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In residential gardening , one of the bad challenges is what to do with those narrow , cramped side yard and how to make them attractive passageways to the backyard . A creative approach shot to that quandary is on display in the garden of Martin and Suzanne Ferera , Vancouver , British Columbia . The work involved turning a 7 - foot - wide area on the west side of the house , constricted by fencing on one side and the theatre on the other , into an alluring trail to the rear garden and terrace .
Also see : Designing Garden Pathways : Tips , Ideas & Inspiration
front in the south up the zig path from the side garden toward the rearward garden and kitty at gloam . The passage is well lit by downcast - voltage inflammation . photograph by : Susan Curtis .
“ When we bought the firm , the rear garden was lawn with a minute layer along the service department wall on the east flank and a low-pitched fencing on the Cicily Isabel Fairfield . The side garden was nothing more than an overgrown alley with memory access to a telecom box and gas meter . With our kid now grown , we decided to re - landscape painting , ” says Martin Ferera .
The back terrace and pool is stress by raised concrete - walled garden bottom and planters , with a tall cedar fence added for privacy . A large Nipponese maple and willowleaf pear ( Pyrus salicifolia’Pendula ' ) in the background offer shade . exposure by : Susan Curtis .
They used the skills of garden graphic designer Damen Djos of Vancouver to make a secluded side garden with a stepping - stone path that would make the walk to the backyard a journeying of find . They also wanted to vamp the backyard to make more seclusion and areas for entertaining and relaxation .
The zigzag path connecting the back garden to the side garden is punctuate by prominent planter that flank the logic gate and facilitate to define the space . The ground cover between the stepping stones includesAcorus gramineus’Minimus Aureus ' , gold hostas , Fuschia’Hawkshead',Carex oshimensis’Evergold',Lithodora diffusa’Grace Ward',Soleirolia soleirolii’Aurea ' ( gold babe ’s tears ) , and a relocated rhododendron . picture by : Susan Curtis .
“ With the back garden , we decide we wanted to have a pool and a fire pit and a tall fence for privacy . For the side garden , I want to create a optic lure to describe your centre , but also have it partially fog with a disjoined patio where you could sit privately . Damen and I speak over how we could expend the live stepping stones from the sure-enough rear garden to make a zag path to connect the side and rear garden , patios , and seating arena , ” says Ferera .
A square concrete plantation owner in the backyard , in front of the concrete walled planting bottom , is a colorful blending of ' Illumination ' begonia , Dichondra argentea , ‘ Sedona ’ coleus , andCarex flagellifera . The big foliage in the top foreground flow from aBrugmansia(angel ’s trump ) , which is oppressed with big , trump - shape flowers that are specially fragrant in the evening . Photo by : Susan Curtis .
The rear garden is about 20 foot wide and 45 substructure longsighted and enclosed on the south and Benjamin West by a fencing and yew hedge and service department on the east . Most of the trees and works are contained in raise concrete - walled garden beds and large planter , which are strategically placed to draw the eye to various focal points and create a poetical conversion from one country of the garden to another .
A planter at the far end of the side garden is planted with anAcer palmatum’Shishigashira',Plectranthus argentatus’Longwood Silver',Dichondra argentea , and white - double - floweredBacopa(not yet in bloom ) . It not only service as focal percentage point , but also playact as a “ green rail ” show a change in elevation from the stepping stones and river rock up to the concrete paver control surface . picture by : Susan Curtis .
“ I wanted to keep the plant palette very wide-eyed and tranquil in this space , using silver and gold leafage and livid flowers for a relaxing effect , ” enjoin Djos . “ In the back garden , I gave the overgrown yew duck a in effect pruning to get it back into physique , and installed a new horizontal cedar fence to substitute an old miserable fence and supply greater privacy from the neighbors and a back lane . The patio surface is concrete paving tile with river rock along the edge where it meets the concrete walls . The river rock put up a great surface to showcase the planter and diminished stone carving made by Suzanne ’s mother . ”
A view from blast pit area overlooking the pool at nightfall . To the leftfield is a small cedarwood shed in the expressive style of the fencing to put up the pool equipment . bantam Tower Italian cypress ( Cupressus sempervirens’Monshel ' ) are set in the narrow-minded concrete planter along the back . Underneath isAcorus gramineus . pic by : Susan Curtis .
The pond has an endless - puddle swim machine , so the Fereras can use it for exercise and recreation . The mechanics for the pool are mask by a cedar - clad enclosure that matches the fencing . A fire board and terrace furniture from Restoration Hardware were added to make an out-of-door living room for loosening and entertaining .
A closeup of the underplanting of the Japanese maple in the back raised concrete bottom . Lonicera nitida’Baggesen ’s Gold ' andAcorus gramineuswere used for year - round evergreen plant interestingness , Brunnera macrophylla’Jack Frost ' for other spring trick , and bloodless astilbe for color in the summertime . Photo by : Susan Curtis .
“ The garden still has a lot of growing to do , so we are await forward to it filling out and get on . My favorite feature of speech is the zig path connecting the two areas and the view it make . Low - potential difference lighting makes the rear garden a delight at sunset and during the evening , which makes entertain so much more enjoyable , ” says Ferera .
Charcoal - gray fiberglass planter on the east side of the patio , by the basement entrance to the house , are planted with Nipponese maple , Acer palmatum’Sango - kaku',Dichonrda argentea , Carex flagellifera , andCalibrachoa . picture by : Susan Curtis .
See another project fill out by Djos and featured on GardenDesign.com : My Garden : A Lesson of Beginnings and Endings
Fiberglass planters in a soft blue - gray shade complement the pastel color palette ofTaxus baccata’Fastigiata',Fuchsia’Gartenmeister Bonstedt ' , ' Alligator Tears ' coleus , Acorus gramineus , Oxalis , Begonia boliviensis , andLysmachia nummularia’Aurea ' . Photo by : Susan Curtis .
