Colm Joseph Gardens

evening seating spot nestled in wildflower meadow in our east suffolk project this simple seating spot with corten steel firebowl is positioned in the southern corner of the site, to catch the last of the evening sun curved pathways lead through the meadow, the wildflowers connecting harmoniously with borrowed views of the suffolk countryside the old farmyard boundary walls wrap around to create a lovely sheltered spot to sit and relax at the end of the day . . . . design by @colm_joseph garden build @gadd_brothers photos @richardbloomphoto wildflowers from @wildflowerturf.co.uk crabapple tree from @deepdaletrees gravel from @breedonspecialaggregates . . . . #seatingarea #gardenspace #wildflowergarden #wildflowermeadow #wildflowers #wildflowerlove #meadows #firebowl #firepit #gardenpath #naturalgarden #countrygarden #ruralgarden #suffolkgarden #suffolk #suffolkliving #suffolklife #gardenliving #outdoorliving #eveningsun #naturaldesign #gardendesignideas #gardendesign #gardenviews #walledgarden #simplestyle #planting #gardenideas #englishgardens

transformations from summer to winter in our suffolk walled garden project my last post showed some before-after transformations, so i thought i’d follow up with more changes, this time seasonal 🌿🍂 each summer image is june + each winter image is december, showing how the garden transforms + how the natural beauty of each season is celebrated this garden’s been shortlisted for the @societyofgardendesigners awards (SGD Awards 2025) you can VOTE for this garden to win the PEOPLE’S CHOICE award 👉 link in my bio + story highlights your vote is really appreciated! thanks 💚 . . . . design by @colm_joseph photos by @richardbloomphoto garden build by @stewartlandscape plants from @palmstead + @robintacchi pavers from @brickworksvandemoortel gravel from @allgreengb . . . . #seasonalchange #fourseasons #seasons #summergarden #wintergarden #wintercolours #wintergardens #summergardens #naturalgarden #gardenstyle #naturalisticgarden #naturalisticplanting #gardenideas #gardenplants #walledgarden #walledgardens #suffolk #suffolkgarden #birchtrees #birch #perennialgarden #beech #ornamentalgrasses #perennials #grasses #seasonschange #naturalistic #plantingdesign #planting

honoured + happy to be included in @houseandgardenuk ‘Top 50 Garden Designers’ 🌿 thanks so much to @clarefostergardens @hattabyng + the whole editorial team at house & garden magazine for the recognition + support 💚 it’s my first time making the Top 50 list, feels surreal + wonderful to be listed alongside so many designers i admire massive thanks also to my wonderful clients + the designers, contractors, growers, suppliers, artisans + other collaborators i work with who all make it possible for my designs to come to life - a joy I will never take for granted 💚 photo by Mike Hodgson Photography . . . . #gardendesigner #houseandgarden #gardendesign #landscapedesign #landscapedesigner #designlife #houseandgardenuk #houseandgardenmagazine #gardendesigners #gardendesigns #gardenlove #landscapearchitecture #gardenlife #gardens #top50

pathways + planting compositions in our east suffolk garden design curvilinear pathways + planting contrasts with rectilinear beech hedging blocks, which cut through + shape the space this garden was an old, empty agricultural yard, in desperate need of some spatial definition + as it’s the main garden, it also needed improved screening + privacy i used a series of long, disaggregated clipped hedges + multi-stem trees to shape the space, to define distinct areas + to provide year round structure sweeping planting beds + curved pathways flow through to connect destination points the planting nearer to the house is a simple scheme of ornamental grass (sesleria), with wildflower meadow taking over as you move away from the house + closer to the boundaries with the countryside . . . . design by @colm_joseph garden build by @gadd_brothers photos by @richardbloomphoto trees from @deepdaletrees plants from @palmstead wildflowers from @wildflowerturf.co.uk hedging from @elvedeninstanthedge gravel from @breedonspecialaggregates . . . . #gardendesign #gardendesigner #gardendesignideas #gardenideas #spacemaking #placemaking #gardenview #gardenviews #naturalgarden #naturalisticplanting #hedge #beech #gardenstructure #gardenpath #landscapedesigns #landscapedesignideas #landscapedesign #landscapedesigner #gardenplants #wildflowers #wildflowermeadow #gravelpath #gravel #countrygarden #countrygardens #plantingdesign #compositions #gardenspace #gardenphotography

