T123
GARDENS & NATURAL SPLENDOUR
[123: If I divulge this one it will be too obvious what The System is - suffice to say, it has something to do with how plants grow]
BACKGROUND IN LANDSCAPING:
As a kid I never much cared for plants. I was obsessed with animals of all kinds - past and present. It wasn't until, having graduated from University, I started working in my parents garden (at 12.5acres there place was more of a park) that an appreciation for all things flora grew (pardon the pun).
My work on their land had very humble beginnings...I was hired as heavy labour and nothing more. A professional gardener came once a week and my role was to simply get on top of areas that had either been abdandoned, or ghastly remnants of bygone weekend jobs remained. Clearing metal fencing, digging weeds, bonfiring etc. It was all pretty braindead work, which was great, because it freed my mind for philosophy and creativity.
[Once I've gone through the hundreds of photos taken over the years I shall do a better job of these montages to represent all areas of the grounds and how some of them changed in design]
Creativity...I was surrounded daily by potential. Here...there...everywhere. Once a year of getting-back-to-basics had been survived (great total body training), I started to see the woods for the trees (would the puns just shrivel up and die now please).
The garden started to reveal itself to me as my knowledge of the differing plants grew (oops...that one just slipped in there). A new obsession began. I was reading, watching TV shows, visiting gardens, grounds and shows...ideas were coming at me from every angle. A transition was made from being creative in terms of writing and music to landscaping.
[Just some of the near 150 species I have documented on the grounds]
With an A-Level in Design & Technology in my tool belt back pocket, I felt condiment that I would actually make a difference to the place with a more hands-on and permenant role. The professional gardener was released (he wasn't achieving much for his price anyway...and when I discovered he had planted a Cedar tree (eventual height of 30+ meters) a few feet from the house I knew I could do a better job than him anyway, and for less money.
On a very limited budget I was given Carte Blanche (within reason). Starting with areas immediately surrounding the house I spiralled outwards creating different sectors with their own feel. A concept I called Defined Boundaries Breached became the overal scheme...what I did was take certain elements from one sector (plants, colours, textures, shapes etc) and replicate it in a neighbours. The idea was that although there would eventually be 13 (Ahhhh my favourite number) sectors in total, they would blend together as a whole. All the while I was ensuring that I transformed what was once a plot of land that employed 5 gardeners (I was told by a neighbour) could be maintained by just one gardener - if a seasonal task schedule was stuck to.
[This doesn't truly represent the entire estate, but you get the picture - big project!]
ON TOUR:
My intention, whilst touring, is to check out grand, interesting, classic, quirky and modern gardens wherever I can. Landscaping isn't something I see myself doing much of in the future (might stick to Zen gardens and Bonsai...need to learn more about them first). I'll never get the same opportunity working for my parents afforded me, but I'd happily help folks, friends and family with their own projects if they every cropped up.
As fully-loaded as my beast bike will be, I've yet to find somewhere to sneak a plant on to it - my cousin might contest that he has seen moss growing on it. When on the road I'll be surrounded by tarmac and concrete much of the time, so whenever I get a chance to be at one with nature once more, I shall take it - ready to blog, vlog and review.