Jun 6 2020 explore 62556miller s board small courtyard gardens followed by 147 people on pinterest.
Courtyard type gardens. Plants in containers can be used to establish the usable space within the courtyard. The key to this is employing a few sensory tricks. A courtyard garden is an inward looking space but you ought to feel cocooned rather than claustrophobic. A small garden is like a stage set everything is on show walls paving overhead structures and of course those key performers your plants whether it s a tree shrub groundcover climber or flowering perennial a plant needs to look good all year round as it will most likely be viewed from inside the house as well as the garden even deciduous species should where possible look.
Many urban designs treat these urban oases as extensions of the homes with materials often. Copper rill and bowl water feature inspiration for a small contemporary courtyard garden in london. Such spaces in inns and public buildings were often the primary meeting places for some. Well appointed and designed city gardens and courtyards can provide a welcomed respite for city dwellers becoming places for relaxation contemplation conversation and entertaining friends and family.
Don t get sentimental about a perennial you brought home from vacation three years ago if it isn t performing in your courtyard garden. Water is so prevalent in courtyard garden design because it reflects the sky creating a sense of space some designers use mirrors to give an illusion of space but they re not restful. As you can see it is glazed on several sides each view after concluded the work is slightly different. Courtyards are common elements in both western and eastern building patterns and have been used by both ancient and contemporary architects as a typical and traditional building feature.
Being close to water is also hugely beneficial for our mental and physical health and bluehealth an ongoing pan european research project led by the university of exeter uk is looking into this more closely. In a small enclosed landscape the eye takes in all of the plants at once and a leggy hydrangea or lopsided bougainvillea will detract from the entire design. Urban space being generally limited careful thought needs to be brought to the overall garden layout. A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area often surrounded by a building or complex that is open to the sky.
One way to do this is to keep them to the edges and group larger plants in the corners.