Create an Entrance...

So as the Summer/Fall season come to a close... I find myself going back through some photos I took throughout the year... A couple of them in particular stand out for me as I had a chance to visit another project of mine from the Summer of 2010.

This photo shows the walkway into a backyard pool/cabana paradise...  I get so many comments on how it looks and feels like your own private resort.  That was the whole idea for this customer and the planning process involved in their project.

All the hardscape building materials and planting were carefully selected to bring this whole backyard together.  The look and the feel of everything helps to create a timeless appeal for years to come.  The one thing I always enjoy about revisiting my old design projects... each year as the plant material ages, it feels like a different space...and looks more and more like what I had envisioned when I first set out the plan on paper...

Throw a little Arbour in to add detail...

Okay, so I have been very lacking in my blogging these days... My business has me swamped at the moment...  Anyway, here are some pictures I took last month...

 

... finally had the chance to visit one of my old customer's homes.  I'm glad I waited this long to visit as the plantings have really matured nicely in the space I created for them.  The Arbour has a nice Wisteria vine growing over it.  My customers are waiting patiently for it to flower....almost there!

I wanted to define the eating area and frame the rest of the yard through the arbour entrance...gave it sort of a mystery appeal as you enter the yard from the home, you see the dinning set, then the arbour and you wonder...what's beyond???

How about a nice place to have your coffee/tea and sit while you read a book, a paper...or just meditate to the sounds of the birds?  A lot of these downtown Toronto homes end up with narrow yard spaces and as in this example, you see a garage taking up most of the room.  The best way to approach these types of design challenges is to section each area as a room space...

I ended up giving my customers about a 1000 extra square feet to enjoy while living in their home...  Now if you can only broadcast your wifi out to the back of the property!??!... Perhaps a day at the office could be best served in this space as well???


 

Japanese Maples

Japanese Maples are always a great addition to the landscape...

Their vibrant colour and soft architectural form add a great focal point to the overall look of a garden.  In many examples of my work, I always try to incorporate a Japanese Maple in the planting plan.

Most often when planning the gardens for the front yard of a home, the Japanese Maple is a must for me... it serves as a "sign post" to draw a visitor's attention to the front entrance of the home.  The garden tells a story for your guests... it should always lead a visitor to the front door of the home.  The bright colours of the Japanese Maple will attract a person's eye and if carefully placed, it will allow the visitor to instantly find the front door of the home!

My rule of thumb is to place it slightly off to one side of the front door... never directly in the main sight-line of the door...