Home Improvement

I. Garden Room Environment Connections

The Garden Room and its place in the world.
The Garden Room meets a need.
Garden Room Fantasies.

 

Every garden in the world is determined by its own biosphere. In Asia a historic garden room is the ‘pergola’ where foundations, four posts and a tiled or a thatched roof is the convention. So humid is it that in parts of Asia this works perfectly and allows for quick cover during tropical rain.

In contrast the thickly walled, Scandinavian log cabin has played an vital role as a garden room, housing the family sauna or as a barbeque room, in Norway and Denmark since the Bronze era. Due to a shear number of  Scot’s Pine Trees available it offers a resourceful efficient building material. The USA and the west inherited a fantastic deal of the building processes from Scandinavian regions and as a result it is a very common garden room style throughout the northern hemisphere of the world.

 

Here in Britain, life in the garden room varies from region to region.  Orchard rooms in Kent, Boathouses in Norfolk, Summerhouses in Devon, potting sheds in Yorkshire, Offices in London, holiday cabins in Scotland, work houses in Lincoln and kiosks in Essex. Garden room use changes by terrain, and the needs of the local people.

 

In Europe the garden room has evolved from a long history of early ‘AD’ pavilions for religious worship and also, from the 13th century, glass structures are used in to cultivate fruit and vegetables.

 

Later in European history we find a noticeable third reason for a garden room: to demonstrate wealth through the building of a folly. To make an impression within the grounds of their mansions and estates, the gentry of Europe built everything from pineapples to towers and temples to tree houses. In Europe, the garden room has been built in every shape and form.

 

Mother Nature has also been at work and has engineered the odd garden room of her own. See has made treehouses, nests, caves, dug outs, hives, tunnels, canopys, natural sunshades and grass houses.

 

Distant childhood memories provide a further twist on garden room dwellings. . As Beatrice Lillies elaborates in her 1934 record – there are “fairies at the bottom of the garden” and often the garden room takes centre stage. Fairytales and cartoons have fantasized of garden room flower pots in ‘The Wombles’; garden room tea pots in ‘Poddington Peas’ and let’s not forget Goldilocks’s experiences in the mysterious garden house or the adventures of The Three Small Pigs!

Throughout history the garden room has been more than a functional building. It is room for people to find themselves in, to explore their relationship with their own culture, their gods or themselves. It is a place of work, rest, play and worship.

 

The garden room protects its owner from demons. Used wisely the garden room protects your from extremes of weather, neighbours and intrusion. If you know the peace and tranquillity of the garden then the garden room is yours to cultivate, and thrive in.

 

I. The Garden Room. A Product of Nature.
Woods
Wools
Engineering
Mother Nature’s Garden Room Power

 

The Product of Nature: The Garden Room

 

If your garden room is an escape into your own, personal, piece of nature, it makes sense if the structure is built from natural materials so that it blends into it’s unique garden setting.

 

A garden room should not be made out of plastic and PVC. This is an affront to the natural world and avoids the necessity for all of us to be more environmentally considerate. You can limit the carbon footprint of a new garden building by using locally sourced, natural materials that will automatically make the building blend into the domestic garden environment.

 

When the Pilgrims landed on the shores of the New World at the beginning of the 1600′s, they faced incredible hardships whilst building settlements and finding the means to survive.  Materials that they had brought from Europe were unable to stand the new and harsh environments that the Pilgrims’ found themselves in.  A source of help came from the local, indigenous peoples.

 

In the early days the Native Americans and the Pilgrims loved a more friendly relationship than what came later.  The early sharing that occurred between the groups is remembered in the American festival of Thanksgiving. One of the things shared by the Native Americans was the means to survive and build in the hostile American climate through the use of nature.

 

Western Red Cedar (Thuja Plicata) is the ideal material for roof shingles.  It is a durable and waterproof wood that survives the elements for decades.  It is the material that Native Americans used to build their canoes, fashioned simply from the logs of Western Red Cedar trees.  Able to remain in the water for long periods of time without succumbing to rot, it is a natural and renewable roofing material source that for a sustainable garden room.  The Thuja Plicata is also known for the smell of its cedar oil, which it keeps long after it has been cut into shingles, a welcome and soothing aroma in a garden environment.

