Small Garden Ideas and Designs
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Sport Court Central FL & Tampa BayThe Challenge! .
Sport Court, Bringing the fun to your backyard!
James Kach
Exterior Worlds Landscaping & DesignThe problem this Memorial-Houston homeowner faced was that her sumptuous contemporary home, an austere series of interconnected cubes of various sizes constructed from white stucco, black steel and glass, did not have the proper landscaping frame. It was out of scale. Imagine Robert Motherwell's "Black on White" painting without the Museum of Fine Arts-Houston's generous expanse of white walls surrounding it. It would still be magnificent but somehow...off.
Intuitively, the homeowner realized this issue and started interviewing landscape designers. After talking to about 15 different designers, she finally went with one, only to be disappointed with the results. From the across-the-street neighbor, she was then introduced to Exterior Worlds and she hired us to correct the newly-created problems and more fully realize her hopes for the grounds. "It's not unusual for us to come in and deal with a mess. Sometimes a homeowner gets overwhelmed with managing everything. Other times it is like this project where the design misses the mark. Regardless, it is really important to listen for what a prospect or client means and not just what they say," says Jeff Halper, owner of Exterior Worlds.
Since the sheer size of the house is so dominating, Exterior Worlds' overall job was to bring the garden up to scale to match the house. Likewise, it was important to stretch the house into the landscape, thereby softening some of its severity. The concept we devised entailed creating an interplay between the landscape and the house by astute placement of the black-and-white colors of the house into the yard using different materials and textures. Strategic plantings of greenery increased the interest, density, height and function of the design.
First we installed a pathway of crushed white marble around the perimeter of the house, the white of the path in homage to the house’s white facade. At various intervals, 3/8-inch steel-plated metal strips, painted black to echo the bones of the house, were embedded and crisscrossed in the pathway to turn it into a loose maze.
Along this metal bunting, we planted succulents whose other-worldly shapes and mild coloration juxtaposed nicely against the hard-edged steel. These plantings included Gulf Coast muhly, a native grass that produces a pink-purple plume when it blooms in the fall. A side benefit to the use of these plants is that they are low maintenance and hardy in Houston’s summertime heat.
Next we brought in trees for scale. Without them, the impressive architecture becomes imposing. We placed them along the front at either corner of the house. For the left side, we found a multi-trunk live oak in a field, transported it to the property and placed it in a custom-made square of the crushed marble at a slight distance from the house. On the right side where the house makes a 90-degree alcove, we planted a mature mesquite tree.
To finish off the front entry, we fashioned the black steel into large squares and planted grass to create islands of green, or giant lawn stepping pads. We echoed this look in the back off the master suite by turning concrete pads of black-stained concrete into stepping pads.
We kept the foundational plantings of Japanese yews which add green, earthy mass, something the stark architecture needs for further balance. We contoured Japanese boxwoods into small spheres to enhance the play between shapes and textures.
In the large, white planters at the front entrance, we repeated the plantings of succulents and Gulf Coast muhly to reinforce symmetry. Then we built an additional planter in the back out of the black metal, filled it with the crushed white marble and planted a Texas vitex, another hardy choice that adds a touch of color with its purple blooms.
To finish off the landscaping, we needed to address the ravine behind the house. We built a retaining wall to contain erosion. Aesthetically, we crafted it so that the wall has a sharp upper edge, a modern motif right where the landscape meets the land.
Plan-it Earth DesignGarden for the Disconnected Downspout. Photo by Amy Whitworth, Installation by Mike Gagnon www.creativetouchlandscaping.com
Emma O'Connell Garden DesignThe lush jungle-like foliage is seemingly held at bay by hard materials of brick retaining wall and metal steps.
Refugia Landscape Design/BuildFront yard landscape restoration with perennial layer bed, blue stone slab walkway, gravel driveway, reclaimed barnwood cladding.
Northwest Native Landscapes LLCThis compact, urban backyard was in desperate need of privacy. We created a series of outdoor rooms, privacy screens, and lush plantings all with an Asian-inspired design sense. Elements include a covered outdoor lounge room, sun decks, rock gardens, shade garden, evergreen plant screens, and raised boardwalk to connect the various outdoor spaces. The finished space feels like a true backyard oasis.
UserThis small back garden had more than its share of issues to address. From the narrow angled site, to the slope of the ground, lack of privacy, public drains, aging existing retaining walls and deck, underground electrical wiring, and difficult access, it really had it all!
The clients wanted a leafy secluded spot, where they could relax, entertain and feel immersed in nature. They also wanted a small productive area for some herbs and fruit trees. A garden shed was required and a means of access through from the front garden, although privacy was to be important.
The old deck was removed and replaced with beautiful vitex decking. This new deck connect the rooms of the house opening onto the and then wraps itself around the house, effectively managing the worst of the slope and creating clear symmetry within the angled boundaries. A central retained bed with a feature flowering cherry tree creates a generous boardwalk and makes the decking feel part of the garden. A privacy screen and considered planting increases privacy. A series of oversize platform stairs lead up to the highest part of the garden, which in time will be filled with raised beds for vegetable and herbs and dwarf fruit trees.
Generous natural schist stepping stones connect the utility area of the garden to the decked area.
The planting is designed to be leafy and green with soft white accents through the season. Beautiful feature trees include Prunus Shimidsu Sakura, Cercis Canadensis and Betula jacquemonti. Summer flowering perennials include alchemilla mollis, anenome japonica and hydrangea.
Photos by Dee McQuillan
1 to One Garden DesignThe garden was a mess when I arrived to redesign it. Neglected chaos and an elderly couple who wanted a peaceful,place to relax in.
Small Garden Ideas and Designs
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