Claire Durkan Garden Design

06/09/2026

Sunday inspiration trip to York Gate Garden 💚🌿 Attention to detail abounds. Lush planting still around the Dell garden which the birds were clearly enjoying with their cheery trills (hope you can hear on the video). 🎶 Loved the sand garden and the curved terrace, with its gentle transitions, has provided ideas for my current project. ✍️ 🌿 I have summer house envy a perfect spot for living well outdoors (need a bigger garden 😆) and the potting area with a view provided a little relief from the rain. Scrumptious Bakewell Tart in the friendly cafe ☕️ a perfect end to the visit. 💚🌿😊 Definitely visit again…

05/09/2026

🌹 Roses are absolutely bossing it! Get some in your life. 🌹
If I could tell you to plant one thing this autumn, it would be roses.
They’ve absolutely bossed it this season, sailing through the heatwave without so much as a wilt. Most have flowered their socks off all summer, and some, like this beautiful Gentle Hermione, are only just getting started with what promises to be a fantastic autumn display. 🌸
The number of buds on this one is getting me more excited than an impromptu takeaway on a Wednesday night! 🍛😄
You can pre-order roses now for bare-root season and plant them anytime from autumn through to spring, as long as the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged. Come summer, you’ll reap the rewards. 🌱☀️
Despite their reputation, roses really aren’t difficult to look after. Keep deadheading and they’ll keep producing bloom after bloom. ✂️🌹
There are so many wonderful varieties to choose from. These are just a few from my own garden. (David Austin Roses - other growers are available) What’s your favourite? 👇
If you’d like planting advice for next season, whether you’re refreshing a border or planning a complete garden redesign, have a look at my website and book a discovery call. 📞🌿
Right, I’d better get home. The boys are due back from cricket soon, and photographing roses all afternoon probably won’t count as a productive Saturday... 🏏😂
🌿 Living Well Outdoors starts with planting something you’ll enjoy for years to come. 🌿
LivingWellOutdoors GentleHermione GardenInspiration GardenLife 🌹✨

30/08/2026

Rain is often the best test of material selection. Even in wet conditions, the natural limestone coping and setts retain their brightness, reflecting light back into the garden and towards the house. Compared to the old timber sleepers, the difference is striking. Good garden design is as much about material choice as it is about planting and layout. In this garden I used 만다린스톤 ㅣ 난 • 꽃 • 분재 Dijon limestone coping and cobbles. Bound gravel adds a warm touch. 🌿💚

24/08/2026

A well designed space makes living well outdoors easy and enjoyable. Expertly built by the team at Peak Landscape Design.

A pleasure to design, planting was tough in the heatwave and required careful aftercare to avoid plant losses. Plants supplied by Dtail plant nursery in York.

I look forward to seeing the planting develop 💚🌿

15/08/2026

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) - what’s not to love.🌿💚 Seen here with Love in a mist seedheads. 💚🌿 Want to know what to plant in your garden for impact & to cope with our increasingly hot climate - my planting design service could be just what you need! Take a look at my website cddesigns.co.uk or send me a message to start a conversation 😊

12/08/2026

This photo message completely made my day 💚
The best part of being a garden designer is seeing clients connect with and enjoy their gardens long after the project is finished. 🌿
Thinking about transforming your outdoor space? Feel free to get in touch. 🌿GardenDesign

09/08/2026

✨ “We’re blown away! It looks amazing!” ✨

One of the biggest decisions in this planting design was choosing the right trees. Many people are understandably cautious about planting trees in smaller gardens, worrying they’ll outgrow the space or create too much shade.
But with thoughtful selection, trees can be one of the most valuable elements in a garden.
🌳 They provide cooling shade during increasingly hot summers
🌳 Support birds, pollinators and other wildlife
🌳 Bring beautiful seasonal interest, flowers, foliage, fruit and autumn colour
🌳 Create structure and height, adding a vital vertical dimension to planting schemes
🌳 Help a garden feel established, balanced and connected to nature
For this project, a tailored tree guide helped my clients explore the options and choose trees that felt right for both the space and their vision. Seeing them embrace the idea and feel excited about including trees from the outset is exactly why I love this part of the design process.
The best tree for a garden isn’t always the biggest statement tree. Often it’s the carefully chosen one that enhances the space, works hard for wildlife, and brings joy throughout the seasons. 💚
WildlifeGarden GardenInspiration ClimateResilientGardens GardenPlanning TreesForSmallGardens
Client permission granted to share excerpts of their lovely feedback. ✨Thank you Lisa Turnbull

04/08/2026

Great way to spend your Sunday afternoon! You’ll receive a warm welcome 🤗 🏏

📣 New clubhouse official opening this Sunday ✂️🎀

Sunday at 11:30 followed by the Sunday XI v Darton Cricket Club

26/07/2026

More progress today Silkstone Golf Club Limited thank you to lots of muscle power from Neil, Oscar, Jack & Maiya - & this little beauty - augers are the best 😂 💪🪏🌿Teamwork makes the dream work 💚 Pics to follow. Very inspiring learning about the Korean Farming Method from Neil - be great to incorporate this into the border management at SGC 🌿💚🌿