Letters from the Garden
 
Dear Readers
We hope you have been enjoying the gardens, it seems we have entered the heatwave to rain scenario of the end of summer to come.
For us since we moved and before it has been a bit of battle, with life generally, I’m sure there are many of you out there that have sought solace in your garden, one way or another, if you have lost loved ones, jobs, or been so busy, but had to keep going just as everyone else has.
In the move to Farringdon, which is lovely by the way (not that I have had time to start my garden)  Vodafone have lost our business phone no. we were hoping this would not be the case, but for those of you that have used us in the past and know that no. and seen it advertised for seven years, it is no longer active, we have now been given a new no. to call for garden queries, advice, and landscaping.
The new no. 01420 588029, our mobiles and email addresses are all the same.
We are sorry for any inconvenienced caused but we have been fighting for six weeks, so straight to the head office, who will now deal with the outcome whatever that may be.
Happily we have been able to continue working as we have some amazing clients, old and new and Mr D works hard to keep everyone happy, working on new projects or re-visiting old ones which is lovely, revisiting a garden we did six years ago this week, and it looks amazing, just in need of some plant advice, but it has been looked after well and enjoyed I am glad to say.
Unfortunately, this week we had to say goodbye to an important member of our family and the Mow n Blow team, we had to say farewell to Tinca Dupont our beloved Jack Russell of 15 years who has been the most faithful friend, companion, and loved one we could have wished for, such a big personality for those that new her, so sweet dreams little one, we hope you are barking at squirrels wherever you may be, Love from all.
Hope to see you in your garden soon
 
Lynn and Christian Dupont
01420 588029
MNB Designs Ltd
MNB Horticulture Ltd 
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​Designing your garden space….
 
…..well here we are in late March and with the light in the mornings it’s much easier to start the day. We are still battling the rain and the wet generally and I have to say I feel for those that are genuinely battling the wet in their garden’s, hopefully it will dry out soon.
With that though the lawns have started to grow, and we have to start sooner rather than later, hoping we don’t sink while we are doing it!!
The team are still working on a project at present, and it certainly has been taxing but the end is near and we can show some photos hopefully next month. We have been doing some design and consultancy, plus new garden designs for lovely new clients, a revamp and another complete change of space and planting in another, we are looking at plants to prepare for the next project and I have to say one of my favourite’s at this time of year has shown it’s colours Prunus kojo no-mai, always elegant for the spring to start.
When the weather allows, we are getting out into our garden spaces again, and it’s also the time when you notice what isn’t quite right for you, whether it’s the seating area not  quite big enough or not the right shape, or I think I need more plants and I definitely need more evergreens or funky shapes in the garden, a path to lead to another little secret seating area, or the hammock out of site for those quiet afternoons. It could be the time to look at these areas and call us in, we can advise iff it’s something you would like to do yourselves or we can design and build if that’s what you desire.
No project is too big or small so please give us a call, if you have something in mind.
Design, Consultancy, Build please call 😊01420 83471
 
Lynn and Christian Dupont
MNB Designs Ltd

Designing your garden space….
 
…..February, where the light is starting the lengthen the day, and what I look forward to in winter are the mornings getting lighter, as we start early in this trade and it’s a struggle for all during these months. That’s why it’s important if you are designing a garden space for those that wish to see their garden, lighting can be quite an important element to design and planning. It means you see your space in the evenings, looking out over your outside room and it still being part of the house can make these months seem so much more delightful, even with all this rain.
Lighting up ponds or pathways and specimen plants, will always make a statement even if it’s just for you, making these areas stand out even in the daylight where other elements come to life, is the secret to a good design. Just before Christmas we installed a wonderful corten water sculpture which was lit with planting around, we are still to visit in the evening so we can get the best shot for you all to see. The client was happy as it was another bespoke feature, Christian designed and had made locally.
We are just planning and shopping for a small woodland area for a client who loves plants and just keeps making room for more and more, it’s lovely to able to buy and plant so many in one go, it will be fun to see it grow and create the space desired for the wonderful client.
Full garden designs are always available, plus creative landscaping as Mr D comes up with another wonderful idea for the garden from laser cut steel walls, to bespoke water features and beautiful ponds, we are here to inspire and help.
Do you have a project in mind or would you like a Design to work to, we can definitely help with all ideas, Consultancy and Advice also available 😊01420 83471
 
Lynn and Christian Dupont
MNB Designs Ltd

​Designing your garden space….
 
