I often use the phrase “A Garden Room at a Time” when helping customers decide how to approach and plan out their new outdoor space. It is a simple, common sense, fiscally sustainable way to approach any and all garden design. When considering changes to their home properties, owners typically explain to me “their grand plan” for their outdoor living space. Well, unless you have the time and resources one sees on HGTV or Backyard Makeover….you will need to start small and wise, avoiding the tendency to think big! You will not only avoid experiencing “sticker shock” but give pause for creativity, design flow from one area to another and time to assess the various micro-climates on your property.
Think of how you approach changes to the interior of your home. Do you fully gut it and begin the the task of remodeling every room all at once? Of course you do not. Commonly, homeowners approach these remodeling projects “a room at a time”. It just makes sense for your everyday need to live within that environment and your pocket book. Why not take that some approach to the remodeling/restoration of your outdoor living spaces? Take your garden design projects “A Room at a Time”
One garden conversation I had this week focused on the homeowners inability to have a veggie garden on their new property. She and her husband had one in their previous home and truly enjoyed the experience of growing her own produce. She explained that when they purchased the new home, they overlooked the amount of shade around the property. After securing estimates for tree removal to increase sun on the property, they experienced sticker shock. Further into the conversation, I was able to determine that the homeowner wanted a wide range of trees down on the property from nuisance trees to areas for garden expansion. So I suggested the “garden room at a time” alternative….determine a first year goal…namely the veggie garden, determine the area for the garden and have only those trees addressed in that area. This would reduce the number of trees removed, thus lowing costs. This scaled down approach would enable the homeowners to enjoy that veggie garden room this year.
Our outdoor space is made up of various garden rooms, welcoming, gathering, healing, relaxing, and nurturing. Choose that which is your immediate goal and work it like a any other life plan….a step at a time. What is it you desire most: the patio for gathering; the entry that welcomes; the green space that soothes and heals after a stressful day, or the kitchen garden that provides you with your homegrown veggies fruits and herbs? Take it “a garden room at a time” to keep it common sense and sustainable!
Mark your calendars…the Garden Goddess is planning a Fall garden event with Longfellows and the Old Bryan Inn…more to follow….our daylong 2018 Dig Into Gardening Event is scheduled for Saturday April 28th 2018. Will keep you posted!
