In Your Garden: Emma and Ryan’s mid-century Worcestershire garden
STORIES
When we moved into our home seven years ago, the garden was mainly lawn with a handful of mature trees. It may sound cliché, but as two art teachers, we saw it as a blank canvas – full of potential and waiting to be shaped.
Using the footprint of the house as our starting point, we designed sections of the garden to mirror its geometry, beginning with a central seating area. Very quickly, however, we discovered that the neighbouring field brought with it strong winds that whipped across the space, making hedging an essential part of the design. What began as a practical solution soon became an important structural feature within the garden itself.
Working with a limited budget meant becoming resourceful. Facebook Marketplace quickly became our go-to for everything from plants and pots to reclaimed pavers and garden furniture. Growing from seed and rescuing bargain-corner plants allowed us to fill the beds gradually and affordably.
In the early years, our planting palette focused mainly on whites and greens to create a calm, cohesive atmosphere. Over time, however, the garden has developed a life of its own. Self-seeding plants have introduced unexpected bursts of colour and spontaneity, softening the more structured elements of the design. We’re particularly drawn to sculptural plants such as lupins, alliums, foxgloves and angelica, which rise dramatically through the borders amongst annuals including cosmos and snapdragons. Structural shrubs such as hydrangea, hebe and box provide permanence throughout the seasons, while roses, much to our surprise, have thrived in the heavy clay soil and become some of the garden’s most reliable performers.
One of the greatest joys has been encouraging wildlife into the space. The pond, now entering its fifth year, was quickly adopted by newts, imperial diving beetles and dragonflies. Ducks and garden birds regularly stop by for a paddle, bringing movement and life to the garden in every season.
Like all gardens, ours is constantly evolving. We are always experimenting, trying something new or reshaping areas as the space matures. We are by no means expert gardeners, simply two teachers creating somewhere to slow down, breathe and reconnect after the working day. In many ways, the garden reflects the creative process itself: layered, imperfect, ever-changing and deeply rewarding.
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Follow Emma and Ryan: @midcentury1961