This year got off to a bit of a wobbly start for me. I find the wait for spring fairly challenging and, when it finally arrives, I want to fly into it full force. This year, however, that full-throttle approach backfired rather spectacularly and I injured myself quite badly.
When you run a hands-on business, an injury doesn’t just mean physical pain, it brings a wave of instant panic. I felt so guilty repeatedly handing over the heavy lifting to Molly, who is, by the way, the human equivalent of a wild blackberry bramble, (all lean fibre and fierce enough to grow right through concrete) and who already had her own workload to stay on top of. I worried that clients would start watching their clocks, and the seasons certainly wait for no one.
The moment I accepted that there was no rushing my recovery and I simply had to accept my lot, things got a bit easier. Clients kindly checked in with texts asking how I was, and one even dropped round with a delivery of biscuits. They were patient with my slow return and incredibly generous with their help and kindness. It appears we have managed to weather the worst of the storm now and I am, carefully, back to the grindstone. I owe a lot not only to Molly, but also to the kindness and patience of so many wonderful clients.
And perhaps that experience has made me think a little differently about the relationship between a garden designer and the people whose gardens we are lucky enough to work in. Because ultimately, it isn’t really just about the garden. It is about trust, and about the people behind the gardens.
It is a big thing to invite an outsider into your garden, to show them what you’ve done, what you like and what you don’t like. You are trusting them not only with your hard-earned money, but with your precious home, the place that is your sanctuary and your castle.
When you invite a garden designer into your life, you are agreeing to reveal a certain amount of your true self. If you are unable to do this, the experience is likely to feel frustrating, unsafe and difficult. The resulting space won’t truly feel like yours, or reflect what you actually wanted. A certain amount of vulnerability is essential, and while that may initially feel uncomfortable, a good designer will never judge your tastes or your budget. It is our job, first and foremost, to listen.
Now, that’s not to say a designer is there to blindly agree to everything you want or promise to make it happen on a shoestring. We may well disagree. We may suggest things that don’t feel right to you at first, or we may have to get realistic about how far a budget can actually stretch. But that honesty is all part of the ongoing conversation. It is this collaboration that ultimately shapes your garden, and it remains one of the most rewarding and satisfying parts of the job.
It is a privilege to be invited into someone’s private sanctuary and asked to shape the place where they raise their children, host family milestones, or seek quiet comfort. The level of personal trust required naturally turns a business transaction into an honest friendship and over time our design shorthand becomes effortless.
This shorthand doesn’t just happen on paper but is built in the quiet, everyday moments we share on-site. It’s the unexpected cup of tea brought out in the morning. It’s the excited message from a client when the spring bulbs, at last, start popping and more recently the generous offer to “please go ahead and use the pool!”, on a record breaking 38 degree day!
Gardens are living things, and because they take time to grow, we get to grow alongside the families who live in them. To be a part of that is a profound honor.
We see this evolution in our work constantly. One of our clients, for instance, showed very little interest in maintaining their garden when we first met. Today? We are out there together, side-by-side, cultivating a space that reflects years of mutual trust and a beautiful, shared vision.
So, this month, we simply wanted to say a massive thank you to all of our wonderful clients. Thank you for opening your gates to us. Thank you for sharing your stories, your morning coffees, your worries, and your dreams. Thank you for trusting us with your most sacred spaces and letting us build not just gardens, but lasting friendships. We quite literally could not do what we love without you.
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