Winner of the BBC ’s Gardener of the Decade , Katherine Crouch is a multi - accolade - winning Garden Designer based in Somerset .
Since 2000 , she has run her own Garden Design byplay and continues to supply her inspection and repair to a enceinte number of private and commercial clients across the Confederate States of England .
I spoke to Katherine about her garden design inspirations and some exciting projects in the word of mouth .
What Are Your Earliest Memories Of Gardening?
“ At 2 years former I remember pick petal off a daisy , then at 6 , my aunty Molly picture me the deception of an oriental poppy bud slow splitting and unfurling from bent to smoothen , ” Katherine shares .
“ I can image my grandma taking me on country walks , enjoin me the name of wildflowers and pick blackberries . I remember growingmy first broad beansaged 8 . ”
What Led You To A Career In Garden Design?
“ I always wanted to design something for the outside but not buildings like my architect mother ! ” she says .
“ There were very few garden designer in the 1970s and , as far as I knew , no Garden Design degree back then , so I go to Glasgow School of Art ( with a boatload of plants in pots ) and studied Product Design , then went overseas for a few eld .
“ I did years of garden maintenance and study after this and really hone in on my trade .
“ 18 years after graduate , I won BBC Gardener of the Year in 1999 and after the program was televised , the earpiece leapt off the draw . I design my first garden only 3 week after my son was born and just kept go after that .
“ I won BBC Gardener of the Decade in 2008 and Gold at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2013 for a show in the Evolving Garden zone for Kings Seeds , showing the change trends of growing from seminal fluid since the first ever Chelsea Flower Show . ”
What Inspires Your Design Process?
“ I am inspired by the potential and constraint . First , the node ’ pauperism , then the ergonomics of secure itinerary to goal and what they need to do when they get there . Then , how those elements are to be constructed , from what and by whom .
“ After that , soil , aspect , climate , taste and budget all run to a suitable palette of plants – andeveryone wants depressed sustenance ! However , I spend at least 80 % of my prison term with the client , supplier and landscape gardener affair , mostly on hard landscape gardening material issues , drawing them and planning the project .
“ Keeping a robust newspaper publisher track is my least favored job and not at all inspiring . If you require to be a Garden Designer just because you want to run with plants all day , this may not be the job for you .
“ When I was a neophyte , I used to split my time between garden maintenance and design , but now I just dwell out the planting schemes , monitor project in onward motion , give talking or consultations and soak up at nursing home . ”
Do You Have A Particular Favourite Memory Of A Garden You Have Designed?
“ To nibble just one , I ’d say the hardy exotic pub garden at the Five Dials Inn , Horton , that I built 10 years ago and still frequent , ” partake Katherine .
Describe A Typical Day In Your Working Life.
“ Today I catch up , walked the click , checked emails , did a half - day reference with a new node , collected A1 plan print , substantiate a talk of the town booking , mail out invoice and finished a planting programme !
“ Each day is different and fussy . ”
Do You Have Any Upcoming Projects That You’d Like To Share?
“ The survey has just been completed for a gardenin south Somerset on a slopewith views of Dorset , ” explains Katherine . “ The legal brief has been compiled and I will start imbibe first ideas soon .
“ A prominent flat garden near Taunton has also had the construct plan O.K. . I have just complete 7 years of design and project monitoring for a large garden and I shall be interfering for years , with any luck .
“ Next week I will be localize over 1000 plants on a usurious bank in Devon . Phew ! ”
And Finally, Can You Summarise What Gardening Means To You In Just 3 Words?
“ Permanently dirty fingernails . ”