blown away yesterday to see this cambridgeshire garden named as ‘grand award’ winner at the British National Landscape Awards 2024 🌿🏆 after winning best in category at this year’s BALI awards (1 of 15 shortlisted in the category), the garden then went on to win the overall award for best landscape across all categories! … huge congratulations + thanks to the team @bowleswyer who built this garden, working with such skill, dedication, integrity + knowledge … as well as everyone else who worked with us along the way to make this garden a reality (too many to name in one post) 💚 . . . . design by @colm_joseph build by @bowleswyer photos by @richardbloomphoto trees from @deepdaletrees + @vandenberknurseries plants from @palmstead pool build by @letts_pools architecture by @casa.architects . . . . #awardwinning #landscapedesign #landscapelove #cambridgeshire #bestlandscape #baliawards #gardendesigner #naturalisticgarden #perennialgarden #plantingdesign #gardenideas #gardenstyle #gardenphotography #gardenpool #gardenliving #outdoorlifestyle #outdoorspace #outdoorlivingspace #countrygarden #countrygardens #landscapedesigner #landscapeconstruction #gardenphoto #gardendesign #landscapestyles #gardenplants #gardenlove #landscapegarden #naturaldesign

planting set against old agricultural walls in our east suffolk garden project this site was a disused agricultural yard, with a mix of simple, aged boundary walls… i used these walls throughout the design as a backdrop for planting, which brings i felt would bring the best out of the walls + the plants here we used a mix of sun-loving dry garden plants (like rosemary, eryngium, dianthus) alongside plants that felt in keeping with the rural, agricultural character of the site (like the multi-stem crabapple tree) the gravel was a careful selection to harmonise with the tones of the wall, contributing to a feeling of simplicity + balance . . . . design by @colm_joseph build by @gadd_brothers photos by @richardbloomphoto trees from @deepdaletrees plants from @palmstead gravel from @breedonspecialaggregates . . . . #gardendesignideas #gravelgarden #gardenplants #planting #plantingdesign #plantingdesigner #gardendesigner #suffolkgarden #senseofplace #drygarden #crabapple #gardentree #walledgarden #countrygarden #moderngarden #gardenwall #oldwall #greengarden #gravel #gardenview #gardenphotography #plantingideas #plantsinfocus #homeandgarden #countrygardens #naturalisticplanting #naturalisticgarden #gardenstyle #landscapestyles

views from house to garden on our east suffolk project my last post showed compositions of planting set against the backdrop of the house, but views from inside looking out to the garden are just as important + something i always pay careful attention to in my designs these shots show framed views from inside our clients’ converted barn out to different parts of the garden the first image shows the simple composition of tree + grasses from the clients’ home office (tree is a multi-stem acer campestre, grasses are sesleria autumnalis) second image is through the rear doors of the barn out a courtyard space, where a gravel pathway winds through planting (tree here is a multi-stem osmanthus heterophyllus) third image is from the kitchen out to the main south-facing garden, where a combination of naturalistic perennial planting, beech hedges + multi-stem crabapple trees carry the eye out to the suffolk countryside + big skies beyond (tree here is malus ‘wintergold’) . . . . design by @colm_joseph photos by @richardbloomphoto garden build by @gadd_brothers trees from @deepdaletrees plants from @palmstead gravel from @breedonspecialaggregates . . . . #gardenviews #gardenview #houseandgarden #homeandgarden #barnconversion #naturalgarden #suffolk #naturalisticgarden #countrygarden #moderngarden #plantingdesign #natureindoors #modernhomedesign #housegarden #naturalisticplanting #plantingdesigner #gardendesigns #gardendesignideas #gardenstyle #gardenarchitecture #gardenplants #gardentree #treestreestrees #landscapeview #landscapedesign #homedesigns #homegarden #gardendesign #gardenphotography

balance of garden + architecture in one our cambridgeshire projects in this design i used the simple form + material palette of the house as a backdrop for the planting design, with carefully selected, sculptural trees + naturalistic perennial planting set against the architecture using multi-stem trees with raised + clear stems allows for framing of views + routes through the garden… the trees used here are amelanchier lamarckii, a very well-used ‘garden designer’ tree, prized for its sculptural form, as well as its spring blossom + autumn colour our palette of hard landscape materials (naturally silvered timber deck + limestone gravel path) harmonises in simplicity with the building, all helping to give emphasis to the natural beauty of the planting . . . . design by @colm_joseph photos by @richardbloomphoto garden build by @bowleswyer trees from @deepdaletrees plants from @palmstead gravel from @allgreengb architecture by @casa.architects . . . . #naturalgarden #naturalisticplanting #naturalisticgarden #plantingdesign #moderngarden #moderngardens #modernlandscape #modernarchitecture #amelanchier #treestreestrees #beautifultrees #naturalsculpture #sculptural #simplicityisbeauty #landscapedesigns #modernhomedesign #gardenstyle #plantingideas #homegarden #houseandgarden #landscapedesigner #gardendesigner #gardendesigns #gardendesignideas #cambridgeshire #landscapearchitecture #gardenphotography #gardenplants #gardenideas

