Garden accent question I need help with

[Alistair]

Do you have any tulips?

*flees thread*

 

[rareboy]

The key is to make the spaces proportionate to the objects in them. That is what the example shows.

If you make the spaces too wide or tall for the lanterns and the chimes, they won't feel framed by the timber...but will look small and disproportionate.

Try to leave an equal space on the top and sides. Either a square or a golden section will be the best proportion.

 

[jaysizzles]

If the bushes in the garden in front of the sidewalk are going to be removed and the crabapple is gone (at the right side of 2nd house pic), I'd consider putting it in the garden, to the right of the bay window instead of where you're thinking. It could be as tall as you'd like there, but I'm thinking, as Kahaih suggested, around the same height as the bottom of the top sash...maybe even a bit taller. It would be enjoyable to see as you pass from the driveway to the front door, and there'd be nothing nearby to compete with it.

I really like the image that you picked, and hope you post a pic of the finished product.

 

[Harke the Boeotarch]

1). Fix the garden first.
a). That red tree is in the wrong place. Move it if you can, chop it down if you must. If you can't, then by all means leave it, but know it causes problems.
b). The shrubs are going? Good.
c). The grass looks like ass. Think about it, do something about it.
d). Acer shrub looking good. Keep it.
e). Conifer balls look like scrota.
f). Ornamental grass. Ain't nobody got time for that!
g). What's that? A ghetto palm? Your garden is a mess, but way not messy enough for that kind of rubbish.

2). What are you trying to achieve with the lantern thing?

[edit]

1) a). Make the red tree as special feature by removing the stuff around it and removing part of the lawn in a (semi-)circular arc around the tree. It will look better if the lawn - which you will fix. Have you ever scarified/dethatched and added calcium and fetrilized. It helps!- has not so many interruptions (shrubs) along the house.

 

[Alistair]

^ everyone’s grass looks like that this time of year unless your spending thousands to fertilize and water. Mine is actually greener than most because of the clover.

That being said, my yard is a bee friendly yard so it never gets weed killer or pesticides. Clover and dandelions are not only welcome but encouraged.

 

[Harke the Boeotarch]

^ everyone’s grass looks like that this time of year unless your spending thousands to fertilize and water. Mine is actually greener than most because of the clover.

That being said, my yard is a bee friendly yard so it never gets weed killer or pesticides. Clover and dandelions are not only welcome but encouraged.

I suppose it depends on your climate. We have so much rain here, we don't have to sprinkle very often. To me it still doesn't look very good. On the picture, it looks more messy than it could be, even with the clover. Do people have xeriscaping where you live?

We take out the dandelions by hand from the grass. IMHO there are better flowers for the bees.

My idea about your garden was that you throw out (or replant elsewhere) what you don't need there and organize the garden around the remaining essential elements. That way, it will be easier to determine where your construction should be placed and how it should be constructed.

 

[Alistair]

I agree I’m removing almost everything in the first picture. The lantern was just an accent for a spot that nothing will grow

Here dandelions are an important food source for bees just coming out of hibernation.

 

[Alistair]

BTW the tall tree is a Crimson Prince Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Crimson Prince')

The weeping maple is a Crimson Queen. (Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Crimson Queen')

 

[metta]

I love maple trees. I have just never seen a tree planted so close to the house before. Maple trees drop their leaves in the fall. Doesn't that just fill up your rain gutters? But then again, I live in a high fire risk area. Maybe that is why people don't do that in my area.

 

[Pierresro]

Looks fine to me!!

 

[72-Jay]

I hate to say it, but I'd probably remove that tree right in front of the house. The roots could be damaging your foundations, the leaves will clog your gutters....

I completely agree..even though that is a nice tree, its way too close to the house.

---
But back on the original topic.
I tend to think atleast 6-feet in height would be good. (this works out nicely, because figure standard 8-foot poles on the sides, and 18-24 inches into the ground)
As for width I'm guessing the one in the pic is around 18 inches. Somewhere in that range seems like it'd be about right, but its also going to depend on the size of your lantern & windchime. (best thing is probably once you get the stuff for it, do a simple layout on the lawn, and see what looks best to you!)

Note that most solar lanterns will not work very well unless they get full sun on the panel all day. (so if its shaded by the tree or boards on that structure, don't expect great operation)

oh and don't have a heart attack when you go buy the wood for it...lumber prices are ridiculous right now.

 

[offthewall14420]

Take a look at Abelia, Choisya, and summer Daphnes to replace those conifer shrubs. With the trellise maybe a climber like star jasmine or halls honeysuckle. They smell like heaven.

 

[jaysizzles]

^ My experience with halls honeysuckle is that it'd grow and overtake the garden accent he has in mind in no time.