Blackhall Garden, Edinburgh

A generous garden space

This was a lovely project to work on in the Blackhall area of Edinburgh over lockdown.  The space enjoyed the borrowed landscape of mature tall trees to the rear.  Happily, for a modern house the garden was a really decent size.  In an ideal world, the client and I agreed we would have shunted the double garage five metres to the north (we spent a good deal of time scratching our heads wondering why the developer didn’t think of this….) Instead, we accepted that the garage had to stay where it was and decided to refocus attention away from it as the best solution.

Focal points

A simple wooden arbour seat created the necessary focal point towards the rear of the garden.  At the midpoint I positioned a circular patio with barbecue.  Then closer to the conservatory windows I placed a generously sized Urbis lily bowl.  To the side of the garage, removing a fence which created an unnecessary divide helped improve the flow around the house, garage and garden.  A sculpture sits diagonally across from the conservatory windows and its shape and simplicity works beautifully with the planted borders and backdrop of hedging and trees.  A new access from the front garden to the rear is via a Japanese themed area with boulders and stepping stones and plants suited to the dappled shade cast by the tall trees.

A deck with a view

While a lot of the time we spend in a garden involves grubbing around in the borders, snipping, pruning, weeding and digging, it is also crucial to have a comfortable and convenient place from which to view your efforts.  A south-facing raised Millboard deck with corten steel planters and bistro table and chairs provides one such vantage point.  Nearby, two Adirondack chairs also encourage the gardener to rest, contemplate and appreciate the garden.

A gardener’s garden

A dedicated composting area with good capacity compost bays and then a lean-to greenhouse attached to the rear of the garage make this a true gardener’s garden.  Although my client claimed not to be all that green fingered, she has proved herself wrong on that count.  These autumn images show the garden the season after it was completed with plants starting to fill out and blend the hard landscaping with the soft.  It feels like the perfect place either to entertain, or to enjoy one’s own company, surrounded by greenery, flowers and the hum of wildlife.