Ok, so what have I been doing since I got here apart from enjoying the aussie lifestyle, going to the beach and generally having a great time? As some of you will be aware I qualified as a garden designer shortly before leaving the UK and this is hopefully going to be a full-time job for me. I have set up a garden design business called 'Thyme To Design'. A website is kindly being written for me by Xenia, Taras' sister. I'll put a link here once it's up and running.
So far I've only had the one design job, my other jobs consisting mainly of garden maintenance. I've had a few enquiries, including one from my dentist, but no firm commissions as yet. I also sponsored a film festival in Sydney in February/March offering a garden design. This was given as 2nd prize but, as yet, no one has claimed it!
I've had the privilege of designing the rear garden for Taras' parents and now that is nearly completed, I need to go back to the drawing board and come up with some wow-factor designs for the front garden.
Below are just a couple of pictures showing 'now' and 'before'. Double-click on the pictures to make them larger.
My main brief for the rear garden was it had to be low maintenance and have raised vegetable beds. The raised L-shaped beds currently have Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, dwarf peas, snow peas, celery, cabbage, broccoli, strawberries and rosemary. The garden isn't yet complete as it doesn't have the all important 'thyme'. No garden I design will be truly finished without my signature plant, thyme! Also growing in the garden are three types of fig tree, a mango, kiwi, lemon tree and blueberries.
In the inside corner of each bed there is seating made from vertical slices of a red gum tree supported on stumps from a tree we had to chop down from the front garden. It looks great, very rustic and very much in keeping with much of the decor of the house. The raised beds are set in an oval shaped gravel bed inter-planted with sculptural plants such as flap-jacks, ponytail palm, agaves and ornamental grasses. Over the arches is growing honeysuckle, this being salvaged from the philistines next door who relentlessly ripped it out of the ground and put it in their green bin. In spite of this harsh treatment all four plants are flourishing and will soon provide a beautiful scent when walking through the archways.
Ok, so why the blog title? Who is King Ogorod? Those with a keen eye may have noticed a dragon sitting in the centre of the garden overseeing all he rules. His name is Ogorod, which translated from Russian, simply means 'garden'. Ogorod is a water feature with a difference. Once night falls Ogorod magically lights up the overhanging trees above and smoke bubbles over his cauldron. I'll publish a photo of this soon, apologies for not taking one yet!!
In about six months I'll post more pictures of this garden as it will be interesting to see how the plants have matured.
It's not long now until I'm back in the UK for a brief visit. I land on 18th May and will be departing on 8th June. If anyone wants to catch up, let me know in advance so plans can be made.
