Garden Rooms
A garden can be lush and full and colorful, but the one thing that makes a charming garden, is coziness. Garden Rooms make for a cozy feel in a garden. Although they take time, a garden room can be accomplished quite easily. With a little attention and planning, a garden room can be created.
Holding back from lack of space, isn’t an excuse for not creating private getaway. A cozy, inviting garden room can be accomplished in a large or small yard. By scaling plants accordingly, anyone can make any space intimate.
Picking the right spot for a garden room isn’t difficult. Really a garden room can be right in the middle out in the open. By planting a border surrounding the area will make it private. It’s helpful to have mature “bones”….but with a little careful planting, a room can be created pretty quickly.
Follow me….and we’ll look into my garden!
An archway surrounded by plantings is an inviting way to start a room off. I love walking through an archway….kinda romantic, don’t you think?
This is one of my garden rooms in progress. All the “walls” around it are planted. By planting fairly fast growing shrubs for the outside borders…it’s boundries filled in the first two seasons. In fact, this is only it’s third summer as a room. Each year, by adding a little more, this room becomes more intimate. Here the outside barriers consist of giant reid grass…which by the way…will fill in generally by the second season. After that, you’ll most likely have to divide it. A small path runs along in front of the grass, then a cedar, and a Vitex form the next walls. As you can see a knockout rose sits next to the Vitex. I most likely will have to plant something a bit taller behind the knockout rose…but I’m giving it time….Yes…I left room just in case. Then the path winds around in a curve in front of the chairs. As the path circles in front of the chairs, It turns to form a semi-circle flowing behind it are some ancient spireas. Leaving enough room for a sitting area is essential.
Here is a view to this same area from the other entrance to this area.
I install drip lines anywhere I plant new plants. This helps cut down on water usage…and time spent watering!
Every great room needs seating. It doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. These are the inexpensive plastic Adirondack chairs you can buy at Wal-Mart. They will probably stay here forever….but they started out as a make-shift till I could afford something nicer…then I decided they were quite comfortable.
Leaving this room from one direction, this is an example of how to make your garden borders more interesting and inviting by adding soft curves to them. Can you guess what this garden is lined with? A busted up sidewalk…..in fact….all my flowerbeds are lined with recycled concrete from various projects I’ve run across here and there.
Pardon my mess….this year my yard has sort of gotten away from me. The photo below is that same exit….only in a sunset…you can read about my country sunsets too.
Can you tell…I like lots of rooms. My front yard is completely open….but from my house back….it’s room after room!
On the other side of my home….here is the entrance to another room.
By creating an island in the center of a square or retangle….a curvy winding path can be made around it. This keeps a mystery to what’s ahead. By not revealing the end result…or just giving peeks at it….the urge to explore is amplified. Circling around in front of this lavender false indigo….below is the seating area in this room.
My angel needs to be moved….my “walls” have outgrown her. She watches over me as I sit and read a book…and drink my coffee. This is the perfect location in the mornings…the humming birds adore the orange trumpet vine that twines along the fence.
When leaving this garden, the grass is a little brown….I sprayed it last year to put in a rock pathway..but time got away from me….it’s growing back in…I’m not killing it again till the rock is sitting in my driveway! lol
Lastly, this is an area that will eventually become a room. The plantings on the right are filling in nicely. The only reason it’s not a room yet…is, I’m still trying to decide…room…or pond. The pond might be winning this war.
Can you spot my Junk? You can read about my garden junk too! I also LOVE to decorate with junk!
Lastly a sneak peak at a future project for the garden….. 😀
Once the foundation for a garden room is laid…the fun begins. Placing and arranging seating and accessories is the fun part. Next…grab a good book, a cup of coffee and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Adding a garden room is pretty simple….surround yourself in bushes….and plop a seat down…it really IS that simple!
When looking through my garden photos…you may be tempted to say to yourself…yeah…it probably took twenty years for that garden to look like that. I moved to this place less than six years ago. There was NO grass…and nothing but a few mature cedar trees on this place. I basically started with DIRT. My yard, inside the fence is about a 1/2 to 3/4 of an acre…and there isn’t a spot of dirt left…if I can do that in less than six summers…you can create a garden room before you’ve lived somewhere twenty years. Gardening is a process…and it does take time…but half the fun is watching it grow. Settle in…and start somewhere…it’s so worth it.
