You mentioned it's a cabin. How often are you there and when you're there, how much work do you want to put into it?

I love this guy's stuff, he did a beautiful mountain landscape, no grass

https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/crafting-a-mountain-garden-called-rhodwood-pj-vj~5305225

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/tour-a-designers-gardens-in-the-north-carolina-mountains-stsetivw-vs~141089800

Thanks for the links, i cant wait to look through them.

We now live there full time. I will spend a few hours a week on upkeep. My main weakness is that I hate winter, so from about November until late February I won’t spend anytime out there. If the winter look is just clean mulch I’m fine with that.

We have a similar lifestyle... location...and aesthetic....what we did was put in a few interesting containers ....we added some ground covers in the ground....and each spring when we come home we install blooming annuals that flower all summer in the containers ....also you can put in one or two larger planters in the sunniest spots if you want to plant a few tomatoes or strawberries ...or any veggie you love .....most of our outdoor seating is on our decks...so we just added a couple Adirondack chairs with little tables for any certain time of day that is specially pretty in that spot...or to rest while gardening...having the raised planters allows you to control the soil quality.....and plant ...harvest ....and water.... more easily

Petunias will cascade

These are just hanging annuals from walmart in full bloom dropped into a pot

Hate when that happens! Sorry

I'd love to see that bench when you have it assembled. Is it too beefy to go under the arbor?

I’m going to go measure the space under the arbor, and the bench itself. It would be very appropo to put them together as both were Mother’s Day gifts, albeit about 15 years apart.

The bench top is 36”x18”, the width of the arbor is 78” and it is 26” deep.

Here is a pic showing a tap measure at 36”

The other place the bench could go is in the side bed under a J.Maple. I would obviously move the bird feeder and potted plants. Tape measure also at 36” here.

One thing I have always seen suggested is to work on one area at a time. Even if you have an overall plan, once you put in the real plants and actually see what they look like once they're established. That being said, since it looks like you are in a wooded area you want to think along the lines of shade tolerant perennials and plants that are native to the region. I might start with putting in a row of juniper or other evergreen shrubs along the edge next to the road. That way you have some instant green, and a way to delineate your property from the thoroughfare.

Even though it is a small space on a public road, I think you might get out there and enjoy being if you create areas of distinct and different interestLittle mini gardens inside the garden, each with their own story to tell. It should be a space to walk through and discover variety, and sit in, not just look at from across the street or above.

Japanese gardens are fun that way, especially since very few of them are big at all. But they have different sections that contrast and provide for different thoughts and experiences. The plants are rarely high maintence. The gardens include places to sit and objects or sculptures, or bells to ring, different textures underfoot

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Hi! I would consider adding layered height plants, for example, some evergreen or deciduous shrubs (some are spring or summer flowering), I don't know exactly what plants do well in your area, but in my area we have chaenomeles (they are deciduous and flower in winter with white or coral flowers) or pittosporum (white perfumed flowers in spring), probably in your area rhododendrons do well, in my area we use azaleas or hydrangeas (but it doesn't snow here). Both of them tolerate pruning so they don't get too big. Alternatively, you can use camelias, but they get bigger with time or a magnolia stellata. You can also try some bulbs, which provide longer and thinner leaves to be interspersed with the rest of the plants (like dietes or some dwarf formium) or some cold tolerant ferns in the shadier parts. You should ask your horticulturist friend for help to choose what plants are recommended and not invasive in your area, she can also tell you what maintenance they require and the size they get one they finish growing.

I also liked the comment of the Japanese style garden, they don't usually include grass at all. You can google some pictures for inspiration!

Good luck and happy gardening!

I like the suggestion of a Japanese style garden. One thing I would want is some evergreens that separate the garden from the road or put a decorative fence to delineate the road. I don’t know how busy your road is, but I would worry about someone going too fast on the curve and ending up in the garden.

For the lowest maintenance possible, and low water usage (something of concern in California) plant native plants suited to your area. I can't imagine sitting there where a main road goes by, but perhaps with a plant "screen" of some sort that might be more inviting. The defined areas around the trees aren't as appealing to me as a more unified organic space. Layered plants, with a center of interest like a dry creek or a small flagstone seating area with a couple chairs/ or bench or a drilled rock water feature that would mask road noise and attract birds.

In many places in the world people sit in gardens, piazze, public spaces that are on the main road. On the Upper West Side of Manhattan in NYC, it has always been a popular things to do on Broadway

Luckily it’s a gated community, mostly retirees. And my house is in a culdesac, only 5 houses on the entire road so maybe 5 cars a day. Lots of walkers, though. I’ve thought about moving some of the rock borders, but when we did we discovered they were helping with run off during big storms.

Gorgeous spot- looks like you have a lot of food for thought, but here's my 2 cents. You have good bones with the stone placement. I like the suggestion to further delineate your property from the road by tucking in low growing, spreading evergreens behind the stones that border the road. You'll have lots of choice in this category from gold tips to deep greens, some that have berries like the junipers; also height-wise some will creep on the ground, crawling over and softening the stones, others growing a foot tall and reaching up. I think layering two different types would look good to define the leading edge of your property. Also these plants are tough and drought tolerant once they're established. Secondly add groups of larger rocks, they don't have to be major boulders, but bump up in scale will add interesting level changes, an opportunity to plunk a pot of something trailing - or if you do get a boulder or three about -18/20 inches - they become a good spot to plunk your backside. Just one last comment, groupings and odd numbers make the most effective display (also makes any maintenance easier) Don't worry about matching different pots or troughs, it all just adds interest and flexibility. Have fun!