…..January, New Year, new ideas! Having managed to get a couple of garden projects done in the frost, which we don’t mind working in and another small planting job, we are now into the big project which is another repeat client and whole new area to the garden. It’s always a pleasure to work there and I love maintaining the garden as it is, having taken a lovely picture of the pond we built earlier in the year just recently, with such a lovely view and Alpacas in the background (pic above).
Winter is great for looking at structure in the garden, especially from a planting point of view. Once the hard landscaping is done or already there, to soften and lead you around the garden, clever planting is needed. Planting plans, planting plus maintenance is what we do well, having the title of Head Gardener/Lady Gardener of the team and others I can’t repeat, this is my favourite part of the job.
Planning a garden is always something to look forward to and working in them even better, I don’t think I will ever tire of this, even if it’s just Designs and planning, if you need a horticulturist to design and plant or just consultancy, we can always help.
Full garden designs are always available, plus creative landscaping as Mr D comes up with another wonderful idea for the garden from laser cut steel walls, to bespoke water features and beautiful ponds, we are here to inspire and help.
Do you have a project in mind or would you like a Design to work to, we can definitely help with all ideas, Consultancy and Advice also available 😊01420 83471
 
Lynn and Christian Dupont
MNB Designs Ltd
MNB Horticulture Ltd

​Designing your garden space….
 
…..December please make it a dry and cold month!!! So much rain these last few months, one Design and build job took so much longer than it should, it rained so hard we discovered how wet the garden could get and with 200m2 of paving to be laid, it certainly tested us all. I can only say well done to the team and Christian for managing to keep going and get the work done. Once finished the overall design looked amazing. With a reduced pond, composite decking, raised patio area with new steps down to the new patio and a lovely large dining and entertaining area. There were also some planting pockets, needing to be low maintenance. We can safely say this has been achieved and a big thanks to the clients for having us in the back garden for so long.
Next project is not so big but still important, we have a few smaller designs and I am pleased to say two repeat clients with more design ideas for their gardens, I can only say that’s amazing and we love going back, especially when the gardens are so beautiful anyway, and an excuse in one of them to plant more trees which is very important.
With the Woodland Trust encouraging us all to plant more trees (The Woodland Trust, 2019) I am always please when a client asks for this, especially when it can be big or small, already having planted some lovely specimens, Quercus palustris ‘Green Pillar’, Gingko Biloba ‘Finger’ and Arbutus Lollipop ‘strawberry Tree’ and that’s just a few. We have bigger plans afoot.
This will counteract removing a hedge which we have decided to utilise and create a small stumpery within a Copse backdrop to the garden, so the ideas keep coming we keep planting, happy client happy team.
Do you have a project in mind or would you like a Design to work to, we can definitely help with all ideas, Consultancy and Advice also available 😊01420 83471
 
Lynn and Christian Dupont
MNB Designs Ltd
MNB Horticulture Ltd
 
The Woodland Trust. (2019, November 6th). Home - Get Planting. Retrieved from The Woodland Trust: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/?gclsrc=aw.ds

Designing your garden space….
  
……..continuing from last month, part 2 of our letter from a client, from back in May….
The choices you made continue to bring happiness to us every day. They’ve inspired the gardener in me — I now spend many an evening weeding and it’s become a bit of an obsession that I’m having to resist when I’m in other people’s gardens. We love the broad spectrum of plants that make up the borders and planters, so many of which we never knew before but have enjoyed watching change and develop over the last few months. I should say that many of our friends have taken photos for inspiration in their own gardens.
Having you all here during the works was a pleasure — it’s been a difficult adjustment to life without MnB in the garden. We were so impressed by everyone’s professionalism — Ian’s diligence, Connor’s work ethic, Joe and Cam’s sheer hard work, and of course the designs and adjustments to client requests (“We’d like a water feature, please!") from Christian and Lynn. You were continuously polite, considerate and always helpful. Personally speaking, I was very comfortable with you all here, particularly when my husband was travelling for several weeks and I was home alone with the kids.
We are looking forward to hosting friends of ours this afternoon and once again take delight in seeing their reactions to the overall effect, as well as the individual elements.
 
We couldn’t recommend MNB enough and our garden is always available for you show to potential clients (we promise to keep it looking beautiful!).
Thank you again to you all and looking forward to seeing you soon!
……..on that note, you have seen parts of this design in previous months so this is just one more picture for you.
So, we look forward to hearing from you and helping with the needs of your garden project, whether the Design or Landscaping or both, please call we can always help, Consultancy and Advice also available 😊01420 83471
 
Lynn and Christian Dupont
MNB Designs Ltd

​Designing your garden space….
 
