Beginner Gardening: August - how do you make the best use of your garden space?, 1 by BlissfulGarden

BlissfulGarden wrote:
Okay, found a few. We have a typical, small suburban lot (75'x150') with lots of the concrete slab that Pirl hates so much! The house is large for the lot, and there's also a pool hogging much of the space in back. So, to make the best use of the little space we have, I have the yard divided into garden rooms... each with a specific and distinct feel. One corner of the back is filled with a high raised bed made with manor stones. It's filled with a post lamp, tellises, roses and scented geraniums. I call it the English Garden. I'm still hunting for a photo of that.

The other corner of the back has been dubbed the Cali Corner. It's filled with a mix-match of many plants... clematis, jasmine, daylilies, roses, Louisiana iris, ajuga, ice plants, Euphorbia, pelargoniums, and sedums. In the center of the Cali Corner is a brick landing that we just made this spring, along with a fish-shaped chimenea that I converted to a fountain. The corner is flanked by large rectangular wrought iron lattice that will one day be covered by Confederate jasmine and crassifolia.

The covered patio just off the pool deck is filled with small, potted succulents. This is the best place for them because the sun comes in sideways at full strength in the afternoon, but the frequent rain doesn't hit them to cause rot.

Between the covered patio and the house is a very large live oak tree and two pink sasanqua trees. Underneath these is a brick courtyard with picture windows looking out from the house. In the courtyard, we have a short wrought iron fence, lots of shade plants underneath the oak, and a small pond with a waterfall. This is one of my favorite places in my yard because of the small wooden deck that goes over part of the pond. When I sit on that deck (yes, cross-legged like a child), it instantly transports me back to my childhood. The rocks in the waterfall are from the Ozarks, where I spent many happy weeks during summertimes with my grandparents. And the sound that the water makes lapping underneath the small deck as the waterfall creates a ripple sounds just like the dock at the cottage where we used to stay. Truly, this tiny spot is instant bliss for me. =)

Between the courtyard and the carport, I converted part of the driveway space into a landing with pavers and placed an old pew. Unfortunately, after almost 30 years outside in our harsh weather, this pew and it's mate (which is in the Secret Garden) are beginning to fall apart. I will probably dismantle them soon, cut down the rotting areas and attempt to put together a smaller version of each with the cypress wood. Annnnyway, flanking this pew is a container garden. There's enough space to drive in and out of the gate and put cars in the carport, but it gives a nice sitting area right outside the courtyard for when we have parties. We typically put the cars outside the gate on the driveway then and use the carport as a serving area, opening up a large lattice gate in the carport right next to the pool deck. This way, it's all opened up for people to move around easily between the driveway, courtyard, covered patio and pool deck.

On the other side of the house, we have a service area for the pool equipment toward the back, and in front of that we have what I call the Secret Garden. The dining area by our kitchen has large windows looking out both directions... to the courtyard and also to the opposite side of the house. In the 50+ years that the house has been here, nobody ever put a single plant on that side of the house! The view from the window was the driveway, blank brick wall and tiny bathroom window of the house next door (not exactly the view I wanted). My son gave me the sweat and labor to make my dreams a reality for Mother's Day one year. Here's a view of the Secret Garden from the entrance:

This message was edited Aug 4, 2009 11:00 PM