Welcome to Asphodel
Thank you for taking the time to visit Asphodel Bespoke Gardens.
My name is Duncan Knowles and I’m a self-professed garden nerd, amateur photographer, and former international banker. I spent more than 20 years living all over the world before settling in the South East of England, where I’ve taken up a second career as a designer of bespoke gardens, a consultant on garden issues, and a writer of articles on the theory that underpins the creation and management of our outdoor spaces.
Asphodel is a different approach to garden design, one that lets you decide how big a role you want us to play in creating your perfect outdoor space.
Some of you will want to do everything yourself; Asphodel’s weekly blog, Getting Dirty, provides a resource you can draw on as you go through your own journey. At least once a week, we publish articles exploring everything from simple explanations of plant and soil science; through design concepts such as composition and colour theory; to profiles of plants and construction materials.
Designing, creating, and managing an outdoor space can be a daunting project. Asphodel can be there for you, providing advice wherever you want or need it. Maybe you want to discuss your own design ideas; need support through the design process; want help selecting plants or materials; need advice on maintaining your garden; or have some other issue that is troubling you. Our advisory service is there to help, however you want to use it.
Your time is valuable and you are busy; you may want the perfect outdoor space, but not have the time to design and create it. Asphodel offers an end-to-end bespoke design service, from initial concept to installation management, with recommendations for long term maintenance.
Note that due to ongoing project work, no new design clients will be taken on until mid-2025.
Subscribe to our mailing list to keep informed on our plans, or contact us to start a conversation now about your future plans.
Across all of our services, I lean heavily on my experience.
Living amongst different cultures has given me a unique perspective on the world that I can bring to bear to help you create a truly bespoke space that meets your specific needs.
A long first career as a banker means I recognise the need for a return on your investment in your outdoor space; and have the skills needed to help you achieve it.
As a keen amateur photographer (some of my photos are available for sale here), I understand what makes a space beautiful, and will work with you to create a garden you love.
What’s in a name: Asphodel?
The asphodel (Asphodelus albus) is a flower rich in symbolism and meaning, associated with the crossing of thresholds, the navigation of transitions, and the opening up of new opportunities. Its torch-like form, with its flame of star-shaped flowers, offers a light to guide us through uncertainty and into new realities.
The asphodel stands on the threshold: between cultures, between different paths in life, and between the past and the future. My life has taken me along many different paths, from academia, to banking, to authorship, and now to horticulture and garden design. The asphodel symbolises my own journey.