Santa Barbara Cottage Garden

One of our all-time favorite gardens we ever designed, this property was unique and special, hidden as it was in the “woods”. It was a beautiful blank slate, full of potential, but there were several challenges.

Though the property was on over an acre, the house was situated very close to the road so there was no privacy. Neighbors walking their dogs, people diving by could see in the windows and the clients lives were on display. They had lived this way for many years and were ready for change.

The first step was to create a privacy screen. This was not designed to be a formally-clipped hedge (who wants that kind of maintenance). We wanted it to be a natural-looking planting and for it to seem as if it were always there. The location of the screen was in near total shade! By using a variety of shade tolerant plants, such as Italian Buckthorn, Bay, and Texas privet we were able to establish the privacy this property (and client) so desperately needed.

With the privacy issue handled the real fun could then begin! We constructed a flagstone patio on the side of the house just outside the kitchen door so that the client could finally have an outdoor space that wasn’t in a “fishbowl”. It was large enough to contain and fire pit and an grill and dining table for outdoor entertaining. Colorful plantings of drought tolerant perennials surrounded this patio making it an ideal space for relaxing, cooking and gathering.

This is where things really got interesting. There was so much room to play in. On one side of the garden we constructed a small flagstone patio and around it planted a dense screen of plants creating a peaceful secret garden. At the back of the house we planted a rose garden.

The real surprise came in the form of an old garden shed the client wanted us to demolish and haul away. Instead, we made it into a garden feature. We painted it pink (to match the house) and sponge-painted the outside (yes, Chris and I painted it ourselves) and built window boxes so that it looked like a cute little cottage. And every cottage needs a cottage garden!

A drought tolerant Cottage Garden was the next assignment. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful? This garden is packed with color, Penstemon, Lambs Ear, Rockrose, Echium and lots of white and purple Heliotrope along with Santa Barbara Daisy, Nepeta, Teucrium, Mexican Sage, Foxglove, and Jasmine. Citrus trees and a beautiful old apple tree complete the picture. And something that was originally thought to be a “throw-away” became the focal point and favorite garden feature.

This secret hideaway became a peaceful, glorious retreat for the clients and their large family, becoming the favored location for outdoor parties, BBQs and just a bit of paradise.

Our purpose is to design beautiful, livable spaces, it is our passion and love. With this project, I think we succeeded.

xo Lisa