GARDENING : Summer Bedding

Sunday Mirror, Jul 25, 2004 by ADRIENNE WILD

AVOID getting snarled up in traffic jams this summer by staying at home and having an "away day" in the garden. Find a quiet corner to relax in, pretty up part of the garden for a party, and don't forget to plan to keep the kids entertained! These gardens are also wildlife friendly so you can watch the butterflies and birds flutter by. And when the sun shines this is the only place you will want to be. Here are a few ideas from the experts...

FAIRY FANTASY

THIS country-style garden designed by Tony Richards features plants found in Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairies books. Drifts of foxgloves and meadow flowers extend the season of nectar for bees and butterflies. The water feature and swing are made from recycled copper.

GET THE LOOK Planting schemes in warm and rich shades of pink and purple help give your garden an evocative and mysterious atmosphere.

HOW MUCH? Order 3, 5 or 10 perennials from www.bloomsofbressingham.co.uk and save on the garden centre price of around pounds 7.50 per plant.

CHAIN GANG

THIS stylish urban garden designed by Jane Mooney uses a combination of traditional and contemporary materials to create an outdoor room for relaxation and entertaining. Steel chain curtains hang from a metal framework which is home to wildlife and contrasts with the steel and stone paving.

GET THE LOOK Walk-through curtains make effective screens and in summer reduce the invasion of birds and insects. Select heavy curtains - if they are too flimsy they can be a nuisance in a breeze.

HOW MUCH? Heavyweight curtains can start at pounds 30 from www.onevillage.org

WILD THING

PETE Simms created a garden to while away the long summer days, so it's no surprise to find a hammock tucked into a secluded corner for those moments when it is possible to steal away from today's hectic lifestyle. The surrounding planting uses perennials in a natural style and is a haven for wildlife.

GET THE LOOK Create a wildflower area with native plants. Collections of specially-selected plants for sunny spots or shady situations are available from www. crocus.co.uk. Each collection is made up of 104 plug plants (36 x 60mm).

HOW MUCH? More than 100 plants for pounds 95.

POND LIFE

THIS city garden, designed by Naomi Lawrence, entices wildlife all year. The raised deck is painted with white stain to give an aged feel and provides a seating area from which to view birds that drink and bathe in the pond. Hebes, buddlejas, geraniums, foxgloves and grasses provide nectar, seed heads and ground cover.

GET THE LOOK Borders rich in food bring in wildlife and a man- made nesting box can provide an excellent refuge for city birds.

HOW MUCH? Visit www.ernest-charles. com - prices start at pounds 11.95 for a jute, sea grass or cocoa fibre roosting/nest pocket.

OVER THE MOON

DESIGNED by Andy Jones and Anny Konig this garden has a billowing bank of flowers and herbs surrounding the built-in seating. The pebble mosaic floor has a sun, moon and star design to symbolise earth, fire, water and air.

GET THE LOOK To create a pebble mosaic first draw your design to scale on graph paper. Transfer the design by marking the graph grid on the ground with sand. Edge with brick or timber.

HOW MUCH? B&Q have Maxipacks (approx 25gm) of Cornish cobbles (pounds 8.99), and Handipacks (pounds 10.49) of coloured pebbles.

SAIL AWAY

AS demonstrated by Fran Forster of Lotus Designs, a tiny area is all you need to create a stylish corner in which to contemplate. The pink and blue plants in this oasis of calm were chosen to provide a food source for butterflies, which are said to be bringers of luck.

GET THE LOOK Create a shady retreat by stretching a canvas sail securely between four upright posts. The posts need to be lower on one side than the other, to allow rain to run off.

HOW MUCH? Shade sails with UV block

MONKEY AROUND

THIS garden by Boardman, Gelly & Co shows how to maximise a sloping site by creating a split level design with an upper deck for adults and built-in adventure playground for little monkeys.

GET THE LOOK A Jungle Gym Hut Kit from B&Q is perfect for a small garden. The 2.9m high tower has a 1.2m2 platform that can be fitted at two heights. A vinyl tent roof gives it a homely feel.

HOW MUCH? The kit costs pounds 420.

ROCK ON

A SHEPHERD'S hut is the centrepiece of this alpine design by Dr Christopher Grey-Wilson and built by members of the Alpine Garden Society which features a variety of habitats from a glade of trees to gravel scree.

GET THE LOOK To make a rock garden use local stone and fill crevices with semperviva, sedums, saxifrages, arabis and dwarf campanulas.

HOW MUCH? Stones from pounds 5.50.

JUNGLED UP

THE jungle-like planting of Sri Lanka was the inspiration for this secluded and exotic garden by Diane Amos and Rob Winterson. A two- tiered water feature has been planted with tropical aquatics.

GET THE LOOK Create a backdrop of giant foliage with hardy bamboo, fatsia and palms to build up the jungle effect.