In My Little Corner of the World

A very dear “garden collaborator” (client) recently wrote, “The garden continues to delight – many unique and interesting experiences unfold!  I love to see my neighbor’s children insist their parents stop so they can touch the lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina ‘Silver Carpet’)!  The bees LOVE the flowering lavender (Lavandula stoechas ‘Otto Quast’).  I am delighted by the number of neighborhood walkers who stop and point and smile and appear to be enjoying my corner of the world!”

On this corner lot, the unused lawn took up a lot of space, leaving little room for this gardener and collector of garden art to have the outdoor lifestyle she craved. With the lawn removed and sprinklers replaced with a low-volume drip irrigation system, we were ready to be creative. Several functional garden rooms were created:

• A Goldenrain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) was planted at one end of the back yard that would shade a square brick patio, creating a secluded area for reading and relaxing.
• Raised and ground-level planters were grouped for easy care of the plants. Decomposed granite (D.G.) was used for the wide paths around the planters because D.G. is permeable, allowing water to soak into the soil beneath. Three- to four- foot wide paths are important for maneuvering wheelbarrows and performing other garden activities.
• Adding a fence that met height and setback code requirements set the stage for a circular brick patio and bench on the side of the house that used to be completely unused and exposed to traffic.

"Before" - Unused Lawn

"After"

Color and Privacy

New Fence, Brick Patio and Bench Create an Outdoor "Room"

When I consult with clients, I want to help them achieve their goals and their dreams. It’s all about what they (and you) want – not what I think they should want. (Okay… I have to confess, I want to help them achieve their goals in ways that use our resources as efficiently as possible and in ways that will tread lightly on this precious earth that we are so fortunate to share.)

Each project is an exciting opportunity and adventure. I feel privileged that people welcome me into their gardens. I’m always eager to find out how they see themselves, their children, and all the other four- and two-legged members of the family using their little corner of this world. For me, it’s also about helping people have one thing in today’s world of often having too-much-to-do-in-to-little-time where we can be at peace, share time with family and friends, marvel at the vegetables in the garden growing inches every day, and enjoy the wonders of nature.

Let Blue Thumb Bloggers Linden, Larry, Soleil, and I help you achieve your garden goals. Send us your questions or tell us about how you’ve created your own “Little Corner of the World”.

– CB