Eyecatchers

Be it a stately statue, column, arch or pergola, an Eyecatcher (as English gardeners call them) instantly provides a focal point within the garden, as well as one which can be appreciated from a distance, and throughout every season.

Nestled in a woodland garden, a tall vertical element will echo the contours of surrounding trees. Mounted upon an open landscape, an imposing Eyecatcher will present a dramatic silhouette against the sky. Espaliered fruits and flowering vines will be healthier if given lattices to cling to and bowers to climb.

Although it may seem counter-intuitive, by adding a few statuesque ornaments to our gardens, the grounds that we design will better harmonize with the natural world.

Old Stone wellhead under a rustic pergola at Polesden Lacey

The Victorian-era, Walled Kitchen Garden at Titsey Place, in Surrey, has been completely restored. A rose-covered bower at the center of the veggie and flower beds anchors this expansive space. Courtesy of nanquick.com

The entry lawn of the Georgian landscape gardens at West Wycombe Park, in Buckinghamshire, is punctuated by a single towering column, which supports a classical figure. Courtesy of nanquick.com

The Queen’s Jubilee Rose Garden, at Titsey Place, in Surrey, is relatively new, having been established in 2002. At the southern entrance, lichen-covered cherubs invite us inside, as they also bestow a feeling of antiquity upon an adolescent garden. Courtesy of nanquick.com