Backyard Gardens : Five Unique Theme Gardens
The snow has melted, the air is starting to warm up, and the smell of springtime is in the air. It might be time to start getting your garden ready for the glorious spring and summer that are to come. And if you're sick of your backyard garden, it also might be the perfect time for a clean start. We asked readers to submit pictures and descriptions of their "theme" backyard gardens and patios. Here are our top picks - maybe they will inspire you!
Butterflies are remarkable creatures. They are attracted to bright colors and sweet scents, and they like to eat bugs that annoy people. A butterfly garden, designed by Rosemary Willis, is full of life and bursting with beautiful plants and aromatic, sweet-smelling flowers that attract butterflies - and people! The colors, the flowers, the aromas, and the fluttering wings of butterflies all combine in this gem of a garden.
2. English Garden: when Joshua Rakham decided to plan his first backyard gardens, he wanted something in the classic tradition of the half-wild, half-cultivated English garden. This garden theme allows plants to sprawl in their natural splendor, while using short hedgerows and other devices to keep them from taking over pathways. Rakham has also added some touches of whimsy in his garden globes, gnomes, and fairies.
3. Cat Garden: Check out this amazing garden Sissy Nye-Robison has designed...for her cats! She's used lots of kitty-friendly plants and architectural elements. Things like small trees and hardy wisteria plants for climbing, catnip and cat grass for nibbling, and features that attract birds and butterflies so your cat can stay entertained. One important thing to note is that Sissy emphasizes that you choose only plants that are non-poisonous for pets, so do your research and your kitty will enjoy gardens as much as you do.
4. The Monochromatic Garden: Designed by Pilar Sota, these remarkable black and white theme backyard gardens are as stunning at night as they are during the day. The sun sparkles on the whites, as patterns laced with dark, rich violets swirl in the light. By moonlight, the white plants seem to glow with an otherworldly quality.
5. Tea Garden: Janice LaRoux is the creator of this aromatic garden, in which she has planted over 50 different types of plants that can be used for tea! When walking in her garden, the smells of peppermint and jasmine and cinnamon create a riot of flavors. To complete her garden, Janice has placed large, decorative teapots among the plants and leading up to her backyard patio.
If you are ready for a change in your backyard gardens, perhaps these theme garden ideas will inspire you. A butterfly garden is not only beautiful and aromatic, but functional. Butterflies eat annoying little bugs. A garden can have both wild and cultivated elements, inspired by an English garden. Cat lovers can design their garden around their cats with cat grass, catnip, birdhouses and plants to attract butterflies providing entertainment for the cats. A black and white garden that looks beautiful both during the day and at night in the moonlight. Perhaps you would like to enjoy a cup of tea on your backyard patio surrounded by your tea gardens.
Published October 8th, 2007
Filed in Home
