On the other hand a “garden “ will conjure up in your mind’s eye, either rows of veggies (otherwise known as a kitchen garden) or a place full of blooms and lush foliage to relax or wander through. This chat is about creating tranquility even in a busy urban environment. Changing a yard to a garden can be a simple thing; as simple as adding a place to sit. Or a garden can be a complexity of spaces, actually expanding your living space with a kitchen, dining area for entertaining or even sleeping quarters. People crave the outdoor connection and as the poet Byron said, “let nature sweetly woo us”.
I love spring planting time just to be outside especially after the snowy, frozen season. With my busy schedule, I still find time in the early mornings to take a tour of my garden, noticing what’s in bloom, what needs dead-heading and just where I can squeeze in one more of any favorite plant. I love to stroll along the pathway – I usually take it barefoot and pull an obvious weed or two along the way. In the evenings my garden is an escape from the desk-bound day and a place to refresh by connecting with nature.
A garden is nature on our terms. You can carve a natural haven almost anywhere. A garden can be as simple as a flat concrete space that we call a patio or as grand as a city park. The following are five steps to inexpensively create an extraordinary garden from any ordinary yard just by adding the right furniture, accessories and plants.
1. Create a pathway that leads to some part of your outdoor space that is at least partially hidden from “the rest of the world”. Plant material – shrubs, trees, and perennials are great for concealing “the rest of the world”. If you can’t wait for plants to grow, trellises are an immediate fix. Fast growing vines can cover a large distance in one season. Honeysuckle, trumpet vine and grape vines are fast growers. My favorite is wisteria, but you MUST have a heavy duty structure to accommodate it. It will crush wood structures in a couple of seasons. I found out the hard way and had to have my wooden structure replaced just when the blooms were getting so gorgeous.
Pathways can be constructed with many different materials, or plants or a combination of both. I have used flagstone pieces, planted with Scottish moss (which isn’t really a moss) weeding is a bit of a problem. If you keep after the weeds on your hands and knees you can keep the grass and dandelions out. The Scottish moss with stone makes a very pretty picture. I love the contrast. A solid path would lend itself to low maintenance, however.
2. Create an intimate outdoor room- remember to use flooring, flora and furniture. The area that your path leads to should be emphasized with a gate or archway, defining an important space. This structure is a transitional means of subtly letting the visitors know that something wonderful is about to happen.
This area you are creating must have a place for you to sit or lounge. Your seat can be a sturdy garden bench with fade resistant fabric cushions using “sensuous essentials” with colors and textures that will help you bring home the look you love.
You could add a simple bistro table with a couple of chairs. This invokes an atmosphere for afternoon tea or an intimate breakfast for two. But could also be used as a inspirational place to write or read a book.
3. Invite the song birds- Birds are attracted to water as much as food. Birds love birdbaths for drinking from as well as a place to fluff their feathers. Birdbaths are very pretty accessories that enhance any flowerbed or draw attention to itself in an otherwise dull area. Birdhouses, bird feeders, hummingbird globes and hummingbird plants are great accessories to any garden. Check out Tuscan Garden Works vast and varied selection!
Choosing a birdbath: “The surface of the container, where birds enter the water, should be rough to provide sure footing. Textured materials appropriate for birdbaths, streams, and pools include sand, stones, pebbles, and concrete. A lip or perch at the edge where birds can alight before entering the water is an advantage. The birdbath should deepen very gradually, to no more than 3".
Most songbirds can't swim, so they seek shallow water with sure footing. Creating a garden that welcomes songbirds, hummingbirds, and butterflies is a relatively simple task. It consists of supplying them with three basic requirements for survival: food, cover, and water. To birds and butterflies, the typical suburban landscape resembles an unfriendly desert. Close-cropped lawns, sheared foundation shrubs, and deadheaded flowers mean no place to nest, no food to eat, and nowhere to hide. Fortunately, any landscape can become a haven for winged wildlife, and for the people who share it” - US Fish and Wildlife Service.
4. Provide the sound of water in your garden. Many of the world’s greatest civilizations have evolved around water…why not in your outdoor world, as well? A beautiful outdoor water fountain will enrich your garden with soothing, mesmerizing water sounds. Fountains drown out the bustle of the public and street noises. I can’t wait to get home to the soothing water sounds and unwind, relax and enjoy my garden.
Check out the selection of small to extra large re-circulating fountains that are easy to maintain. Now a new product, a float valve can be installed to keep the water level optimal. No need to worry that your pump will be damaged because your fountain ran out of water! Pick up a kit at Tuscan Garden Works or call Tuscan Garden Works (801-233-9434)for an appointment to get one installed on your existing fountain.
5. Last but not least, consider a protective outdoor structure. These structures include gazebos, pergolas and arbors. They offer a balance or imitation of enclosure and openness and offer shelter without shutting you inside. Of all of the accessories in my garden I like my small but sturdy gazebo that one large bench swings from-- the best. It is the focal point in the garden and the favorite place to sit (rather swing). It holds two average people comfortably and three little people. Many of our custom designed gazebos include 3 to 5 swings that create a wonderful conversation area. (Add custom sized colorful cushions and pillows for additional comfort and beauty. ) Tuscan Garden Works designs and fabricates many styles of gazebos and pergolas creating casual or more adventurous atmospheres. Good sturdy swings can hang from your gazebo or pergola or your own structural beam for $495-$525. Visit the showroom and get a quote on a pergola or gazebo for your specific area.
Furniture and décor have been the driving force in blurring the lines between indoors and out. Luxuries once intended only for indoors are now available for outdoor use, including outdoor art and a huge variety of luxurious fabrics. You, with your own interpretations, can create the ideal tranquil space to transform your yard into a secluded inner sanctum. I hope my thoughts have inspired you to get rid of your “yard” and create your own personal garden!
- Kathy
