Landscape Design
Patio of the Week
Patio of the Week: Leafy Family Retreat Has Year-Round Beauty
The backyard features abundant plantings, evergreen structure and spaces that both adults and children can enjoy
Homeowners Jess and Reuven Young have small children, so they needed to incorporate play equipment in their yard and have plantings that would stand up to footballs being kicked around. They wanted a space they could enjoy too. The existing yard featured overgrown shrubs and a shapeless lawn that didn’t satisfy any of their family’s needs. “It looked chaotic,” says designer Tracey Parker, who transformed the space into a haven for the whole family.
The couple was adding onto the kitchen and having a large picture window built, so the moment was right to tackle the garden and create a beautiful view from the house throughout the seasons.
The couple was adding onto the kitchen and having a large picture window built, so the moment was right to tackle the garden and create a beautiful view from the house throughout the seasons.
The pergola contains space for outdoor dining and grilling and is an area where Jess and Reuven can chill out during the day and evening. “It gives structure,” Parker says. “There were some trees [here before], but this leads the eye down the garden.”
The slatted screen conceals the barbecue. “There was actually some debate about where to put [the barbecue], but if you’re eating here, it makes sense [to have it near the table]. We wanted it to be screened, though,” the designer says.
The plants by the pergola include lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina), Mexican orange (Choisya sp.) and pittosporum. “They’re plants that would bounce back if they were whacked,” Parker says.
She planted three varieties of clematis on the pergola: C. ‘Frances Rivis’, C. viticella and C. cirrhosa var. purpurascens ‘Freckles’, which is winter-flowering. “[I included it] to make sure there was something you could see out of the picture window in the winter months,” Parker says.
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The slatted screen conceals the barbecue. “There was actually some debate about where to put [the barbecue], but if you’re eating here, it makes sense [to have it near the table]. We wanted it to be screened, though,” the designer says.
The plants by the pergola include lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina), Mexican orange (Choisya sp.) and pittosporum. “They’re plants that would bounce back if they were whacked,” Parker says.
She planted three varieties of clematis on the pergola: C. ‘Frances Rivis’, C. viticella and C. cirrhosa var. purpurascens ‘Freckles’, which is winter-flowering. “[I included it] to make sure there was something you could see out of the picture window in the winter months,” Parker says.
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Overall, the garden’s color scheme is one of blues, pinks and purples. The plants that can be enjoyed from the dining area include purple ‘Caradonna’ sage (Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’), snapdragon (Antirrhinum sp.) and ‘Azure Rush’ cranesbill (Geranium ‘Azure Rush’). “They’re easy to look after and are all long-flowering, which was important,” Parker says.
Jess and Reuven wanted to save as many of the existing roses as possible.
The play equipment sits at the back of the garden. “I wanted it away from the prime view,” Parker says. “Play equipment is awkward, because it’s only [needed for] a certain number of years. With children, you have to be flexible. In the future, that area might contain a kitchen garden.”
The stepping stones that lead down the garden are made from concrete meant to resemble wood.
Driftwood Timberstone sleepers: Stonemarket
The stepping stones that lead down the garden are made from concrete meant to resemble wood.
Driftwood Timberstone sleepers: Stonemarket
Before: The original garden didn’t have much structure. The shrubs were overgrown and lots of plants had self-seeded in the space.
After: The area under the home’s large rear window is shady, so Parker opted for plants that would thrive in those conditions and create texture. Plants here include evergreen soft shield fern (Polystichum setiferum) and deer fern (Blechnum spicant), as well as lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis) and hellebore (Helleborus sp.).
She also planted a small herb garden in the container under the window. “Starting small while the kids are small,” she says. “Eventually, it will move to the back [of the garden], but it’s handy for the kitchen, and there’s enough light to grow stuff.”
The patio here is made from the same composite decking as under the pergola, and the color blends harmoniously with the home’s brick exterior. The white doors lead out from the playroom, while sliding doors open from the expanded kitchen. The rose was an existing one. “The builders took great care to save that and retie it,” Parker says
She also planted a small herb garden in the container under the window. “Starting small while the kids are small,” she says. “Eventually, it will move to the back [of the garden], but it’s handy for the kitchen, and there’s enough light to grow stuff.”
The patio here is made from the same composite decking as under the pergola, and the color blends harmoniously with the home’s brick exterior. The white doors lead out from the playroom, while sliding doors open from the expanded kitchen. The rose was an existing one. “The builders took great care to save that and retie it,” Parker says
The same pavers as those used near the pergola were laid to allow access through the bed to the herbs.
The view from inside the house shows how the pergola creates a focal point.
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Backyard at a Glance
Who lives here: Jess and Reuven Young and their two children
Location: London
Size: 1,292 square feet (120 square meters)
Designer Tracey Parker of Tracey Parker Landscape Design
Jess and Reuven are from New Zealand and wanted a garden reminiscent of their homeland. “Kiwi clients are used to lots of evergreen structure and having something to look at year-round,” says Parker, who’s also from New Zealand.
Parker placed a pergola opposite the extended kitchen. “There was a bed there before with a path through it not leading anywhere,” she says. “Now it’s possible to look through the picture window all the way down to the pergola covered in roses.” Parker installed a composite decking in a soft gray color under the pergola. “It needed to be low-maintenance and hard-wearing,” the designer says.
Greenwich DesignBoard decking: London Stone
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