Bringing back the front yard nook

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/07/2015 (3938 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Little front yard patios and seating areas are popping up with increasing frequency. And popping up exactly captures them — tiny, simple, pleasant surprises. I wouldn’t call it a trend, but I sure hope it becomes one.

Urban designers lament the loss of socializing that used to take place in our front yards. Moving the driveway access to the front street and attaching the garage to the house is great when it’s -99 in the winter, or plus 99 in the summer. But the cost? All those opportunities for brief conversations we used to have with our neighbours. Many of us rarely see our neighbours, and in fact, may not know them at all. Not knowing our neighbours makes us less invested in our neighbourhood, less socially connected, our homes less safe, and so on the repercussions go.

It is a welcome sight, these little front yard nooks. And notably, they are showing up in new developments as well as older neighbourhoods where the garages are still nestled in the back.
Aside from the social perks, there are many reasons for a front yard sitting area.

Maybe it’s south facing and you love the heat, or exactly the opposite, north facing and you love the shade. Maybe the backyard is full of pool, vegetable garden, kids splashing water everywhere. Maybe the backyard has a big open feeling while the front yard has a spot with a more intimate feel. Maybe it’s a simple matter of making use of good space. Surely we can get more out of the front yard than an occasional trot behind the lawnmower? And for extroverts, a front yard nook is of course, a conversational opportunity.

A front yard nook can be as simple as nestling a couple of comfy Adirondack chairs in an existing hollow against a tree or shrubs. In an existing bed, there will hopefully be mulch, which makes for a decent rugged surface.

Or, enlarge the walkway and/or landing adjacent to the house. This nook will have a nice balance of privacy with an urban feel. Add some low shrubs, ornamental grasses, or perennials at the edge to give a sense of privacy without completely enclosing the nook or obscuring the front door.

The nook can also be the central feature of the front yard complete with a patio, a low wall, and associated partial privacy plantings including one or two small trees.

It’s like building a fort — keep it small, comfy, and be open to visitors.

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