Have you started your garden room? I hope I’ve inspired you to get yours started.
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Your yard is beautiful! What a fun place to be able to escape to.
Congratulations on your SITS day. I hope it’s a wonderful day for you.
misssrobin recently posted…I Don’t Know How I’m Supposed to Feel
Thank You…I’m so glad you stopped by!
Happy SITS Day! I love the idea of a garden room. It is something I want to do…eventually. Right now it is not in the budget, but one day I will do it! 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration!
Julie Moore recently posted…Top 8 Free Oatmeal Apple Muffins (Soy, Wheat, Nut, Fish, Egg and Milk-Free, Can Be Diabetic Friendly)
Thanks Julie…I hope you get to make yourself one sooner than later! 😀
Tammy, your gardens and garden rooms are so beautiful. You’ve done a fabulous job on your landscaping!
Sharon recently posted…Fall Burlap Wreath
Thank You Sharon! Very high praises coming from you…yours are beautiful too!
Your yard is beautiful! I love the idea of a garden room. I wish I lived somewhere greener so I could do one too! Happy SITS Day.
Karin recently posted…Monday
Thanks Karin. I don’t live in a particularly green area either…but I do rely very heavily on drip lines to help me out! Thank you!
Congratulations on your SITS Day! So happy to find a DIY/recycle blog!
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Thank you for stopping in. I hopeyou’ll come back!!
Thank you …. and I’m so glad you stopped by!
I love this idea! I live in an apt right now and I have to be satisfied with pinterest but I love love love garden rooms 🙂 Cute post and happy SITS day 🙂
AJ | TheAJMinute
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I’m sorry to hear that. I don’t think could survive without my garden… maybe with a lot of houseplants!! 🙂
Wow, how beautiful! I wish I had a green thumb!
Joanna @Makingmine recently posted…the {marvelous} mighty handle
Thank you Joanna. I don’t have a particularly green thumb…but I do rely on drip lines a whole lot! Thank you for stopping by!
I *need* to figure this out before my kids are grown. My 4 year old would go crazy for this!
Christa recently posted…Check Me Out Over at This Is Mommyhood Today!
Oh wow – love these quick growing “walls” – do you have any recommendations for quick growing “wall” in a shady portion?
By the way – happy SITS day! Hurrah on being the featured blogger!
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com recently posted…Chocolate Avocado Muffins!
Thank you Shashi. Actually the Giant Reed grass in my garden is on the North side of my house. It’s not dark shade…but it doesn’t get direct sun either. euonymus grows fairy well…and fast in the shade…and hollies do fair in shade also. Good luck…I’d love to see pictures some day.
{Melinda} Gorgeous … what a sanctuary! My backyard is so small, not sure I’d be able to achieve this, but I sure would love a place like this to find tranquility. Your blog is so attractive and appealing! Hope you have a Happy SITS Day! 🙂
Mothering From Scratch recently posted…teaching our kids how to use self-control
Thank You…you could still enclose your yard and give it a sanctuary feel. I love gardening…so it’s just a must for me. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Beautiful! That is the kind of thing I eventually want with my yard. We just bought our house and moved in in April of this year and I only was able to get a few plants up. Next year I’m starting all my herbs and eventually want something similar to yours, I have a picture in my head already. The question I have is where did you get the recycled concrete? I was planning on using recycled concrete but am not sure how to go about getting it.
Hi Tammy,
What a great post – I really enjoyed looking at the garden “rooms” and reading about what you have added from year to year…love that you recycle the products you use also…I am def inspired to create at least one garden room this year. I already have huge trees and lots of hibiscus hedges so I am sure I can accomplish it!
Have a wonderful SITS Day!
Jeanine recently posted…Chilling out at Hermosa Cove in Jamaica!
Happy SITS Day! I love your garden, we just moved from a home we lived in for over 12 years into a new-to-us home that has absolutely NO landscaping, not even a single tree! I’m looking forward to putting my mark on it!
Angela recently posted……but it IS personal!
Oh Angela, it’s so hard leaving a place you’ve put so much into! That’s how this place was…in a way it’s kinda nice…you can do things EXACTLY like you want! Good luck…have fun! Thanks for stopping by!
