Contemporary Farmhouse Courtyard Garden

This is a back courtyard of a previous project (VJ Project). I wanted some continuity between front and back spaces but I envisioned this as a contemporary farmhouse garden. The paver pad was pre-existing. I added the flagstone in a complementary color to add more useable space, to pull the eye out, and to give the pad a "reason" for being. I used aspaliered apple trees and Bloodgood maples to continue the farmhouse theme and to keep the eye moving from side to side in the space. Rusted iron spheres mimic farmhouse machinery. I used a granite millstone and planted masses of Mexican feather grass in two diagonal sections to break up the rectangular layout and to provide an illusion to wheat. Gray granite screenings are used as substrate to provide a logical bridge between the gray house siding and the pre-existing tan pavers. The clients' requirements were for more usable entertaining space, a space in which to relax after work, and for more shade. Photo by Jay Sifford.