Enrich Your Life with Beautiful Gardens All Year Round

Designing gardens that captivate us throughout all four seasons is truly an art, and no one understands this better than the renowned Slovenian landscape architect Mitja Škrjanec. His reflections on creating gardens that enchant and invigorate us all year round are as poetic as Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Join us as we explore his expert advice on making your dream garden come to life, every season of the year and what the role of the front door is in the wider scheme of landscape planning.


Timeless Garden Design: Beauty That Blossoms Over Time

Gardens enrich our lives 365 days a year, yet we often overlook the potential for beauty in every season—be it early spring, dry summer, or the depths of winter. According to Škrjanec, proper planning and the right plant selection are key to a garden’s year-round appeal.

We plant trees knowing it could be our children or grandchildren who will enjoy their shade. Plan your garden timelessly, as it will reach its full beauty in 10 to 15 years. Trends may influence your choice of furnishings, but the core of your garden should always be timeless and thoughtfully designed. It is the role of landscape architects to educate people to see this beauty.

Autumn and Winter Gardens: Embracing the Season’s Quiet Majesty

Autumn brings warm earthy colours to our garden, bringing the colourful leaves and remnants of flowers to the fore. (Photo: Mitja Škrjanec, ureditevokolice.si)

Autumn and winter bring a unique charm to our gardens. As nature slows down, the rich earthy tones and textures become more pronounced. Autumn doesn’t boast a plethora of flowers or vibrant colors, but it reveals the structure of the garden and highlights the subtler leaves and remnants of blooms. During these cooler months, Škrjanec advises incorporating seasonal plants like autumn asters and anemones, or shrubs that provide color in winter. He also encourages embracing the changes in weather—from the sun’s gentle caress to the first frost or snowfall.

Frost on evergreen ornamental shrubs in the garden in winter creates a special charm. (Photo: Mitja Škrjanec, ureditevokolice.si)

The English say gardeners should be lazy in autumn. Leave things as they are—don’t clear everything away. Let frost create its magic on perennials and ornamental grasses.

Spring Gardens: A Symphony of Life

Spring is a time when gardens burst into life. Daffodils bloom and bulbs shoot up, painting the landscape with vibrant colors. Walking through a spring garden awakens all the senses, with the scent of flowering trees and the sight of Japanese cherry blossoms offering a spectacular display.

The Spring Garden enlivens all our senses with an explosion of colour. (Photo: Mitja Škrjanec, ureditevokolice.si)

Spring serves an explosion of sensory delights that invigorate us, and it’s also the time when the garden’s inhabitants—birds, bees, and butterflies—come to life.

Summer Gardens: A Green Paradise

Summer transforms gardens into lush paradises filled with varying shades of green and the bounty of fruits. For those living in the countryside, flowering meadows become an integral part of the landscape. Water features add a refreshing element, seamlessly integrating with the overall garden narrative.

In summer, the garden is a delight with a flowering meadow and lush greenery. (Photo: Mitja Škrjanec, ureditevokolice.si)

In summer, vegetable gardens should be as natural and permaculture-oriented as possible. Including flowers will attract beneficial insects, creating a beautiful and thriving habitat.

Designing the Front Garden: A Welcoming Embrace

The front door is a pivotal element in the process of entering your personal space. It forms an “aesthetic invitation” to your home and should harmonize with the exterior surroundings.

A Dren flower, the colour of which is reflected in the bronze appliqué on Pirnar's monumental VersusBronze entrance door. (Photo: Mitja Škrjanec, ureditevokolice.si)

If we have a characterful and personalized front door, we must consider how it interacts with the garden. It should either complement or contrast effectively, allowing each to tell its own story. Add practical elements like benches for ease and specific plants to enhance the aesthetic appeal.

Planning Your Dream Garden: Collaboration is Key

The best garden designs emerge from the collaboration of architects, landscape architects, and interior designers from the project’s inception. This holistic approach ensures that the garden harmonizes with the architectural style and interior elements of the home. The garden should have an internal structure—a backbone upon which all design elements are built. From plant choices to paved areas, every detail should be thoughtfully integrated. A garden is not just an addition; it should be a cultivated landscape that reflects the owner’s personality and interaction with nature.

Practical Garden Wisdom

• Start Early: Avoid treating the garden as an afterthought in the building process. Engage with professionals early to ensure the garden is cohesively planned.
• Internal Structure: A well-designed garden has a strong internal structure that supports all other elements.
• Sensory Engagement: Let your garden engage all your senses throughout the year.
• Personal Connection: Design your garden to reflect your personality and nurture your connection to nature.

About Mitja Škrjanec

Mitja Škrjanec is a distinguished Slovenian landscape architect known for his innovative, sustainable, and timeless outdoor designs. With years of experience and numerous awards, he excels in creating captivating urban parks, gardens, and planting schemes. Today, he specializes in designing individualized garden spaces that enhance the connection between dwellings and their natural surroundings. For more about his work, visit ureditevokolice.si.