Love the name of your site and what it stands for!!!
Mona (Moxie-Dude) recently posted…Raising teenagers and back-to-school. Exactly like preparing to give birth only less pushing and more worrying.
Well Thank you Mona! I’m so glad you stopped by! 😀
Lovely gardens. I like your idea of different rooms in the backyard. We recently took down several trees in hopes of having a grass and some landscaping. The trees prevented anything from growing.
Thank You Carol. That is a drawback to trees…there just isn’t as much variety with shade plants. Thanks for stopping by!
This is beautiful. What a great idea. So inviting and peaceful looking. I love flowers of all kinds. Can’t wait to start creating my garden room. Thanks for the lovely post and enjoy your SITS Day!
Laurie recently posted…What the Heck?
Awe…thank you Laurie. Stop by any time! 😀
You have an amazing blog. I wish I could create such beautiful gardens like yours. I’m allergic to bees and my husband won’t let me have anything in the yard that flowers and might attract bees. So, I surround myself with non-flowering plants. I hope you’re having a great SITS day. Have a blessed day!
Vicki M. Taylor recently posted…Being Happy with Who You Are
I’m sorry Vicki…that’s sad. Maybe you could get an epi-pin and carry it with you…I hope you get to have some flowers some day…but foliage can be quite stunning too! Thank you for coming by!
Beautiful! Hope you have a fabulous SITS day! 🙂
thedoseofreality recently posted…Volunteeritis: What Is It? And How Do You Cure It?
Thank you….I’m glad you stopped by!
What a magical place! You have inspired me to create at least one “room” in our big backyard.
Pam recently posted…Napkin Collage
Tammy, wow! you have sure inspired me as I am looking at our acre of dirt right now! Yours sure is pretty!
Tami
Tami @ Curb Alert! recently posted…diy: Garden Chandelier
Thank You…it wasn’t when we moved here…That first summer…all I did was water…and mow dirt! lol
I want a garden SO badly. I need to jot that down on my to-do list and learn how to not kill every plant I walk by. That seems to be my problem : /
Happy SITS day! By the way, LOVE the leopard print ; )
MomChalant recently posted…What Is The “Appropriate” Age To Have A Baby?
haha…I’m sorry. You need to read my drip line post. It really changed the way I garden…and how much I could grow. Good luck in your garden!
Congrats on being featured blogger – enjoy your day!
julia @ a (future) weight loss success story recently posted…Friday Weight Loss Inspiration #2
Thank you Julia, Thanks for stopping in.
Happy SITS Day! What a fun blog! I love the idea of “secret” garden rooms. In fact that was one of my fav. books when I was little. I have a yard about 1/4 the size of yours but we have created a garden room with a bench made from some “junk” treasures I found. We are kindred hearts! Great blog
Angel
Angel Burch recently posted…Help! I Am Being Bullied!
So beautiful! You’ve definitely inspired me to WANT a garden room… but I don’t have a house! I’m staying with family members now and will eventually move into an apartment most likely. Any ideas on a garden for apartment dwellers?
Angel The Alien recently posted…Sunday Stealing: Young At Heart:
Thank you! You could definitely do containers on your patio or balcony. If you surround yourself with greenery…it will still feel enclosed and cozy!
You have such a beautiful garden! I wish I had the space and green thumb to keep a garden like that going. I hope you have a great SITS Day!
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Thank you so much Kristen. I’m so glad you stopped by!
What a relaxing and fun yard 🙂 I wish I had that much space! Have a wonderful SITS Day!
Lisa@ Cooking with Curls recently posted…Peppermint Mocha Cocktail Cake & Happy Birthday Carrie
Thanks Lisa. Gardening is my passion..but I do wish at times I had a little less to “enjoy” lol Thanks for stopping by!
What a beautiful and peaceful garden you have! Thanks for showing and explaining it to us.
Thanks Mary Ann. I love wandering through my gardens…I’m so glad I got to share it with everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
How beautiful and peaceful! I can’t imagine maintaining that type of garden room myself. You’ve also educated me because I thought a garden room was an indoor room.
Hope you had a wonderful SITS day!
Carla recently posted…Why You Should Ditch Your Laptop for a Tablet
Thank You so much for stopping by. I’m so glad you enjoyed the garden room. It is quite the job to maintain this big property.