Nicola Oakey Design

Nicola Oakey Design
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Nicola Oakey Design
  • About
  • Garden Design
    • Recent Projects
    • The Design Process
    • Your questions answered…
  • Testimonials
  • Image Wall
  • Contact

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A little insight into plants, places and natural world that catches Nicola’s eye…

It really is possible to have something flowering It really is possible to have something flowering in the garden every day of the year. Here's a little snapshot of what's been blooming in my garden the last couple of months... 

๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒฟ

#springgarden #springbulbs #gardenreels #flowersofinstagram #daffodils #crocus #snowdrops #winteraconite #primrose #witchhazel #helleborus #gardenplants #plantinspiration
The Crocus buffet is proving very popular today ๐Ÿ’›

๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฟ

#bee #crocus #spring #springgarden #bumblebee #pollen #springbulbs #plantsforpollinators #flowersofinstagram
The temperatures have picked up today and the bees The temperatures have picked up today and the bees have been out in the garden ๐Ÿ’š
I love how the pollen basket on their legs looks exactly like the hellebore anthers. 

๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ๐ŸŒฟ

#hellebore #helleborus #anther #bee #springiscoming #springgarden #christmasrose #winterplants #flowersofinstagram #flowercloseup
Trying something different today with more of a 'b Trying something different today with more of a 'birds eye view' angle. Still not finished, but coming together and definitely gives a great overview of this new garden design. 

๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ

#gardenideas #gardendesign #newgarden #gardeninspiration #penandinkdrawing #illustration #handdrawn #rotring #rotringisograph
A generous sprinkle of snow in Rutland today โ„๏ธ All of my hellebores have bent right over, except this one which is still standing tall. 
Most things in the garden should be unaffected by a layer of snow, but if any stems are bending from the weight too much, then knocking off the worst of the white stuff will help. 

๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ

#snowscene #snowgarden #snow #rutland #hellebore #helleborus #helleborusniger #christmasrose #spring #springsnow
Day three of the long tailed tit circulating aroun Day three of the long tailed tit circulating around the house tapping on the windows. I can only assume he's having disagreements with his own reflection, but he's a very cute morning alarm clock โฐ

๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฟ

#rutland #nature #gardenbirds #longtailedtit #birds #birdlovers  #wakeupcall
No blue sky to start March and meteorological Spri No blue sky to start March and meteorological Spring today. Good things the spring bulbs are making up for it. 
First photo - Scilla siberica 
Second photo - Iris (reticulata) 'Alida'

๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’™๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’™๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’™๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’™๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’™๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’™๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’™๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’™๐ŸŒฟ

#march #meteorlogicalspring #springiscoming #spring #springbulbs #scilla #scillasiberica #irisreticulata #irisalida #flowersofinstagram
Cornus mas or Cornelian cherry. A fantastic large Cornus mas or Cornelian cherry.
A fantastic large shrub / small tree smothered with clusters of tiny yellow flowers from January to March before the leaves. 
The flowers are followed by non-edible fruits and the foliage has attractive autumn colour too.
An invaluable plant for pollinators at this time of year ๐Ÿ

๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’›๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’›๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’›๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’›๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’›๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’›๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’›๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’›๐ŸŒฟ

#springiscoming #springflowers #springtree #cornusmas #corneliancherry #floweringtree #flowersofinstagram #winterflowers #wintergarden #yellowflowers #plantinspiration
It's your very very last chance to clean bird boxe It's your very very last chance to clean bird boxes if you haven't done it yet ๐Ÿฆ
Remove any debris and nests from last year. Pour boiling water into the box to kill any parasites. Leave to dry and then rehang. However, if you've noticed any bird activity around the box then best to leave it alone. 

This little nest was made by bluetits last year ๐Ÿ’™

๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿฆ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿฆ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿฆ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿฆ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿฆ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿฆ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿฆ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿฆ

#birdnest #birdbox #nest #spring #gardenjobs #springgarden #bluetitnest #springiscoming #gardensofinstagram
The gaps between the boards of a little footbridge The gaps between the boards of a little footbridge provide the perfect damp and shady spot for these gorgeous ferns. 

๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’š๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’š๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’š๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’š๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’š๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’š๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’š๐ŸŒฟ

#ferns #stream #woodland #asplenium #hartstonguefern #naturefinds #woodlandwalks #floraandfauna #nativeplants #countryside
A lovely review from a project completed last year A lovely review from a project completed last year in Somerby, Leicestershire. 

๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒณ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒณ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒณ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒณ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒณ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒณ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒณ

#gardenideas #gardendesign #gardendesigner #gardenreview #rutland #leicestershire #gardensofinstagram #newgarden #gardeninspiration
Writing this feature for @theenglishgardenmagazine Writing this feature for @theenglishgardenmagazine certainly got me in the mood for some spring cheer. You can read "The Joys of Spring" in the March edition with gorgeous photos by @annatottphoto too. ๐Ÿ’›

Stoke Albany House (Northamptonshire) has their annual Daffodil Day for @mariecurieuk on Sunday 2nd April, 2-5pm. 

๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฑ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฑ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฑ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฑ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฑ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฑ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฑ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฑ๐ŸŒฟ

#daffodils #narcissus #springbulbs #springgarden #springblossom #springiscoming #gardenwriter #gardenvisit #flowersofinstagram #daffs
Six weeks ago it was the winter solstice (21st Dec Six weeks ago it was the winter solstice (21st Dec) and the sun set around 15:50. Now it's the first day of February, the sun sets at 16:50 and in just over six week's time it'll be the spring equinox (20th March) and a few days later the clocks change (26th March). Spring is galloping towards us! ๐Ÿค

๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒผ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒผ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒผ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒผ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒผ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒผ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒผ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒผ๐ŸŒฟ

#february #imbolc #snowdrops #galanthus #springflowers #springgarden #springiscoming #reasonstobecheerful #flowersofinstagram #wintergarden #flowercloseup #rutland
Working on a new design today for a garden in Rutl Working on a new design today for a garden in Rutland โœ๏ธ It's always nice to finish the week with some drawing. 

๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟ

#rutland #gardendesign #gardenideas #newgarden #leicestershire #lincolnshire #northamptonshire #gardensofinstagram #illustration
Feeling a little relieved that we're having some p Feeling a little relieved that we're having some proper cold weather. Apart from the frosty snap at the start of December, it's felt very mild. 

However, this primrose in my garden seems to think we need to get cracking with spring ๐Ÿ’›

๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒก๏ธ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒก๏ธ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒก๏ธ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒก๏ธ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒก๏ธ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒก๏ธ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒก๏ธ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒก๏ธ๐ŸŒฟ

#frost #frosty #winterflowers #wintergarden #frostyflowers #januarygarden #primrose #primulavulgaris #primula #coldweather
Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) and Cornelian c Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) and Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) spotted while out walking today. Definite harbingers of spring. 

๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’›๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’›๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’›๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’›๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’›๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’›๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’›

#spring #springflowers #yellowflowers #flowersofinstagram #winteraconite #eranthis #winterflowers #corneliancherry #cornusmas #winterwalk #rutland #winterplants
There's something particularly special about plant There's something particularly special about plants that flower during winter. A great example are winter-flowering Clematis. There are several different varieties, but today I've featured the fern-leaved Clematis (Clematis 
cirrhosa var. calycina). 

What are your winter favourites? 

๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ

#winterplants #winterflowers #wintergarden #winterclematis #clematis #climbingplants #fernleavedclematis #plantinspiration #plantsofinstagram #gardenofinstagram #gardenideas
Have you seen my interview in this month's @thevil Have you seen my interview in this month's @thevillagediary? 
Find out how I became a garden designer and a bit more about what I do โœ๏ธ
You can read the article online, just follow the link in my bio. 

๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’ฎ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’ฎ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’ฎ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’ฎ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’ฎ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’ฎ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’ฎ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’ฎ๐ŸŒฟ

#interview #gardendesign #gardendesigner  #thevillagediary #rutland #rutlandwater #lincolnshire #stamford #oakham
It's the end of 2022 already?! Here's a quick look It's the end of 2022 already?! Here's a quick look back at the gardens I've designed this year...

Wishing everyone a happy new year and a super 2023 ๐Ÿพ

๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโœ๏ธ

#gardendesign #gardendesign #newgarden #gardensofinstagram #handdrawn #penandinkdrawing #illustration #bespokeillustration #gardenillustration
Christmas time is never short of brisk walks to bl Christmas time is never short of brisk walks to blow away the cobwebs and walk off some of the excessive eating โ„๏ธ 
I've been taking a closer look at the hedgerows and enjoying the small promises that spring is waiting in the wings. 

Pictured - lichens, dog rose, oak, pussy willow and hazel 

๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟโ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฟ

#hedgerow #devon #devonhedgerow #winterplants #winterbranches #lichen #oak #hazel #pussywillow #rosehip #countryside #winterfinds #winterbranches
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