A Garden of Many Rooms

Most gardeners focus their efforts on the backyard. In this case, the homeowner has directed much of her energies to a rectangular space at the side of a century home that may at one time have housed a garage. 

I doing so, she transformed a long narrow area into a series of courtyards or rooms. By partitioning the area according to function (outdoor dining, potting shed and seating areas) an awkward space has been made to feel wider and more generous. The view to the backyard is partially obstructed making each new room a delightful surprise.

This is not a Japanese garden, but there are many Asian influences. Although there is no raked sand, there is fine gravel and rocks. The lattice that provides privacy for dining area also has a oriental feel. Even the plantings, which are generally spare and textural rather than floral, have the minimalist aesthetic of a Japanese garden. 

The first "room" is a dining area complete with a table and chairs.

Wooden decking leads past the outdoor eating area to the back porch. The side of the house gets full sun in the hottest part of the day, so a pergola was constructed to create a little afternoon shade (see below).

Providing the dinner music is this classic water fountain.

This is a gardener who appreciates the unique color, shape, size and texture of stone. In the picture above, rocks and pebbles have been combined with pots of green ferns to make a little vignette. 

In other parts of the garden, craggy, moss covered rocks have been used to edge raised beds and flat, grey flagstone is mixed with fine pea gravel to form the central pathway that runs through the garden.

Here a few special rocks and crystals have even been gathered into a raised display.

A lean-to of vines transform the sunny porch into a shady retreat.

A container planting on top of a clay column.

Midway down the side yard is the potting area– the working heart of the garden.

Annuals in a container planting just behind the potting bench.

An nice mix of textures in the flowerbed beside the potting bench.

 

An Euonymus with golden variegation climbs up the side of an arbor.

The restricted color palette makes the journey down the central pathway feel serene. Finely-cut foliage also adds a certain softness to this part of the garden.

A mix of ferns and a Bleeding Heart surround a garden ornament 

that continues the oriental theme.

The plantings in front of the shed emphasize foliage texture and color. The Japanese Maple and the peach Heuchera add a hint of warm color to the mix of greens.

Personally, I am not a huge fan of the color peach, but I have to admit that it looks stunning with the Fescue grass and the two blue-green hostas.

I am not sure of the exact cultivar here, but I will give you a reference to one that looks very similar.

Fancy-leaf Coral Bells, Heuchera 'Champagne' has foliage that changes from peach to gold to golden-champagne color over the season. Tall burgundy stems carry tiny, pale-peach flowers. This plant is adaptable to a range of garden soils and likes average to moist growing conditions. Part-shade to full shade. Height:25-30 cm (10-12 inches, Spread: 30-35 cm (12-14 inches). USDA zones: 4-9.

This Buddha seems to have found the perfect spot for meditation.

We're now in the backyard looking at the porch. Under the dappled shade of a lilac is an Alberta Spruce, a variety of ferns, a silvery Heuchera and a low mat of European Ginger.

Stones, at the foot of a concrete birdbath, appear to be casually arranged, but in the way of Japanese gardens, are placed in a way that is intentional.

European Wild Ginger, Asarum europaeum is a groundcover perfect for shady areas. It has glossy, green leaves and insignificant brownish flowers that tend to be hidden by the foliage. European Wild Ginger makes a great understory for hosta and ferns. Height: 10-15 cm (4-6 inches), Spread: 15-20 cm (6-8 inches). USDA zones: 2-9.

The backyard has a large grassy area with plantings 

around the perimeter, a shed and a hot tub.

I hope you have enjoyed this little tour.

Creating a Sense of Privacy

It is not that you necessarily dislike your neighbours; they may well be among your closest friends, it is just that your garden is a place of refuge from the world at large and that sometimes even includes friends. You want it to be private. A garden is a place to sit and read, enjoy a meal or do nothing beyond watch the bees flit from flower to flower.

A garden is also the last place you want to think about what you're wearing. Who gets dressed up to dig around in the dirt? You want to roll out that back door in your grubbiest clothes without a moment's thought to what other people might think if they happened to see you!

Private Garden, Mississauga ON

Creating a sense of privacy can be as simple as surrounding your self with a cocoon of greenery.

Private Garden, Mississauga ON

The problem is that trees and shrubs take years to fill in and mature. Most homeowners end up resorting to a structure or fencing of some kind. 

To keep this back deck area feeling secluded, a set of benches, a planter and an overhanging structure for vines and hanging baskets were added.

Private Garden, Toronto ON

In this garden in the Forest Hill area of Toronto, there was nothing to block the view from the street. A wall of evergreens was planted then a decorative metal screen was added.

Private Garden, Toronto ON

Private Garden, Toronto ON

Of course, the surest way to make your yard secluded is to add fencing of some kind. Even fencing can have its drawbacks though. Tall fences can be costly and most municipalities have some restrictions on fence height. 

Of course there are always clever ways to get around those height restrictions:

Private Garden, Toronto ON

Good luck trying to peak into this backyard! 

Climbing hydrangea obliterates the low fence, while a solid wall of cedars stretches up toward the home's roof line.

Private Garden, Ward Island

Evergreens are useful for providing year round privacy, but it is actually the summer months that you really care about creating that quiet sense of seclusion. 

The garden above is a nice example making use of a deciduous screening. The trees selected are upright and conceal the view of the patio area without adding dense shade.

Private Garden, Brampton ON

You can also keep the fence tall without making it a solid wall.

Private Garden, Toronto ON

In this example, the backyard slopes gently upward toward the back of the property. The fence has been stepped according to the elevation.

Private Garden, Toronto ON

Lush greenery softens the line of fencing.

Private Garden, Toronto ON

At the very back of the yard, an extra height of fencing was added to keep this area around the pond intimate and serene. 

Private Garden, Toronto ON

Private Garden, Mississauga ON

Of course no one wants to feel fenced-in just to escape prying eyes. Isn't this a nice way to disguise some of that solid line of fencing?

Private Garden, Mississauga ON

Private Garden, Mississauga ON

There is even a little pond to mask traffic noises.

Private Garden, Mississauga ON

In this particular property, there was only a chain link fence between neighbours and so a coordinating screen was added along the property line.

Private Garden, Toronto ON

In this final example, a lattice was added in front of the fence and a pergola was then constructed. 

What a nice quiet place to sit and do absolutely nothing at all!