I nominate "side yards" as some of the most under-exploited areas in the landscape! What a shame, especially when every square foot of real estate is valuable, even in a down economy.  

Small, narrow yards can be perplexing to some homeowners who don't know which plants and trees work in a constricted space.

The good news is that not only can you find appropriate plants for small garden areas, you can also design a narrow yard to include walkways, sitting areas, sculpture (or garden art ), water features and  fruit trees!

Here's the proof.

Check out this "narrow side yard"  makeover  I designed for my client in Los Angeles.

 

With sustainable concepts in mind, we used lots of recycled materials.

 

The widest area in this "abandoned side yard" is 10 feet from the wall to the sliding doors, the average is 8 feet wide.

 I inherited an evergreen Pear tree, a noisy air conditioner and a used dishwasher.

Where was "Freecycle" when I needed them 5 years ago?

 

The view from the opposite direction. I had BIG plans for this underused space. All I needed was a good design plan.

 

I try to design "on site" whenever possible.

I used my up-side-down marking paint and drew a new 4-foot wide walkway and flanking garden beds that average about 2 feet deep.

 I earmarked a sitting area and lots of fruit trees!

 

We fashioned "steppingstones" from broken pieces of used and recycled concrete and mortared each individual stone to the ground.

We spaced each stone about a strides-length away (the homeowners' stride), installed tube drip irrigation between each stone, filled with some crushed pea gravel for drainage, and lots of decomposed granite to top it off.

 

After photo: The long narrow walkway is complete! The gardens include lavender, ornamental grasses, tree roses, vines and a romantic metal arch that opens to the backyard. I even included a hanging pendent light.

 

After photo: The opposite view. Scent-filled gardens, perfect for a leisurely stroll.

Who knew this "underachieving" piece of real estate could become such a valuable feature in this yard?

 

Creeping "Elfin Thyme" forms a carpet between steppingstones. Festuca o. "Elijah Blue" punctuates the cobble edging and the rest of the garden is filled with herbs and perennials.

 

The key to incorporating fruiting trees in the narrow landscape is to plant dwarf varieties (like this dwarf lemon) in containers and find a sunny corner for them. I have three more fruit trees in this narrow garden!

 

This lemon tree doesn't take up much space horizontally and is a prolific fruiter . It also functions as a focal point in this small garden bed.

We even found room for "garden art" in this cubby area beneath the evergreen Pear tree.

Small can be beautiful!

 

Did I mention the homeowner is a surfer?

This metal surfer sculpture and metal chair is fun and reflects the homeowner's personality.

Even if this chair isn't comfortable to sit on for long periods, you can see that there is plenty of room to substitute it for a more comfy one.

Don't tell me you don't have enough room to be creative!

 

We constructed a simple, recycled wood frame awning  to place above the sliding doors and add dimension to the tall, flat wall.

 The awning is home to a happy potato vine.

 

Antique, ornamental and rustic bolts lend a detail that can be appreciated from close up.

Since this yard is so narrow, everything is closeup!

 

The sound of water is a healing balm.

 As a final touch, we placed a petite fountain on the short  6 foot wall, a larger one would have been out of scale.

 

"EdenMaker" Shirley Bovshow's rule of thumb for narrow yards:

" When selecting trees for narrow areas, make sure the trunk has a narrow profile and that the lowest limbs are higher than 7 feet" so that the average size person can walk underneath it.

Sorry Kobe!

You can still create a dynamic garden in small spaces.

If you are a rose lover, opt for rose trees as they don't take up bulky horizontal space like the bush form does.

Layer your garden with perennials, bulbs, flowering ground covers and vines, or play up contrasting foliage.

You don't need a huge variety of plants to make an interesting garden!"

 

Want some more inspiration?

Visit these Garden Designer's RoundTable member blogs:

Jenny Peterson, J Peterson Garden Design Laura Livengood Schuab, Interleafings The Hegarty/Webber Partnership Susan Morrison, Blue Planet Garden Blog Susan Schlenger, Garden Design Viewpoint Carolyn Gail Choi, Sweet Home and Garden Chicago Tara Dillard, Landscape Design, Decorating Styling

And, if that's not enough, check out these great articles by David Beaulieu.

To learn more about narrow side yard design, fellow blogger David Beaulieu, the Landscaping Guide at at About.com has some great articles:

Photo Guide to Walkways

How to Build a Stone Walkway Walkways and Pathways

How to Make and Use Garden Steppingstones

Supplies for Stone Fountain Project

Varieties of Apple Trees

The World needs more "eden makers," are you one?

 

 

What is an Eden Maker? 

 “An Eden Maker is a person who brings a little bit of paradise to the world by creating a garden, growing a plant or preserving the beauty of our natural world by establishing a beneficial relationship with nature.”

 

Why do we Need Eden Makers? 

As technology becomes a greater force in our lives at work, in our relationships, in our pursuit of leisure, people will spend the majority of their productive time on a computer, or in the “virtual world.”

