Whimsical design realized

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/07/2014 (4265 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Most of us enjoy a nicely planned yard that’s functional, easy to maintain, and maybe with a bit of pizzazz. For some though, pizzazz comes first. Enter the dragon.

The garden featured in our photo takes its inspiration from a myth about a dragon and within a relatively small yard, incorporates mystery, magic, and mountains. Truly breathtaking.

How to develop a whimsical garden? Firstly, you have to have the personality to pull this off, both in terms of developing it, and explaining it. A well-stocked supply of humour is essential.

The more fun you have with it, the more fun visitors will have in turn. Secondly, go big or go home. Doing a whimsical-themed yard only partway will look like you lost courage, or lost direction.

Pick a theme. Make sure it’s one you love and never tire of explaining.

Keeping in mind the realities of our climate, translate the most important features into physical reality. Don’t get too literal — the key features somewhat abstracted will usually suffice.

The dragon in the photo example is represented by an undulating path with adjacent planting to accentuate the flow of the path. Paver choice is scale-like, further reinforcing “dragon.” Apples are a central theme of the myth, and three oversized stone apples reside within this garden. Star constellations are also integral to the myth and are incorporated into the garden in two ways. The low wall edging the fire pit area has perforations that mimic the constellations referred to in the myth. They sparkle and glow when a fire burns. As well, the back of the garden has a grid of mature trees with small low berms mounded up between their bases, referencing mountains. Sitting around the fire, one gazes over this “mountainous forest” and up to the real night sky stars — mystical and magical at once.

You don’t necessarily have to redo the entire yard — a game of marbles with oversized rocks and boulders will certainly do the trick. Place them so as to convey the game underway, paint them if appropriate, mark their “just thrown path” across the lawn by replacing a strip of lawn with a groundcover such as thyme (in the sun) or bugleweed (in shade). Voila, the game is afoot!

For more views into the garden featured in our photo, visit www.houzz.com/ideabooks/21061113/list/Stars-and-Myths-Inspire-a-Contemporary-London-Garden

Carla Keast has a master’s degree in landscape architecture and is a Winnipeg-based freelance landscape designer. She can be reached at contact@carlakeast.com.