"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Looking good from all angles.

Years ago, when we first bought this house and I started working on the front garden, my main concern was how it looked to people walking by.

I would spend lots of time on the front on the yard making it look pretty for the walkers and drivers going down our street.  

They got to see birds bathing and eating at the feeders.

I would then come inside and look out the window and not be happy with how it looked, do some rearranging and still not like what I was seeing.  Finally after reading an article somewhere, I found something that has stayed with me:  
Don't plant only for curb appeal, plant so you can enjoy your garden from inside your house as well.  Why should everyone else enjoy the view except the people living in the house?  
Then I realized why I wasn't happy with my garden.  I wasn't planting it so we could enjoy it.  We viewed the back sides of the shrubs and the flowers were planted on the other sides.  Why should we look at the back of the garden?  Since then I've started planting in more of a "pyramid" style.  The tall plants go in the center and then taper down in size around all the edges of the garden, not just the front.  Last year I really got to work on the rearranging, adding some more shrubs to the middle, but ones that aren't supposed to get too tall and block our view.
Now we also get to see lots of birds splashing around and enjoying the seeds.

We get to see pretty flowers as well as the butterflies and hummingbirds from inside the house.

I think that is why this summer is the happiest I've ever been with our front garden.  I love the view I get when I look out the front window or the office window.  

(The baskets hung by our neighbor drive me crazy)

When someone walks to the door they see flowers as they walk from the sidewalk all the way up to the front door.
(An area still in progress)

When we sit on the front porch or with the girls when they play on the inside grass we get to see and smell the garden.  
After all we're the ones doing all the work, why shouldn't we benefit the most?
Pin It

36 comments:

  1. The garden looks wonderful from every direction. I know it must be so enjoyable to looks out the office window and see the pretty blooms, butterflies and birds. You certainly have worked very hard and it shows. Not only do your neighbors/passers by get to enjoy your garden but now you and your blog friends too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. It looks wonderful, I hope one day mine looks as fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good girl! That's the way it's supposed to be done. You and the family are the ones who's ment to enjoy the garden. We don't want to go out at the sidewalk to see our garden from its best side, do we =)

    ReplyDelete
  4. You inspire me to want to try flowers and differnt shrubs. Im mostly a veggie gardener, sunflowers, herbs and Hostas. For some reason I dont feel brave enough for flowers. Your gardens are very pretty. thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That looks wonderful! So great to hear that the critters like it too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wonderful post... yes, certainly the gardener should be able to enjoy the garden too! There's so much color and interest in your garden. It looks great.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Just beautiful from every direction! I love that pesticide free sign!

    I got my seeds yesterday - thanks! Yours are in the mail and you should receive them tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  8. You should definitely benefit the most. I am kind of selfish in that I concentrate only on what I enjoy and planted a huge evergreen shrub on the outside street side of my garden. I may have done something different if it wasn't a state highway but I am not sure. I think you are so right to plant in that pyramid form but I find it a difficult thing to do! I never know exactly how big the plants will grow. I need more practice I think. Love the stone edging on the inside. It makes one feel comforted and secure in your front yard and it is nice for you to consider your neighbors.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Looks like you will be able to enjoy it from all sides! How wonderfully floriferous it is!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I completely agree, you should enjoy your garden from inside. I love privacy and I think that is why I have consentrated on my back yard for so long. Next year I will start in the front (at least that is my plan). I want it to look good when I look out my living room windows. Yours is definitely an inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have designed the garden at this house completely from inside the house, and have found that I'm much happier with it. Oddly, the "curb appeal" side seems to take care of itself, and when I'm splitting perennials from inside the garden, the tougher ones get put out near the street. A trick I used with a non-gardening neighbor that might help you...I commented, "I love that you've hung baskets where I can see them, as well....the least I can do is help water them. Would you mind if I did that?" She was thrilled that I wanted to help (and got the hint)...since then her baskets look great!

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a wonderful idea, the 'pyramid' planting!

