3 Gardens That Draw Inspiration From Favourite Getaways
These Canadian and USA gardens take cues from the courtyards of Rome, beach holidays and the arid beauty of the desert
With travel plans put on pause, there’s never been a better time to imagine how your backyard or garden can transport you to your favourite holiday destinations by adding elements that remind you of far-flung getaways. The following three gardens all draw inspiration from distant places, including a terrace in Oregon, USA, inspired by the homeowners’ trip to Rome in Italy, and a serene beach-inspired backyard in Arizona, USA. Plants and materials appropriate to their regions make these backyards and gardens look at home in their environments. Gazing at these spaces, do you feel yourself just a little transported to another place?
Landscape designer Christopher Dara of Drake’s 7 Dees drew up a plan for a new dining terrace covered by a pergola, to include a cosy fire pit seating area with warm-hued stones and a small satellite deck where the homeowners could enjoy morning coffee.
To help translate an Italian feeling to an American garden, Dara used golden tones, such as sand-coloured decomposed granite and warm-toned rocks in the walls, alongside limestone – a nod to the travertine limestone typically used in historical buildings in Rome.
To help translate an Italian feeling to an American garden, Dara used golden tones, such as sand-coloured decomposed granite and warm-toned rocks in the walls, alongside limestone – a nod to the travertine limestone typically used in historical buildings in Rome.
The hanging baskets filled with bright-coloured flowers and the sweet fragrance of jasmine wafting through the courtyard can easily make one feel transported to Italy.
Want to make your home feel like a holiday destination? Find a landscape architect or designer near you on Houzz to make it happen
Want to make your home feel like a holiday destination? Find a landscape architect or designer near you on Houzz to make it happen
2. Coastal style in the Arizona desert, USA
Location: Arizona, USA
Backyard size: About 111 square metres
Designer: Elizabeth Przygoda-Montgomery of Boxhill
While most Southwestern gardens in the USA rely on a bold sunset-inspired colour palette heavy on terracotta hues, the colours of this Arizona garden evoke the feeling of another place entirely. “When you walk in, you feel like you’re [at a] desert beach,” says designer Elizabeth Przygoda-Montgomery of Boxhill.
Location: Arizona, USA
Backyard size: About 111 square metres
Designer: Elizabeth Przygoda-Montgomery of Boxhill
While most Southwestern gardens in the USA rely on a bold sunset-inspired colour palette heavy on terracotta hues, the colours of this Arizona garden evoke the feeling of another place entirely. “When you walk in, you feel like you’re [at a] desert beach,” says designer Elizabeth Przygoda-Montgomery of Boxhill.
The color palette is limited to soft grey, white and pale blue, visually cooling down the desert backyard and emphasising the inviting turquoise water of the newly refurbished pool. The light-coloured pavers used for the patio (from local supplier Artistic Pavers) feature tiny seashells that add subtle texture – and are a charming beach-themed detail when viewed up close.
How Do I… Choose the Right Pattern for My Pavers?
How Do I… Choose the Right Pattern for My Pavers?
As a finishing touch to the landscape, the designer included outdoor lighting worthy of a chic beach resort. Glowing orbs dot the pool, moving slowly across the water’s surface, and soft uplights wash the perimeter walls with a subtle warmth.
Light Up: 10 Good Reasons to Use Outdoor Lighting
Light Up: 10 Good Reasons to Use Outdoor Lighting
3. Taste of the USA’s Southwest in Toronto, Canada
Location: Toronto, Canada
Front yard size: 51 square metres
Designer: Shelby Hallman Mailloux of Earth and Sole
While on holiday in Arizona, the owners of this Toronto home and garden fell in love with the arid beauty of the desert. Although they knew the climate and rainfall of their Canadian home were vastly different from the American Southwest’s, they hoped to capture some of the feeling of the sun-drenched desert landscape with a combination of drought-tolerant plants and chunky gravel. Landscape designer Shelby Hallman Mailloux of Earth and Sole helped the couple turn their dream into a reality.
Top 10 Plants for Minimum Effort and Maximum Impact
Location: Toronto, Canada
Front yard size: 51 square metres
Designer: Shelby Hallman Mailloux of Earth and Sole
While on holiday in Arizona, the owners of this Toronto home and garden fell in love with the arid beauty of the desert. Although they knew the climate and rainfall of their Canadian home were vastly different from the American Southwest’s, they hoped to capture some of the feeling of the sun-drenched desert landscape with a combination of drought-tolerant plants and chunky gravel. Landscape designer Shelby Hallman Mailloux of Earth and Sole helped the couple turn their dream into a reality.
Top 10 Plants for Minimum Effort and Maximum Impact
She used a plant palette rich in succulents, ornamental grasses and perennial bloomers, similar to what one might see in a desert region, but selected plants on the cold-hardy end of the spectrum. (You may also spot the very non-desert Japanese maple that the designer snuck in, which looks perfectly at home among the rocks and other elements in soft hues.) Some of the plants include ‘Xenox’ stonecrop (Sedum telephium), ‘Autumn Fire’ stonecrop (Sedum), ‘Silver Brocade’ artemesia (Artemesia stellariana), purple-blooming ‘May Night’ sage (Salvia) and ‘Northwind’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum).
New prefabricated Corten steel planters add a rich rusty tone often seen in America’s Southwest, and a layer of gravel mulch spread over all the planting beds beautifully suits the desert theme.
Your turn
Which regions around the world would you love your garden to channel? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Did you know you can plan your dream garden remotely? Read up on Green Scene: Landscape Designers Respond to Corona Challenges
Your turn
Which regions around the world would you love your garden to channel? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Did you know you can plan your dream garden remotely? Read up on Green Scene: Landscape Designers Respond to Corona Challenges
Location: Oregon, USA
Backyard size: 242 square metres
Designer: Drake’s 7 Dees
After returning from a holiday in Rome, the owners of this Oregon house felt inspired to bring some of the Italian lifestyle elements they appreciated on their trip into their everyday lives at home. Enjoying meals outside on an inviting terrace with cafe lights glowing overhead was high on the list.