The Four Wedding Areas
The Four Venue Areas
Each area needs to have it own feel and personality so that we can cater to a variety of clients.
THE FRENCH RENAISSANCE GARDEN:
This garden will be on the west end of the property and will incorporate the existing canal as part of it's design. Most of the current surrounds will be removed and relocated to a different area to conform to the design in mind. The French Renaissance Garden will center around the canal. On each side of the canal will be boxwood hedges in an intricate design with rose bushes in the designs of the boxwoods.
This will continue down the length of the canal and about 8 feet on either side of the canal, using the path that was alongside the canal as the entrance to the space starting at a little bridge on the north end of the canal. The canal will end in a circular small pond with a 2 foot tall water fountain in the middle. The canal will be as it was with water lilies, short grasses growing in the water, and large koi fish throughout. From there the space will open up into a large grassy oval, behind which will be a gothic inspired greenhouse, where guests may choose to have parts of their wedding or event indoors.
The greenhouse will be entirely glass or another clear substance with interesting metal work inspired by EL Palacio del Cristal. The floor will be concrete and I have toyed with the idea of having it be a tropical greenhouse.
This will be the most structured and classic garden space.
THE JAPANESE GARDEN:
The Japanese Garden will be the furthest from the public entrance on the north east side of the gardens. There is already ample space for an event here, though the landscape would need to be drastically reconfigured. Currently there are several paths at varying heights leading to a tree line.
Beyond the treeline is a water fall with a pond below. Between the top of the water fall and the pond is a small bridge right at the top which is very picturesque. There is a weeping tree of some sort to the right of the water fall and is part of the way up the path which leads to the bridge. This area is a bit small and it would be advantageous to to expand this. Expansion could be difficult due to the river which directly faces the waterfall. This area is meant to be one of the smallest venues.
I would also like to add some sort of covered option, but need further idea development.
Although I have a relatively decent working knowledge of plants I am much less familiar with the design and flow of a Japanese garden and would therefore have to seek additional training.
THE GAZEBO:
The gazebo is across the river on the east side of the gardens with a large grassy area and shrubbery around it giving this location some privacy. It's a medium sized venue which can be dressed up or down. The area has a few steps up to a grassy oval area with most of the surface area stretched toward and away from the gazebo. It is surrounded by mature deciduous trees of varying types. The Gazebo which is done with natural colored shakes is at the back and it passes through to one of the many paths on that side of the river which twist and turn into the gardens.
This area would be easy to maintain but would most likely be much more seasonal due to its distance from the entrance of the venue and due to the only pathways being entirely of grass. I have considered changing the paths to stone, concrete, or some other sort, but it would change the integrity of the location, which I'm trying to preserve as much of as possible.
THE VILLAGE ENGLISH GARDEN:
A large grassy area surrounded by intermingling beds of bright and diverse flowers describes this section well. These flowers are tall in the back and shorter in the front with all the colors of the rainbow. Textures in the beds are important and carry creating interest. At the very front of this Garden would be a Camper Down Elm which has been cleaned and trimmed to expose the inriquite twisting branches beneath and the outside will make a frame for whomever stands beneath it. The tree, with it's natural shape of an umbrella, will make a nice back drop and will inspire those who love nature in a less formal venue. At night the tree shall light up and the inside branches will intrigue those around it.
This Garden will be very easy to create due to the simple nature of flowing gardens beds. The issue will come with the Camper Down Elm, expensive and difficult to order due to the grafted nature they are also typically small when grown for resale. The tree will take an extensive amount of time to develop fully. This garden is also right next to the French Renaissance Garden, just slightly more to the South, still on the West side. This will mean that there may be sound and visual issues that must be addressed so that each venue is seemingly it's own individual piece. There may need be a stone wall installed, but if nothing else there will be Italian Cypress or something a bit larger. There may also be an issue with traffic control in this area, as it is directly adjacent to the main road on the west side of the gardens.
GENERAL GARDEN AREAS:
There are many areas of the garden that are not specific to any of the event spaces. These areas are no less important and are part of the general look of the garden. All paths need to either glow or be lit. Trees would be lit and have lights from tree to tree. Each area of the garden needs to be maintained flawlessly. I expect that this will take a crew of about ten 5 days a week. Each of these open areas will serve a different purpose. The area around the house and between the French Renaissance area and the path are open and need to be considered their own point of interest. Otherwise they will be diminished. This could be a great area for a rose garden or a tropical green house.
Across the river will be the majority of the paths, these paths are a debate in my mind; currently they are grass and in an effort to continue the property to be used through the year I have considered making them paved, but that is a possibly unnecessary expense. If they were converted then the question would be if the paths should be gravel or pavers, stone or concrete. These would all need to be lit in some way or another. I would love to incorporate glow stones or spray on glow in the dark material so that guests can find their way at night.
My Great Grandmother's gardens were known for having rare varieties of plants that she personally collected over the years. I would like to continue this tradition and provide unique and interesting vegetation throughout the property.
