Exhibitors
SHOW GARDENS | WATER GARDENS | SMALL GARDENS | CONCEPTUAL GARDENS
INSPIRING SPACES | WINDOWBOXES & HANGING BASKETS
PLANTS | GROWING & SHOWING MARQUEE | MARKET PLACE
Water gardens
World of Water
Summertime
Designer: Pete Sims
Sponsors: OASE UK
Contractor: Landscape Gardening Services
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Pete Sims, the award-winning designer of this water garden, recently completed a large project in Dorset. He spent the winter with his team working on the coast through the short, dark days, with the wind howling around them. Then, towards the end of the project, summer arrived. The daylight hours lengthened, and the sun shone on the beautiful Purbeck hills.
Pete has designed this garden using hand-picked Purbeck rocks, and because water gardens come to life in the summer, he has called it Summertime.
An island nestles in the centre of a large pond, accessed via a timber bridge. On the far side of the island, a rustic timber building offers a sheltered space for enjoying the garden when the sun is just too hot. The pond features large clumps of mature lilies, and is edged with dense planting of marginal and moisture-loving plants. A stream cascading through Purbeck rocks adds movement and life to the pond. Larger rocks have been used to retain the bank on the sloping site, and as a stepping stone path to the island.
The garden is naturalistic in style, sheltered by mature shrub borders to give excellent protection from the elements. Native planting is combined with a selection of more exotic plants to create a tranquil, relaxing garden where wildlife is encouraged and enjoyed.