Creating a There, There in the Garden

Author Gertrude Stein is credited with saying, “There is no there there.” She wasn’t referring to a garden, but the saying is recalled by gardeners who desire to realize the full potential of their personal paradises. After you’ve hauled hundreds of socially acceptable plants into your garden, and assembled them into a masterful composition that would bring Wolf Kahn to tears, wouldn’t it be nice enjoy your work from somewhere other than on that gorgeous slab of stamped concrete that’s slammed up against the rear wall of your home?

Maybe there’s another place in your garden that’s desirable to be in, and exploring the following interventions may help you realize exciting new opportunities.

Compressing space with trees, a gate or an arbor, as shown in this garden, can certainly entice one to explore the beyond. Not being able to see the beyond from every perspective in the garden adds excitement to the journey.


This outdoor fireplace has all the elegance only a master architect like John Milner could create. Just across a courtyard from the residence, the fireplace can be viewed from the home and calls for company to sit and enjoy its warmth; it is a dominant part of the garden. No chartreuse-colored trees needed.


A simple gesture in the garden, like this hammock, could create a place to spend a few moments in. This simple and modest consideration may just be enough to lure you out into a serene place, where you can discover the magic of outside.


The expanse of this lawn makes way for views of the majestic landscape. The pavilion is artfully set to take advantage of these views. Most of us won’t have this landscape or even this beautiful pavilion, but we can learn lessons about the opportunities of a site. Borrowed views make for ideal places to drive a stake in the ground and develop.


These boulders are a great place to rest out in the garden. Their mass adds to the palpable experience of the well-planned garden, and the scrim of trees in the background begs exploration.


Whether it’s a large pond or a small architectural feature, water is always alluring. The earliest Islamic gardens and the 16th-century gardens of Italy were often built around water. Designer Julie Messervy has some interesting ideas about how expanses of water recall us back to being in the womb. I’m not really sure what that means, but I always really love time spent by the water.


This fire bowl beyond the swimming pool draws one out to enjoy the crisp air in the evening garden. I can attest to the effectiveness of even the simplest of fires in the landscape. A boulder fire ring at the far end of my property has become a favorite place in my garden for family and friends to spend many an evening.


A few of my projects have involved carefully identifying desirable plants in woodlands and clearing the undesirable ones. These places can become exciting places to explore, even without adding garden plants. A small seating area, and maybe even sculpture, added along a rustic path could make for a magical place in the landscape.


Some of these examples of creating places to be in a garden are more accessible than others, but the ideas translate to different landscapes. Places where one can find repose in the garden can only add to our experiences of it.

On a recent trip to the home of James Rose, I was reminded that great design isn’t just for the well-off. Small spaces can be as exciting as the grandest ones, and great materials can be sourced to accommodate a variety of budgets. A few boulders set loose in a circle can add to the joy of the garden as well as any custom fireplace. To enjoy the landscape, one needs to not be afraid to explore possibilities; just get outside and explore.

More: From the Wild, Home: Elements of a Landscape of Experience

URL: Creating a There, There in the Garden http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-22857.html