The beauty of a Mediterranean garden lies in its ability to transport you to a place where the sun-drenched landscapes meet the soothing whispers of the sea. A Mediterranean landscape has become popular for its vibrant colors, aromatic herbs, and a sense of tranquility.
Mediterranean Garden Design Principles:
The essence of a Mediterranean garden lies in its simplicity. Design principles often incorporate clean lines, uncluttered spaces, and a harmonious blend of natural elements. Opt for minimalist pathways, low walls, and open spaces that encourage a seamless flow throughout the garden.
A palette inspired by the sun-soaked landscapes is nice for these gardens. Choose warm, earthy tones like terracotta, sandy beige, and muted greens for hardscape elements like pots, walls, and pathways.
Water Features
Mediterranean gardens often feature water features like fountains, reflecting pools, or small cascading waterfalls. These add a refreshing touch to the environment and evoke a sense of calm and tranquility reminiscent of the coastal regions.
From Olive trees and lavender to grapes and lemon trees, the Mediterranean garden highlights different plants known for their beauty and fragrance as well as origin and popularity in the region.
Mediterranean Garden Plants
Aromatic Herbs and Fragrant Plants
Infuse your garden with the scents of the Mediterranean by using aromatic herbs like rosemary, lavender, thyme, and sage. These contribute to the sensory experience and have practical uses in the kitchen. These herbs also conserve water in any climate.
Drought-Tolerant Plants
Mediterranean regions are known for their hot, dry climates; your garden should reflect that resilience. Opt for using drought-tolerant plants that thrive in arid conditions and contribute to the Mediterranean look and feel.
Plants for the Mediterranean garden include:
- Jerusalem sage
- Sun Roses
- Ceanothus
- Blue Fescue Grass
- Artemesia
- Euphorbia characias ‘Wulfenii’
- Grapes
Trees for the Mediterranean garden include:
- Olive Trees
- Lemon Trees
- Fig Trees
- Bay Laurel
Mediterranean style gardens allow you to create beautiful outdoor living spaces with comfortable seating, terracotta-tiled patios, and pergolas draped in vines. These spaces will have you enjoying the beauty of your landscape while embracing the Mediterranean feel.
Looking for help creating the perfect garden? Frontier Landscaping has over 35 years of experience designing and installing beautiful patios, paths, retaining walls, water features, and more! Contact us today for a free estimate!
Gardens are not just for enjoying during daylight hours. A night garden designed with moonlight in mind can enhance your landscape with a beautiful collection of plants and lighting. Let’s explore the key elements to craft your own magical night garden.
Choosing the Right Plants
When selecting plants for a night garden you should create a list of plants that grow well in your area, bloom at night or are white or silver in color to create an effect. The plants chosen ideally would come to life under the moonlight. Opt for flowers that bloom at night, such as fragrant jasmine, white nicotiana, or evening primrose. These plants not only add a touch of elegance but also release captivating scents, enhancing the overall ambiance. Incorporate silver-leaved plants like artemisia or lamb’s ear to reflect moonlight and create a shimmering effect.
To add depth and texture, consider including plants with variegated foliage, such as hostas or caladiums. These will catch and reflect the available light, providing a visually appealing contrast. Don’t forget to add some native night-blooming species to attract moths and other pollinators that thrive in the twilight hours.
Moonflower (Ipomoea alba): As the name suggests, these large, white flowers open in the evening, emitting a sweet fragrance that attracts moths and pollinators.
Night-Blooming Jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum): With its small, tubular, white flowers, night-blooming jasmine releases a rich, sweet scent at night.
Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia): With its large, trumpet-shaped flowers that hang downward, angel’s trumpet releases a strong, sweet fragrance in the evening.
Nicotiana (Nicotiana alata): Also known as flowering tobacco, nicotiana produces clusters of fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that open in the evening.
Pee Gee Hydrangea: Also known as Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ this white hydrangea has conical blooms from midsummer to fall.
Night Gladiolus: Gladiolus tristis, or the night gladiolus, are pale yellow or a striped dark yellow and green flower that will bloom in the evening with a spicy scent in spring and summer.
