b'a garden that combines bounty and style Rachael Matthews of Hedge Garden Design & Nursery suggests this alternative scheme:The aim is to create a gorgeous outside living space where the homeowners can get up close and personal with the birds and bees, flowers, fruit, fragrance and food! Picture a glass in hand, reaching out to pick strawberries, mint or lemons to garnish the drink of choice. Pathway lime replaces the lawn, and the walls are repainted a soft green, Resene Koru, which works well with the plant palette. Wider garden borders are edged in rusted (corten) steel. Cubed slabs of Oamaru stone mark the entrance to the garden and a pebble mosaic doormat is practical and adds texture. Pleached copper beech hedging (hedging on stilts) is used to create privacy without taking up too much space and continues the russet tones in the garden. Fruit trees are espaliered on a frame and the existing topiary balls are rearranged more loosely. The rest of the garden is filled with edible flowers, vegetables, herbs and companion planting, set randomly rather than in straight lines. Out of shot, a table and chairs would be set for outdoor dining.phone04 971 5691mobile022 2227 224 emailRachael@hedge.co.nz ReseneKoruRuth 1 and Flip footstool (stool shown in illustration at left)David Trubridge www.davidtrubridge.comRainbow silverbeetReseneOamaru stone AlabasterResene Parkside QuarriesMadam Mwww.oamarustone.co.nz 03 433 1134illustrationMalcolm White Resene Centre StageArtichokes Resene Southern Cross Yellow marigolds67'