Backyard Gardens And The How To's
The snow has melted, the air is starting to warm up, and the smell of springtime is in the air. It might be time to start getting your garden ready for the glorious spring and summer that are to come. And if you're sick of your backyard garden, it also might be the perfect time for a clean start. We asked readers to submit pictures and descriptions of their "theme" backyard gardens and patios. Here are our top picks - maybe they will inspire you!
Butterflies are remarkable creatures. They are attracted to bright colors and sweet scents, and they like to eat bugs that annoy people. A butterfly garden, designed by Rosemary Willis, is full of life and bursting with beautiful plants and aromatic, sweet-smelling flowers that attract butterflies - and people! The colors, the flowers, the aromas, and the fluttering wings of butterflies all combine in this gem of a garden.
An English garden is one of the oldest types of backyard gardens in the world. Certain very specific types of plants and flowers are very intrinsic to the English garden. The English have very traditional gardens that include wild flowers, hedges, and paths. Some designers have also including garden globes and statuary in their otherwise traditional English gardens.
Cat Garden: Sissy Nye-Robison has done something out of the ordinary- she designed her garden around her cats! She planted plenty of cat grass and catnip, along with birdhouses and plants to attract butterflies to arouse and motivate her cats. She planted wisteria plants and small tress for her cats to climb or perch upon. Sissy mentions that cat lovers should make sure all plants are non-poisonous for cats when they decide to purchase any.
Among the new specialty types of backyard gardens is the black and white garden designed by Pilar Sota. The contrast between dark and light plants is obvious during the day. Even at night they are beautiful as the white plants pick up the light from the moon.
5. Tea Garden: Janice LaRoux is the creator of this aromatic garden, in which she has planted over 50 different types of plants that can be used for tea! When walking in her garden, the smells of peppermint and jasmine and cinnamon create a riot of flavors. To complete her garden, Janice has placed large, decorative teapots among the plants and leading up to her backyard patio.
If you are ready for a change in your backyard gardens, perhaps these theme garden ideas will inspire you. A butterfly garden is not only beautiful and aromatic, but functional. Butterflies eat annoying little bugs. A garden can have both wild and cultivated elements, inspired by an English garden. Cat lovers can design their garden around their cats with cat grass, catnip, birdhouses and plants to attract butterflies providing entertainment for the cats. A black and white garden that looks beautiful both during the day and at night in the moonlight. Perhaps you would like to enjoy a cup of tea on your backyard patio surrounded by your tea gardens.
Published October 8th, 2007
