Last week I consulted Facebook friends about a design problem, (thank you, everyone – that was truly helpful) and one thing that emerged and intrigued me was a particular reaction to a feature of the garden we’re currently making.
It looks like this –
New Cornfield Garden (the name is a long story ..)
Water feature is GOING. Bloke is STAYING. (I hope)
We will be filling (yes, well, over two or three years – this is not Chelsea Instant) the beds with flowers. A bit like this at my great friend Sue’s garden (0pen for NGS)
Only different – we have railings, they have picket fence. I’m planning to have flowers only to the railing level, Sue and John’s are way above in summer, as you see. (Looks great!)
But some people didn’t like the railings. And that was not the first time.
There had also been mutterings about these railings before now. It seems some people must be very happy that they tend to disappear in summer.
Containing is something we do. We like the contrast between the clear lines and the froth. And I don’t stake plants, which is fine except at the edges of paths, where they tend to droop over and make navigating the paths challenging in summer, especially in the rain. So railings are useful – and look good in winter too.
This is how the Cornfield Garden used to look.
Before you ask – it is getting remade because the box blight was so bad here, no doubt because there is too little air flow, and because the grasses would look beautiful until the first cloudburst in summer. And there always was one. Then the flower stems of the grasses would break and lie around all over the place. Shame.
Anyway – this is all in the interest of satisfying my curiosity. What is the problem with railings, my good friends?? Please tell me.
Changing the Bird Bath was last spring’s project
Just wondering, how will you get into the cages to do the weeding? 😉
There’s a gap between the hedge and the railings. Xx
I really like the railings, the colour helps define the spaces and gives an interesting boundary. The containment of the planting using this more transparent complements the hedging. It’s part of your particular approach, stick with it Anne and ignore the nay sayers.
Yey!!! Xxxx
Well obviously I’m biased having been responsible for the garden contained by picket fencing (thanks for the plug!) but I can see little difference between sharply cut hedging and lowish fencing – both contain and define all year round and in a decorative and formal manner. I rejected box because of blight, haven’t yet seen a substitute appropriate for this garden and am very happy with the alternative. I too had lots of negative reactions. Until the plants grew……
There are some of us who enjoy the contrast, the working together of formal and informal. I love yours! But there are some out there with a different perspective and I was wondering just what different visions they have. Hope someone tells me…..
Lovely post! Particularly love that contra jour pic with me. Great star-burst. It’s going to be a fab little garden.
Thank you. You go well with a starburst. XXXX
I like the railings very much. I like the contrast with the looseness of the perennials and the grasses. Their linear geometry also goes well with the spirit of the large rectangular pool, and contrasts with the curves of the hedges. They seem very appropriate in your garden.
Thank you, James, I think you’re right that they are all of a piece with our approach elsewhere. Whereas – seeing your garden only in pictures – I remember finding the formality of your pool quite a shock.
Are railings a substitute for a hedge? Or a complement? I notice Sue says they work together and this could be right. I like boundaries as a contrast to the planting, telling you where to stop. I think the challenge is how chunky or fragile the boundary needs to be. Worry that your new ones might be too fragile looking?
Bridget
They have replaced a hedge but I think they are a complement. We’ll see how it works when the plants are in and have grown. If the railings are too insubstantial we’ll have to beef them up then. Maybe adding a rail. But at the moment it just seems fine.
I like them. I like them better than the dark wood post and rail. They’ll work well against the softness of the planting. I’ve never visited Veddw but you’re not that far from me – I’ll be along to see the rails when you open!!
I look forward to meeting you. Re dark wood – now I’m wondering why you prefer turquoise to black. Sounds interesting?
I don’t mind your railings at all. I think some people’s eyes are attuned to the decorative tat so freely available at garden shows, or envy the solidly expensive. Honest home made use of lumber and reinforcing mesh comes as a bit of a shock to some. You should have heard the fuss when an articulated lorry deposited 60 railway sleepers on my drive 25 years ago. Surely imitation concrete Cotswold walling would have been so much more attractive?
I do know what you mean. I called into the garden centre the other day and was appalled at the acres of tat. Did make me realise just what we are up against.
I really like the black railings you have used in the front garden. I’m completely in love with the colours you use there and the black gives a good counterpoint, as well as holding it all up. And as you’re a winter strimmer, the contribution they make when there are no plants is important. But I’m intrigued by the colour of the new ones and until I see it in the flesh, with plants, the jury’s out for me. The steel mesh looks great as well as being practical. Form and function combined. That garden definitely looks better without the little hedges around the beds. Looking forward to seeing it.
Good to hear you think the loss of the hedges is positive. It was so hard to let them go!
These are comments made elsewhere – Facebook, emails:
I like them. I preferred the darker coloured ones you showed in an earlier pic!I never did like grasses they are so untidy!
I like the structure they provide even when they are empty. They define the mass and void aspects and reinforce the rhythm of the spaces. I like the rusty reinforcing grid, but I am unsure about the colour you’ve painted the rails and posts themselves. I suspect there is a colour scheme in mind that these work with?
The railings seem not dissimilar in function to the box hedges of renaissance Italian gardens
There is nothing wrong with railings if they keep your plants from flopping over onto the pathway and the planting suits the strong theme. You should take the idea to Chelsea. They could do with a few exciting and innovative gardens on show.
These are particularly handsome railings!
I have loved seeing all the beautiful images of the plantings and cannot wait to visit soon. Regarding the railings…. I don’t wish to sound harsh as I understand your intent. However, it looks rather municipal or industrial to me. I think simply put, it looks out of place with the rest of the garden. Having said that, it wont be for very long will it? Maybe other visitors will disagree. Lets hope I can get down to see for myself soon. In the meantime, keep up the incredible work . The garden in those images is a credit to your dedication.