Plant Combinations for an Abundant Garden. A. & G. Bridgewater

catch the runoff from the pond. Have all the usual plants in the pond, with the marginals around the pond blurring into bog plants like irises, primulas, ferns and Hemerocallis (Daylilies).

      Garden with back-to-back houses Position a pergola at the bottom of the garden, with trellises to each side, and then plant climbers to grow over it. You could concentrate on Clematis – search out the various spring, summer, autumn and winter varieties – so that you have foliage, buds and flowers all year.

      Garden sloping down from the house Create a flat terrace area close to the house with steps running from the terrace down to the lawn and flowerbeds. You could have a cottage-garden feature in the lower garden with wildflowers like Viola odorata (Sweet Violet), Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife) and Lychnis flos-cuculi (Ragged Robin).

      Garden sloping up from the house Dig out the ground close to the house and build a patio. You could have steps leading up the slope with ponds and waterfalls at various levels. The idea is that you can sit on the patio and view the water and plants as they cascade down the slope.

      Small garden ringed by high walls Fix wires and trellises on all the walls and then plant a whole range of climbing plants. You could have Parthenocissus (Virginia Creeper) and Pileostegia viburnoides on the shady walls, and plants like Wisteria and Lonicera (Honeysuckle) where there is sun.

      Small walled courtyard garden Build a pergola that more or less fills the space. Cover the top of the pergola with clear plastic sheet so that the courtyard is roofed over. Put a small wall feature on one wall, and plant grapevines on the underside of the pergola so you can sit out in all weather.

       Wish list

       Every good idea starts with a wish list. The very act of sitting and dreaming about what is possible is a good part of the pleasure of gardening. I wish I could have …

      Barbecue: a brick-built barbecue is a good option. All you need is a patio area, the barbecue itself and seating all around.

      Beds and borders: beds and borders are like an ever-changing film screen – places that you can stuff full of color.

      Bird bath and bird feeder: bird baths and feeders are a must. What better way to enjoy the garden in winter than to put food out and to watch the birds feeding and bathing?

      Chickens: going to the chicken house and listening to that very special sound that hens make when they are about to lay … it’s a thought!

      Fruit trees: apples and plums are good, but when they are fresh from the tree they are very special – a gift from nature.

      Gazebo: lots of people dream about having a gazebo. Just think about it – a place for the kids, or a place for sleeping when the weather is hot and sticky.

      Greenhouse: if you want to be able to get out into the garden from very early spring until early winter, you are going to need a greenhouse.

      Herb garden: a sunny patio is good, but a patio planted with herbs such as thyme, sage, marjoram and so on is better.

      Kids’ garden: children need a place to play. A jungle gym is fine, but a place to dig and make a camp, and make a mess, is so much better.

      Lawn: an area of lawn is essential. The mowing may be a bit of a chore, but the scent given off by the freshly cut grass, and the pleasure of sitting on the lawn, are experiences that should not be missed.

      Log cabin: if ever there was a dream feature, this is it. It can be just about anything you care to make it – a workshop, a weekend cabin, a place for the kids, or a potting shed.

      Patio: what could be more pleasurable on a warm sunny day than to sit on a patio with friends and family? A good patio is a choice item.

      Pergola: a well-placed pergola is another great option – good for providing shade over the patio, for growing grapes and for blotting out eyesores.

      Pond: water has irresistible magical qualities that give us pleasure – the sight and sound of moving water is fascinating.

      Raised beds: raised beds not only make for easy gardening – with less strain on the back – but they are also good for keeping small toddlers and pets away from the plants.

      Summerhouse: a summerhouse is a delightful setting for having afternoon tea, reading a good book or just indulging in some quiet contemplation.

      Vegetable plot: this is the age of the vegetable plot. If you enjoy fresh food and/or want to go organic, then a vegetable garden is for you.

      Wildlife: birds, bugs, frogs, toads, newts and small mammals … a wildlife garden is one of life’s great pleasures.

       GATHERING INSPIRATION

      In much the same way as poets and artists draw inspiration from their interests and passions – romantic love, the glories of nature, the wonders of technology, travel – so the garden designer needs to draw inspiration from his or her experiences and passions. Whatever your interests may be – trees, roses, water, travel, eating in the garden, watching your children at play – your best starting point is to draw inspiration from the things that give you pleasure.

       Where do I start?

       LOOKING AND COLLECTING

      Note the large, permanent objects and items that you have to live with, such as the house, boundary walls and large trees, and then look around you at the things you have collected. For example, you might have a collection of nautical bits like anchors, glass floats and chains, old street lamps, old farm items, special plants or perhaps even your holiday photographs to inspire you.

      A collection of bamboos could well be inspirational.

      Favorite plants can also provide great inspiration.

      Try found objects such as Victorian street lamps.

      Postcards of beautiful gardens will give you something to aim for.

       Books, magazines and television programs

      Once you have come up with the bare bones of a scheme, follow through your research by looking through books and magazines, and by watching television. It is a good idea to make a collection of the ideas that you would like to include in your design – colors, plants, materials, structures, furniture, in fact anything and everything that strikes your fancy.

      Keep a scrapbook. Save photographs from magazines and catalogs that show things like grand houses, flowers or sculpture.

       Garden centers and nurseries

      Garden centers and nurseries are great places for searching out ideas. Arm yourself with a digital camera, paper and pencil, and take note of everything that looks interesting. Gather a body of data to flesh out and back up your ideas – names of plants, colors,