will be taking commissions for some time. I have already arranged to start a trial to find out exactly how durable they are - watch this space. If you would like a screen for an interior space get in touch and I'll be happy to supply them. That is it for now - tomorrow the garden must be taken to bits and removed. I'll get my life back eventually.
See larger image
Posted by John, May 30th, 2009
Show Garden
Saturday night, end of day two of Gardening Scotland. Another hot sunny day and thousands of visitors came to the show. The reaction to the show garden was largely very positive. It has been worth it just to see the reaction as the colourful screens catch peoples eyes. Below is a photo of the garden, more to follow.
See larger image
Posted by John, May 30th, 2009
Show Garden
Well it is Friday night and the first day of Gardening Scotland is over. Give Peace a Chance (my show garden) received a bronze medal. Lots of interest from the visitors and many of you wanted to know how I made the screens....well all will be revealed here after the show. I'll post some images soon.
Posted by John, May 29th, 2009
Show Garden Build Up
Construction of my show garden at Gardening Scotland began today.All went well, Jim and Scott from my sponsors, the landscaping firm Gardens Galore, were excellent. I've got the rest of the week to put on the finishing touches and get the plants in. Will keep you posted on the progress.
Posted by John, May 25th, 2009
Avant Gardens
Today was the opening of the Avant Gardens Festival at New Hopetoun Gardens. The show garden that I designed was amongst the 6 winners. They will all be there throughout the summer so get along and see them. The opening was a rainy affair, I got soaked, but we had some sparkling wine to cheer us up. It was great to see my design built pretty much as intended so many thanks to all at New Hopetoun who have done a great job. Next it is Gardening Scotland. The big stress is will the poppies be in flower?
Posted by John, May 9th, 2009
Show Gardens
I have, as you know, been working hard on creating the screens for my show garden at Gardening Scotland. They are nearly finished although I won't have them done by the end of the week as hoped. My other show garden that has been built as part of the Avant Garden Festival at New Hopetoun Garden Centre will now be opening a week later than planned. Saturday the 9th is now the opening date for this event and the 6 winning designs will be on show until October. I have not had any input on the build so I'm really looking forward to seeing my design made real. Hope you can make it along. Below is an image of one of my screens from my show garden. They are very colourful and stained glass window like, especially when the sun comes out - so here is hoping for a sunny weekend.
Posted by John, April 30, 2009
Show Garden and other news
I really must do more blogging...Just finished a lovely little garden here in Edinburgh and I was reminded again that this is the best time of year to be planting a garden. Not just from a horticultural point of view but also that you get to see the young plant grow and fill out during the summer ahead. I'm getting on with the show garden too - have been really busy making the large and extreamly colourful screens that will bisect the garden. The big headache is the poppies. Will they be in flower in time? Who knows, but the germination was so late this year I am starting to worry about this. Such fun! Other news is the start of my spring offer on online planting plans. I love working in this way, it means I am able to design planting schemes for people all over the country and sometimes even abroad. And finally get along to New Hoptoun Gardens from the 2nd of May to see my winning Avant Garden, you can even vote for me in 'the peoples choice'...
Posted by John, April 25, 2009
Show Garden Progress
The show garden is progressing. The great news is that the landscaping firm Gardens Galore Scotland have agreed to get involved with the build and the supply of hard landscaping materials. Their help is very welcome and I am looking forward to working with them during the week leading up to the show. I have also started work on the main feature, which is basically a large and very colourful screen, - it is going to be stunning!
Posted by John, March 25, 2009
Show Garden Progress
As winter draws to an end I'm busy preparing the show garden for Gardening Scotland entitled 'Give Peace A Chance'. I've been having discussions with suppliers about donating plants and materials and so far things are coming together nicely. My design is perhaps more of a sculpture than a garden. It feels great to be taking myself in a totally different direction with this project. An impression of my design is below for you to look at. Sponsors are still very welcome!
Posted by John, March 2, 2009
Avant Gardens Festival Winner
I have just heard the wonderful news that my design entry has been selected for this years Avant Garden Festival at New Hopetoun Gardens. My design will be one of six to be constructed during March and April, opening to the public on the 2nd of May. The theme this year is 'Feast' and my design is called 'Just Sitting - Just Looking - The Richness Unfolds'. Great news and I hope you get along to see it. The gardens will be on show until October.
Posted by John, February 6, 2009
Winter Discount on Borders Online
This month only I have a 2 for 1 offer on my customised Borders Online. I'll design two planting schemes for your garden borders and you will get the smallest one for free. Get set for the spring with this amazing offer!
Posted by John, February 4, 2009
Gardening Scotland 2009
I am hearing that Gardening Scotland - our annual national garden show - is set to be a bigger better event this year. I'm planning to do a show garden possibly titled 'give peace a chance'. At the moment I'm thinking along the lines of a minimalist almost conceptual garden that is optimistic, especially now that Obama is in the White House, about the chances of reducing if not ending the conflicts we are in. Of course I'm looking for sponsors so if you can help I'd be very grateful.
Posted by John, January 30, 2009