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Garden furniture – massive furniture sale
1st Feb:
If you have always wanted stylish Rattan garden furniture for your garden but never got round to buying it, now is definitely the time to think again. We are currently offering amazing prices on the ex display garden furniture we have in the show room at the moment. We need to clear this stock to make room for the arrival of new furniture this month, all furniture must go.
• Black Rattan Sofa set – 2 seater sofa with an arm chair and 2 foot stool/coffee table – from £500
• Rattan Coffee table with 2 chairs and 2 footstools (to create a mini lounger) – from £300
• Dinning Table and 8 chairs – from £800
• Sun lounger – from £250.00
• Cushion Box – from £250
Please call us or come in and see us if you are interested.
A Working-day in the Life of an HP Landscaper.
4th Aug:
Summer time sees our landscaping teams working to capacity across gardens in our area of London. The last couple of days have been typical of this time of year, seeing the appearance of both the Factor 20 and the company issue water-proofs. Our Great British Summer. The job ahead in this particular two days is to be mainly heavy ground working with a little skilled and precise installation work. A prior ground or soil survey has revealed the presence of clay. A lot of clay.
As part of a five-strong team I arrive on site before 8 am where the client offers us the great British motivator, a round of teas, relieved to find out they are all white-with-ones.
We glove up and set out the days tools, dust sheets, barrows and boards. Already hot, sleeves are rolled up, sun cream slapped on faces and deep breaths taken as today’s task is the excavation of a metre deep hole and the erection of 12 posts within to install a fabulous trampoline as part of a children’s play area. Did I mention that the hole is to be made through clay? Luckily we are able to call on two extra members of our team to come and do some leg work lugging hundreds of bags of clay and rubble out the front to the skip, returning to the garden with over 300 20kg bags of sand from the five ton drop made that morning. That’s when the teas really come into their own. Some of the boys progress to white-with-twos.
10 am arrives fast, and the 15 minute break results in a rapid stiffening of muscles so it’s back to the digging and the carrying. This makes room for the first of the 12 posts on which the trampoline will be set. It feels good to see the idea coming to life, for both us and the client whose delightful children are taking full advantage of the weather and the holiday to splash about excitedly in the paddling pool and offer us bites of their half eaten dripping lollies, one dressed as a mermaid and the other as a cowboy.
By the end of the day, the sand is shifted and levelled in the play area, the hole is completed and eight posts are erected.
The next day arrives and the British summer gifts us another warm day; with a side of heavy and constant rain. You’ll see from the pictures that the hole is doing it’s job of draining away rainwater – just wish the raincoats were doing as good a job – and the lads remain committed to meeting the deadline.
As soon as the shed is erected we have somewhere to huddle together and eat our soggie sarnies, sup our restorative brews and discuss the best way to lay the artificial turf on a bed of layered safety-foam which we are using to cover the entire children’s play area. I’ve never seen a shed go up in such record time! It turns out that the conditions do not lend themselves to laying the grass and foam as it doesn’t give the product (nomow artificial turf) the best chance of a long and maintenance free life.
That being said, I’d have loved to show you pictures of the completed job, but this being Our Great British Summer, sometimes we just have to do the very best that mother nature allows us to.
Chelsea Flower Show
31st May:
Press Day tickets at Chelsea Flower.
What a luxury. No heaving queues, no standing on tip-toes to see over a mass of purple rinses and camera phones, no jostling for position to get a view of the show gardens. Simply a relaxing walk around (and through) all the gardens, stands and stalls of Chelsea Flower Show 2011.
At first glance the show seemed much the same as year’s gone before; the same suppliers, the same contractors, the same designers (they really are forming quite a clique……..one day!!) consistently impressive bulging, billowing planting schemes, and mind boggling feats of installation. However….to summarise this year’s show as “the same as last year” would not only show me up as someone who didn’t have much insight into our profession, it would also do a disservice to the amazing amount of hardwork and talent that is required to create these one off masterpieces.
The ability of all involved to create in a matter of days (not withstanding all the work off site and months of prep. however) what we at Harrington Porter attempt to construct over several weeks, is what continues to impress me each year. Planting that looks as if it’s been there for years, huge trees up to 6 or 7 metres carted in for dramatic effect, water-wheels, tree stumps, horrendously expensive hand cut stone, swimming pools, and other installations that for one week look, in their own orchestrated environment, that they have been there for years.
So what of this year’s flower show in particular? Our signature style at Harrington Porter is that of the contemporary urban garden. And evidence of this, blinkered or not, is what I look for each year and what impresses me most. And for this reason my choice for best in show was Trailfinders Australian Garden presented by Fleming’s Nurseries designed by Ian Barker. Read more about the Australian Garden here. I loved the futuristic feature seating, the combination of stone and paving, and the stunning white/silver/evergreen planting scheme. The huge water feature pond isn’t really conducive to your typical London garden, but everything else really worked for me. The balance of entertaining space vs planting vs features made it a garden that could genuinely be used – a garden that could realistically be built for someone.
