I chose this garden from Thomas Hoblyn’s portfolio today because it immediately struck me as a place that is interestingly designed and a true family garden.  However, unlike many of the ‘family gardens’ I see in the suburbs of America, it is clearly designed for a garden enthusiast and it appears to have been created with time and patience.   As evidence of the design spirit, look at the edge of the path, it’s an interesting and different finish.  Also, it has lots of interesting elements, but they are laid out in an organized fashion.  My eye seems to skip around happily.  The materials are all mixed up, but they seem to hang together in a homey sort of way that doesn’t scream “I just hired a local landscape contractor to create uniblock world”.  There is a nod to English design with a cute little knot garden and plenty of place for lawns, patios, natural swimming pools and quiet areas.   I am studying this intensely as I try to put into words and my head why this seems to work so much better than most backyards.  Put simply though, it isn’t boring, it is a garden, and rather than looking ‘landscaped’, it looks loved and to me there is a big difference.

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