We have 3 outdoor areas at our (rented) house – a front yard which has no privacy, a small courtyard, and a totally neglected backyard that’s more like a long strip. It’s been really great spring weather this weekend it’s giving me a hankering for a trellis-ed up, chandelier hung, secret nook of a garden area. The backyard seems like the best canvas for my secret garden plans.
This is what we have to work with ~
I’m a bit stumped as far as where to start – so far we haven’t gotten past the idea of just putting in posts and nailing pre-made trellis to it. If I was in the country I’d use branches, but here, not so much. The space is about 10 feet by 15 feet – so a good sized outdoor room! The other issue is that the view is of the neighbors stairs & our trash bins – so we’d want to have that wall side pretty lush.
I’ve started pinning ideas here – please help! Inspiration, ideas, layouts, or techniques?
P.S. I came across this pop-up restaurant in Berlin while searching for images – MOST AMAZING THING EVER.
ohhh, we’re totally in this mode right now too. its sunny and spring-y in austin too, which makes me want to start growing things, but it keeps kind of freezing so i’m going to hold off.
we had such a lovely little whiskey barrel pond/bog garden last year, but raccoons came and ate all of our fish and smashed all of our plants
but! it is so nice to do if you can — and cheap. we had king tut papyrus in it which is beautiful. http://www.smgrowers.com/imagedb/CyperusKingTut.jpg
you could make a little garbage can corral with lattice, so it wont be such an eyesore, and plant something that will climb up the wall where the stairs are. & maybe tenting/ posts with hanging plants/ trellis along the little fence that is falling down? tamera, i dont think you need idea help, just help with the hoeing! it’s going to be nice and fresh over there! may i come there for study breaks during class and go to nurseries with yous?!
Yes, the cement mixing hoeing! I like the idea of hanging plants because we can take them with us when we move. See, I DO need ideas!
We’re still in full-on winter mode here, but while I’m enjoying it, I can’t wait to see flowers blooming and the snow melting. Your backyard is really cute – I LOVE the idea of having dinner parties outside, too. Maybe a small deck with some wispy trees and an ornate birdbath?
Oh, climbing roses…to die for! But they take years to cultivate so if you’re renting it might not be worth the investment. You’re best bet in that setting would be potted tropicals. Huge floppy banana leaves, Datura (angel trumpets), purple Persian shield, and brugmansias, chartreuse Xanthosoma…I have some online sources for tropicals if you’re interested! I clipped out an article published in Domino Mag years ago. I will never waste money on trays of tiny flowers again.
xo!
Yes! We have brugmansia that we planted in the front and it’s growing like crazy. I think another in the back would be perfect. I’ll look for the rest! (Sean is an orchid grower so he’s got lots of sources for plants!)
Can you draw out a plan? Where you enter from, which is your house, which is the neighbor’s. Brian does this stuff and will help! All the rooms you posted are so lovely, you have a perfect idea of how it’s going to look. Ugh some warmth would be so nice right about now.
I hear ya, I’m starting to think about my rental outdoor space too!
How about some gauzy white curtains to hide the neighbors and form your own little oasis? I’m not sure what the best way to hang them would be…maybe a taut clothesline type deal? You could always put them up with clips and rings so you could take them down in bad weather.
Morning glories and Moonflowers(so you will have flowers in the morning and at night!)–they are of the same species, i believe—and they grow VERY quickly and you can get very large types, with HUGE beautiful blossoms! They need a trellis, as they are vines– plus–they come back every back every year, because they sprinkle their seeds!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipomoea
I love your inspiration pics ! I have a huge “secret garden inspiration file” (even though I have no garden), I’ll dig up some gems for you in there …
“Vigne Vierge” (Parthenocissus & Ampelopsis) would look amazing. It’s very lush, grows super quickly and the leaves turn red and look glorious in autumn.
And the leaves here : http://fee-gaf.ifrance.com/images/ARBUSTES_FLEURS/VIGNE_VIERGE.jpg
And this Berlin restaurant ? Seriously ?!
x x x
-mathyld-
I love your garden space, and I know it will be amazing! All those roses!
I love the little alyssum looking stuff that grows in the cracks of the patio, too. Y’all are lucky, because plants love the climate where you love, and everything is happy there. I’m starting to clean out the beds of everything we lost in the freezes, and dried up leaves and muck, and hopefully to start planting soon. But a trellis! A secret vine-y fairy nook with soft lights, oh! Those images are super inspiring… I must find a way to make some of those ideas reality. Good luck, little elf! xoxo
inspiration for your garden… grow up!