I think what looks really beautiful when you have a large cottage-style perennial/shrub bed that you can put somewhat off center a really nice birdhouse on a pole. I saw a picture of a small domesticated dove/pigeon roost/house in a gardening book once and it was stunning - blended right into with the flower bed- which had some stunning light pink opium poppies. The color scheme was cool and pastel, lots of pink, purple and hazy blue, and the birdhouse was white, which looked so pretty among this beautiful haze. It reminds me I want a purple martin or bluebird house.

I think the trick to integrating sculptural objects into a garden takes careful consideration, in my opinion, consideration of scale and authenticity of the time period around you, meaning your house or gardening style and even plants that you buy. Many sculptures, sun dials, fountains, etc, can lend themselves expertly to the very regal,formal yet incredibly romantic and lush look of the Regency period in the early 1800's up to Victoria's reign, when incidentally many of the old roses were en vogue, however, they can probably look quite imposing if done on the front lawn of a 1950's rancher.

This is not to say that formal elements are bad, quite the opposite, it just can be certainly hard to integrate them seamlessly- this is why, currently, I'm very shy to even suggest anything to my father. He's already fed up with me coming home from college, tearing up his lawn, sticking plants in, and then leaving, lol. I think, as the garden matures and its "style" emerges as plants are replaced, die, etc, he'll give in to utilize structures.I'd want to create lot's of nooks and crannies to just get lost in. Our current plan is convert my old wooden swingset into an arbor for clematis and grapes. As it stands, that's our only project. I want a full blown cottage garden though, with vegetables and flowers all growing together in a mess!

There is a place in Maryland that I remember visiting as a child called Ladew Gardens, known for their topiary, but it wasn't just the topiary that I remember being entranced about, but the architecture and "flow" of the place, it all just fit together, whimsical topiary, stone walkways, tables, fountains, strange pools, statues. It all was very dreamlike and I remember there was a scavenger hunt we had to do that further made the place seem so "mystifying"

I would kill to put that effect into our backyard, but I don't think an acre is enough or practical to do so!

Thanks for posting the photos of Monttisfont. They brought back pleasant memories of my visit there in '04. The British National Trust does such a superlative job in maintaining those grounds for the enjoyment of all of us.

BTW, I've not perused all of the many threads you've initiated but, as far as I know, there's been no photos of your own environs in quite a while. What architecural enhancements have you incorporated, Devon?

Our finances and the extent of our property--and my desire for roses--being what they are, we put almost all our money into plants and structures are strictly functional. They can be nice even so: we made a pleasant five-sided arbor out of rebar at the entrance to the shade garden for some Hybrid Musks to climb over. The plants provide the masses and voids, the contrasts of form and texture, the colors. Structures are needed to get plants over one's head, so that one can walk through a tunnel of flowers and green; to frame views; to signal a transition from one space to another; so that one has a place to sit--that's very important. They can be extremely plain and not ornamental in themselves, and still be architecturally important. If I ever get enough money for structures and elements that are handsome in themselves, so much the better. But correct placement and use of plants is the most important thing.

Melissa

P.S. Perhaps I can allow myself this belief partly because our garden is set in the country, in a beautiful area. If I were in a small place where my surroundings were indifferent or ugly, I might need to focus more on handsome details.

I added a circular structure of arches based on the second photo. Mine is set into a slight hill with a retaining wall. I love this area of my garden..I am planning on adding a cinderblock wall about 7-8 ft to enclose a large part of the garden. Also, I've got a new design for rebar arches that I intend to use to make another rose tunnel.

Robert

VEELAKIN, as for architectural enhancements that I've
incorporated, I am in the process of deciding what I want
to add to the courtyard area, on the northeast side of the
house, where I grow my roses. I keep most things simple
around the property, but to the rose garden, I may add a
series of arches, going all the way around.

