Decorative Ferns among the Stepping Stones of Water Feature
Category: Water Features, Ponds & Aquatics
Garden Design Project: WTFCWD001
The Ferns used in this project is a great reminder of some of the neglected natural plant life that is around us.
Pteridomania gripped the Victorian era, collections were rapidly established in ferneries during this time.
Ferns for the Garden are back in fashion, and this small show Garden built for the RHS (Tatton) shows that they are great survivors and are
well adapted to the changeable British climate; and they can be used to create a tranquil low maintenance space in a small suburban garden.
The design is marked out on the ground.
Landscape contractor Andy Thomson makes final adjustments to the Pool sides
before installing the butyl rubber liner for the Water Feature.
The butyl liner is now installed and treeFerns and ligustrum parasols planted in their pots so they can be used again in other gardens after the show.
The parasols were imported from Italy from Wykeham plants and used for the first time at an RHS show to reinforce the circular theme of the mosaic Stepping Stones and to provide shade for the Ferns.
The mosaic Garden Stepping Stones are laid and the Water Pump tried out for the first time.
The mosaics were cast in sections upside down and re-assembled on site.
The irrigation system will ensure that the dull looking Purple Slate will sparkle when wet.
Small mosaics depicting the fronds of Ferns were commissioned from Charlesworth Design, these were constructed using reclaimed Welsh roofing slate, red jasper and green serpentine.
The pop-up sprinklers ensured that the reds and greens sparkled.
Materials were deliberately kept to a minimum of three to keep a strong unity.
The black rubber Pool liner is cleverly concealed by laying up turned turf to provide a softer more natural look.
River washed boulders have been used to make a curvaceous dry Stone wall, the gaps in
the Wall have been plugged with small Ferns.
T.V. Weatherman declares that although the country was experiencing record dry periods and temperatures up in the nineties, the conditions in the garden were moist and cool.
The image also shows pine cones used as a weed suppressing mulch.
TV presenter and Garden Designer Rachel De-Thame does a piece to camera in the finished Garden and, on what was a very hot day, takes advantage of the cool pop-up irrigation sprinkler system.
Garden designer Robert Frier MSGD from Charlesworth Design in the finished Garden with three of his first-year garden Design Students.
