< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY A well-designed space can make a massive impact, and Ed Fuller and his team from Fullers Landscaping have completed a project which demonstrates this. We were asked to create a useable garden which originally sloped down from the house to a driveway. The area is not very large, and due to the levels was not a usable space. Furthermore, the steps from the door to the driveway came out so far that a car couldn’t go all the way up the drive. The brief that we had to consider with this project were: levels, ensuring the driveway was usable, easy access to the house and to the garden area, making a small area seem larger. In respect to the access from the house to the garden and driveway, we made it so that you came along the side of the house and down, thereby removing the steps which went straight up to the door. This reduced the space being used for Making an impact access and ensured the driveway was usable while also providing more garden area. Furthermore, this also created an area outside the door which can be used a raised seating area. This was finished off with a glass balustrade. The remaining garden area composed of timber walls, paving, planting and an artificial lawn. We installed an artificial lawn to ensure that the garden was low maintenance. Timber, curved walls reflected the curve of the driveway and separated the garden from the driveway. Planting in raised beds also showed the difference in heights thereby bringing the house and garden together. 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 29/06/2020 08:47 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 21 Specialised Services in Garden Design Landscaping and Tree Maintenance Backed by a highly-skilled and experienced team, we’ve built our reputation on an ability to provide our clients with professional, tailored gardening and forestry solutions FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTATIONS FULLERS Landscaping Call 01522 868717 or 07867 510544 landscapinglincolnshire@gmail.com www.landscapinglincolnshire.com Around the garden • Dead head bedding plans and perennial plants to stop them self-seeding and encourage further flowering. Cut back the faded perennial plants. • Dead head your roses to keep them looking tidy. Leave the flowers in place if your rose produces attractive hips (seed pods). • Dead head sweet peas regularly to keep them blooming and water daily in dry weather. • Keep an eye out for pests on plants, early treatment is best. • If you need to prune your deciduous Magnolia, now is the best time to do it. • Cutting back growth in hanging baskets can encourage new flowers and foliage and will revive the display. Make sure you feed your baskets well after doing this. • Pick your courgettes while they are young to encourage more fruit, and pick your runner beans regularly to prevent them becoming stringy and to make room for developing pods. • Water your lawn during hot weather, particularly newly seeded or turfed lawns. • Turn the contents of your compost bin every month to keep it well aerated. • Keep bird baths topped up in hot weather. In the adjacent corner an arbour was created and framed with raised sleeper beds. This created a private seating area to look back at the house and garden. This small garden now has a feel of space due to the reconfiguration of the levels, embracing the curve of the driveway and making good use of all the garden area available. We really enjoyed working on this project and the client was really pleased with the outcome. GARDEN ADVICE 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 29/06/2020 08:47 Page 2As one of the largest, fastest dragonflies in Europe – and certainly the bulkiest in Britain – chances are that when you spy a dragonfly this time of year, it’s more than likely one of the emperor variety. Much like its cousins, the emperor dragonfly has orb-like eyes that are usually green or blue. The male’s body comes in shades of azure and sapphire with a central dark like. This line is also present in the females, though their bodies are most often a leafy green, but can sometimes also be blue. At almost eight centimetres long, there’s no denying this is one big dragonfly. It’s also devilishly quick, reaching speeds of up to 24mph. To put that into perspective, Usain Bolt clocked speeds of 28mph in his prime. These beautiful creatures are abundant throughout summer, found near freshwater and wetlands. They may also be found over canals and slow- moving rivers and are characteristic of new ponds and flooded gravel pits where, for the first few years, the larvae may be very common. All in all, they’re rather common across Lincolnshire. While males will fight to the death over territory, the female lays her eggs alone in floating pondweed. The young emperor dragonflies – known as ‘nymphs’ – take a year to become winged adults but they then only live around ten days. The wings themselves are born black but grow yellow brown with age with that iconic detailing making them appear like stained glass windows. Given its speed and size, it’s perhaps little wonder that the emperor dragonfly is rarely ever still. In fact, they even eat on-the-go as it were, frequently flying high in the sky in search of their prey of butterflies and chaser dragonflies, though they’ve also been known to eat tadpoles. If you’re off for a stroll beside a canal, river or other body of freshwater, keep an eye out for emperor dragonflies. If they’re still for long enough, you might even be lucky enough to take a picture. 22 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY This month, we take a closer look at one of the most beautiful and characteristic insects of summer. Lincolnshire wildlife 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 29/06/2020 08:48 Page 1© Shutterstock/ iliuta goean LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 23 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 29/06/2020 08:48 Page 224 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION summer summer Your sorted With the shops opening again and the high street coming back to life, it’s time to get out there and strut your stuff. Of course, you’ll be needing some new outfits to look as good as you feel inside. Who says you can’t look fabulous whilst maintain social distancing measures? 24-33.qxp_Layout 1 29/06/2020 09:51 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 25 FASHION Numph Numph strike a balance between style and simplicity with an outfit that’s tailor made for the summer 24-33.qxp_Layout 1 29/06/2020 09:42 Page 226 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION Above: Noa Noa With this seventies inspired dress from Noa Noah you can look and feel great all summer long. Top right: Gerry Weber Beige doesn’t have to be boring as Gerry Weber prove. Just trying pairing it with bold colours and patterns for maximum impact. Right: Marc Cain This is a truly breath-taking outfit from Marc Cain, one that’s sure to get you noticed this summer. 24-33.qxp_Layout 1 29/06/2020 09:42 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 27 FASHION Masai What else is there to say about this beautiful layered dress from Masai other than you need one in your wardrobe. 24-33.qxp_Layout 1 29/06/2020 09:43 Page 428 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION 1) Taifun - Taifun redefine smart casual with a sharp look that’s tailored for the warmer months. 2) Ichi – Ichi offer an outfit that’s simultaneously cute and sophisticated. It’s also a masterclass in building a complete look, with the yellow of the dress mirrored in the top’s lemon pattern. 3) Samoon - Women come in all shapes and sizes and it’s only right that there’s fabulous clothing to fit all kinds. Samoon specialise in everyday wear for plus size women that doesn’t scrimp on style. 4) Masai This Masai dress is easily a shoo-in for one of our favourites of the season. Who couldn’t resist that flowing fit and stunning butterfly pattern? 5) LauRie - Just when you thought LauRie didn’t have any more tricks up their sleeves, they go and release an outfit like this one. The perfect fit and subtle details make this more than just a simple top and trouser combo. 6) Phoebe Grace - With this stunning maxi dress from Phoebe Grace, you’ll bring the summer even when the sun’s not shining. © DK Company / ICHI 1 2 3 24-33.qxp_Layout 1 29/06/2020 09:43 Page 5LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 11 FASHION 4 5 6 24-33.qxp_Layout 1 29/06/2020 09:43 Page 6Next >