Travelers’ Garden
A garden inspired by global adventures
I understand gardens work best when they exhibit a unifying theme, especially when the space is small, like our little urban courtyard. I also know that decades of international travel and visiting gardens throughout Europe and Asia, have led me instead to a more eclectic design for our garden. This includes everything from a primarily white “Moon Garden” inspired by visits to Northern European gardens, to a cacti and succulents corner inspired by travels throughout the Mediterranean basin. The garden also includes Japanese Maples, bonsai, moss paths, and Buddha statues inspired by trips to Asia.
A happy Buddha sitting in a bed of white Alyssum
North European Influences
Summer Peak Bloom
Designed in a British mixed border style, the garden hits its peak during the month of July. Vines growing vertically on walls and fences, along with ground covers cascading over rock walls, help soften the brick and stone hardscaping.
Starting the Season
The first flowers to bloom each year in the garden are our Hellebores. These hardy beauties light up the garden during the darkest days of the year. This photo was taken on New Year’s Day.
Shining in Low Light
In addition to glowing in the evening, the abundance of white flowers creates a beautiful setting to enjoy a morning cup of coffee as the sun rises. What a peaceful way to begin the day.
Mediterranean Influences
Travel Inspired Choices
One of our favorite places to vacation is the Mediterranean. Influenced by garden visits in Spain, southern France, Italy, and Greece, I designed the south side of our backyard to evoke the feeling of these places we enjoy so much. Water features are an important feature in these dry gardens, so we incorporated a modern fountain into the design.
Drought Tolerant and Low Maintenance
One of my favorite water-wise plants is the agave, particularly the variegated varieties. These succulents, along with two poodle-cut Arborvitae, lend a strong architectural element to the landscape. They are underplanted with grasses and carpet junipers, creating three levels of a drought tolerant landscape. The plants in this setting receive all the moisture they require from normal rainfall. I do not need to do any supplemental watering.
Art in the Garden
Several years ago, we purchased a sculpture by Kensuke Yamada for our home. A cleaning crew accidentally knocked her over, breaking off her arms and legs. We couldn’t bring ourselves to throw away her torso, so we built a stand for her and incorporated her into the garden. We surrounded her with large ferns to conceal the stand.