Archives for posts with tag: garden

I’ve just returned from an incredibly relaxing extra long weekend on Waiheke Island, New Zealand.

The island lies 35 minutes ferry ride from Auckland. We were there to visit my aunt and uncle, who sailed into one of the island’s bays 22 years ago and have remained there ever since. They live in a beautiful cliff top house above an almost private little nudist beach. Their garden has some of the best views and is overflowing with zucchinis, beetroot, pumpkins, spinach, beans, feijoa, tomatoes, tamarillos and lots of herbs.

IMG_3250IMG_3251Waiheke IslandIMG_3313IMG_3311IMG_3314IMG_3316IMG_3315IMG_3317IMG_3312IMG_3310IMG_3319IMG_3291IMG_3321Waiheke IslandIMG_3320IMG_3273Waiheke IslandWhile in NZ we were also lucky enough to be invited to local girl Lorde’s first show. She is only 16 and is about to take off. Check out one of her tracks below. More here.

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LordeAll photographs by Sophia Kaplan.

My friend Lisa was in South Africa recently to spend some time with her boyfriend’s family.

Her travel snaps are adorable and I particularly liked these two. The first is taken at Babylonstoren Garden and the second while on safari.

Lisa & NeilLisa & NeilLisa is a stylist living in New York and her boyfriend Neil is a photographer. You can see some of their work on together over at Hunger TV. Above photographs by Neil Francis Dawson.

I have now added the Babylonstoren Garden to my list of places to visit when I head to South Africa (hopefully) next year. You can stay in one of their adjoining guesthouses, use the spa, visit their delicatessen, eat at the restaurant or just wander the garden.

BabylonstorenBabylonstorenBabylonstorenBabylonstorenBabylonstorenBabylonstorenImages from the Babylonstoren blog.

I visited Morocco a few years back. We caught the ferry from Tarifa across the Strait of Gilbrator to Tangiers. The ocean is incredibly luminescent and the sun so strong. We only spent a day in Tangiers before heading to Essaouira, but I remember winding, steep, dusty streets looking out onto that incredible view of the Mediterranean. It’s a rough, mysterious, and beautiful town filled with creative expats including the world renowned garden designer Madison Cox.

TangiersTen or so years ago Cox bought a run down house perched on the cliffs of Tangiers. A lot of care and thought has gone into the renovation of the house and bringing alive of the garden. The one and a half acre garden is long and narrow and has a high white masonry wall on one side and cliff edge on the other. Within the garden he has a free standing library, swimming pool, guesthouse, chicken coop, stone paths, terraces, and flower and vegetable beds. It’s a relaxed design, and looks like a total pleasure to be amongst.

TangiersTangiers10well-cox-custom1Photographs by Oberto Gili for the NY Times.

My sister was also in Morocco a couple of weeks ago. Her pictures are lovely so I thought I’d include some here.

F1020031MoroccoF1070026F1000016F1010002F1070030F1030028F1030019F1020011F1020012F1020028Photographs by Olivia Kaplan and Pierre Voirin.

My best mate and a bunch of her friends live in a beautiful old terrace in Redfern. Their house has three meandering levels, and the garden is surrounded by leaf covered brick walls. They’ve only been there less than a year but already it feels so homely.

IMG_2831IMG_2897IMG_2861IMG_2859IMG_2889IMG_2853IMG_2849Thanks to Jane, Maya, Blake, Caitlin and Will for letting me photograph their home.

Home Life recently posted these photographs of a beautiful property in the Adelaide Hills. The owners have cultivated an incredible collection of roses, and I love seeing the countryside and cows peek out from behind the flowers.

808712-1_ll 808710-1_llRose808704-1_ll808714-1_llAll photographs by Claire Takacs for Home Life.

Also on their website is a glimpse into a beautiful French Lot valley countryside home. It has been tastefully updated from its original 19th century state.

609171-1_lpFrance609161-1_lp609173-1_lp609165-1_lpPhotography by Richard Power for Home Life.

I picked up the latest issue of Love Magazine to find this incredible Tim Walker shoot starring Kate Moss. The photographs were inspired by Angela Carter’s novel The Magic Toy Shop and feature a scantily clad Moss with little gardens growing from her body. It’s kind of intoxicating.

Screen shot 2013-02-13 at 1.46.49 PM  Screen shot 2013-02-13 at 1.45.56 PMScreen shot 2013-02-13 at 1.46.40 PMTim WalkerScreen shot 2013-02-13 at 1.46.20 PM

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Walker did a little interview with Love Magazine about the shoot. Check it out here. To subscribe to the magazine head here.

All photographs by Tim Walker.

Ricardo BofillRicardo Bofill is an acclaimed Spanish architect, with an incredible postmodern sensibility. He founded the Taller de Arquitectura, a studio of around 40 architects, engineers, sociologists and philosophers who have undertaken a vast array of projects from private homes and interior design to airports, public gardens, hotels and retail spaces.

One of his most incredible projects is the ongoing transformation of an abandoned cement factory in Barcelona.

Ricardo BofillThis former industrial complex has become an incredibly inviting world, with huge cathedral like rooms and surrealist features. The surrounding grounds have also been transformed from a dusty scrap yard to an oasis of palms, olive trees, eucalyptus and cypresses. The vines growing up the walls and the big splashes of green that can be seen from inside the building add to its charm.

Ricardo BofillRicardo BofillRicardo BofillRicardo BofillThis old factory is now his family home along with the headquarters for the Taller de Arquitectura, and a venue for exhibitions, concerts and lectures.

Ricardo BofillRicardo Bofill

All photographs from Ricardo Bofill.

He may be a little old for me, but I’ve always had a bit of a crush on sweet Monty Don. He’s an English horticulturalist, TV presenter and author. I’ve watched ‘Around the World in 80 Gardens’ and ‘Italian Gardens’ but he has a pretty long list of shows he has been apart of.

Monty DonMonty Don

Monty has my absolute dream job – to explore private and open gardens and introduce them to others. So sit back, relax and enjoy a bit of Monty Don guiding us through some incredible ancient Italian estates.

Villa d’Este, Tivoli

The Garden of Ninfa, Latina

Villa di Castello and Boboli Gardens

Photographs by Marsha Arnold.

Alex MacLean learnt to fly while studying architecture at Harvard University. His latest book gives a pretty spectacular glimpse into the rooftop gardens of some of New York’s luckiest residents. Imagine.

Alex MacLeanAlex MacLean Alex MacLean   Alex MacLean Alex MacLean Alex MacLeanAlex MacLeanAlex MacLeanThe book is available from The Book Depository.

I was in the UK and France earlier this year visiting some friends and my little sister who is currently studying in Bordeaux.

I spent a couple of days in Reading (half an hour out of London) with some family and we got to visit one of my favourite gardens, the Harris Garden at the University of Reading where my grandfather was Dean of the Faculty of Science for a period.

Harris Garden Plan

The modern botanical garden was established in 1972 and is set on the home paddock of a now demolished Victorian house which in turn was built in the landscape garden created by George, Marquis of Blandford between 1798 and 1810.

The above pictures are film, the rest are just from my phone.

This garden is quintessentially English. Very lush, with paths winding through, crossing over, and gently tapering off. There are structured lawns with hedges, flowering meadows and herb gardens. I found a bunch of wild garlic which we discreetly dug one head up to use for dinner that night. It feels quite magical and makes me nostalgic, I felt like a child again.

 

Garden plan from Friends of The Harris Garden.

All photographs by Sophia Kaplan.