“Anyone can cook.”
Designing a Garden Space - Part 1
Disney Pixar fans might be familiar with this quote from Ratatouille, one of my all time favorite movies! Now, I am not a great cook. I am not great with following recipes and I tend to overcook most items. However, I do get requests for my turkey meatloaf and banana pancakes from the kids. Everyone can cook something but with the right tools, fresh ingredients, and a little time maybe we can achieve a bit more success.
Banana Pancakes - recipe adapted from Once Upon A Chef with Jenn Segal
1 - 1/2 cups of flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 - 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoons salt
2 duck(large) eggs
1 cup (plus a splash more) almond milk
2 very ripe bananas
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
To make, mash bananas in a bowl then add all the wet ingredients, mix well. Add the brown sugar and mix. Mix the dry in a separate bowl or just add them to the wet like I do and mix (why get another bowl dirty?). Cook in a nonstick skillet and feed to hungry munchkins!
How does this apply to gardening and, more specifically, to your garden?
There were quite a few times I went to the hardware store or a garden center and fell in love with the plants that were in bloom. Of course I bought them, brought them home, and threw them in the ground or in a pot on the patio. They didn’t do well. Just last spring, I planted a Japanese anemone in a sunny, dry location. After watching it struggle to live for a few months, I did a little research and found it prefers shade and lots of water (oops!). As with people, plants prefer certain conditions which allow them to thrive.
Before planting your garden, it is important to take the time to evaluate the location. Ask yourself a few questions about the area: is it sunny or shady, wet or dry, clay soil or sandy, small or large, windy or calm, viewed from one side or all around? Take a minute during different parts of the day and sit where you want to see a garden thrive. Once you get to know your space, you can start dreaming of the different plants that will fill it.
Don’t break ground yet! The last thing you want to do is clear a space and have it lay open for the weeds to take over. Make a plan and keep the weeds away! I make a quick sketch on plain paper or in a small notebook that I can bring out to the yard with me. It is does not need to be to scale or perfect, but it is a place to put down some ideas before making a big hole in the yard. You will come back to this little drawing again and again as you work. Once the outline is done, it is time to start filling it in.
Garden Quick Design
Here is my layout for my rose garden this spring. It is a rough sketch which can be adjusted as needed to fit the plants that I want to be included. Some of these plants are more permanent (the vitex and peonies) where as others can be transplanted if they don’t work. Be creative, try a new combination, and play with the shape!
Where do you start?
I like to create a focal point. A large flowering tree or shrub makes a big statement and provides interest all year round. It might also be a garden statue, bench, large container, bird feeder, or piece of driftwood. Place your focal plant/piece on the drawing along with any pathways. These items will be harder to move once placed in your garden so make sure you have it where you want it!
Time to move outward from your focal point. Dividing your paper into sections (halves, thirds, quadrants) will make it more manageable and less daunting. In each section make a note of the conditions that you observed. Even in a small space conditions may vary: the movement of the sun (morning or afternoon), low spots and high spots, shade created by your focal point. Draw a few circles or ovals to represent the placement of plants (doesn’t have to be specific yet). Do you like symmetry or a more wildflower look? Play with it until you like how it looks. Finally, it is time to pick your plants and get digging in the dirt!
In the next blog post, I will create a few sample garden plans using your spaces as inspiration. Share what your garden area is like and what you would like it to become in the comments so I can feature it in the next blog!