Blog

Regardless of the weather; its variety of both terrain, wildlife and botany is something that always draws me back to Scotland whenever I can.  Scotland, especially the highlands, can be a place of extremes which can give a garden designer such as myself some brilliant inspiration.  Brutal winds whip up dried leaves, waves crash on […]

When were the Winter Gardens created? Prior to the Dunham Massey Winter gardens, the area where they sit was used by the main house as a pony field for the family horses. Over years, the ground became more and more overgrown and the usage became less and less. Covered in weeds, brambles and thicket it […]

Water Feature Design Brief The client wanted to make over an awkward corner of their garden. The corner in question was quite damp and had an incline and the client wanted me to design a water feature for them to turn this awkward corner into an area of beauty. They were stuck staring at a […]

If you already have a garden structure that you’re happy with but need some assistance in what to plant where then a Garden Planting Plan could be the ideal solution for you. My garden design services always include planting plan. Please note I have stopped offering a stand-alone planting plan under my services. How does a […]

In our 21st-century world everything seems to be expected, bigger, faster and more up to date than ever before. It is conversely at the same time required to be thinner, smaller and more socially available than ever before. You shouldn’t eat this. You can’t do that. You must avoid those. I think most can relate […]

Sensory gardens prime purpose is to awaken your senses, whether that be smell, touch or sight. They are rarely sutble and require specific design principles to work well. Garden Ninja is here to help clear up the confusion and provide some guidance on sensory garden design. This handy guide will explain each of the areas […]

So you’ve decided that you would like a garden you can relax and admire.  You may have also liked the look of raised beds.  Probably because: You want a neat looking garden with clean lines You like the idea of having an amazing garden but your current layout / borders put you off You want a […]

The boring garden is something that often starts the process of looking into a garden design. Looking out over an uninspired space can be enough of a drive to turn the blank garden into something fantastic. Starting garden design is an exciting but considered process. One that should not be rushed into but carefully planned. […]

Today Garden Ninja took a day off to visit one of the best gardens here in the North West, Tatton Gardens. Tatton gardens feature one of Britain’s most authentic Japanese gardens, alongside some spectacular formal gardens overlooking the grounds. It’s a huge garden packed with many surprises and some amazing specimens, such as the beech […]

You can definitely tell that spring is on its way out and summer is ready to explode into life, and that’s especially prevalent at Bodnant Gardens this year. It’s one of the main attractions for plant lovers in Wales and has a romance that can’t be ignored. If you want to see some classic examples […]