As for photo's of my "environs", the last photo's, seemed to
make some forum members, revert to a medieval mentality,
using sarcasm and skepticism, to challenge me to a sword
fight. It seems, photo's of a guy's home, with a pool, brings
out the worst in some forum members. So I will stick with
photo's of my roses, when in bloom, thank you very much.

Are you referring to me? I didn't mean to be skeptical or sarcastic.......

I have arbors Husband made around my decks and patios. Other places I keep birdbaths and stone benches. But who knows what else I will dream up for the garden. Right now we're looking at adding some sculptures.

OATH5, no I'm not referring to you at all. I like what you
posted and enjoyed reading it. I was referring to a thread
I put on the rose forum, months ago. It was one called "Silly
Advice About My Backyard", which had some photo's that
made some forum members go on the attack. The mean-
spirited remarks, we're removed by the site, so you won't find
any rude comments there anymore, but I learned that I should
just post photo's of my rose garden. I was just responding to
to Veelakin, asking about photo's of my property.

You and everyone else on the forum knows all about my structures and statues so I won't bore you with them too much. I do love arches and they don't have to be elaborate. Changing the elevation in a garden really makes it more satisfying and interesting. I love to create a vignette. Flora sits beneath her pergola/temple the vision of the goddess of flowers and the beds surround her in circles. It's just the way I look at things. I guess most of the statuary has a classical look that fits with what I consider a romantic garden. I would very much like to recreate that circle of arches that is in Mottisfont. We saw it this past June. There is no more room within the garden proper. We have a very ambitious plan of planting ramblers to tumble down a bank above the road to our water tank. There is a spot in that area where we could perhaps do it.

PAMELA, yours is a romantic garden, that can never be
forgotten. In looking at the photo's, your friend Carol
took, I found your garden to have an ethereal quality. I
love the statues you have placed by your roses and all
your arbors are great. I can tell you are a romantic soul.
The way you have used garden architecture is magical.

All The Best,

Devon

Devon, I love those pictures! I would LOVE to be able to have something like the arches that lead to the fountain. Alas, there is no room here - I am confined to gardening in pots. I am very new to Old Roses (and new to the forum as well), but I have loved Old Roses for years, through books and cemeteries. I'm going to start having some this coming Spring, and I'm researching what would be the best bets for container roses and for my climate (central California). It's a lot of fun looking at all the possible roses, and I keep changing my mind!! But I have plenty of time. Those pictures are inspiring!
I think it's a shame that some people have been mean about your photos of your garden. It's very clear that you love roses deeply, and that's what matters.
Laura

In our very new garden we've recently bought a garden bench that looks vaguely English, flanked by two cast-cement Fo dogs (or lions), a small classic "Roman" column for the middle of the square rose plot and, for the back of the house where we have a deck that overlooks beautiful hills, our plan is to have a two-tier stone fountain in the middle of a rectangular area that will be planted mainly with roses and irises, with boxwood and columnar junipers for formality. Hopefully everything will come together next year to the point where I can post pictures of several areas.

Ingrid

Ingrid,
I'm enchanted by the mere description of roses and irises, juniper and box! Sounds beautiful!

Devon,
Grazie per i tuoi saluti italiani! Sei stato in Italia?

Melissa

MELISSA, Ciao! Grazie infinite, per chiedere. Io non
essere nato ieri Italia, molte volte. Sono innamorato di
Italia, appositamente Venezia. Avere tu individuato il
pellicola, "Under The Tuscan Sun"? Vorrei verso vivere
cosi.

Buona giornata, Melissa. Ciao!

Tuo Amico,

Devon

ORGANIC_TOSCA(LAURA), welcome to the forums and
thank you for your nice comments. Old-fashioned and David
Austin roses are so irresistible. Take your time deciding on
your choices. There are many good people on these forums,
that can help you with your choices, if you need help. Don't
hesitate to post a question about any rose and how it will do
for you, in your area. Good luck, in all your rose endeavors,
Laura.