Garden Design
The Arcadia design process involves developing a very clear understanding of your interests, tastes and requirements of your garden. It should be designed as an important part of your lifestyle at home and relate to your house and its surrounds.
The design is not just about the plants. Careful thought is put into the space. The right balance of open and closed spaces makes a big difference in how we feel when we are in the garden.
We also learn from what works from other gardens. With the increasing necessity to be frugal with limited water resources, we take some inspiration from the Islamic paradise gardens, which have their roots in ancient Persia and Mesopotamia. Gardens were designed to withstand harsh desert conditions and provide a delightful setting to spend time in relaxing or entertaining.
Like these paradise gardens, Arcadia designs include plant selections that are appropriate for the local setting while having great aesthetic appeal – through scent, colour, form or texture. In many cases this will include indigenous plants. These locally native plants are important to have in all neighbourhoods as they help maintain the biodiversity of your district and provide appropriate food and shelter for native creatures such as birds and butterflies.
A sustainable garden with indigenous plants doesn’t have to be a feral bush garden. A lush formal garden can still incorporate a selection of plants that belong to your area but are arranged in a more artful manner.
Arcadia regards the growing of food to be an important aspect of a sustainable garden. This reduces the need to purchase packaged and processed food that has been transported from (in some cases) thousands of kilometres away. It is also fortunate that many food plants such as fruit trees or herbs are very attractive and interesting. Some have a very significant cultural history.
We also have such an interest in the natural and cultural histories of the plant species in our designs, that we will share them with you as part of the package along with notes on how to look after them.
Gary Shadforth - Arcadia Sustainable Design - 0431 022 953
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