I could watch episodes of _this_ exact type of video like I used to watch _The Office._ Over and over and over and love it every time. Selfishly, I'm so happy your speaking engagement changed to online. -If you ever get a notion to- do another one!!! _Edit: I found more! A whole series!_ 🎉💃
There are so many great takeaways from this video that I can use to create an even better garden space. I definitely care what visitors see. I walk around my garden space all the time so I see it from all angles. I’d be extremely self-centered if I faced everything to Only me.
great explanation to focal points, to draw the eye AND. Focal points can invite, entice you to physically go in, be part of the garden. Such as the red bench.
I enjoyed this video! You showed a wonderful tropical side yard, with tall slender palms. I am definitely taking this idea for my own relatively bare side yard, using native plants. My back yard already needs very little maintenance, and I am now involved in trading many of the exotics for native plants. The few I have already planted, make berries for the birds, flowering for the pollinators, and already I have more visitors! Thanks to your video, I am encouraged to add a focal point including a bench to make it interesting for humans, too!. Thank you for sharing this wealth of information. Mmmm...I wonder if I could put in a small pond in a shady corner? Wouldn't that be something?!
Hi Robert, This is a very helpful video. I like it very much! In the chapter about scale you mention the Miscanthus being too high for this place. I think it is too high for this exact spot between the two pathways running up and down this sector of the garden. From the single image it is impossible to know what is to the right of this perspective and what is there looking back. But the trees in the back give the impression of a sheltered garden niche. The tall Miscanthus hampers the feel of standing in the sheltered garden niche. And that does not just come from the height of the grass, but from being tall and being in the center. You love Japanese style gardens. In Japanese gardens no things are placed in the center, there is never any symmetry. Yes, they place focal points in sections of the garden and these do dominate that section, but they are always balanced with other things in other parts of the garden. The Miscanthus sits in the center of that section of the garden and emphasizes the symmetry between to the two paths to the right and the left of the dry creek bed. Placed a little bit out of center, a little closer to the trees I believe it would work well. I actually believe that the concept of the garden as a shelter or niche is also an important design principle. It creates intimacy, a feel of being safe and calm. When you are the there, you are not on a field, on a loan or meadow, you are IN the garden. This is often very obvious with tiny gardens. But also large gardens implement that concept, for instance by surrounding with large evergreens and trees. Large gardens sometimes create very narrow, sheltered spaces which contrast with the larger spaces in the garden. -Peter
I’m half way through doing my front garden…. I needed something to break up a large brick wall (neighbours building) I asked permission to put something on it and they allowed me to do anything I wanted. I got a stone fire surround for free off the internet and used a mirror in the back of it (it’s not to use, just a feature) I get so many compliments about my garden and it’s not even finished yet
I just found your channel. I'm building my house next January, well starting to. I was thinking of planting some trees and shrubs as soon as I get the layout of the house .but now I'm gonna wait till its built. Like you said I should look out the window of the kitchen, living room and library and plan the garden accordingly. No point in having a nice tree if you don't get to see it. Thank you The focal point idea is just brilliant. I also have a ton of photos like you said, and I'm gonna steal some cool ideas from them
Sound practical advise! Don't keep all the fun stuff for yourself. On a walk through a local rainforest, someone had left a red rubber snake on the track for all to enjoy.
Well done. Good video & good simple ideas with a clear & practical perspective on what works & what doesn’t. By the way that tall grass doesn’t work at all, however if it was a multi stem small tree that you could see through or something like a feathery fennel, also that you could see through, then the scale wouldn’t be a problem.
Hello. Just found your channel and enjoying your videos. I do want to warn folks about using mirrors and bird fatalities. The birds think the mirror is a continuation of the landscape and will fly into them. They may die on the spot or fly away and die later from the head trauma.
Loved the photo of your gravel path edged with stones. Do you put landscape fabric under your gravel? We made a gravel patio last year and used both fabric and road base. This year I’m contemplating laying some gravel paths and not sure if either is necessary. Would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!
Nice video. Thank you . I agree with your wife about flamingos LOL. (I'm selfish. Everything growing in my garden/flowerbeds are planted to... face me. I don't care what people see. I care what I like too see. I don't have, nor do I strive to have a focal point.) :-)
You don't need to be a millionaire. You can use elements of larger gardens such as this and scale them down to your garden size. Your tea house might be a bench instead for instance. A bird bath. A small fountain.
How many people have gone to the pelton arms because they have seen their logo on your bunny hug. Yes i live in western canada. See if you can get some sponsoring from them. You are advertising they could not afford.
I’ve gardened (flowers & plants) since I was a child, learning from my Mom, 67 years now~ and still find more to learn & enjoy~ Your video offered many great new tips & examples! Thanks!
It’s nice walking quietly through my Santa Monica neighborhood taking photos of trees and flowers. I love trees and I have gotten many ideas for my own yard to combine colors better. There is so much beautiful around us to appreciate, right.
This vid has given me so many ideas for my garden, it's already an unusual layout and set on a hill in a rural setting. A friend is cutting 30cm logs for me which I will be laying upright next to the sides of my driveway to define it more. Now to find something for the empty front corner of the yard...
Thank you so much, appreciate the simplicity and minimalism for us common folk. We all have to become more water wise and energy efficient, planting indiginous. Appreciate your article. Love from Africa
What a great video! Excellent and plentiful examples. I'm so inspired! I have an odd elevated raised level in my flat backyard. I'm going to capitalize on this "issue" and create a more interesting garden. Also, I have to say, I LOVE GRAY FENCES!
Fences: Beware the HOA. The HOA might be unhappy with your paint choice. (boo!) and if you're in an area where it snows...that blue or purple fence will really stand out without the vegetation to hide it. Same for painted furniture (IF you're in an HOA, that is). If everyone has lawns, they might not like your landscaping, of choice of plants. Otherwise, this is one of the better videos I've seen with the most helpful advice. Simple and to the point! Well done, I will recommend it.
Only in the USA or Canada would the police be called for photographing a garden 😅. In the UK we'd be inviting you in then asking for free advice 😊. Great video by the way.
Hello Canadian gardener, I am near Waterloo, New York, USA, in zone 5 Thank you for Sharing your knowledge. I am doing a new landscape designing in my front yard, which has two retainer walls. I love an evergreen conifer garden with Asian shrubs and dwart trees i.e.Japanese (garden) shrubs, Japanese Shaina)maple trees, thuja arborvatae, landscape rocks, water fountain; idea flowers: Chicago Peace rose, Clamatis (Rebecca); hisbiscus (midnight Marvel) complimented with sunshine ligustrum ; and red knockout rose standard. Again, Thanks for your inspiration.
I’m enjoying your approach to design and how to start! Thank you ! Time stamp 8;23 about.... your bench on the hill. I believe the bench communicates it’s ok to walk into the flower bed, almost like giving permission, to clarify to the bystander you are meant to enter this planted space. I myself am Very visual and I didn’t feel invited to venture onto the path. Path looks a bit like a maintenance path.
