Garden inspiration from our local area
When we’re gardening, inspiration is everything. It shapes the choices we make — from the plants we grow, to the way our gardens feel and function.
We often look to public gardens or design books for garden inspiration, but when you garden in a naturalistic style, there’s no better place to find inspiration than in nature itself.
Watch the video and read on for more details:
Finding garden inspiration close to home
You don’t need to live near a national park or a wild landscape to be inspired by nature. I find so much just by walking around our local area. Noticing what’s growing in the hedgerows, how plants and wildlife interact, and how natural patterns weave around human spaces.
It’s in these details — the way ivy climbs an old fence, or how grasses lean in the autumn light — that we learn what feels right in a garden.
When we understand our local environment, we can create gardens that feel at home in their setting — gardens that are rooted, both literally and figuratively.
Inspired by other people's work
On a recent walk, I stopped by a local fruit farm where a Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweet Gum) caught my eye. Its palm-like leaves glow with incredible autumn colour. I hadn’t thought of this plant in a while and decided to include it in a planting plan.
Later, I noticed a planting combination over a garden fence that stopped me in my tracks. The red autumn foliage of a Berberis thunbergii contrasting softly with the straw-coloured tones of an Anemanthele lessoniana.
I expect the planting combination was unplanned, but it felt natural and perfectly balanced.
These are the kinds of small lessons our surroundings can offer, if we slow down enough to see them.
Translating inspiration into our gardens
Perhaps the most difficult bit of naturalistic gardening is translating what we observe in nature into something that fits our own gardens.
For example, in our area, hops grow wild in the hedgerows. They’re usually unnoticed and unloved — yet I’ve planted one to climb over a log pile in our garden. It softens the deadwood, ties the area together, and feels completely at home.
Whether it’s a pond, a compost heap, or a greenhouse, I try to make sure everything in the garden feels as though the garden was built around it — not added as an afterthought. That’s how you achieve a natural, cohesive feel.
A stream runs through our village — a small chalk stream full of movement and life. We echoed that energy at home with a wildlife pond. It doesn’t flow like the stream, but it hums with activity — aquatic plants, birds, and insects all sharing the space.
Even something as simple as water can connect a garden to the wider landscape and make it feel alive.
Embracing natural cycles
On the same walk, I came across wild carrot seed heads standing tall in a meadow. Some people worry they’re too dominant — but to me, they’re a reminder that structure and beauty exist in every season, even after flowering has finished.
When we garden with nature, we begin to see that nothing is static. Even a dead tree or decaying plant plays a role, offering structure, texture, and habitat.
Let me know how you get on
I hope this encourages you to go for a walk around your local area — to look closely at the plants, the colours, and the patterns that surround you. Sometimes the most beautiful ideas are right outside your front door — we just need to notice them.
Please let me know with a comment if you’re able to find any garden inspiration in your local area.
Happy exploring.
Joe
Joe Vary Dip. Hort (Wisley), MCIHort, CMTGG
I'm a gardener, educator, consultant, and planting designer. Learn with me 1-to-1, or join my mentoring group and community.
This Post Has 4 Comments
Another great video Joe. A lovely reminder too to keep our eyes open around our local areas. I still have lots of ‘summer plant ‘ colour in my garden but am now valuing the seed heads and colours and textures of the plants that are going to rest!!
I am also recalling how helpful your trees in winter identification workshop was last year. I plan to keep my booklet handy and see how much I can remember!
Thanks Jo,
It’s really great to hear that your garden is still going strong. I know your local wildlife will also appreciate it.
The winter tree walk was great last year. I might make a video from the photos that were in the hand out. Maybe we’ll run it again 🌲
See you soon,
Joseph
Inspirational Joe, such a beautiful film, and so uplifting. Coincidently I walked past that very Weir on the river you featured just this week and stopped to stand on the wooden platform to watch the river flow for about 10 mins, it really is a special spot.
Thank you.
Thank you for your great feedback Martin. Very much appreciated 🙏
I love walking long the river and have noticed a lot of beaver activity this year which is promising.
All the best,
Joe