 

As a proven example of the Western Red Cedar’s incredible endurance, many Native American Totem Poles have survived to the present day.  Another Native American use of the Western Red Cedar’s wood.

 

It’s a given that anything that can be used to build a boat is going to be a reliable material to survive the elements.  Like the Western Red Cedar’s use in Native American canoes, the best material for external wood cladding is Larch.  It is a tough and durable wood, famed for its waterproof properties.  Traditionally it was used in Europe for building fishing boats and it is still a favourite for yacht building. It lasts for years when used in salt water, one of the most corrosive natural elements on the planet.

 

As a living tree, the Larch is renowned for quick growth and its resistance to disease. These are properties that remain in the wood when it is harvested.  It is extremely resistant to rot, even when in contact with the ground, which will give any structure built with this material an extremely long life.  Larch is a quick growing tree, frequently grown in sustainable forests the UK. The British larch is known to be stronger and more durable than its European counterpart. This makes in a more sustainable choice than slow growing oak. Because the tree is grown in Scotland, its transport carbon footprint is small. A natural cladding wood for your garden room.

 

Comfort is vital in the twenty first century garden room. As a nation devoted to  home improvements the British are no longer interested in shivering in the garden shed of sizzling in the summerhouse Controlling temperature plays a huge part in comfort in a garden building. A functional garden room must be cool in the summer and warm in the winter.  Insulation is the key ingredient in a comfortable and sustainable garden room. But, many insulation materials are made from PVC and are not excellent for the environment. So what can we use that is more environmentally friendly?

 

The answer to this question is another question – “what is it that keeps people warm?”  Answer – “jumpers”.  A pure wool jumper is always snugglier than one knitted with man-made materials.  Sheep’s wool can work as the perfect eco-friendly insulation. It grows naturally on the back of the sheep and is both sustainable and renewable.  There are two major suppliers of sheepswool insulation the UK, helping to reduce carbon foot print of homes and garden rooms: Second Nature and Black Mountain Insulation.

 

iii. Garden Room Design

 

Garden Room Form Over Fiction
Nature’s design: The Garden Room
Modern Garden Room Myths
Garden Room Plights

 

When designers and builders combine simple, classic designs with the simplest, natural materials then something special is made. Every spring, birds in their millions prepare their own garden room up in the trees, using delicately chosen twigs and insulation. The materials they use remain far longer than the nest is needed and the result is a sustainable garden room.

 

A real garden room is a form of human nest building. The garden room owner seeks a natural habitat in the garden, where he or she can either delight in the garden, or completely ignore the garden and pursue their work or leisure activity. The garden room provides the escape that nature offers whilst deadheading the roses or escaping from the merry-go-round of life.

 

So there’s an enormous value in having a garden room, and the process involved in commissioning the right one can be demanding. We’ve all plotted projects like this at some time or another in our lives… an thought, a huge prevailing vision, then inspiration, followed by pricing, conformity and regulations, revising our thoughts and our budget and then finally – choice time. But, in the end, the vital thing is to be pleased in a room of our own, at the bottom of the garden.

Why go and spend a fortune at the nursery on new tools, when there is probably a wealth of unused stuff tucked away unused in your own kitchen, or someone you knows kitchen that will more than adequately do the exact job you want, without having to spend a cent.

Just make sure that anything taken from the kitchen really is not wanted there. As well as the fact that such stuff is on a one way permanent trip out to the garden shed.

Here are just a few suggestions of stuff that are useful kitchen refugees,

Ancient dinner knife for digging weeds out from between concrete sections or pavers.

Ancient kitchen fork for light weeding in around tight places or where you do not want to disturb root systems that are close to the surface.

Excellent sharp kitchen knife or a pair of kitchen scissors are fantastic fro dividing up clumps of plants, or for taking cuttings off of a branch.

Kitchen tongs can be used to pick up thorny cuttings or to help you repotting thorny plants like cacti.

Serving tray or placemats to keep things organised or for carrying produce, cuttings or even weeds.

Potato Masher for pushing past a thorny plant or rose.

BBQ or Carving Forks for digging out stubborn rooted weeds and root vegies.

