As I elaborated in part one, the backbone of the garden are trees, hedges, evergreen shrubs, walls, fences, arbors, gates, and other man-made elements. All of these items work together to create a permanent and vertical dimension. In addition, the secondary structural elements such as paths and paving have a major impact on how we use our garden and create design elements that highlight it year-round. Always pay attention to the architecture, color, and texture of your home to ensure that these structures are visually compatible with the overall effect you would like to create in your garden. Too much variety in styles, colors, or shapes can destroy the sense of unity required to ensure a harmonious result. Let’s take a look at the Importance of Structure in the garden part two featuring my rose garden.
My back garden (in between our garage and outdoor fireplace) is the prettiest in Spring and early Summer when the roses have their first big flush. This area requires the most water. It was once filled with a swingset and a tiny patch of grass which we promptly got rid of once my kids were older. This photo was taken of Beau as a youngster. It remains one of my favorites.
This shot is taken from the back of the fireplace facing the garage. It is separated by paths into four quadrants.
The back two quadrants have a small fountain in the center which adds structure and a bit of tranquility and respite. Additional structure is provided by the tall stucco wall which is planted with climbing roses.
The fountain is underplanted with daylilies and teucrium (also repeated in the front yard around the larger fountain). The wall of the house has a trellis planted with the Eden rose (a favorite). Iceberg Rose Standards punctuate the corners of the paths.
This is what that area looks like in early Spring when the Wisteria is in full bloom. The gate leads to the driveway and garage.
The garden is walled by a tall stucco fence on the right and a lower fence on the left so as not to hinder the view of the hillside. This view early Spring when the hills are still green.
The fence provides needed structure and frames the view of the hillside behind. The antique rose Reve de Or spills over the fence. Lavender, The Prince (a david austin rose) russian sage (just beginning to bloom), and nepeta complete the picture.
Here is another view (peeking through the russian sage) of the low fence area with the gate that leads to the pasture. The gate is punctuated by two standards that add additional structure to the entire area.
In the distance, you can see the outdoor fireplace off the pool area.
When we added this outdoor fireplace (on the poolside) we finished the back off with this fountain, rather than they eyesore of a bare wall.
Trellising on either side provides additional structure and support for the wisteria.
Take spots you see every day (like the back of our fireplace)and make it beautiful by adding a fountain to the back of it. Take on the challenge of using paths, trellises, and fences focal points of your garden rather than eyesores. My garden has evolved over the years. Sometimes you need to live with an area for a while before you add a structural element. It doesn’t need to happen all at once. Enjoy your garden and let it grow with you. I still have Part Three yet to come which covers my pool area and the (oft-neglected herb garden), if you can stand more garden photos.
I hope you enjoyed this post, the importance of structure in the garden part two. If you missed Part One you can read it here. If you are looking for inspiration for your own garden you might enjoy my Pinterest Boards. I have seven different boards with ideas. You might also enjoy my Instagram feed it is filled with photos of my garden.
You might also enjoy this recent Garden Design article on 2019 trends in garden design. Have a great week!
GARDEN BOOKS I OWN OR AM COVETING
HERE IAM……………
IT IS BOUNTY FULL!!!
How many colors are in your garden?
Purple and white………..and?
IT was a GREAT YEAR for our SPRING GARDENS!Even our fruit trees produced MORE fruit than ever before this YEAR!
YOUR GARDEN TAKES FIRST PLACE!
XX
NEW BLOG POST UP ON CAFTANS……….YOU better CHECK IN TOO!
Thank you for doing these posts and pointing us to your instagram and Pinterest. Your garden is just beautiful – all that nepeta in waves and in bloom, the roses, just everything.
Your garden is simply amazing Cindy. It was fun to see how it evolves throughout the different seasons. You must take so much pleasure from it. It truly is my kinda garden. I just wish I could grow all the things you can here on my mountain top where we are so limited by the elevation.
I have said before your garden pictures look like paintings. Not only do they consider and enhance the colors of your home, they echo the surrounding landscape and color of the sky. You and Steve have my permission to sit down in your garden with a lovely (Super Tuscan is it?) bottle of wine, put up your feet and enjoy the sunset in your garden. What a beautiful job you two have done.
Keep your garden pictures coming. They are so inspiring. I only wish I could smell all those glorious roses. Thanks very much.
Hi Donna
Thank you so much for your kind words. They mean a lot to me!
Your garden is one of my favorites. The setting is beautiful and enhanced by the surrounding land. It’s always provided inspiration, thank you.
Karen
Just love your gardens! I especially like how your teal gates match your house shutters…love that! Enjoy your cooler than the Central Valley weather! =)
What a great post Cindy! Your garden is so lov!ely! Thanks for putting your great ideas in one place so I can find and remember them all!
Barbara you are so sweet. Thank you so much for you lovely comment.
Hi Cindy,
Your garden is truly a masterpiece of landscape architecture and beauty. I can’t possibly imagine what it must be like to look out my window and see that breathtaking site or to take a stroll down those paths surrounded by all those different plant species. Your talent for all things in the design world is so apparent, you’ve done a fabulous job at creating a garden that takes you to places one dreams about.
Hi Gail
Wow, thank you so much for the kind words. It has been a work of love for many years. I do have some help and my husband likes to work in the yard after all these years!
Gorgeous! I would love to know what the low growing flowering plant (royal blue/purple) that lines
your walkway is. It is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Susan
The plant that you are speaking of is nepeta (catmint). The variety is nepeta faasenni. It appears much more purple in these pictures because they were taken in the late afternoon light. It is more of a perwinkle blue. There is a more purple variety called walkers low (that seems to be popular now). It is not my favorite. There is also a taller variety called six hills giant that is also that same periwinkle blue. It is one of my favorite plants. It blooms, you wack it back and it blooms again. Nearly continually here on the central coast of california. I have it planted as a border in my front garden as well. I am a big fan.
Cindy
What a beautiful, tranquil garden. Love the colors and how they complement the natural landscape. I’d love to know how you manage your wisteria. We have one that is 15 years old and blooms beautifully every year, but i feel like it is out of control. I’m just afraid of cutting it back – worried that I’ll destroy it.
Hi Cynthia
We wack our wisteria back very hard in the winter and keep it trimmed throughout the year. It can be unruly. I actually did a blog post how to grow wisteria back in 2013. If you type in wisteria in the search box it will come up. I happen to love wisteria but I know many consider it a pest!
Cindy you have the most beautiful garden I have ever seen! Stunning!
Hi Karen
Thank you so much for the compliment. I really appreciate it. My garden does give me a lot of pleasue!
Cindy
Thank you for sharing your beautiful gardens. They are stunning.
Hi Jill
Thank you so much for your kind comment. I really appreciate it.
Cindy
Hi Jill
Thank you so much for the kind comment. I certainly appreciate it!
Your garden rivals anything I’ve seen… anywhere! Is there a way you could design my little back patch long distance? It’s beastly hot here, over 100, so I can’t use many of the things you have, but you’ve inspired me, Cindy! Perhaps we could talk about it. xoxox, Brenda
Hi Brenda
Thank you so much for your kind words. This year was a good garden year in California due to our late rain. My garden is far from perfect but it does bring me a lot of joy. Would be happy to pow wow with you on ideas for your space!