scene from a window


I've consciously designed the garden as a series of garden pictures.

Banksia Rose














Yet until now I've never thought to photograph the garden through its most obvious frame: the window.




What you see from windows are the most important garden pictures of all, because these are the views of the garden that we see most often.

 Echium candicans 'Heronswood Blue'
 and Lavatera maritima 






No matter how much we like gardening, or wandering in the garden, or sitting in the garden, we humans moved into houses a long time ago and this is where inevitably we need to spend a lot of time.


Inside the house,





















Looking out the windows...


at the garden.
Cistus monspeliensis Rock Rose






















Comments

  1. I like that idea! Nice perspectives.

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  2. WOW, you have the most amazing views from your windows.... I better get cracking

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    1. good luck with the project, Michael, enjoy.

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  3. A really valid point, Catmint, which, it occurs to me, is easily forgotten.
    Your garden looks quite different seen from inside - not that I can immediately say in what way. The window frames, perhaps, give the view greater focus?
    Whatever it is, yours is obviously a garden that can be enjoyed both indoors and out.

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    1. Hi Faisal, It is strange, a bit like Alice in Through the Looking Glass, because everything does seem to look a bit different looking from the inside out compared to the outside in.

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  4. Dear Catmint,
    What a super garden you have. Each window gives a different perspective. The first window makes it look as though you are living right out in a forest!
    Kirk
    PS
    Your Echium is lovely. I do like that plant.

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    1. thanks Kirk. I've got a few Echiums, all are slightly different but all have wonderful character when they are in flower. That part of the garden does look wild. It's planted out with mature Leptospermum trees, that get gnarled and bendy over time.

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  5. Hello Antipodal Catmint!

    I've been quite enjoying your blog of late. And the garden looks great - windowed and otherwise. Hopefully my created gardens will mature as nicely as yours has. Humans seem to really appreciate a clear frame around their bit of nature for whatever reason, yes, and I'm no exception.

    Take care,

    Peter

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    1. dear Peter, I feel very complimented that you have been enjoying my blog. I'm sure in time your garden will mature as nicely as mine - it has taken me an extra long time because of the many mistakes and pulling everything out and starting again.

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  6. Nice views of your pretty flowers! I'm lucky to work at home and can view my backyard flower bed from the office window, but the bed is farther away from the house. Some of your flowers seem to be looking in! Sweet! : )

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    1. Hi charlie, I 'm sure it helps with inspiration and relaxation to be able to view the flower bed from your office. I have tried wherever possible to make beds right next to the windows.

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  7. Great idea and interesting point, we do see our gardens mostly from inside. Although I also designed parts of the garden to please us when looking out from the house, my windows are so dirty that I would be embarassed to post pictures. Congratulations on having such a beautiful garden and such clean windows!

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    1. I suppose out of all the dreary housework tasks there is an incentive to clean the windows, although the garden can look quite arty and romantic seen through a filter of dust, cobwebs and smudges.

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  8. Hello there stranger, I love all the views from your window. Absolutely gorgeous views from every angle. You put my garden to shame:) Really nice planning on your part. You should be very proud of such a gorgeous place.

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    1. yes it's been too long, dear cyber friend. Thanks for this chris.

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  9. Lovely views of your garden, every one a perfect picture! I have tried to do the same here because as you say, this is where we see the garden most of all, through a window. Your garden is looking wonderful at the moment, just as ours is collapsing into a mess!!

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    1. mine will soon be collapsing into a mess as the temperature rises. Hope the surgery went well and the rehab's going well, Pauline.

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  10. You have beautiful views from your window to your lovely garden.

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  11. Great framed views. Love the Echium.

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    1. thanks Jason, Echiums are among my very favourite plants too.

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  12. Oh, I love this! You are so creative with your posts! I would need to clean my windows before doing this. ;-)

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    1. thanks for the compliment, Beth - you don't need to clean your windows - I think a bit of dirt can add atmosphere to the picture - if you're lucky!

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  13. One of the things I don't like about our current home is the fact that there are so few large windows and only one very small one with a view of the garden. It would be a nice to be able to look out and see the lush views you enjoy. Your garden looks glorious! Love the Echium candicans 'Heronswood Blue'- I have never seen that before.

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    1. Hi Jennifer, Echiums are quite common here, although the common form has pale blue flowers and is larger. I am lucky to be able to look out, we have been in our home for so many years, and we renovated the back and installed large picture windows.

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  14. The mark of a beautiful garden are those we can view from inside and see these incredible scenes...

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  15. The only 'thing' better than a window view is a roof view..I have a few windows (all windows look to garden and landscape and none to the rest of civilisation!) I don't often get to look out of for whatever reason and to discover 'new' landscapes and perspectives when i do is very pleasant indeed! As for the roof..Mmmm my days with heights are almost over...

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    1. Hi Billy, so pleased you're visiting my blog. I have always had a fear of heights, although I recently photographed the garden from the tree house and got a pleasant surprise at the different perspective.

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  16. Your garden is amazing!! It's so fresh and beautiful! I love your picture windows. The windows here have white grids in them that break everything into little chunks. I've also planned my garden based on what I see when I look out my windows. I have a massive Rose of Sharon that dominates the back wall of my living room, its branches crossing the windows. When I lay on the couch and look out the windows, I feel like I'm in a treehouse. :o)

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    1. Hi Tammy, lying on the couch sounds like heaven, you could even instal an indoors hammock - lol! If I was doing it again, I think maybe I'd choose windows that break the view into chunks.

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  17. Great views from your windows catmint. I also often take pictures from the windows and have been surprised at some of the results through glass. I am off to do some checks on Echium candicans, I suspect it will be regarded as a tender plant in these parts.

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    1. Hi Alastair, Echium originally come from the Canary Islands I think - very different climate to that of Scotland. They seem to thrive on hot and dry. But good luck anyway ...

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  18. Superb job with designing the garden views from the windows. I am trying to do mine one window at a time, but it's not easy with the way my yard is designed. One day!

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    1. Hi Lyn, One window at a time ... sounds a wonderful and manageable project. Keep us posted! cheers, cm

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  19. Hi Catmint, you have some fabulous views from your windows there. Some are very enchanting indeed.
    Best Wishes
    Karen.

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  20. That is the best way to design, taking into consideration the inside/outside relationship. Not many think of this and it is so important in garden design. I like your vignettes too.

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  21. Your window views are stunning. We have also designed our gardens to bring us joy from every window... and they do! We also keep in mind the changing of the seasons as we plant, to assure year round delight. Thankful to have large window to take me outside when the weather is so frosty.

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  22. yes! that's it! when the weather's bad, you still feel a connection with the outside.

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