Silver Dust (Artemisia schmidtiana): This silver-leaved perennial adds a touch of elegance to the night garden. The silvery foliage reflects moonlight.
Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina): With its soft, fuzzy leaves, lamb’s ear not only adds texture but also reflects light.
Caladiums: These tropical plants with vibrant, heart-shaped leaves bring color and texture to your night garden. The foliage creates contrast in the moonlight.
Four O’Clocks (Mirabilis jalapa): These fragrant flowers open in the late afternoon and continue to bloom into the evening. They come in a variety of colors and are known for their sweet scent.
Datura (Datura spp.): Also known as moonflower, datura produces large, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom at night.
Note: Some of the above plants are poisonous so be cautious if planting around pets or small children.
Illuminating the Night Garden
Strategically placed lighting transforms your night garden into a beautiful nocturnal retreat. Opt for warm, soft lighting that mimics the moon’s gentle glow. String lights, fairy lights, or solar-powered lanterns draped through trees or along pathways are easy ways to illuminate your garden. Consider incorporating LED lighting.
For a touch of drama, use uplighting to highlight the unique shapes and textures of trees and larger plants. This not only adds visual interest but also creates captivating shadows that dance with the breeze. Pathway lights or low-level ground lighting can guide your way while maintaining the mystical ambiance of the night garden.
Other Additions to a Night Garden
Water Features
To elevate your night garden experience, consider adding features like a water element. A small pond or fountain not only provides a soothing soundtrack but also reflects light, enhancing the overall luminosity of the space. Lighting can be added to water elements for nighttime enjoyment as well.
Warm Up the Evening
When the evenings get chilly you may consider adding an outdoor heater or fire pit. You can extend your outdoor time in the garden if it’s comfortable for you and your guests. We are experts at designing your fire pit to integrate into other areas of your landscaping so you can enjoy it year round.
Wind chimes or even outdoor speakers can bring a melodic element to your garden, creating a tranquil soundscape that complements the rustling leaves and chirping crickets. Comfortable seating will allow you to stay longer into the evening to enjoy your garden.
We can help you create a night garden for hours of enjoyment once the sun goes down. Contact Us Today for a free consultation!
Vertical gardening is a great way to add height and visual interest to your landscape. Whether you’re looking to create a striking focal point or a lush wall of green for extra privacy, vertical gardening can provide a unique and beautiful way to enhance your outdoor living space.
What is vertical gardening?
Vertical gardening is a type of gardening that uses walls, trellises, and other structures to create a vertical growing space. This is an excellent option for smaller spaces, adding texture and dimension to a garden and increasing room for tall plants.
The benefits of vertical gardening
If you have a limited area, planting vertically can help create a lush garden while leaving room for other activities. You can also use vertical gardening to separate areas of your garden, helping you define different parts and create distinct sections.
This type of gardening can also be a great way to maximize your garden’s productivity. With raised beds and vertical structures like trellises and obelisks, you can create an environment where your plants can thrive even in small spaces.
Having easy access to all the plants in your garden can be great. Growing your plants in tiers or hanging baskets allows you to reach them for harvesting or maintenance easily.
How to get started with vertical gardening
Here are some steps to get your vertical garden off the ground.
Choose the right plants: You need to choose plants suitable for growing in a vertical environment. Some popular choices include climbing roses, ivy, clematis, and jasmine. Look for plants with long tendrils or vines, as these will help them climb walls and trellises.
Find the right spot: Once you’ve chosen the right plants, select the best location for your vertical garden.
Build your supports: You’ll need something to support your plants as they grow up. This could be a trellis, arbor, fence, wall, or other structure. Ensure your structure is stable and secure enough to support the weight of your plants.
Planting time! Once you have your support structure in place, you can begin planting!
Vertical gardening ideas
There are many ways to incorporate this way of gardening into your outdoor space. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Trellis: A trellis can be used as an attractive way to display climbing plants in your garden. They are perfect for growing vegetables, flowers, and vines and can also be used as a decorative element in your landscape.
