Harvest rainwater in style...

Well it wouldn't be Summer if we didn't see a downpour of rain every now and then now would it!? We can't complain, it means there's no need to get out those hosepipes and spend an hour of our days going round the garden (although actually we really enjoy it!!) But we hope you're making the most of this rainwater by recycling and saving for a dry day? Did you know the average house roof sheds a massive 45,000 litres of water each year!? This means 25% of the water we currently use could be harvested from our roofs!! The simplest way that we can all capture rainwater is to have diverters on your downpipes and feed into water butts. Thing is, your typical water butts picked up from local DIY stores are pretty ugly to say the least, almost all coming in that nasty green colour making it stick out in your garden like a sore thumb!! SO Aralia has found some lovely alternatives, so that you can help the earth, and still have a beautiful garden...

If you would like to order one of these fabulous water butts, or would simply like to know more, get in touch - info@aralia.org.uk / 01279 730040

info@aralia.org.uk

01279 730040

The Studio, Clipped Hedge Cottage, Dunmow Road, Hatfield Heath, Hertfordshire, CM22 7EE

Green Wall for Client in Chelmsford

We should really have put these pictures up before now but this is a couple of images of the first residential green wall installation that Aralia Garden Design have completed.  This was for a client in Chelmsford and the Green wall have been used to disguise the end of the clients garage.  Paul now has a Front garden which is a masterpiece. I have included below a testimonial that Paul has kindly written for us and posted up on Linked-In.

Dear Patricia,

I've written this recommendation of your work to share with other LinkedIn users.

Details of the Recommendation: "I thoroughly recommend the services provided by Aralia Garden Design; Pat and her team have a flexible working style and really listen to your requirements and ideas - the designs iincorporate fresh and interesing concepts so you feel you are getting something unique and special. Pat skillfully guides you through a multitude of choices; the detailed and colourful design drawings really help you visualise how everything will look in the end. The creative process is rarely straightforward and achieving my wonderful garden involved overcoming the occasional challenge along the way; throughout it all Pat maintained a calm, practical and down-to-earth approach which is a great asset. I am very pleased with the end result; the outside spaces enrich my quality of life - I have also learnt many new plant names! - excellent job, well done!"

Service Category: Garden Designer

Year first hired: 2009

Top Qualities: Great Results, Personable, Creative

Is Tim Richardson correct? Would all Garden Designers be better off if we re-marketed ourselves as Exterior Designers?

Tim Richardson, has (as ever) written another highly controversial article for the GDJ November 2009 (Garden Design Journal) asking whether Garden Designers would be better off, re marketing themselves as Exterior Designers. It does appear that the word 'garden' does appear to reduce the money that clients 'expect' to pay for our services. Often accidentally referred to as 'Landscape Gardeners' (which we're not!) the Garden Design profession does still appear to be stuggling to establish itself as a 'profession' , rather than a hobby. Exterior Designer, might be better understood by clients, who are used to the correlating title 'Interior Designer', but will it be worth all the re coding of web sites etc to optimise a different search term - I think possibly not. Surely the most important issue is to educate our client base to more fully understand what we as garden designers, can do and are capable of, to help them understand that we can truly add value into the supply change. So rather than see us as an 'expense', start to understand that we can not only create truly gorgeous gardens, but also can add real value to their homes and properties.