Come into my garden…Isn’t this a dreamy garden gate?
Does anyone else love the idea of an outdoor space that’s inviting and inspiring?
When we moved last year we knew there were lots of projects to keep us busy for a long time. Both inside and out, the house needed some TLC. This is the only photo I can find of the outside of Stone House Lane after we moved in…sorry about the Christmas theme-Yikes!
For nine months we’ve focused on the inside, all the while knowing that we’d get outside eventually, but every time we started to tackle a part of the yard, we got overwhelmed.
Okay, I got overwhelmed! The Husband said, just let me know when you’re ready to actually do something :)
But I couldn’t figure out where to start when there were so many projects! What we needed, The Husband decided, was a plan.
So last month we had a Landscape Designer from Pike Nursery come out and help us put one together.
The Husband and I had ideas about the hardscape, for instance we wanted to add a patio and a water feature, but we weren’t sure exactly where to put them. And we had no idea about what kinds of plants to add. Our designer listened and offered some suggestions, listened some more and then came up with a great design!
I’m a very visual person, it’s how I learn and how I create, so I actually went through the plan, looked up and saved photos of every kind of plant he chose which helped me get a mental picture of all the gorgeous shades of green he put in the design. ( I thought about showing you all the little beauties but I didn’t want to bore you into a stupor looking at plants. ) But you may enjoy these photos I found of the hardscape elements we want to do. They’re kind fun!
The first element is a pondless waterfall. We almost bought a house because of it’s beautiful waterfall cascading down a steep hill. The sound from the back porch was so soothing. We decided against putting an offer on that house but we promised each other we’d put in a waterfall when we moved. Ours won’t be cascading down a big hill but it should still give us the music of running water and because it’s pondless, it’ll be safe for our tiny granddaughters.
Last May when we moved, I was sad to leave the great patio The Husband built (Back Yard Before and After posted HERE)…it was perfect for entertaining and those babies loved to play out here!
Putting one on Stone House Lane was always part of the plan. This time it’ll be a round patio and we’re thinking of putting in a seating-height wall around some of it. A fireplace was part of the plan until we heard the price! (we were quoted 7 to 10 THOUSAND dollars!!! Ummm, we aren’t that chilly.)
No to the fireplace but yes to the patio… ours will be made from red and gray brick pavers that will coordinate better with our house…
The plan also includes flagstone pathways here and there.
I think the tiny granddaughters would love following a garden path right up to their play area…
The garden gate…while we aren’t really putting in a formal ‘garden’, I really love the idea of a gate. You know, like that first photo I posted…one that beckons you: Come in, sit awhile…
Here’s another gate I love…
I can dream can’t I?
***
The designer did a bit of planning for the front yard as well which mostly consists of expanding some beds and lots of planting! We won’t implement even half of his plan this year, but it’s super helpful to have everything clearly organized so we can pick an area of the yard to work on, refer to the plan and know exactly what to buy and where to plant it all! If you’re overwhelmed with your landscape, I would recommend finding a landscape designer and if you live in the Atlanta area or Charlotte NC give Pike Nursery a call!
I can hardly wait until spring!
Do you have any hardscape elements in your yard that you really love? And are you planning any outdoor projects for spring?
Sending you smooches and hugs dear friends
This is gorgeous–so gorgeous that I carried the laptop downstairs to show Ricky. He said to tell his BFF that he has a good friend (but not another BFF of course) who does landscaping and “all of this.” I can message you his name. 🙂
Stunning, Robin!!
ohhhh, that sounds too good Julie Ricky’s BFF is “planning” on doing most of it himself! My hubby is a lot like YOUR hubby! 🙂 (but I’ll tell him!)
Robin —
I hardily endorse the idea of a raised wall around your patio for seating. We have that, and it gives lots and lots of seating without the bother of more outdoor furniture which most of the time, we don’t need or want. (It also contains those precious grandbabies!) I LOVE mine!
Linda @ A Toile Tale
Linda, thank you for the input…I’ll pass it along to Mike! I absolutely adore your garden- talk about inspiring!!!
I can’t wait to see the finished project! I’m sure it’ll be gorgeous–like everything you do!
Marie, thank you sweetie…I think this one may take some time 🙂 xo
I love the plans! No doubt you and your family will spend countless hours in the years ahead enjoying such a beautiful space! And since you live in Atlanta, you’ll be able to use it nearly year-round, I would think — at least in some capacity.
I’m so glad that I read this post, because I had never thought about hiring someone to create a plan for our yard. I knew we couldn’t afford to hire anyone to do the actual work, but I never even considered paying for just a plan. I think my staunchly do-it-myself husband might actually agree to getting that help. 😉 Thanks for the inspiration!
Keri, My husband is the same way!!! We checked on estimates from a lot of sources for the landscape plan before we found one that was affordable. Don’t be discouraged if the first few are over priced 🙂 xo
I am planning a “memory garden’ next to the dining room. It is a shaded area, so I want to plant the things that my departed father would’ve loved and ones that remind me of other special people. Luckily, he loved shaded area plants such hosta, ferns, azaleas, hydreangas, coral bells. It will be beautiful if I ever get it done!
Ann, I absolutely LOVE that idea. What a tribute to your sweet dad. And I absolutely love every one of the plants you mentioned!!!
It is going to look so lovely once it is done, Robin! And, I know with all your family gatherings it will get used and admired a lot.
I think doing it in bits and pieces is better anyway. It gives you time to concentrate on one area in particular. That way, you can really observe what it is looking like and change it if need be.
Have fun!
Eileen, you’re right about being able to concentrate on one thing at a time…I hope my flowers and plants will look half as good as yours look! xo
Robin, This is the perfect time to daydream about our gardens and yards and patios! I always start getting the itch to dig in the dirt… but I think daydreaming would be a lot wiser for now!
Your ideas are so beautiful!!!! LOVE the gate image!
Yvonne, finished projects tend to start with day dreaming don’t they???
xoxo
Hi Robin, your utside is going to be beautiful!!! We have to get any plans we have approved before we do anything. We are planning a small deck and steps going down to a hardscape patio and WATERFALL!!!!! We also have to do beds all around the house. They only plant the front and even that has to be “spiffed up”:):) I am SO anxious for Spring too!!!!! XO, Pinky
I can’t wait to see your process Pinky, I sure hope you blog it! You had such a lovely yard before, the two of you are really talented in the garden..xoxo