Most of the work last summer at the Garden Gone Wild was maintenance - trimming as required, pulling weeds when they popped up, watering, and periodic re-edging. I worked away at this maintenance while I
was at the farm. When I returned home, my mind would keep working. There are two large areas around the house that have basically been lying in wait. Waiting for what, I’m not exactly sure, but seeing their emptiness time after time sparked my imagination and started the creative juices flowing. Different landscaping ideas would float in and out of my head.
Here are photographs of those areas as they currently are:
Current Landscape Design - Front View
Current Landscape Design - Right Side View
These are some of the thoughts that persistently floated back to my head and hovered around.
- The plantings to the left of the front door are so abundant compared with the blank space to the right - even with items added to the right side, the items on the left need to be pared down and there needs to be more variation in height and texture.
- Although the black paint on the front door provides a contrast to the rest of the exterior, the front door still seems to get lost on the facade - a portico in Western Red Cedar would really define the entry.
- There are only two small euonymous that provide year-round greenery and they get buried under the snow in winter - there needs to be something more substantial.
- I visualize large rocks for hardscaping at the front and along the right side - repetition and continuity would be achieved by using rocks like the ones used in the pool area.
Without the benefit of landscape design software, I had to rely on the software that came with my digital camera and the paint program on my computer to modify and amend the many landscape pictures I had taken. I created new pictures that incorporated my thoughts, ideas and visions for the landscape design of the front and right side garden beds.
The fruits of my labor - here are the pictures that represent my virtual landscape makeover:
Virtual Landscape Design - Front View
Virtual Landscape Design - Right Side View
What Happens Next?
Just for fun, I left my virtual landscape photos for the owners to have a look at. They were so pleased that they want me to turn the virtual landscape makeover into a reality. Much of my time lately has been spent researching trees and shrubs and locating local landscape stone suppliers. The owners want me to get started as early in the spring as possible. I’m so excited!
If anyone has any advice to offer, I’m all ears (eyes)!
