Mid-February - time to rethink the back garden
The back garden here at Anchovy World Headquarters has developed in a more-or-less haphazard way in the 5 years we've lived here. Although it doesn't look like much in the winter pictures here, there is a lot going on. The bigger building at the back is the Secret Lab, where I make paintings and tie trout flies. To the right, there is a little garden shed behind a maze of vines. There are three Japanese maples. On the near right, at the entrance to the back, is a Butterfly Japanese Maple. To the near left, there is an Eagle's Claw Japanese Maple that is more of a shrub than a tree now, after winter damage two years ago....and there is a larger red one on the right side of the path to the secret lab. On this side of that maple is the Mother-in-law's bed, dominated by plants from transplanted from Tuffy P's mom's garden after we moved in. There are blackberries off to the right, and some peonies near the butterfly Japanese maple. I usually have a couple little veggie gardens going in season with tomatoes, herbs, hot peppers and onions. You can't see the patio in the pictures but it is right up against the back of the house.
I'm thinking about making some major changes back there, but I haven't decided what to do yet. Here are some of the issues I've been thinking about:
...there is a mulched path to the studio, but it is on top of an old cement pathway. I don't know how thick that cement is, but removing it would be a big job.
...we spend our backyard time on the patio, and I'd like to create an area elsewhere in the yard that would be a good spot to hang out, bbq, and so on....next question - how to get some shade....
...the fence along the right side of the property is in rough shape...perhaps it should be replaced, but maybe there is a more creative solution.
...I'd like to create some flower gardens that are raised up, possibly with stone walls, and maybe incorporate those with benches...maybe I can use something like that to create an interesting space.
We'd like to incorporate some mosaics into the cement fence on the left of the property and maybe on the secret lab wall too.
What can't move: I don't want to get into moving either of the bigger Japanese Maples. I can live with moving most of the perrennials. I think I'm stuck with the problem of the cement path for the time being....but maybe I can put a stone path on top.
I'd love to hear your suggestions and ideas.
6 comments:
I'd be happy to lend you a hand digging out the old cement!
Ohmygosh! What a grand attack you are planning. It already sounds pretty nice back there. I too want raised flower gardens - a riot of color. I wish I were rich - I would go buy you a couple or three of the magnificent garden gates from the antique store downtown and ship them - they are awesome! Mosiac will be great - my grandson and I are doing a patio table top - working on the design now. I like the pine straw walkways. However, again if I could send you something, I would send you magnificent Wyoming rock for a new walkway and your raised flower beds. What material would be outdoor hardy and could be handsculpted for your benches? And/or perhaps going to the forest (or a wood artists shop) for handhewn tree benches? Then onto a fantasy, how about a pond? Even if it is a small one with a lions head on the new fence and water coming out of its mouth into a cement bowl where the birdies bathe - (and cats lurk.) And since you are a northerner - why not one of those magnificent wood carved black bears incorporated into the scene? Also handmade wind chimes. Sigh.....makes me want to go outside thinking of all this and get started.
I had a small water feature, a shallow pond, to the right of the secret lab. The cats loved it. I let the plants grow crazy around it. The problem was that the raccoons loved it too, and they were destructive. They would go in for a bath at night, but they didn't like the pump, which basically bubbled a little water up and kept everything moving. They would pull the pump up from the pile of rocks it was buried under and drag it to dry land and chew the plastic hose off. After the third pump, I filled in the pond and planted an impatien bed back there, which thrived and added some nice colour.
I have lots of ideas. If I were still living there I'd offer to help.
1. Tear up the pathway. When we lived on Margueretta we tore up two cement pathways and used the larger salvaged pieces to create a raised bed. With about a foot of cement above ground along the neighbours fence, we filled in behind and voila instant raised bed. in front of the cement wall we planted our peppers and tomatos so they would get more heat from the cement.
2. break up the linear lines. Cedar mulch paths are inexpensive and look great. They're also nice to walk on. Think of the garden as a journey you walk through. Create some paths that curve through the garden, and meet up in various points. Try not to have paths with dead ends, but rather join up with another mulch path. then you can have areas that are points of interest. You can have more than one path leading to the Secret Lab. This was also something that worked well for us on Margueretta and we had a very similary shaped garden as yours (as do most backyards in that neighbourhood). We created curved raised beds throughout with paths leading around them.
3. Fence? A new fence is always nice, but you can also plant cedars. They're fairly inexpensive and grow fast. They don't have to be that rectangular hedge shape you see. You could plant a few and maybe put a semi-circular perennial garden around them or an herb garden just steps from your patio. This would also be a way to introduce shade. You can let those cedars grow tall.
4. Sitting area? I'd say near the back right corner looks good. It's hard to tell dimensions, but if the space is there, the tree offers some privacy. It also offers another view of the garden for you. However, if you do plant cedars, you may want to put a sitting area where you could get some shade from them. You could also add some lilacs as part of the "fence" and eventually you'd have some nice shady spots.
I can't see the patio or house, but I suggest looking at your garden from your windows and notice which areas are in clear view. Those are the areas where you should have as focal points. Also think about how you enter the garden. Is it from the side or the center?
Flagstone is expensive, but if you get one nice chunk they make lovely benches. You can simply place the stone on sawed off wood stumps or whatever you come up with. Maybe next to one of the Japanese maples?
hey sp, those are all great ideas. I took down a badly diseased plum tree in the fall, and saved the wood, thinking about benches. I like the idea of a stone and wood bench a lot. I hadn't considered the back right area of the garden for a sitting area but the more I think of it now, the more I like it...the red Japanese maple is big enough now to give some shade and along the fence-line I have the blackberry bramble and a saskatoon berry bush growing. I hadn't considered it because I had the little pond back there, but now that the raccoons have won the pond battle, there is a perfect nook.
We're going to figure out a plan over the next few weeks to achieve a bunch of changes over the summer.
Stagg and I wouldoff er to help dig up the cement path. I remember that orignal path...I had assumed you had already dug it up!!! It isn't that thick of cement if I remember correctly...about 6 inches at most.
I am sending you some videos which happen to have something relelvant for your back yard. A cabana contest...that's a great way to make shade. I also think it would be worthwhile to design a structure, attractive that will keep the racoons out of the fountain...because a water feature is important!
I know Scott is busy, but he could weld a cool sculpture deal or maybe I could...hmmm...I am loving this idea of a container that is also beautiful with a simple clasp locked and opened to put fish and fountain pump safely inside but also attractive...with a mylar aspect where candles inside the sttructure around the pond would look great in the evening...
Yep a cabana and a hot tub at the back of the garden ha ha!!!
Post a Comment