Wall Planters: If you have limited space in your garden, wall planters are a great way to maximize the amount of space you have for growing plants. You can create beautiful living walls with a variety of different plants.
Hanging Baskets: Hanging baskets are a popular way to add color and texture to your garden. They are perfect for creating a beautiful display of plants without taking up too much floor space.
Living Fences: A living fence is a great way to create privacy and add visual interest to your landscape. Choose from evergreen shrubs or fast-growing vines that will create an instant privacy screen.
Climbing plants that like to grow vertically
Climbing plants are great for adding height and drama to your landscape.
Perennial vines, such as clematis, rose, and honeysuckle, can quickly cover a fence or trellis with their dense foliage and blooms. Perennial vines should be pruned regularly to keep them from getting too large and unruly. There are also evergreen choices like star jasmine and evergreen clematis.
Some flowering shrubs can be trained to grow up. These include porcelain berry vines, hydrangeas, and viburnums. These shrubs will help create a more formal look in your garden and add seasonal color with their flowers and berries.
Frontier Landscaping can care for all your landscape needs, from design to pruning. Call us for a free quote at (360) 574-8979.
A garden can be a great source of physical activity and mental stimulation. Still, if you have health issues or disabilities, you may need to adjust your garden before digging in the dirt. Read on to learn how to modify your garden, so it’s accessible and enjoyable.
Raised Beds
Raised beds are an excellent way to garden for people who have limited mobility or can’t bend over—these need to be at a comfortable height for seniors and disabled individuals.
Add potting benches to allow people sitting in wheelchairs to reach over the bed without having to climb onto it. The bed height should be 24 inches for someone seated in a wheelchair and 30 inches for someone who will stand while gardening but has difficulty bending and reaching.
Containers
Gardening in containers is adaptable to indoor and outdoor gardening. Containers can be placed on patios or porches or along walkways. You can also move them so they get enough sunlight.
Vertical Gardening
Climbing plants are fantastic in the garden and can add privacy or disguise a view. They can also provide visual interest year-round, depending on the selected plants. Make sure you are growing the right plants for the right height and can reach them at maturity. For example, consider growing up if you cannot bend down to harvest cucumbers.
A trellis can be placed in a raised bed, container, or the ground. Make sure plant stakes are not sharp and not a tripping hazard.
Some Plants suitable for vertical gardening are:
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes
- Peas
- Beans
- Squash
- Clematis
- Jasmine
- Rose
Clear and Even Paths
Ensure all paths and walkways are wide enough for someone in a wheelchair. Avoid any slopes or edges that may cause someone to slip or fall. Use a rake to level the soil, especially near the seating area. Be sure that paths have a slight slope so water can run off and prevent slipperiness. Brush hard surfaces with a stiff broom to remove moss.
Adaptive Gardening Tools
Gardening tools come in a variety of sizes for a variety of abilities and situations. If you have difficulty gripping tools, look for larger handled tools or consider adding or modifying existing tools.
These are some of the adaptive gardening tools you might find helpful:
- Kneeling benches or garden scooters can reach plants lower to the ground.
- Arm cuffs go around your forearm and attach to various tools to help extend reach and increase leverage and grip. The tools available for attachment are trowels, forks, and cultivators.
- Telescopic garden tools have an extendable reach, so you can rake or prune by lengthening the handles, even if you are in a wheelchair.
- Grabbers to pick up debris like a giant pair of tongs.
- Hand seed dispensers are simple and plastic for those who have difficulty gripping small objects.
Let us know how we can help make gardening more accessible for you. We create raised beds, seating areas, pathways, and patios depending on your unique needs. Contact us today!
If you’re looking to reduce your water consumption, there’s no better place to start than your own yard. Whether you’re planting annuals or putting in new shrubs and trees, there are plenty of drought-tolerant gardening tips you can follow to create a beautiful garden with less water.
Drought-Tolerant Plants for the Garden
The best plants for low-water gardens are xeric plants (from the Greek word meaning dry) which are hardy and do well in dry climates. These plants have developed over time to be drought tolerant and use less water than traditional garden varieties.