some planting details around the main seating area in our east suffolk garden project this planting fully surrounds + softens the main dining terrace, so you really feel ‘in’ the garden when sitting or dining outdoors the naturalistic, site-sensitive planting also creates a visual connection with the wider suffolk countryside setting the beech hedges especially, as well as providing structure + spatial definition, they really amplify the connection between garden + wider landscape throughout the seasons, beech being a common native tree species in the local east suffolk countryside . . . . design by @colm_joseph photos by @richardbloomphoto garden build by @gadd_brothers plants from @palmstead hedging from @elvedeninstanthedge trees from @deepdaletrees limestone pavers from @allgreengb limestone chippings from @breedonspecialaggregates . . . . #naturalisticplanting #naturalgarden #suffolkgarden #suffolk #gardenplants #perennials #beech #hedge #plantingideas #plantingdesign #gardenideas #eastsuffolk #greengarden #summergarden #gardenstyle #gardenphotography #gardenview #gardenviews #gardendesigner #gardendesignideas #landscapegarden #landscapedesigns #landscapedesign #plantingdesigner #naturalisticgarden #englishgarden #countrygarden #moderngarden #planting

with our suffolk walled garden project recently shortlisted for the @societyofgardendesigners awards (SGD Awards 2025), i thought i’d share a few after/before shots, to show the contrast of finished garden to original site 🌿 you can vote for this garden to win the PEOPLE’S CHOICE award at the SGD Awards 👉 link in my bio + story highlights as a small + growing design studio, recognition of our work through awards like this helps a lot, so your vote is really appreciated! 🙏🏻💚 as you can see, the original site was a bit of a blank canvas! … i’d almost forgotten until i started pulling together these before + after photos with this design, i wanted to create an imaginative, naturalistic garden that felt connected to the local suffolk landscape, while also helping balance the modern house architecture with traditional character of the victorian walled garden . . . . design by @colm_joseph after photos by @richardbloomphoto garden build by @stewartlandscape plants from @palmstead + @robintacchi pavers from @brickworksvandemoortel gravel from @allgreengb . . . . #suffolkgarden #walledgarden #moderngarden #walledgardens #gardendesigns #afterbefore #naturalisticplanting #plantingdesign #gravelgarden #birchtrees #birchtree #naturalgarden #gardendesigner #gardenideas #planting #plantingideas #gardenplants #gardenview #gardenviews #gardentransformation #gardenstyle #gardenphotography #gardenlife #gardendesigners #landscapedesigner #perennials #perennialgarden #greengarden #outdoorlivingspace

a few more planting + paving details from the gravel garden in our east suffolk project 🌿 the planting design here is all about combining a naturalistic, loose feel with a sense of balance + harmony this is done by layering + repeating contrasting textures + forms in the planting, but with a gently varying flower + foliage colour palette throughout the simplicity of the beech hedging, limestone paving + steps also help as a calm, harmonious backdrop for the plants . . . . design by @colm_joseph photos by @richardbloomphoto garden build by @gadd_brothers trees from @deepdaletrees plants from @palmstead limestone pavers from @allgreengb gravel from @breedonspecialaggregates . . . . #gravelgarden #suffolk #suffolkgarden #suffolkcounty #naturalgarden #naturalisticplanting #naturalisticgarden #plantingideas #gardenideas #gardenplants #gardenpath #paving #limestone #planting #plantingdesign #gardendesigner #gardendesigns #gardeningideas #drygarden #plantcombinations #plantstyling #plantstyle #gravel #gardenphotography #landscapedesigner #gardensteps #steps #walledgarden #perennials

a few shots of the beautiful multi-stem crabapple trees in our cambridgeshire country garden project finding great trees for gardens is always one of the most enjoyable + important parts of bringing designs to life + i was super happy to find these crabapple trees for this garden we included five of these trees (malus ‘red jewel’) around the main seating areas in the garden, to frame views + provide some dappled shade i really like using trees that change with the seasons, blossom in spring, summer green, autumn colour + autumn/winter fruit + crabapples are a really good example of this other planting here includes the grass deschampsia cespitosa ‘goldtau’ + the perennial helenium ‘moerheim beauty’ . . . . design by @colm_joseph photos by @richardbloomphoto garden build by @gadd_brothers trees from @deepdaletrees plants from @palmstead limestone pavers from @artoriusfaber water bowl from @urbisdesignltd . . . . #gardentree #crabapple #crabapples #appletree #appletrees #treestreestrees #treelove #treelife #gardenplants #naturalisticplanting #naturalisticgarden #plantingdesign #plantingdesigner #gardendesigner #gardendesignideas #naturalgarden #outdoorseating #outdoorlivingspace #seatingarea #gardenview #gardenviews #ornamentalgrasses #perennials #helenium #gardenfurniture #countrygarden #cambridgeshire #gardenstyle #gardenideas