Secret Gardens
Explore the Intrigue
Secret gardens enchant and endear themselves to us with a whisper. Whether your garden is large or small, you can create a secret garden feel. How?
It starts with a hidden path ... and ends with a little archway. On the other side, you glimpse a garden -- another world that was a mystery only a moment ago.
An enchanting area with wisteria overhead casting dappled shadow onto the old cobblestone patio. A small table and chair await. You sit and watch the butterflies and sparrows flit around the blooms. This garden inspires.
Walk with me through a few elements of a secret garden...
The Secret
Concealment is key for a secret garden. It doesn't have to be at the far end of your property (although it could be). It just has to be hidden or mostly so. Maybe you'll create a winding pathway that leads you around a corner. At the end is a tiny area bursting with lilacs in bloom and a small fountain.
A garden wall can be a great way to hide your garden. Depending on your style, you could create a tall, brick wall covered with ivy or an old world style block wall.
Walls more than a couple of feet high have special construction requirements. There may also be zoning restrictions regarding the placement of walls for your property.
Fences are another way to conceal and they coordinate with many garden styles. Brush fences, wooden fences, iron fences -- they also define space and should add to the style of your garden.
Hedges provide screening and another green element to your garden. A tall hedge can be clipped for a more formal style or kept just within bounds for a slightly wild look (or anything in between).
Many plants provide screening but aren't really hedges -- how about a large evergreen tree like Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra)? A grouping of large plants could be just the thing.
A Note...
Secret gardens can also solve landscaping issues. Recently I created a secret garden for a local family. They were building a deck. Unfortunately, the deck would be shading other windows in the house -- bedroom windows. Normally, this could be a problem with no good fix.
Hoisting large boulders into the area, Jan Paul and I created a secret garden for the children (who could see it from their bedroom windows). The drip-style sprinkler system would wind in and under so that green plants would thrive. A flagstone patio gave the kids plenty of room for play.
As a special treat, we even installed a small sand box. All of this was concealed from the lawn with shrubbery. A tiny pathway from the back patio would be the only clue to the hidden area.
If you've got an inaccessible area or problem spot, could a secret garden solve it for you?
Pathways
Winding pathways invite mystery. Any pathway where you can't see the end will be interesting. Place a nice piece of garden art where it will draw you on.
Pathway materials have all the versatility of patios. They can be crushed granite, old cobblestone, brick pavers, -- whatever makes it special for you. If you're installing crushed granite or other loose material, make sure you plan for edging. Concrete bullet edgers are a great option for this and come in several colors.
Want something unusual? Instead of stone steppers, cut the ends off of logs and have log steppers. They're not as durable, but they are interesting, rustic, and easy. Nestle them in wood mulch.
The Entrance
If you don't have room for a winding pathway, concentrate on the entrance way itself. Whether it's an arch, a door, or a gate, the entrance could have a special path leading in or just a few stepping stones set at your feet.
I once visited a beautiful Japanese garden. . As I was walking on a path leading to the exit, there was an opening in the hedge. I gasped in surprise. There stood a beautiful piece of garden art that was hidden from other parts of the garden. What a great way to delight -- anticipate those places where you can show hidden treasures.
One of the things to consider about a secret garden is whether you will disguise the entry altogether or lure people in with a door that is slightly ajar. You may want to keep the garden secret from all but yourself.
Create an entrance that shows your special vision of the secret garden. Not only can the entry itself be beautiful, but the view from there will be the first thing that you see when you enter. Make that view outstanding.
The Style
What style should you choose for your garden? Well, that depends on you. The classic secret garden from storybook fame is like a cottage garden -- shrubs, trees, and flowers intermixed in a tangle. This relaxing style might be just right for you if you spend your work day in the concrete jungle.
TIP
An entire garden surrounded by a high, brick wall stands a bit ominous from the outside and enchantment and light on the inside. Contrasts like this can be very effective in secret gardens.
Many times walls and screens are used in Japanese gardens to reveal special items at just the right time. Other times, they're used to focus your attention by cutting out distractions.
A woodland garden could have you reminiscing about climbing trees as a child. Exploring a tiny path would lead you to a hidden glade and will leave you wondering if the animals created it.
I've explored deer trails before -- leading me on through the trees with moss-covered stones and logs on either side. If I were to conceal the heart of this garden with rustic trellis made of branches and place a large stone at the center to catch the rain... perfectly beautiful.
Maybe the labyrinth is what lures you. I know that I still have dreams of creating one for myself. Tall clipped hedges or arches overgrown with clematis trail on until you're not sure if you'll find your way out, much less find the center of the garden that calls to you.
The sound of splashing water or glimpses through hedges assure you that you just need to explore a little further...
Modern gardens with clean lines and lots of texture can give you the freedom to use new materials like concrete along with classic materials like copper or stone. A clipped hedge would be right at home in this garden.
I can imagine a great, large entertainment area in the center of a modern estate. Encircled with clipped evergreen hedges, it blocks the wind and provides a feeling of privacy and just a touch of mystery.
Secret gardens can fit any style and almost any budget. A bit of planning is key, however. If you've got garden issues such as an unused bit of lawn behind some trees, get creative. If you need a place to get away... Or if you just want to create a little mystery in a world that holds too few... create a secret garden.
Return FROM Secret Gardens TO HOME
|
