The Final Push...

My Final Display

It's been a long time coming, up now it's on the wall I will admit I'm pleased with the result.

With a little more time I know I could do better but time is not an option on this course!

Today I get to explain my designs and concepts to the external examiners and on Thursday I find out my grade...

Good luck everyone, for this week and the future!

A stay of execution...

The final crit has just been put back a week, any luck they might forget about it. The past three years has been a breeze compared with the past few weeks, so much so I have forgotten to up date this blog.

Here are some examples of the work I have been doing until 2-3am each morning!

Area A, the first detailed area chosen for me from my 1:200 plan. This is a 1:50 'blown up' image from my original 1:200 plan. This is the most intense area for 'hard' landscaping. It has two raised walkways, a 4M high cascade, a bridge and the edge of a large lake. Together with three different surfaces I guess I have my work cut out doing this area.

A cross section of my bridge showing details of the balustrade I want to have. This would also be for the other raised decks like the promenade.

Here I have drawn the top section of the cascade with the walk towards the bridge behind it. At the entrance the weir is at your feet level. As you move towards the bridge the path descends until it becomes a wall next to you.

Area B chosen from the 1:200 detailed plan. This is the 'beach garden' I have designed. To the bottom of the picture is the Outdoor Classroom and educational 'dipping' pool. This is the big challenge for me with planting. The whole park has a theme of being the sea within the park. Here I want to develop the style of sea-side garden to its limits. I had a vision of what I wanted, something of a cross between Derek Jarman's garden and the rugged sand dunes of the Pacific Rim, but I guess I need to use more than two plants so it might not end up looking like either!

A cross section of the in-land groynes I have designed for the Beach Garden. They allow me to bank the soil one side, just like on the beach. This provides welcome shelter for plants and humans alike. It also lets the sea-side hardy plants to show off on the banking. A shame health and safety requires me to add a fence on top... The groynes are made from sandstone filled gabions and sandstone based pre-cast concrete posts. Cor-Ten banding around the top will give a quick impression of the rusting steel found around the real groyne posts.

Not forgetting the path details, here's my section showing the expansion joint in the main pathway. Here I have specified 65mm thick sawn sandstone pavers with smaller matching setts to break the pattern at the joins.

All for now, have a dead line to hit for my web-site tomorrow, let alone remembering it's my wife's birthday... and our anniversary the next day. Guess they both get put on hold for another year, or maybe not.

A bit sketchy...(memories of the real world, that is)

Dappled shade in high summer

Wide vistas from the cafe's upper terrace

Easter 2008, early, cold, snow and a work load to match. Apparently my garden has flowers growing in it, all I can do is guess what is or isn't out there. My world is dominated by this make believe world that is sunny Bexhill. I will venture out into my garden sometime, when that will be I've no idea.

Here are a couple of sketches from my current world. Sunny days, dappled shade and hints of relaxation. What an imagination I have!

What will life be like...

...after the work is done? Bexhill-on-Sea, in detail...

We are slowly and often painfully being dragged towards the finishing line. No longer counting down the months, it's only weeks away!

This weekend year one are in Paris, learning all about cracked pavements, clipped hedges and importance of keeping up with the group. They will return wiser, confident and willing to criticise our work on final pin-up. I know this because we did the same. Enjoy it when you can. Yes our hand-writing may not be straight or sloping to the right. It may not even be hand-written at all!

Year two gets tough, deadlines shorter, standards higher. Soak it up and enjoy it.

Year three will come soon enough, let it wait.

Just take a deep breath and remember everything you were told this weekend. The little gem in passing, every throw-away remark.

Year three you'll be tested on every bit of it...

Last months 'What on Earth' - Bexhill-on-Sea's cruise liner.

How simple do I have to make these things?

Anyone would think no one was out there.







Hello....

'Alfie' is back on the road!

Alfie my daughters Morris Minor flat bed 'Ute' has just had a complete braking system overhaul and is back on the road. I even managed to pass a 50cc moped the other day, and yes it was moving...

Like my very first Moggie, Alfie normally only used 1/4 of his brakes until now. New drums all round and a servo means I don't have to plan 2 streets ahead when it comes to braking!

Next will be a new flat bed and a lick of paint.

Zen - Without the Wait

My first garden design is taking shape!

My Bonsai Potato Garden