INGREDIENTS
SPLASHING FOUNTAIN.
BOXWOOD TOPIARIES.
LEMON TREES.
LAVENDER and JUNIPERS and ROSES.
FLAGSTONE PATHWAY.
And it's all in a patio twelve foot square.
This little condominium patio has all of the elements of a classic Italian garden. Well, not counting the villa that should go with it. It took one day, and under $2,000 to create. Here's what we used:
Fountain: This one is concrete, by Giannini, and cost $750. But there are a lot of wall fountains available for a lot less.
Concrete bench: Also by Giannini, matching the fountain. But I have one almost like it that I got at Target for $60.
Lemon trees in pots: I used Meyer lemons, which are smaller scale. If you can't find those in your area, a Eureka will do just fine, kept pruned. Underplant it with sweet alyssum and thyme.
Gravel mulch: Classic gray pea gravel from Lowes.
Flagstone path: Its really fun, in a small garden, to create a "path to nowhere." This one curves around the air conditioning unit (concealed behind an airy Pittosporum tenufolium 'Marjorie Channon) to the back corner of the patio walls. Its only seven feet long, but since the terminus is hidden, it seems longer. And a wall mirror was added to visually double the size of the garden.
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| THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE BEFORE |
Climbing Iceberg Roses: This white rose blooms almost all year round here in southern California. Its low maintenance, disease resistant, and has delicate canes that don't take up much room.
Dwarf lavender: 'Hazel' spanish lavender (lavandula stoechas 'Hazel') and 'Munstead' English lavender (lavandula angustfolia 'Munstead) fit into the 1.5 foot wide borders.
Creeping fig: These photos, taken soon after planting, don't show the creeping fig that we planted to cover the concrete walls. But eventually the garden will be enclosed with dark green walls, hiding the new construction.
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