Blog : GARDEN

 Jungle Garden with a Waterfall
livingasean

 Jungle Garden with a Waterfall

At Sakon Tanchotakul, the designer of  Scenery Concept Landscape Design & Contractors’s house in Nonthaburi, one is able to feel fresh and cool air in the jungle garden. Mist from the automatic sprinklers glistens on the leaves, and birdsong mingles with the sound of a waterfall. It’s a little heaven owned by one who loves nature.

/// Thailand /// 

Story: Isara Sonsat /// Photography: Ritthirong Janthongsuk /// Landscape Designer: Scenery Concept Landscape Design & Contractor

1-1

3

“I wanted a jungle garden, lush greens relaxing to the eye, says owner Sakon Tanchotakul. “We tried grass first but Suraphong Owararin, the designer had said from the start that there was too much shade that made grass died. On the second try we told him where to place the things we liked, including the fish pond. He matched our concept perfectly, and now we have a two-stage waterfall with a stream flowing down to the gazebo.”

2

“We tore down and rebuilt the original gazebo and waterfall wall, but kept 2 big trees: golden shower and bauhinia,” adds Suraphong. “The owner gave me a free hand with the design. The owners went with me to pick trees with beautiful shapes, like tasselberry and Indian Oak. We put cat’s claw vine on the left wall to add some green, and below, for its fragrant leaves, jasmine. Jaemjan Nikhomrat said she really loved that white rainbow shower tree that’s now in full bloom and shading the car parking spot.

4

“The owner and I worked closely together on the design. At his request, we put in a bird cage, planted kitchen vegetables, a yard paved with freeform flagstone, and a relaxing gazebo.”

5

Suraphong and I go upstairs in the house to The owner’s home office.

“The owner wanted a view of the ‘jungle’ behind the house from this room. We picked shade-tolerant plants such as spike moss, tree ferns, begonia, and sword fern to line a walkway of artificial railroad ties. Here kitchen vegetables grow in ready-made planter boxes set on artificial grass.”

6

9

We spent only a little time here, but it was enough to see how deeply Sakon and Jaemjan loved his jungle garden. Not many of us might create such a miraculous garden, or care for it so well, but their example shows that when we protect and respect nature, then nature will reimburse and protect us in the same way, and give us happiness.

10

 

link: http://www.baanlaesuan.com/29065/garden/passionate/

Garden For Family Activities
livingasean

Garden For Family Activities

What is the real function of a garden in the house? The owners need the garden for their family and talked to a landscape designer to build a pavilion and a small waterfall wall for outdoor living and garden for family activities.

/// Thailand /// 

Story : Apasri Meemana /// Photos : Sitthisak Namkham and Siramath Jirapotisit /// Landscape : Suansabuy Design Studio

1
The designer placed large free-form plants such as patana oak, millettia brandisiana, and calabashin the rear to relieve the rigidity of the pavilion structure.
2
The wide grass lawn can be adapted to different activities. A stylishly modern sand wash concrete walkway leads in from the front.

When buying a house one needs to consider the surrounding environment, size and placement of the building, style, and usable outdoor space. The form and layout of the pre-existing garden are less important. This is how it was for Chana and Nopphawan Najaroenkun, who own this beautiful family activities’ garden in Bang Phli District of Samut Prakan. Chana beams as he talks about it.

3
Lounge in the gazebo on cushions or mats and bring out fruit and pastries, a perfect formula for pleasant relaxation.
4
The Neighboring white house is seen behind three levels of green: pigeon berry, water jasmine, and English banyan

“I love this house, but outside we have 280 square meters. Shortly after moving in I felt the garden wasn’t really right, so we gave it a makeover. We found Siramath Jirapotisit from Suansabuy Design Studio with a contemporary style we liked. I told him we wanted an open garden for family with a pavilion and a small waterfall wall. His design was spot on, a perfect fit.”

5
The Pavilion, wood deck, pathway, and other hardscape elements designed in a complementary pattern of rectangles.
6
The pavilion is raised 60 centimeters to dissipate heat and let the breeze pass through.

Siramath went on: “The owners went with pretty much what I had on my website. I assessed the whole house to see how to connect various rooms to the garden.The pavilion is large and modern located on the left-hand side by the grass lawn. Connecting to it is a hardscape waterfall wall that’s visible from inside for a beautiful garden view. Next to that, a moderately sized gazebo with wicker furniture, connected to the living room by a wooden deck pathway, and then in the back is another rest area by the Thai kitchen and utility room.”

7
On the right-hand side is a tall green fence of English banyan which is an interesting contrast to the rust-colored fence by the pavilion.

“We used some plants from the old garden, the palm and dragon tree in front, adding patana oak, millettia brandisiana, a beautiful calabash tree, and shrubs along the English banyan by the fence: monkey grass, iris, ruellia, and so on, all easy to maintain. This is a modern garden for family with some tropical elements mixed in.”