That leads me on to my choice for worst in show. Dirmaund Gavin’s sky garden. Totally indulgent, totally unrealistic, and distinctly average unless you were allowed to go up in the floating garden. Which I wasn’t. I’d guess this creation cost twice as much as most other show gardens, it was certainly twice the size, and whilst it highlighted everything flamboyant and extravagant about Chelsea, personally I thought it was a bit of a dud.
The other garden that really stood out for me was Luciano Giubbilei’s Laurent Perrier garden. This is a designer who’s style I love, and copy! and it was the garden that I had done some background research in to. His style is one of symmetry, clean lines and order, off-set with beautiful features, block planting, and sculpture. And this year’s garden for which he won another gold medal was stunning. I think I’d expected something more formal and architectural with regards to the planting, but he did this with the hard landscaping and softened things with the most beautiful flowing low lying planting. Classic signature features were on show – under-cut feature shrubs, in this case Parrotia persica, beech hedging, and linear Cedec pathway revealing his typically Italianate style. See more of Luciano’s designs here.
Trends that our keen eyes at Harrington Porter noticed this year were:
Green / Living Walls
Water – all manner of shapes, sizes and features
Curves with planting and hard landscaping
Cornus kousa
Vegetable and herb gardening
Green roofs
Blue and yellow planting
Outdoor rooms
3rd May:
We have had some glorious sunny days, lawns have had their first cut and Spring is definitely here. So NOW is the time to start planning how to get the best out of your garden, terrace or balcony. The trend for the outdoor room – a garden that is an extension of your living space – continues at a pace and more and more clients are looking to compliment their interiors with built in seating, trendy lighting, outdoor heaters and paint colours to match their indoors. Here we are going to look at different ways of how YOU can create your own.
Focal Seating Areas
A seating area is a key aspect of your outdoor room, a place to congregate, relax and entertain. What better way is there to make use of your garden than relaxing with friends and family.
Garden furniture. From affordable, all weather outdoor sofas for lounging – Ibizian style, through to a 2 person bistro set for coffee. Make this the focal point of your garden, positioned in sun or shade as you wish. Surround with pots or planting to give a sense of place and style.
Floating bench – a trendy way to create seating in your garden. They can be built simply and at a low cost, but can give your garden that “wow” factor especially with a few recessed LED lights.
Built in sofas. Base the construction of raised beds or the shape of decking or paving around the size of pre-bought garden furniture to give it a permanent place. If you use this as one or two sides of seating around a table then you add individual chairs when you have extra guests.
Outdoor Lighting
From fully installed spike lights running off mains power to a few well placed storm lanterns or battery operated fairy lights.
Light up feature trees, plants or pots – considering views from your house so your garden can be enjoyed even in Winter.
Outdoor eating
As outdoor living becomes more and more popular so does al fresco cooking. Ideas and methods for built in kitchens and BBQ’s are making their way over from places like Australia (below is a 3D design of a built in BBQ that we are currently installing for a client) with fireplaces and firepits becoming readily available. Simplified – create a permanent place for your free standing BBQ with a raised bed or some pots and plant up with herbs for your cooking.
Pots and plants
The clever use of contemporary planters and plants is one of the easiest ways to transform your garden, creating a stylish modern look. You MUST use quality compost and ensure there is drainage (holes in the bottom and broken pots or stones)in your pots, otherwise your smart evergreen Box balls will soon be brown!! Buying plants for pots is not something that should be done annually!!
Gareth’s Plants for March
18th Feb:
It’s not all hard-work and grim weather! Look out for the following plants, which we offer at very competitive prices, and can source any variety or number.
Viburnum – this is their time. Gorgeous, opulent flowers – both bare-stemmed and on evergreens. V.tinus is the good old favourite – for good reason. But look out for V. bodnatense and V. opulum, as well as many other species. Most are shade tolerant, unfussy about soil conditions, and are forgiving about neglect – just leave them alone, and enjoy. When they get too big, prune them back hard, and they will come back stronger and more glorious than before! A must-have!
Helleborus – sheer beauty and elegance during these dull and dire months. It cheers the heart to see these wondrous plants put on such a show at this time of year. Again, they are tolerant of shade – they like it in fact, and will tolerate all soils, although they do prefer rich soils. Many types to choose from, but the more spectacular hybrids are worth going for, although they cost slightly more as they are all carefully hand-pollinated to ensure they come ‘true’. If you want to save money though, or buy a generous amount while saving the pennies, go for H. niger or H. foetidus – absolute stunners!
