Zoe Kilbride Garden Design
Front of House - Ongar
As part of a recent garden design project, a new driveway was installed, and we designed surrounding planting areas to soften the appearance of the hard landscaping and create a welcoming, cohesive frontage. From the outset, our process began with an in-depth consultation to understand the client’s aesthetic preferences and practical requirements. This included discussions around preferred colour schemes, seasonal interest, fragrance, potential allergens, and the desired level of ongoing maintenance.
Taking all of these factors into account, we developed a bespoke planting plan that was carefully tailored to suit both the specific site conditions and the client’s lifestyle.
A key element of the brief was to introduce fragrant planting along the pathway to enhance the sensory experience of arriving home, as well as to include strong structural elements to frame and highlight the front entrance. These features were thoughtfully incorporated into the final design, balancing visual impact with year-round interest and functionality.
“One of my favourite roses to include in planting schemes is Queen of Sweden—not just for its elegant, upright form and soft, blush-pink blooms, but for its beautifully subtle fragrance. The scent is light and fresh, with gentle myrrh notes that feel refined rather than overpowering. It’s the kind of rose that quietly elevates a space, offering a delicate perfume as you pass by without dominating the garden. I find it especially well-suited to front gardens or near seating areas, where its graceful appearance and understated scent can be fully appreciated.”
— Zoe Kilbride, Garden Designer