Lastly growing up in this property was purely magical. I want to create that for adults.
THE FRENCH RENAISSANCE GARDEN:
This garden will be on the west end of the property and will incorporate the existing canal as part of it's design. Most of the current surrounds will be removed and relocated to a different area to conform to the design in mind. The French Renaissance Garden will center around the canal. On each side of the canal will be boxwood hedges in an intricate design with rose bushes in the designs of the boxwoods.
This will continue down the length of the canal and about 8 feet on either side of the canal, using the path that was alongside the canal as the entrance to the space starting at a little bridge on the north end of the canal. The canal will end in a circular small pond with a 2 foot tall water fountain in the middle. The canal will be as it was with water lilies, short grasses growing in the water, and large koi fish throughout. From there the space will open up into a large grassy oval, behind which will be a gothic inspired greenhouse, where guests may choose to have parts of their wedding or event indoors.
The greenhouse will be entirely glass or another clear substance with interesting metal work inspired by EL Palacio del Cristal. The floor will be concrete and I have toyed with the idea of having it be a tropical greenhouse.
This will be the most structured and classic garden space.
THE JAPANESE GARDEN:
The Japanese Garden will be the furthest from the public entrance on the north east side of the gardens. There is already ample space for an event here, though the landscape would need to be drastically reconfigured. Currently there are several paths at varying heights leading to a tree line.
Beyond the treeline is a water fall with a pond below. Between the top of the water fall and the pond is a small bridge right at the top which is very picturesque. There is a weeping tree of some sort to the right of the water fall and is part of the way up the path which leads to the bridge. This area is a bit small and it would be advantageous to to expand this. Expansion could be difficult due to the river which directly faces the waterfall. This area is meant to be one of the smallest venues.
I would also like to add some sort of covered option, but need further idea development.
Although I have a relatively decent working knowledge of plants I am much less familiar with the design and flow of a Japanese garden and would therefore have to seek additional training.
THE GAZEBO:
The gazebo is across the river on the east side of the gardens with a large grassy area and shrubbery around it giving this location some privacy. It's a medium sized venue which can be dressed up or down. The area has a few steps up to a grassy oval area with most of the surface area stretched toward and away from the gazebo. It is surrounded by mature deciduous trees of varying types. The Gazebo which is done with natural colored shakes is at the back and it passes through to one of the many paths on that side of the river which twist and turn into the gardens.
This area would be easy to maintain but would most likely be much more seasonal due to its distance from the entrance of the venue and due to the only pathways being entirely of grass. I have considered changing the paths to stone, concrete, or some other sort, but it would change the integrity of the location, which I'm trying to preserve as much of as possible.
THE VILLAGE ENGLISH GARDEN:
A large grassy area surrounded by intermingling beds of bright and diverse flowers describes this section well. These flowers are tall in the back and shorter in the front with all the colors of the rainbow. Textures in the beds are important and carry creating interest. At the very front of this Garden would be a Camper Down Elm which has been cleaned and trimmed to expose the inriquite twisting branches beneath and the outside will make a frame for whomever stands beneath it. The tree, with it's natural shape of an umbrella, will make a nice back drop and will inspire those who love nature in a less formal venue. At night the tree shall light up and the inside branches will intrigue those around it.
This Garden will be very easy to create due to the simple nature of flowing gardens beds. The issue will come with the Camper Down Elm, expensive and difficult to order due to the grafted nature they are also typically small when grown for resale. The tree will take an extensive amount of time to develop fully. This garden is also right next to the French Renaissance Garden, just slightly more to the South, still on the West side. This will mean that there may be sound and visual issues that must be addressed so that each venue is seemingly it's own individual piece. There may need be a stone wall installed, but if nothing else there will be Italian Cypress or something a bit larger. There may also be an issue with traffic control in this area, as it is directly adjacent to the main road on the west side of the gardens.
GENERAL GARDEN AREAS:
There are many areas of the garden that are not specific to any of the event spaces. These areas are no less important and are part of the general look of the garden. All paths need to either glow or be lit. Trees would be lit and have lights from tree to tree. Each area of the garden needs to be maintained flawlessly. I expect that this will take a crew of about ten 5 days a week. Each of these open areas will serve a different purpose. The area around the house and between the French Renaissance area and the path are open and need to be considered their own point of interest. Otherwise they will be diminished. This could be a great area for a rose garden or a tropical green house.
Across the river will be the majority of the paths, these paths are a debate in my mind; currently they are grass and in an effort to continue the property to be used through the year I have considered making them paved, but that is a possibly unnecessary expense. If they were converted then the question would be if the paths should be gravel or pavers, stone or concrete. These would all need to be lit in some way or another. I would love to incorporate glow stones or spray on glow in the dark material so that guests can find their way at night.
My Great Grandmother's gardens were known for having rare varieties of plants that she personally collected over the years. I would like to continue this tradition and provide unique and interesting vegetation throughout the property.
Lastly growing up in this property was purely magical. I want to create that for adults.