As is often the case, the rear of this Balham garden catches the morning sun, while the front garden basks in the afternoon sun from the west.

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These rather shady settings at the rear created the perfect zone for tree ferns, which the client was keen on. They're joined by a supporting cast of honey spurge, pheasant's tail grasses, epimediums and native ferns.

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The front garden is planted up with a mix of golden oats, verbena and bronze fennel to create a tall, hazy matrix. The 'understory' includes deschampsia, sea lavender and Byzantine gladiolus.