Kitchen funnels for pouring various liquids into containers or for accurate pouring around plants. or to get seed or even small screws & nails into storage packets or bottles.

Chopsticks make fantastic small pot stakes (metal and wooden skewers work too), or construction sets even for some jobs.

I’ve seen bamboo placemats and chopsticks cut down to make scenery pieces for bonsai planters, along with ancient aquarium ornaments.

Set of measuring cups and measuring spoons are fantastic as scoops for fertilizers and potting mixes.

Icecream or soup scoops for measuring and scooping potting mix in around new potplants.

Egg rings and biscuit cutters for shaping growing fruit just for fun, or as a simple handheld hoe for light weeding in around plants.

So theres a few things which can obtain a second life out in the gardenshed and garden, nstead of being stored for years in a drawer, or being thrown out or passed on to a charity store.

There is a strong belief among many people, that Australian Natives are gorgeous but have no perfume. A stroll through the bush will dispel that rumour easily.

The fragrance of crushed leaves and scented blossoms can be nearly overpowering at times. But many of the natives have a more subtle fragrance; you have to be close to them at the right time to appreciate the flavours and scents.

The perfume of native plants is often produced at different times of the day or night. Perfumed native flowers include many of the Grevilleas (some like G. biternata and G. G. buxifolia have a strong honey-like perfume others like G. buxifolia have a light fragrant perfume), Boronias ( e.g. B. floribunda, B. serrulata and B. megastigma), Sowerbaeas (Vanilla Lilies), Xanthoreas (Grass Trees), Banksias, Eleaocarpus reticulatus (Blueberry Ash) which has a strong nearly aniseed scent, Hakeas, Pittosporum undulatum (Native Daphne) — the perfume of this species may becoming overpowering in the evening –, Leptospermum species (e.g. L. flavescens), Homoranthus species (which has a Baked Biscuit scent) and Hymenosporum flavum (Native Frangipani). Many of the white flowering Eucalypts, Melaleuca and Callistemon species have a strong honey scent.

There are a number of fragrant orchids particularly the Dendrobium species: these tend to be strongest from early morning to the early afternoon. While some of the Cymbidium species such as C. suave have a excellent perfume during the middle of the day). The Sarcochilus species have what is best described as a spicy aroma.

The aroma released by some plants foliage is not revealed until it has been disturbed, crushed or brushed against. These include the Backhousia citriodora (Lemon Myrtle) which is probably the best of all native lemon scents and is also used commercially as a cooking ingredient, while the foliage of B. anisata is strongly scented like aniseed; Eremophilas, Eriostemon species, Prosantheras,

Leptospermum petersoni (Lemon-scented Tea-tree — also excellent as a hedging plant), Darwinia citriodora (a light lemon scent) and some Melaleucas (Paperbarks) also have scents.

Of course you can’t forget the Eucalypt family with its well-known eucalypt scent, which is redolent of our bushland. But now many other countries are growing vast plantations of them for timber, firewood and revegetation programs on every continent bar Antartica. One species, the E. citriodora gives off a strong lemon-come-eucalypt scent while Agonis flexuosa has a combination of eucalyptus and peppermint scent.

Calomeria elegans has been used as a substitute for lavender. Some species of Boronias also have strongly scented foliage.

And let’s not forget the grassy type plants, the lomandra’s and the Grass trees, both of which give a lovely honeyed smell when in flower.

So why not reckon about using some fragrant native plants in your garden. Not only will you get the benefit of supporting your local environment. But you might also get other benefits, like attracting birds, other wildlife and butterflies to your garden.

Everyone knows that one of the key elements to having a gorgeous home is having a fantastic landscaped background. Plotting your landscape design certainly requires making a plot. There are plenty of common landscape design thoughts and features available for you to gain inspiration when beginning an attractive landscape project. With a few helpful tips, you can save money on your landscaping without sacrificing quality or beauty and get yourself a fulfilling landscaping experience.