 The virtual world is a great “world minimizer” or shrinker because it makes the world smaller and more accessible at the touch of a keystroke.

In one minute, the internet makes it possible for you to chat with someone in India or Australia, the next, you are back in Los Angeles.

 

People argue, fall in love and make life changing financial decisions on the internet.

Many people’s lives are primarily lived and experienced on computer these days.

 

How does all this virtual activity and interaction affect our mind, psyche and spirit that are derived from organic matter and expressed in genetic code and not some “ HTML” or other computer language?

Other than convenience, is this type of constant interaction in the best interest of the human race?

I believe that as our lives become more computer-centric, the more humans will crave what is “Real” for their down time and the role of the Eden Maker will become more important in our society.

 

   

 

The reality is that “virtual reality” is no substitute for the real world!  

The real world- “dirt world” as I refer to it, with its trees, shrubs, flowers, mountains, rivers, the wind the sun and the stars…this is what the human spirit needs and craves! 

Even though most people don’t know the name of the shade tree in their yard, or the variety of grass growing under their feet, people are drawn to the garden!

The attraction is in our genetic makeup.

 

 For example, if you ask someone if they want to eat indoors or outdoors at a restaurant, most people will choose outdoors.

Why?

It feels good!

 

I’ve noticed the increasing  popularity of outdoor concerts, exercising outdoors, offices with indoor/outdoor rooms, outdoor classrooms and more! 

Outdoor living is still a strong request in my landscape design practice, as well as “bringing the outdoors, in!

I'm not saying everyone wants to garden, but people want to be outside and that is what I care about.

 

 

Yes, people may not know it on a conscious level, but they crave nature!

 

Nature is a “silent backdrop” for many peoples lives

 Thank God, for nature!

It's  our “living” counterpart as human beings.

Plants, our living partners, are quietly present to help us celebrate and mark important rites of passage in our lives.

When we are born, flowers are there,  we graduate, get a new job or get sick, flowers are there, in religious ceremonies, weddings and finally to bid us farewell when we die- flowers are there.

Flowers have always been there for us. 

They do so much for us and ask so little in return!

 

 

Being a plant can be a thankless job, but not for the Eden Maker who works with plants!

Plants don’t show up for these key events by themselves.

There is a “field of Eden Makers’ working in the background making “ it” all happen.

Plant growers, florists, garden designers, maintenance crews, farmers, wine makers and others all play a vital role in these life moments.

Flowers and plants are tools for healing, spirit lifting and beauty in the hands of a skilled Eden Maker.

 

 Our high-tech world needs Eden Makers more than ever before!

Are you an Eden Maker?

You are if you are a garden hobbiest or a professional in any of the vast industries that involve horticulture and nature.

From plant hybridizers to natural science teachers to horticultural therapist in rehabilitation centers, if your hand touches the plow or petal and you are firmly rooted in the dirt world- you may be an Eden Maker!

 

 

It all starts and ends in a garden… .. 

Our lives revolve around the garden from the food we eat to the material that is used to make the clothes we wear, to the lotion we put on our bodies to the fuel we will be putting into our cars.

Our lives depend on the garden and one day we will be buried there or have our ashes scattered in the wind where they will ultimately settle on the ground somewhere.   

 

 

 

Eden Makers will always be in demand.

Go out and cultivate your knowledge of plants and skills that will make you a better Eden Maker.

Create a garden and share it with others because when people leave the sedating company of the computer, they will feel a need to come up for air.

Eden Makers, the flowers and the trees will be there to replenish their souls and help them come back down to earth where we all belong.

Enjoy the visit to Shirley's gardens in this music video titled "Pocket Full of Sunshine"

 

 

 

Are you  an Eden Maker too? I know I can't be the only one out there! 

I will miss my Mediterranean style garden when I vacation in Maui, Hawaii this week with my family, especially my pepper tree.

 

I’m hoping my tropical destination will help me forget how I am missing my beautiful “stone-ruin garden” that I wake up to every morning.

I created this vignette as an homage to the many ruin gardens my husband and I saw on our honeymoon in Italy many years ago.

Every morning we throw open the double doors in our bedroom and this is our view.

The sun rises behind the columns and illuminates the flight path of the hummingbirds as they hover and cross from plant to plant, enjoying their morning nectar.

What a way to start the day!

What fragrant tropical plant will enchant me as much as the familiar aroma of my Vitex, “chaste” tree and the welcoming musk of my ruby salvia greggii?

 

Will the fragrance of the white ginger lei around my neck remind me of the romantic apricot scented climbing roses that wrap around my stone columns back home?

I’m blessed to have created my version of Eden at home with its dry but  surprisingly colorful gardens that are appropriate for the the Mediterranean climate of Los Angeles.

I feel like I’m already on vacation everyday when I step outside my door.

This will be my first visit to Hawaii and I wonder if it will alter my image of Paradise.

 

Anyone come back a new gardener after visiting Hawaii?