The New Small Garden: design + inspiration
The New Small Garden: design + inspiration
The New Small Garden
Design and Inspiration For Outdoor Living
A garden of any size is a wonderful thing.
People love to walk through gardens
or view them from a great vantage point
and take it all in.
Most of us have small gardens with limited space.
But that also gives us the opportunity to fill the space with variety,
interesting focal points
and linking the outside to the house itself.
sustainable gardens
Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to create and plant, in all sorts of different garden settings. Some very large and more complicated or small scale with no sun but… all have been very satisfying and honestly, hard to leave behind. Luckily, I have been able to go back and visit with the new caretakers and we all agree the gardens are special and well-loved!
Looking Ahead
A small urban garden near the coast
Here is what I had to start with. I know, not even an earthworm would want to live here. It’s basically a front yard, measuring 12 feet from the front of the house, out to a busy street full of cars and foot traffic. And it’s reeeeaaalllyyyy long. Not exactly what I bargained for but a girl needs a challenge now and then.
To make this long and narrow garden lush, a bit wild and unconventional for this setting, I knew the plants and flowers, would be the stars. I chose plants that have Mediterranean characteristics, like olive trees and California native shrubs. But much of the structure is “cottage garden” in style with boxwood hedging and mass plantings of tall spikey flowers and dense perennials.
A Simple Plan
While we needed privacy, I really didn’t want a 10-foot wall of hedge and I wanted to be able to walk through the garden to prune or snip flower and enjoy the experience of gardening.
Placed throughout the garden there are spots for “found objects”, old pottery, and antique gates leading to other garden rooms along the small pathways.
Creative focal points
Naturalistic plant layering
Berms for height and gravel for structured paths
Pocket areas of seasonal annuals
Collected containers and outdoor decor
Layer Plants In Large Groups
There are 4 bermed areas, each anchored with a large Olive tree. There are upper, middle and ground layers in each berm made up of plants compatible in size. Some flower and others are evergreen or variegated. I also chose plants with scents like lavenders and rosemary as well as floral-scented varieties. and repeat bloomers.
Choose Interesting Foliage and Colors
Almost all of the plants are perennials but with this type of garden pockets of long-lasting annuals, bulbs and single-season flowering plants are part of the joy of layered garden design.
Pick a color pallet and stick with it. I like using only 3 or 4 colors and repeating the color combination with different species of plants in different sizes.
Don’t be afraid! Buy some things that look amazing at your nursery and find a spot for them. If it doesn’t work out you can dig it up and give it to a friend or neighbor. I’ve given plants to some of the guys who have worked here and they always tell me how great the plants are doing in their gardens. Now that is fun to hear!
Select groupings and combinations of 5 or 6 plant species and then repeat the combo’s as you move along in the garden. It will lend to unity of size, shape and color.
Create Focal Points
Subtle focal points or bright colors make you stop and take a longer look at that specific spot. If it doesn’t seem to fit in your larger plan, move things around until the whole is unified and appears to have symmetry.
Look For Natural Shapes
The natural shape of these golfball pittosporums is perfect in this style of garden. They require very little maintenance and keep their tight round shape and bright green foliage year round. We have used drip irrigation to minimize our water consumption and lots and lots of good organic fertilizer.
Create Your Garden
Gardening is for everyone and everyone is invited.
While some might have a green thumb… if you have a purple thumb or an orange thumb you can garden too. Grab a shovel and maybe a tomato plant or a pack of petunias. You can find a spot, you can create and dream, and take a moment to find your balance. Not a single person will give you advice or judge. That is what gardening can do. Gardens embrace and share and give us space and comfort all at the same time. Go out there and garden today. Mother Nature will thank you!