….October, and I would like to take a slightly different direction for this article, we received the most wonderful letter from a fabulous client who we still see and go back to the garden designed back in May of this year……
Dear Christian, Lynn, Ian, Connor, Joe & Cam,
It’s Sunday morning and I’m in my favourite corner of the garden — on an Alexander Rose chair with a cup of coffee, next to the brick wall with all the beautiful planting on one side, and Andy cleaning the BBQ on the other. I can see the bees fluttering in and out of the ca mint and keep half an eye on the kids as they play on the decking, themselves in and out of the office. And I decided it was the perfect moment to pen an email to you all to say thank you for the incredible garden you have given us.
There is so much to say that I’m not sure where to start, other than it has very much transformed our lives. This garden has become the extension of the house that we needed. From hosting friends to just spending time as a family — the entire dynamic has changed from the space we had just this time last year. The new patio for the kids to run around and practice on their bikes, the vegetable patch (which is currently a "dedicated caterpillar farm” though we are getting some excellent produce that hasn’t been decimated by the soon-to-be butterflies), and the now integrated office that no look longer looks like a random rectangle plonked in the corner.
The choice of materials has really made this garden and we can’t thank you enough for helping guide us. The steel water feature and planters are a stunning and personal touch and I can’t help but be pleased with how they fit in with the new South Downs sign at the start of the A32! Which brings me neatly to the planting……..TBC next month.
Thank you again to you all and looking forward to seeing you soon!
So, we look forward to hearing from you and helping with the needs of your garden project, whether the Design or Landscaping or both, please call we can always help, Consultancy and Advice also available 😊01420 83471
 
Lynn and Christian Dupont
MNB Designs Ltd

​Designing your garden space….
 
….September, is it here already, this year has gone so quickly, hopefully we will be experiencing a Indian summer, I say with hope and promise.
Is there a definition of late summer, there are grasses drifting through beds, and helenium’s in full flower and beautiful seed heads forming, all being watched from your favourite space in the garden, or imagined, wistfully while enjoying the evening sun.
We therefore step into the unknown and what can be created to make your haven even more magical, this is where the creativity of the Design and Planting can come in, a lot of thought goes into what makes the garden the idle that we desire, is it somewhere to entertain, to amongst the plant life, to have secret areas that lead you through your space, planting to keep you happy and the wildlife even happier, or a relaxing area with the surroundings that make this space your own and take you away from everyday worries.
Like the Garden Design above, a space at an awkward angle to the house, Mr D has made us follow the red brick road to a hidden space and matching grey of the patio that highlights the bespoke soft fencing and the planting beds lead you through to that space not seen, inviting the butterflies, bees and birds.
With garden spaces getting smaller or existing larger spaces needing rejuvenation, to maybe balconies and roof gardens that need that Design wand to be waved, the secret is out we are garden Wizards and can make anything happen.
So, we look forward to hearing from you and helping with the needs of your garden project, whether the Design or Landscaping or both, please call we can always help, Consultancy and Advice also available 😊01420 83471
 
Lynn and Christian Dupont
MNB Designs Ltd

Designing your garden space….
 
….August, and the holidays are here, whether you are away looking at other gardens or in your own, they come into their own at this time of year. The roses are flowering in abundance, all the gorgeous flowers are performing as they are required, ready for the vases indoors.
The patio is in use, does it need updating, this area gets used a lot and is normally the base for the framing which is of course the plants, depending on the size of your garden, it could be an area for G&T, or dining for eight this is of course the needs that go into creating a brief for the garden and how you would like to use it, and what you wish to see.
When approaching an idea for your garden, we always find a couple of initial chats to find out ideas, likes and dislikes is really helpful for both parties, it’s very important as this will and extension to your home and where you will hopefully spend a reasonable amount of time, so getting it right, having realistic expectations will always make the process smoother.
At the moment we are creating a great space for an unusual shape, small but will be perfectly formed. There is compost deck, planting, larger terrace space and a lovely brick path which will create the shape through the garden, also some bespoke fencing to lift the look and a little more modern.
Next is another small re-design of terrace and beds, then another larger planting border existing but reshaped and made larger, which means lots of plant shopping, which is always fun.
So we look forward to hearing from you and helping with the needs of your garden project, whether the Design or Landscaping or both, please call we can always help, Consultancy and Advice also available 😊01420 83471
 
Lynn and Christian Dupont
MNB Designs Ltd