Daphne – a scent to rival Gardenias, Jasmine, and all the other ‘greats’. Such a smell at such a time of year is precious, and should be indulged and cherished. These plants are shade tolerant, but they need rich soil – a great choice to have in pots. Put them outside your front door at this time of year to greet you with their heavenly scent each time you pass them. When their flowers are over, move the pots to a quiet corner of the garden, and pull them back out next year.
Jasmine – not just for Summer! Winter-flowering Jasmine is one of the great joys at this time of year a bold display of cheery yellow blooms, festooned all over. These plants are tough, and will grow in any soil, though they do prefer a sunny site. They flower on one-year-old wood, so prune early in the year, after flowering, to encourage the maximum display the following year. A wonderful plant that will spread and grow endlessly, if allowed. But, at the same time, easy to maintain and contain.
Clematis – every month you will find Clematis in flower! C. cirrhosa is a true marvel. Evergreen, tough, strong, fast growing and heavy-flowering. Only comes in white, cream or freckled-flowers, with nodding bells that last for months. A wonderful species of Clematis, this plant will take care of itself, and cover a large area within a few years if desired. It needs something to grab hold of, such as trellis or wire, but is self-clinging – so no need to tie in! It prefers a sunny site, and good soil. In Summer it gets tired, so it is great when combined with Summer-flowering climbers that it can grow alongside with, such as Roses, or Summer-flowering Clematis.
New products in our showroom
21st Jan:
With the beginning of a new year, we are thrilled to tell you about the arrival of a brand new range of products in our showroom!
A host of new plant pot ranges and rattan furniture grace our showroom, with the imminent arrival of an exciting range of fake plants and trees.
A leading supplier of rattan furniture will be offering readymade as well as a bespoke ranges, from L-shaped sofas to day loungers. Our new range of fake plants and trees will give your garden, window boxes and front of house that lush, green and healthy look all year round. Appealing to individual tastes, styles and sizes of gardens, our new range of garden pots should not be missed!
With a wider range of products, we offer you greater choice to make the most of your outside space this Spring and Summer.
Come in and take a look for yourself.
Garden design and build at Harrington porter
20th Jan:
It has been another long but enjoyable year for the Harrington Porter landscaping team. We have built several really exciting garden projects and in advance of an update of our portfolio, please see a selection of photos below. We have built a number of stylish, contemporary outdoor “rooms” with a common trend of artificial lawns, floating benches, uplighting, low maintenance planting and rendered planters. The design of these spaces has been considered with the increasingly popular concept of all year round outdoor entertaining in mind, with outdoor heaters, firepits, and lighting, meaning that it doesn’t have to be mid-summer to use your garden anymore.
Christmas 2010
18th Nov:
Here at Harrington Porter we are starting to gear up for the busy Christmas period. We already have a range of Gisela Graham Christmas decorations in stock as well as the usual pots, plants and garden related gifts. Our first delivery of trees will be arriving at the end of November with the bulk of them arriving on the 9th December. We will also have a range of door wreaths, garlands and table decorations. More decorations will be arriving at the beginning of December. You can contact us and pre-order your tree now.
If we can be of any assistance please don’t hesitate to contact one of us in the office (see below for the price list of the Christmas trees) .
Christmas Tree Price List 2010
All trees are non-drop premium quality Nordman trees.
Gold Grade:
4 / 5ft - £45.00 (pink tag)
5 / 6ft - £50.00 (orange tag)
7 / 8ft - £90.00 (purple tag)
Silver Grade:
5 / 6ft - £35.00 (yellow tag)
6 / 7ft - £50.00 (blue tag)
Bronze Grade:
6 / 7ft - £45.00 (green tag)
Christmas Tree Stand Price List
Cinco 7” - £24.50
Cinco 10” – £29.50
Harrington Porter Website Launch
13th Oct:
Having moved into our new flower shop and garden showroom in Fulham, we are proud to unveil our new website for the 2009/10 gardening season.
Offering an in depth showcase of all our gardening services, from garden design, garden maintenance, landscaping, paving, decking and fencing, together with our new flowers and events service.
We are striving to become London’s premier gardening company, and continue to provide Londoners with quality and affordable gardening services and products.
Our unique selling point, now that we are based in our new premises near Putney Bridge, is that we can offer ‘on the spot’ gardening and landscaping advice to new and existing clients, giving them the opportunity to view at first hand material and plant samples for their garden.
Our new website outlines all our services, as well as a portfolio of past work and we hope that it offers you advice and inspiration to help you make the best of your London home and garden.
We hope you enjoy our new site and look forward to hearing from you soon or seeing you at our new shop at 419 New King’s Road.
