Diane Beddison, Canterbury

2016: 62 Bryson St. Canterbury

Designer
 

Note: This garden was opened in 2016

The garden is the private garden of Diane Beddison. This beautiful garden has been built around the existing mature trees and shrubs inherited from the former garden and complements the Victorian brick home it surrounds.

With many established trees in and around the garden, plus shrubs and smaller trees, there are many different micro-climates throughout the garden. This is very useful for experimenting with plant species. The northern side of the house is shaded from the summer sun by lovely old English Oaks and a Chinese Elm. These are under-planted with shade-tolerant plants including Camellia, Ruscus, Clivia, New Zealand Lily and Hellebores.

Design is sympathetic to the architecture of the home with strong geometric lines, capturing the eye with year-round variation in foliage and floral display. Deciduous trees and shrubs add autumn colour and Coral Bark Maples add further seasonal interest with their bare red stems in winter. Japanese and English Box, Camellias, Vireya Rhododendron, Euphorbias, Lomandra, Beschenarias and large Salvias provide structure all year round. Plant diversity is an important feature of the garden, creating variation in texture, shape, colour and scent.

Diane has designed a contemporary and functional hard landscape for the front garden; formal in style, to complement the house. Sawn bluestone was chosen to match bluestone foundations and window sills on the house. While Japanese Box provides extra formality, the rest of the planting is soft and whimsical, using favourite shrubs and perennials. Roses are a personal favourite and were chosen for their exquisite scent and for colour.

The rear garden is a more relaxed style, using simple natural materials and plants to create structure. Garden areas include an outdoor dining area under the canopy of an Oak, a woodland area with Japanese Maples, garden beds of ornamental pears, shrubs and perennials, a small productive area, and semi-secluded niches for relaxation and reflection.

Diane will be happy to meet visitors in her garden throughout the weekend.