Landscape designers have philosophies that guide them in their work. When it comes to creating sitting areas in your garden, we feel that “while you might not physically sit in the spot often, visually you will sit there all the time.” We tend to create lounging spots that are in the line of site from your house (unless a secret spot is requested). Therefore, even in the dead of winter you can enjoy the memories of sitting there on a warm spring day with flowers blooming and birds chirping. Our hope is that you will enjoy the sitting area all year long, whether you are inside or outside.
Another tenet of our philosophy addresses enjoying your garden from many different vantage points. Most people interact with their backyard from their patio, porch or windows. This single vantage point from your home means you are missing a lot! Creating sitting areas in your garden that give you a whole new perspective on your landscape design will only add to your enjoyment. For the project shown above, we created a small seating spot at the back of their yard near an existing tree line. It was part of a large design project that included a new deck and dry creek bed. They wanted this other space for enjoying their coffee in the mornings, etc. We built it to their specifications, but then the next year they had us back to enlarge it. Turns out it became the favorite gathering spot for their grandkids. Now they want to install a portable firepit, so they are asking us to enlarge it again. They love that they can enjoy it from their house during the colder months, and in the warmer months they get a totally different perspective of their backyard.
The design of these special spaces can be anything you want – a small secret bistro table for two hidden behind a stand of trees and bushes, a large pergola with a dining area, or even a patio area set aside for evening fires with friends. What the space looks like will depend upon the size of the yard, the climate (for plantings) and your needs. Seating options are also plentiful – log rounds, formal teak or stone benches, rocks, gliders, Adirondack chairs, seating walls etc. At the Eagleson home, we have Bill’s grandmother’s antique concrete bench that brings back many memories when he sits there. Our attitude is “anything you can park you tush on” will work.
If you are looking to place plantings around the seating area, what you choose will depend upon your yard and your goals. Year-round color is nice to have. Do you want to be able to see the space from your home? If so, then remember to keep that site line in mind – how will it look in cold, gray January and brilliant fall? You may also want to consider placing something fun to see when you are sitting there, like a piece of outdoor art. Plantings should also reflect the style of your seating area. Formal bench? Then formal plantings. Woodland feel? Then woodland plants. The theme of the project sets the theme of plants and seating design.
After learning our philosophies and the project parameters are set, our clients often give us creative license with their landscape design. They get excited to see what we will create, knowing the process will be a lot of fun and the end result will be beautiful. This leap of faith is not for everybody, but it allows us to take advantage of unique plants and materials as we run across them. There is always something new at the nursery, so we cannot always plan for something we did not know existed. So much creativity is possible! Some homeowners are hesitant to try out something they are not familiar with or their neighbors might not like. Our attitude is, if it brings you joy, enjoy it. Sitting areas in your garden are a unique feature in most suburban landscapes. Bring a sense of adventure to your landscape! And, with the additional stress we have all been under over the past year, having another space to recharge is even more important.
If you are interested in creating unique spaces to enjoy your backyard, reach out to me. Send me an email or give me a call at (317) 997-4803.