    I've always tended to design our gardens so the back garden's viewing point is from inside the house, and the front garden is both from inside and from outside, with the best look from the outside. Having moved house a lot, there's been plenty of variety!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Catherine, that is so smart! It does look lovely from all sides, but you should get the best view yourself, you have done all the work! I have to laugh at the hanging baskets driving you crazy though, sorry. It's just funny. :-)
    Frances

    ReplyDelete
  14. You've done a great job Catherine. I love your flower filled gardens. Very colorful, full of texture and looks happy.

    Enjoy ~ FlowerLady

    ReplyDelete
  15. Yes, plant what you like, where you want. The yard should make your heart happy and if the the rest of the world also likes it, then that's nice, too.

    ReplyDelete
  16. You have a beautiful garden and you work so hard to keep it beautiful. You should get the finest views.

    ReplyDelete
  17. That is really good advice and I can see your efforts have paid off greatly. It must be a beautiful view from inside. Lots of varieties and activity by the critters. You've done a wonderful job.

    ReplyDelete
  18. You've worked hard...and the results are great! And it does look good...from all angles :)

    http://theurbanbalcony.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  19. Catherine! It's looking More than Good. It's looking Absolutely Beautiful over there!! I'm just so thoroughly impressed. :-) Thanks for the great tour.

    ReplyDelete
  20. It's looking great! I think a gardener does what you are doing, plants so you can enjoy it. A landscaper plants so others enjoy it as they drive by. You're definitely the gardener!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Yes, I really agree with you! I find most people who look at my garden aren't really looking anyways, while I get great joy if even small changes. It's important you get to enjoy what you plant.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Good reminder, Catherine. I have to remind myself to do the same. I'm glad you're enjoying the view more this year and seeing more of the wildlife. I am thrilled when I see a hummingbird from my living room window.

    ReplyDelete
  23. It takes a while to get a garden the way you want it........I'm not sure I'll ever be happy with mine..

    ReplyDelete
  24. Good advice and definitely some I should heed. I think your gardens are lovely and you've done well planting so that those of us in Internet land have a nice view too!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Catherine, I love all the views of your gardens. The people that pass by are so lucky to get to see that beauty.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Looks lovely, still working on areas myself. I guess it's truly never done.....but maybe that is a plant addiction problem....is there AA for plant lovers?

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love seeing your gardens in full shots like that - they always look so full and beautiful. Bob always gets mad at me because I want to see everything from the dining room window where I have coffee in the morning. I s'pose I would have planted everything straight up from that window - but it would look kind of goofy I guess. Your plan is great - you definitely need to enjoy it too.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Your pyramid idea is a good one. I had the habit of just sticking plants in and not paying too much attention to height. Then a pretty flower would be hidden behind a taller one. Not good. I guess we learn as we grow. I love 'still in progress'. You know girl we will never be done ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  29. It is amazing! Really! I bet people slow down when they go by your house, I know I would! You have done so much hard work, and it has really paid off!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Wow, what a gorgeous array of flowers and the trees just beautiful. It must have taken you a long time to grow this beautiful garden. It is stunning.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Brilliant! It looks beautiful all the way around. I totally agree with you...the visual enjoyment should be for you. You've got a great view and I love how you built the garden up front by the sidewalk. I was going to ask whose hanging baskets those were, but you answered my question.

    ReplyDelete
  32. It's like serving the best food to your family instead of saving it for company meals, or using the 'good stuff' every day.

    I always put some surprises on the house side of the front beds for myself, that the street viewer doesn't see. I have far views for them, and small secrets for myself that require strolling among the flowers. Click my name for the latest surprise.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Your garden is so beautiful. You are such an inspiration. My front yard has hardly had any work on it -- we're waiting to build some retaining walls, and everything just is on hold. But I'm going to make sure to plan for beauty from all angles -- thank you so much for your post!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I too had that feeling..planting outsiders to enjoy more than insiders..I had changed it and very much satisfied.

    If I were in your place, I think I will probably spend my whole day there walking all around your garden area.

    (But of course, I can't - I live half across the globe from ur place)


    Glad you shared your story.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Looks lovely Catherine


    I guess if you aim to create the front garden for yourself then inevitably it'll appeal to others who pass by

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and leave a comment. I try my very best to answer any questions you may have, but usually don't have time to respond to each comment. Please leave a link to your blog so I can visit you in return.