Tips #1 – Before plotting, look at all the resources you already have

The first step in doing your landscape is to look at what you already have. Keep a list of things you presently like and dislike, as well as your plot for the use of your landscape space. Be sure to bear in mind how your home looks during different seasons, and what you like and dislike about each one. Keep a record of all the excellent things about your existing landscape, the changes you’d like to make, and the additional landscaping design you want to have. Ideally, you should do this for one year, so that you can see what you have during each season. A tip to do this is to keep a journal or folder of landscape thoughts. Find out what is it that you like and dislike about the current landscape design and write it down in this folder or journal.

Tips #2 – Steal your landscaping thoughts from other people

Originality is excellent, but not in the case of landscaping. If you have seen any landscaping design that you like, copy it, tweak it and make it your own. Trust me, originality often fail people. Things always turn out different from what you imagine in your mind.

You can gather thoughts by looking at pictures in books, magazines, on the Internet, or by driving around the neighborhood and taking pictures. Next to the images you collect make certain you take in the things that you believe you will need to construct a particular feature, or keep notes on things you would do to tweak a design to make it all your own. Combine different design thoughts into something that you like. The point is to look for thoughts that will help you accomplish your goals, while you are thinking about what you already have and what you will use your landscape for.

Tips #3 – Take into consideration the style of your home

Nothing is more dreadful than having different styles built into your landscape and your home. Before beginning your landscaping work, the style of your home must be taken into account. Reckon also about your lifestyle. Do you want to spend hours caring for many beds of annuals or pruning beds of roses? If so, go ahead and plant them. But, if you prefer to spend your free time at the beach, then go for an easy-care garden and landscape.

Tips #4 – Spend some time thinking about exactly how you want the final design to be

You need to take account of the style and function of your landscape. If you have a rural cottage, formal gardens surrounding it will look out of place. When plotting your landscape, keep in mind your space needs. Do you want to include an area for entertaining? A barbeque? Would the flowerbed in the middle of the lawn inhibit family games? Is there to be an area for children to play, a fishpond or a swimming pool? An thought of the plants you want to be there will also help. Focus on the area where you spend most of your time. That’s a excellent place to start.

Tips #5 – When plotting your landscape, keep in mind your space needs

When plotting your landscape, be sure and take into consideration what the space will be used for. The best designs combine attractiveness with utility and are an essential part of the landscaping process.

Tips #6 – Reckon twice before hiring a designer

Do you know that an independent designer might cost you hundreds of dollars. Before hiring a pro to do the job, check out the various free resources first. You may be able to access free plans on the internet or at a nursery. But if you have an awkward block such as very steep ground, a designer may give you the expertise to save costly mistakes.

Would you like a more natural alternative to using those plastic planter containers? Well, here is a project for you, where you can have an fascinating planter during the growing season, then throw the container out in the garden for mulch, without having to add to the world’s landfill problems.

These planters can be used and grown anywhere you can provide excellent plant growing conditions, including on a patio, pathway or even a roof top. The main criteria being enough sunlight for the plants chosen, easy access to water and an ease of access to maintain the planter/s.

Just follow the steps below.

What you will need

· One or more rectangular bales of hay, (One per planter).

· 4 to 8 seedlings or small plants per planter.

· One to two excellent handfuls of soil/compost/potting mix per plant.

· Small garden handtools.

· Hose/watering can.

· Liquid fertilizer.

· Area chosen to provide enough light for growing conditions required by plants selected.

Steps

Take one rectangular bale of hay; flip it on its side so that the straps are around the sides not over the top and bottom.

Moisten the hay bale thoroughly with a hose or watering can.

Using the handle of a hand tool, dig four to eight holes in the new upper surface of the hay bale, these holes have to be huge enough to hold a excellent handful of soil.

Into each hole, place a handful or two of compost, soil or potting mix.

Plant up your choice of annuals, herbs or small-lived perennials.

· Water the plants in well and fertilize them with a liquid fertilizer.

· Because of the air gaps in the hay, this type of planter can dry out more quickly than a normal planter, so regular watering is essential.

· Also remember that your planter is really decomposing while you are using it so remember to regularly fertilize the plants growing in it. Because nutrients may become temporarily unavailable during the decomposition process.

After you have finished growing your plants, go it out to the garden, take the straps off the bale, and use it to mulch/fertilize a part of your garden. You will find that the centre of the bale has decomposed into compost nicely by this stage.