malvernmugadzikwa
Andrew Mangwarara
BELGRAVIA, a suburb in the north of Harare, is home to the Fleetwood Lodge. This is an upmarket country-style private accommodation facility that is well-landscaped to provide a luxury experience.
The country-style landscaping design is enchanting. In view of this, let us take a closer look at how you can create your own country-style garden.
When designing such a garden, think of colour and more colour. Try to incorporate annual, biennial and perennial flowers for the sake of variety.
Annuals are plants that go through their life cycle — from seed to flower, then to seed — within a single growing season. Biennials require two years to complete their life cycle, unlike perennials, which persist for many growing seasons.
The unique feature of annuals and biennials is their quick flowering, which makes them ideal colouring plants for any garden. They bring life and brightness to any setting. Plants in these two categories include zinnias, petunias, begonias, foxgloves, celosia, cosmos and impatiens.
A country-style design is never complete without a stream or river with fish and all kinds of critters out and about.
Exotic birds such as peacocks, guinea fowls, turkeys or road-runner chickens make a delightful addition, of course, in the right space-to-population ratio.
Various artefacts can be included in a country-style garden, for example, stone or brick paving, cast iron benches, gazebos, bird houses and antiques. The garden should also include indigenous plants. Usually, herbs, vegetables or fruit trees are part of the design.
The style also encompasses small open areas that are concealed by high foliage. These secluded areas might have a bench and a table for private meals or relaxation. You can also have meandering pathways for functionality or as a design element.
A country-style garden is supposed to look as natural as possible.
Try to focus more on colour, creating a charm of its own, as is the case with the Fleetwood Lodge garden.
Other features to create beauty can be sculptures or water ponds, as focal points.
A greenhouse or shade house can add to the style, with unique plant groupings being kept in these structures. The plants can be a special collection of orchids or bonsai.
If space is not a limitation, goats, sheep or even horses can be incorporated such that they can graze in the lush green open spaces.
This garden needs adequate water, so it must be created with that in mind. The garden is a reflection of an abundance of colour, insect life, plant life and animals.
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Bongani Ndlovu