I love a secret garden and even some not so secret. This small patio garden was magic waiting to happen.
When I got the opportunity to bring some life into this apartment buildings backyard patio I jumped at the chance.
The above Before an After says it all. With a little TLC and planning, this small patio area is a welcoming area for tenants to relax and entertain if they so wish. It has become a nice sight to be welcomed home to as well as increased the value of the building for the owner.
You can see where it all started. Mostly concrete and dull grey and little texture. We added a bench for maximum seating. I saved and refurbished that ugly green chair from the garbage. It had great bones and it turned out stunning in a gloss black finish. The was some structural / cosmetic things that needed some attention like corner where the awing was posted was busted and had to be patched up. We also painted the awning a dark brown color to blend better with the foliage.
Then the fun stuff begins with the details of planning.
- Use of space: relaxing, entertaining, day and night use, shade
- Plant choices: easy care, growth, color
- Furniture: seating, tables, decor, durability
- Flow: maximum plants and seating
I tried to pick a variety of plants with different textures and color. I wanted to rely on the color of foliage instead of a lot of colorful blooms. Then the blooms are all white. This gave the space a sense of calm and a continuously lush feel all year round. The gardenia bushes lent to this quite nicely. Succulents, ground covers, and tropical trees of Plumeria, Elephant Ears, White Bird of Paradise, Lillies, Dinner Plant Dahlia’s, Japanese Ferns, Coleus, Miniature Citrus Trees, and Asparagus Fern all round out the garden.
I designed custom plant boxes for the gardenia bushes ( upper left corner and bottom right). There are so many easy and inspiring ideas on Youtube to create your own which is what I did.
As for the furnishings, I got everything from Home Depot. Like most, I only thought of them as for home projects and construction but they are a great resource of decorator items like indoor outdoor furnishings, decor items, and storage solutions. I love the teardrop chair! The coffee table, bench cushions, pillows, and the Triangle and Umbrella Shades are all from Home Depot.
Tip: Measure 5 times, cut once.
Gardening is always a great project to tackle this coming Spring. Anything that will get us outdoors and enjoying what this beautiful universe has to offer us.
Giselle
