This residential Side Garden serves as a courtyard for both guests and passers-by to enjoy. The clients sought a feature garden that would replace the side lawn with perennial gardens that were rich in texture, fragrance and seasonal interest. The resulting gardens are as filled with colour and texture as an impressionist painting.

The serpentine path made is from buff dolomite ornamental gravel, which replicates the colour of Cotswold stone. This pathway leads through a series of large, layered herbaceous planting beds, and beckons one to the arbour gate and Back Garden that lies beyond. The design intent was to select perennials that remain consistent in size and blooming period as the path traverses differing conditions. These beds feature large groupings of Lavender, Gentle Shepherd and Stella D’Oro Daylilies, Russian Sage, Biokovo Geranium and several varieties of Hosta. Morning Light Maiden Grass and Prairie Sky Switch grass added texture and mass to the background planting.

A sense of place is given to sit and enjoy the garden from the adjacent Victorian porch, or from the rocking bench placed within the midst of the garden. Viewing the garden from the street is reminiscent of an impressionist painting. Being within it fills the senses with colour, texture, fragrance, and the allure of discovering what lies beyond.