Trees
Deodar Cedar
Norway Spruce
Smoke Tree
Shrubs
Arbutus unedo ‘Compacta’
Ceanothus
Mugo Pine
Pacific Wax Myrtle
Perennials
Lavender
Rosemary
Echinacea
Hebe
Sweet Potato Vine
Fountain Grass
Daylilies
Another option is drought-tolerant ground covers like creeping thyme or purple sage. These types of plants will not only make your garden look lovely but will help conserve water as well!
These plants will still need to be watered during dry spells for the first year or two until they become established. Once established, these water-thrifty plants will save you time.
Keep your soil in check with mulch
Compost and mulch are two of the easiest ways to retain moisture in your garden. A layer of mulch can cut down on water consumption by up to 50%. Compost is also an excellent addition to any soil because it will increase the amount of organic matter present in the soil. Organic matter increases the water-holding capacity of soils and improves nutrient availability. These two materials will both help you create a beautiful garden that won’t need much watering!
Plant closer together
Plant trees and shrubs closer together to provide shade and reduce the need for watering. Put large plants in the center of your garden, or place small plants around them to offer them some protection from strong winds.
Use Stones for Visual Interest
Using stones is one way to add interest to your garden. Stones are natural materials that are found in nature and can be used as focal points in your landscaping. They can also be used to create paths throughout the garden as well as act as barriers and even create shade around plants that need to be protected from the sun.
Dry Creek Beds
You may want to consider adding a dry creek bed to your drought-tolerant landscape. A dry creek bed is a type of garden design that mimics the natural environment by including rock or gravel as pathways and raised beds where plants can be planted.
Install a Water Feature
Installing a fountain in your drought-tolerant garden can actually help reduce water consumption. Typically fountains use about 3 gallons of water per hour. A typical backyard fountain can use up to 300 gallons of water per day. If you are using an electric pump then the cost is more as well. An aerating fountain only uses 3-5 gallons of water per hour. This type of fountain recycles the same amount of water over and over again without ever recharging the reservoir tank with new water.
Incorporating some traditional elements of Japanese gardening into your garden space can help promote calmness and tranquility in your daily life. Many elements of Japanese garden design can help you achieve peace and relaxation.
Japanese gardens can contain zen gardens, statuary, water features, lighting, and more. Pick your spot with an appropriate space for the garden size you want to create. Think about focal points like fountains or statues in strategic locations to draw the eye or act as transitional areas from one area of interest to another part of the garden.
Plants for the Japanese Garden
Trees in Japanese garden design are usually pruned into shapes that reveal their architectural form. Ponderosa pine, Thuja plicata, Rocky Mountain juniper, and of course Japanese Maples are just some of the trees that work well in a Japanese garden design. Suitable shrubs for this type of garden include Oregon boxwood, witch hazel, and hydrangea. Some flowers can be used as a ground cover or to create a border around your garden; these include lily-of-the-valley vine, azaleas, and trilliums. Consider using an assortment of sedums and irises as they thrive in shade environments.
Bamboo
materials also include bamboo plants because bamboo symbolizes strength and peace in Japanese culture. It is important to use these elements because they help to create tranquility within the space by helping people relax through various senses including touch.
Bamboo fencing can help create garden rooms and block unsightly views. If you plant bamboo, only choose a clumping variety, so it doesn’t get out of control and become invasive.
Water Features
All elements blend in a uniquely Asian style in the Japanese garden. Japanese blood grass, stone pagoda lantern, and moss-covered rocks can surround a water feature like a fountain or a pond.
Zen Style
This Japanese Zen garden design features raked gravel or sand around stones, representing ripples of waves around islands. This can be done in a large or small format. It is easy to maintain and can promote contemplative thought.
Stones and Statuary
Stone lanterns shaped as zen pagodas or other Japanese symbols can add Japanese style to a small garden. Rocks are key components of this style of garden because they represent the relationship between earth and water, which is an important part of Japanese culture.
Let us know how we can help incorporate elements of Japanese garden design into your landscape. Contact Us Today!
