1. Bocce ball court. Often what makes a backyard fun is a feature that brings people together socially for a little light competition. There are many games that fit the bill, but bocce ball is high on the list. It’s a relatively easy game for people of almost any age to learn and play. Its design and construction is generally straightforward and inexpensive. And the flat area can be used for other games and activities. Plus, bocce ball is just fun.
As avid gardeners, the homeowners wanted four 42-by-84-inch custom-made, steel-edged raised vegetable beds so they could grow edibles, including blueberries, tomatoes, basil, chives and other herbs. “The homeowner was really worried about the squirrels and bunnies eating her plants, and she wanted us to cover the boxes,” Stevens says. Encircling the top part of the beds, the crew installed a fine mesh that not only keeps out the critters but also makes a commanding focal point.
Outdoor rooms. These screen block-enclosed patios, located off the kitchen and master bedroom of this home, create an element of drama in these outdoor spaces. With the lights on at night, backlighting enhances the dramatic effect of the screen block. The blocks also divide the patio into two separate spaces, making personal niches out of what might otherwise be one large patio.
Carport separation. Dividing the carport from the courtyard patio, this dark, painted screen block adds a graphic flair in addition to providing security for the enclosed courtyard. Paint can personalize your decorative concrete block installation.
Patio walls. Light, bright and airy, this screened patio provides a striking backdrop for this beach home’s outdoor living space. Sunlight gets diffused through the concrete blocks, while ocean breezes can fill the space.
White-flowering Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus, USDA zones 5 to 9; find your zone) 10. Showy specimen plants. To use a tree or a small shrub as a focal point, choose one with outstanding characteristics — such as spring flowers, interesting branch structure or brilliant fall leaves — and plant it with a bit of room to breathe. For example, put a specimen tree in the center of a patio or within a garden bed surrounded by lower-growing plants.
Window frame. Use recycled objects and simple structures as focal points at the ends of pathways or patios. Here, a wooden window frame and a clipped shrub encourage your eye to linger on an area of the garden that would be easy to overlook. The screen also serves a practical purpose — marking a subtle grade change in the landscape to keep a visitor from walking over the edge of the patio.
Edgy screens. As an alternative to a hedge, use interesting screens to both provide privacy and act as a focal point. Here, a trio of metal panels calls attention to the interesting semitransparent design, rather than the neighbor’s deck. Panels and screens also could be used to form a point of focus at the end of a walkway.
Container among foliage. Work focal points into garden beds to provide a resting spot for one’s gaze amid drifts of plants. For example, an empty ceramic container nestled in the bed draws one’s focus and then encourages the eye to wander over the surrounding plants in a slower appreciation of the bed.
Stone rain chain. Rain chains are most often seen hanging from the eaves of a roof — but with a rain chain this lovely, why not give it pride of place in your garden? A stone rain chain hanging from a tree branch looks lovely year-round and makes a meditative feature when the rain begins to fall
Bubble rock. Attract wild birds to your yard by providing them with a source of fresh water for drinking and bathing on a DIY bubble rock. This small, homemade fountain is more appealing to birds than a traditional birdbath because the sound of moving water makes it easier for wild birds to locate. Bonus: Mosquitoes tend not to lay eggs in moving water, making this a better choice than a still birdbath if mosquitoes are prevalent in your area.
A world away from the ancient stone gates of China, an austere metal ring rising from the ground, tinged with rust, is a powerful industrial-strength counterpoint to a meandering free-form path and informal greenery.
Moon Gate
Japanese stone garden
Corner cafe. The key to positioning a backyard cafe table in a way that feels intimate is to nestle it right up against some tall greenery. Plants feel softer and more inviting than a fence or wall while still helping to add privacy and buffer sound. For maximum privacy, place your cafe table at the end of a curving path, so it’s not immediately visible from the house.
4. Woodland gazebo. Calling to mind a fairy-tale structure that wouldn’t look out of place in Tolkien’s Rivendell, this rustic gazebo is sure to enchant garden wanderers of all ages. And while it is romantic, a gazebo’s usefulness can extend beyond cozy tête-à-tête chats: Consider it a lovely meditation or yoga pavilion, teahouse, or spot to take shelter from a sudden rainstorm.
4. Woodland gazebo. Calling to mind a fairy-tale structure that wouldn’t look out of place in Tolkien’s Rivendell, this rustic gazebo is sure to enchant garden wanderers of all ages. And while it is romantic, a gazebo’s usefulness can extend beyond cozy tête-à-tête chats: Consider it a lovely meditation or yoga pavilion, teahouse, or spot to take shelter from a sudden rainstorm.
All conifers
They come in an array of colors, shapes, sizes and textures.
chartreuse, burgundy and blue are an invaluable trinity in garden design. Notice how in this photo the Blue Chip juniper (Juniperus horizontalis ‘Blue Chip’, zones 3 to 9) in the foreground and the blue spruce (Picea pungens ‘Fat Albert’, zones 2 to 8) in the background provide a sense of calm and continuity to the burgundy and chartreuse Leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’ (left), Cotinus ‘Grace’, Spirea thunbergii ‘Mt. Fuji’ and Phormium ‘Golden Ray.’
Use yellow sparingly
Plants such as this Skylands Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis ‘Skylands’, zones 4 to 7) prefer partial shade and are a welcome respite from the dark green foliage that often seems to rule the shade garden.
Dwarf Morgan arborvitae (Thuja orientalis ‘Morgan’, zones 5 to 8), seen here in the foreground, sports lime-green foliage in the warmer months that changes to a rich orange in winter. Some junipers turn purple or bronze in winter.
Dwarf conifers, such as Little Gem Norway spruce (P. abies ‘Little Gem’, zones 2 to 8) and dwarf Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Globosa Nana’, zones 2 to 7), both shown here, are useful as foundation plantings
In this garden another dwarf Japanese garden juniper, along with a blue star juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’, zones 4 to 8), completes the composition by commanding attention in the foreground.
Round: Recommended conifers: Globe spruce, Mr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Bobozam’, zones 3 to 8), dwarf Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Globosa Nana’, zones 5 to 8), bird’s nest spruce (Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’, zones 2 to 8), mugo pine (Pinus mugo, zones 2 to 8) and blue star juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’, zones 4 to 8).
From sharp and spiky to soft and fern-like, conifers are studies in textures. These Colorado blue spruces (Picea pungens cvs, USDA zones 3 to 7; find your zone) in the background anchor this garden and exhibit a coarse texture, while the white pines (Pinus strobus cvs, zones 3 to 8) and the Alberta spruces (Picea glauca ‘Conica’, zones 2 to 7) bring in a soft, fuzzy textural quality that draws us in. The chartreuse junipers low in the foreground have a deceptively soft, airy quality, as these are, in fact, less desirable to touch.
Bedmates such as this Slowmound mugo pine (Pinus mugo ‘Slowmound’, zones 2 to 8) and this Curly Tops false cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Curly Tops’, zones 4 to 8) provide year-round structure and high contrast based on size, shape, color and texture.
A conifer garden is a study in shapes. Some conifers are upright and conical, like Christmas trees. Others are narrow and columnar, while still others are mounding or weeping. Some even crawl across the ground. All are unique, interesting and worth exploring.
4. Carolina Laurelcherry (Prunus caroliniana) Native from Texas east to North Carolina A low-water alternative to cherry laurel (P. laurocerasus), drought-tolerant Carolina laurelcherry has glossy leaves and an upright growth habit. Plant it as a hedge or grow dwarf varieties (Prunus caroliniana ‘Compacta’) in containers as accent
Q