As we head into the new year and try our best to refresh our lives with projects and resolutions, I thought of some of the most transformative garden makeovers that I have written about before. The kind that go from really nothing to really something. I'm participating in the January Cure (and blogging about it!), and this garden and the way it suddenly got all organized reminds me of my experiences so far.
New Year's is often about an 'out with the old and in with the new' sort of mentality, but that sort of thinking isn't the type of thing I would typically recommend in a garden (I can get instantly sentimental about a plant, shrub or tree — even if it isn't mine). But in this case, London-based Greenline Design took a hyper organized approach to the space that I think works. Notice how there is an extreme simplicity here? Not only is it essentially monochromatic, but it looks like we can count the different types of plants on one hand, and the maintenance of the space is pretty low.
I have to say — this isn't the type of garden I personally crave. I generally need more wild-ness, but at the moment this is the type of thing I want to emulate in my home, and I am studying it for lessons on organization, simplification (less plants and easy, low-maintenance plants in clear graphic containers), repetition, and sheer streamlined simplicity.
Tell me, is this a garden you crave right now?
via Design Milk
(Images: Greenline Design via Design Milk)
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It's not exactly my taste (I also think it's a bit too polished) but it's definitely lovely! Wow. New York keeps me in a constant state of hunger for private outdoor space.
LOVELY.
Ahnka summed it up for me perfectly.
Crazy gorgeous!
I love the floating benches!!!
Just fabulous!
I like the use of lines, vertical and horizontal, and Japanese maples are always appropriate for texture and color in a shaded spot. Too much maintenance for me though - the Buxus, topiary, and espaliered trees do require regular work, so even though it looks minimal, the requirements are not (and that sort of takes away from minimalism in my books). A lot of these stylish plantings are also not planted to last - soil/root space isn't always taken into account and the trees may quickly succumb.
It's nice enough, I suppose. Just looks very corporate, like a viewing courtyard outside a waiting room. I find it way too sterile and 'samey' for my tastes. I don't thing it's soothing, just boring.
Very nice improvement! Even just the painted concrete makes a huge difference. I love the floating benches with the lights. I wouldn't say no to my yard being this organised!
The engineer in my freakin loves this. Those floating benches are beautiful and I love the topiary.
I grew up in South Africa and had a huge garden to play in and wander around and so I am always in favour of the slightly wild, little bit unkempt style of garden with secret places made by trees and bushes and flowers coming together... just like how I imagine the Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
Neat, polished and groomed to within an inch of its life just does not appeal to me. I can see its beneficial and zen qualities but it doesn't resonate.
I have to agree with sprial@home. My first impression was -- wow.. it's so much cleaner and nicer, but it's too corporate. It's pretty, but would you want to invite guests over and be able to relax?
Looks great & gives me some ideas for the narrow side of the house; albeit cheaper and with less fussy plants, but still make a clean statement.
I think it's beautiful. The even spacing of the trees reminds me of formal gardens. A pretty amazing accomplishment given the landscape behind is a wall in the city. The containers continue that formal organization.
The floating benches are nice. Very modern and maybe not my style, but very, very nice.
Keeping in mind this is a before and after shot, the transformation is stunning. I'd be thrilled to have such a garden. Now, if I could change the fact that it's winter 6 months of the year here...
I would have preferred the Before - I like the "wilderness" aspect of the Before.
I agree with the above posters - lovely but too organized. I have an urban garden that is also certified wildlife habitat. I like plants to look natural. It's a struggle to find the right balance because in an urban habitat I can't let things go totally wild but I err on the side of messy. Critters need places to hide and are more comfortable with plants that look like they are supposed to. The payoff has been an increase in all sorts of wildlife including bees, butterflies and birds of all sorts.
bety that cost a butt load of money
Wow. That went from "garden" to "corporate". Sad.
Normally I would not want to be in such a structured garden but in this case I think it was a wise choice. The space is small and making it look 'wild' just looked dirty and unkempt.
My heart was beating faster in uneasiness in the 'before' pictures but seeing the 'after' literally calmed me. What might be missing and can be easily remedied, is just some touches of softness/color to the garden to make it more warm and inviting. Otherwise, I really appreciate the thought behind the 'after' of this particular garden!
For me, the "after" is stunning, organized and calming, all at once.
I was wondering something similar. Is this a residential or a commercial space?
I absolutely love this, although if it was my garden I'd have added some conversation friendly seating in the middle, rather than the benches around the edge.
Having grown up in New Orleans, I can totally relate, emel3srk. And I completely agree.
@ jlwmid, I am painting a mental picture of your garden as a little Eden. I am sure an Eden it is, for you as well as the said critters. Congrats! I would love to see a Garden Tour of your Eden on AT!!
Zen.
wild gardens are great, but it takes a whole lotta work to keep that Monet beauty without vines taking over, keeping those bulbs spaced, the list goes on...if you want a relaxing garden without all the work, this one is awesome. For a young professional, what could be better? That wild garden can wait until you retire.
While it is quite lovely and beautiful, I wouldn't want that at home. It just is too...clean. Living in Chicago I would expect to see this at a trendy club or restaurant. As much as I do love plants and flowers, I feel at this time in the world if we have a means to do so even if on a small scale, growing edibles is the way to go. I can't wait to see my edibles sprout and also the flowers I plant for bees. As nice as this looks it does nothing to awe me or make me crave being in this setting. Put some herbs or color in and I might like this.
I like a cleaned up version of before more. I prefer organized chaos. This is too stiff. Good if it's a public space though.
Amazing!
Dope.
I however would want some pillows or somewhere cushiony & cozy to sit.
But Dope.