8
The beautiful, open-limbed form of a calabash tree set right in the center suits the overall modern design.
9
Another place to sit behind the house, next to the Thai kitchen. The owners like sitting here while dinner is being prepared.

Nopphawan says she loves the renovated garden:

“We make great use of it. I like the spaces all around the house to sit and relax. Our kids sit and do homework, read books, feel the fresh air. Sometimes we have fun family parties in the pavilion and on the lawn. It’s especially pretty in the evening with our nice lighting system: it adds a sense of liveliness. I told Siramath I’d like easy maintenance, cutting the grass only once in awhile. In a couple of areas, we have staff from Suansabuy Design Studio come help care for the plants and water once a day.”

10
In the evening there is a different atmosphere, with special lighting for a gentle relaxing elegance.

“When we come back and are tired from work, the garden makes us feel refreshed. Looking around it feels like we’re tourists at a resort outside of the city. It puts some pizzazz into our lives, energizes both body and mind. When we have free time, we sometimes sit outside in the garden as a whole family.”

11
With the light shining up through the water onto the waterfall wall adding new dimensions to the overall look.

 

link : http://www.suansabuy.com/

 

A Little English Garden
livingasean

A Little English Garden

Small joys may begin with an infatuation. This Little English garden is composed of many irresistible figurines, urn planters, and colorful plants selected by the homeowner.

/// Thailand /// 

Story: Aphasri Mimana /// Photography: Sitthisak Namkham /// Landscape Designer: Yasamanot Sriyuyong

1
Flagstone path with river stone filler crosses the garden to a bench, framed by bushes and different ground cover plants. Tiny figurines and a sculpture of a woman, an urn planter: all from the owner’s beloved collection.

“I’ve lived here about six years. Before, it was full of large trees. I gradually added tropical plants until it seemed too much. We only have about 220 square meters, and the trees limited us to plants needing shade or indirect sun, so loving colorful flowers that need direct sunlight, I decided to reinvent the garden with my favorite plants and décor.

2
The owner takes such good care of her plants that they produce a profusion of flowers brightening the garden everywhere.
3
“I group plants that grow well together and give them as much sun and regular watering as each variety needs.”

“I took a time to think about the design, a little worried that when we took out shade trees in front of the house we’d get too much heat inside. But the house faces south, only gets full sun 4 months out of the year, and there’s usually a cool wind blowing.”

4
A tall wall English banyan gives privacy, concealing the fence behind the bench.

Yasamanot designed the garden with an open look, black plum and freshwater mangrove planted about with shrubs and ground cover. Taking out the grass lawn, she paved the walkway with slate and light-colored river stones, with tall English banyans along the fence for privacy. To the right are medium-sized and beautifully flowering plants such as arrow-leaf plumeria, hibiscus, blue crossandra, white mussaenda and so on. A concrete walkway leads to a decorative fountain that brings refreshing moisture to the garden. Behind the house, She has given great attention to the placement of her most beloved plants and décor to produce the distinct feeling of an English garden.

9
Before paving the path, the owner suggests first packing a layer of sand tight to make it even, then laying down a plastic mesh with gravel on top. A decorative fountain adds to the refreshing mood.

For hardscape elements like sculptures and urn planters, I bought it from Art Garden& Décor at the Saeng Ari Garden plant flea market, Nakhon Phan in the Bang Yai neighborhood, and much more. For plants, I go to Kanchanapisek Road, Bang Yai, Sanaam Luang 2, and the Baanlaesuan fair.

8
Changing the garden from a play of colorful flowers to a peaceful mood, we enter a quiet spot through a green wrought iron arbor.

“I group plants that grow well together and give them as much sun and regular watering as each variety needs, paying attention to problems and changing conditions. Sometimes we have snails and leaf-eating aphids; we cut aphid-infested leaves away so the insects don’t easily spread. The garden’s in good shape now. The flowers are in dazzling full bloom, and that makes me feel happy and refreshed.

10
For a good, safe fit, plant Norfolk pine by the house: it grows up, not outwards, so won’t cause problems. Roses climb the walls by cement figurines, in the English style. Verdolaga and Cape plumbago fluff out and spill over onto the path.
7
Plant group of blue rock bindweed, oleander, and dwarf eucalyptus, bright green subtly dotted with color.

“In the morning you can see lots of butterflies and small birds, and smell the fragrant flowers. In the evening I come straight home and spend so much time enjoying the garden I often forget what time it is.”

6
In front of the door is Cape plumbago, with bright indigo flowers, mixed with a sweet pink of water primrose, with a small cement urn planter.

 

5
Red ivy extends out, climbing onto the slate flagstones. /// A cute duck sculpture hidden in among wild petunias.

 

link:

X