Coastal Herb Garden

TThis garden was shaped by exposure. Wind, salt air, shallow rocky soil, and wildlife pressure all required a careful and restrained approach. In a place where even grass struggled to grow, the design focused on plants that could truly settle in.

A limited palette of drought-tolerant herbs, flowering perennials, native plants, and a small number of protected fruit trees was chosen for resilience rather than abundance. A wildflower lawn blend brings seasonal colour and movement, supporting pollinators while reducing long-term maintenance.

What has emerged is more than a low-maintenance garden. Located on a prominent corner, the space now invites pause and conversation. A simple bench and a small community book exchange encourage neighbours to stop, sit, and connect. What was once a barren and overlooked patch of land has become a shared point of interest, quietly woven into the daily life of the neighbourhood.

This project shows how working with difficult conditions can lead not only to ecological repair, but to renewed human connection as well.

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