January is often a time of new resolutions, plans and ideas, and for us we are itching to get back into the garden and are planning ahead for the warmer months. We do still have a few things to finish off inside and really must wait for the better weather.
A key part of the garden plans for 2014 is the restoration of the jungle area following last years fire. The Jungle hut, although finished needs to be painted and we havent yet decided upon the colour. We are keen to include a bright vibrant colour within the porch area but which one...
Last year Mark had visited a restaurant in Chelsea with a colonial vibe, yet using a vivid green combined with dark woods.
What we are thinking is that the wood cladding on the wall with the patio doors will be the lime green and the other wood will be a dark teak stain.
The wicker furniture was an Ebay bargain, the whole set was just £20, however several years outside is starting to take its toll on it, plus the new deck is twice the size.
We have yet to decide on what we will go for, I quite like the idea of a more modern style, perhaps the boxy modern rattan style, or maybe we should stay more traditional with cane furniture.
Once the Jungle hut it painted we can then get stuck into the planting along side it. The sides will be painted a dark brown so that the plants have a good back drop. The rear area next to the fernery will be replanted with ferns and tree ferns to tie this back into the adjacent garden. That section in many ways was less damaged by the fire, being the furthest point from the centre of the fire.
On the middle patio area we have less concrete plans, this will be where we need to blend the planting back into the more mature plants that have survived. We may look to buy a larger specimen plant to act as a focal point and regain quickly some maturity to that part of the garden.
Very little of the above photo remains, but we are keen to recapture this lush feel, we are not intending to recreate the garden exactly as it was before. The plants will change but the feel will be the same. We see this as a chance to embrace change, to try new plants, to give plants that had been in pots for a while a home to get established.
I'm quite looking forward to this challenge, to knit the new and old together and recapture the vibe of the garden in 2014!
Gaz
A key part of the garden plans for 2014 is the restoration of the jungle area following last years fire. The Jungle hut, although finished needs to be painted and we havent yet decided upon the colour. We are keen to include a bright vibrant colour within the porch area but which one...
Last year Mark had visited a restaurant in Chelsea with a colonial vibe, yet using a vivid green combined with dark woods.
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| Photo from Blue Elephant Chelsea |
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| Currently all bare wood, but what colour will it be... |
The old furniture did survive the fire, although we are also thinking of changing this.
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| Summer of 2011 |
We have yet to decide on what we will go for, I quite like the idea of a more modern style, perhaps the boxy modern rattan style, or maybe we should stay more traditional with cane furniture.
Once the Jungle hut it painted we can then get stuck into the planting along side it. The sides will be painted a dark brown so that the plants have a good back drop. The rear area next to the fernery will be replanted with ferns and tree ferns to tie this back into the adjacent garden. That section in many ways was less damaged by the fire, being the furthest point from the centre of the fire.
On the middle patio area we have less concrete plans, this will be where we need to blend the planting back into the more mature plants that have survived. We may look to buy a larger specimen plant to act as a focal point and regain quickly some maturity to that part of the garden.
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| The Middle Patio 2011 |
I'm quite looking forward to this challenge, to knit the new and old together and recapture the vibe of the garden in 2014!
Gaz
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
I like that color scheme...and dark colors are always a great backdrop for plants :-)
ReplyDeleteWe agree Scott, and makes the hut blend in with the rest of the garden better too.
DeleteYou two, Mark and Gaz, are so very workaholic. You don't really stop at all. What about just sitting there sometimes, watch the koi and the plants without doing anything. Just savor what you've done diligently for the past, as a cliche "sit and smell the roses"!
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to just sit still Andrea :)
DeleteYou always amaze me with your many projects! What do you think about orange? Maybe not screaming fluorescent orange but a pale salmon\terracotta\ Egyptian sunset sort of tone. Not quite peach. Looks fabulous with plants and shades of purple, like the ones I see in your picture, can't find a better partner to set them off. We painted our house that color (o.k. there were nine colors in all) the first time we painted and it was glorious. I felt warm every time I pulled up. Now the house is a socially acceptable combination of green and gold which is much more demure and popular with people with good taste. I miss the terracotta days.
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestions Peter! Orange and terracotta are candidates too being considered thoroughly even though the top choice at the moment is the shade of green above. Nothing's set in stone yet and enjoying considering the choices :)
DeleteMaybe you could try the stratagem used by so many DIY shows and buy a few paint colors in small cans and try them out for a little while to see what says "jungle hut 2014" to you. Whatever you chose, I'm sure it'll turn out wonderfully.
ReplyDeleteWe might actually do that Kris. First paint a piece of wood with a rich brown stain then try that against different colours. Sounds fun already!
DeleteI love to look through Made Wijaya's books. There's lots of colour in the tropical gardens in his books. Dreaming about a new project and imagining what it will look like is half the fun, isn't it. Whatever you choose, I'm sure it will be fantastic.
ReplyDeleteYes Missy, thinking and deciding on the project is half the fun of it all :) And I just realised we have some books by Made Wijaya, must dig them out...
DeleteI absolutely love the proposed color scheme, but then any yellow green in combination with brown is pretty much my dream.
ReplyDeleteWe did think you'd like that colour combo Loree :) oh and orange too!
DeleteSounds like a good plan for colors and the fun of choosing the new plants to go in the ground also. I so enjoy planning everything out and seeing it put into place.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
It'll be fun indeed Cher :) looking forward to playing with colour swatches soon!
DeleteThat color scheme seems like it will look great! We just painted the walls of the newly redone kitchen a sort of celadon green, of which I am now quite enamored. Yesterday I bought a set of plates to match...
ReplyDeleteBoth of us are infatuated with vivid colours especially green at the moment which helps :)
DeleteMmm, sounds grand - I like the sound of zingy green against dark wood, and I'm sure the lush planting will capture the feel of the original garden whilst moving it on a stage or two. Very exciting! And I think that sound I hear is the plants in pots jostling one another excitedly at the thought that some, at least, might get a chance to spread their roots...
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to get painting Janet, much more exciting than painting indoors have to say! And also can't wait to get planting again :)
DeleteThere's just so much choice, these days! I think if the lime/dark wood combo has stayed in your minds for a year, it should at least get a trial run! And I think it will look rather gorgeous …. and you can get on with your planting - the fun part! - as soon as the weather warms up. Whatever the outcome, I'm looking forward to seeing what you do!
ReplyDeleteThanks Caro! With this paint thing at least its non committal, can change the colour every so,often depending on the mood. The brown staining will be the only mainstay. And yes, can't wait to get planting!
DeleteI really am looking forward to seeing the finished job. Nothing less than the Key West corner seat from Vidara cane furniture will do for me to park my bum on. Oh and I need it in blue illumination please :-)
ReplyDeleteOhh that one actually looks very nice. Maybe not for the jungle hut but perhaps even indoors :)
DeleteOh it all sounds so exciting - looking forward to seeing what you come up with :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Anna :)
DeleteWhen you make your final decision (well, perhaps semi-final decision), I hope you will link back to this post so we can see how your thinking evolves. It will be grand, I know.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ricki, and will do :)
DeleteWhat ever you choose it will be fabulous! You both have such a wonderful sense of style. I can't wait to see it!
ReplyDelete