THE ART OF LIVING . . . IN YOUR GARDEN: DISCOVER THE JOYS OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN
(NC) - Who doesn't dream of spending a few stolen moments of pure relaxation in an enchanting and mellowing atmosphere created by abundant flowers and lush greenery, a space that's all about you. . . . a room scented by bushels of thyme and rosemary placed by the door. A decor that lends itself perfectly to your favourite activities . . . sharing a glass of wine with friends, flipping through your favourite magazines over coffee on a lazy Sunday morning, taking an afternoon nap, or sinking into your favourite couch with a hot lemon tea after a tough day and listening to the chirping of the birds playing in your own garden pond. Done right, a well designed garden can help you rediscover what life's really about.
Whether you own a townhouse, a larger property surrounded by a lawn that takes all of Saturday morning to care for, a condo with a tiny terrace overlooking the parking lot behind the building, or even if you rent a third-floor apartment with a tiny balcony, you can design a garden that can change your way of life.
It's not a question of undertaking huge projects or of modifying or adding a room to your house, but rather, it's an opportunity to expand your décor. Just take a peek out your window: it's all right there in your own back yard!
Five Steps to a Successful Garden
- Determine your needs - What do want from your newly designed garden?
Will you be using it during the day or mostly in the evening? Will the
garden be a backdrop for meals? Are you thinking of setting aside some
space to grow fragrant herbs whose scents stir up memories of Italy,
delicious berries just bursting with flavour, or colourful and juicy
fruits and vegetables?
Note: if you're planning to design your garden from scratch using yet untouched land, start by making a complete list of your needs; however, if you're thinking of redesigning an existing garden, the first step is to decide what you're going to either keep, integrate or improve.
- Time and money: it's all about planning - Before you break ground, determine how much time you're willing to dedicate to maintaining the garden; don't forget to include the time needed to mow the lawn, water the grass and plants, and remove weeds, to name just a few. Money is also an important factor to consider when you start planning. You can budget over several growing seasons, and thereby plan to carry out the work within a comfortable timeframe. Using this approach, you can create a realistic schedule based on your availability and financial means.
- Locate available space - Before developing your landscaping plan, it's a good idea to take some photos and measure the available space.
- Develop your style - Soliciting the help of a landscape architect could help you make some enlightened choices in line with your tastes, budget and established timeframes.
- Choose your components - The last step in your plan is choosing what's
going to end up in your garden. At this point, you should select the
plants and accessories to be included. A successful arrangement of plants
is the fruit of sound planning and careful thought.
Three basic principles, properly applied, form the bedrock of a successful garden: the background comprised primarily of thick evergreens to hide those elements that cannot be moved; "centre stage", where you find small shrubs, park benches and medium-sized plants; and the foreground where the flowers, both annuals and perennials, create a stunning effect. If you want your flowers to stand out in an explosion of colour, plant them on a grassy backdrop. - (NC)
- From News Canada
