Specifically looking for advice about the little nook area where the greenhouse currently is, but I'd be interested to know what you'd do with the courtyard in general.
The courtyard is a sun trap, but the greenhouse only gets direct sun after 2pm. It's also tiny (120x120cm when the space is 240x200cm..)
Would love to know what you'd do with it.
by Tiny-Excuse5943
19 Comments
I’m a noob gardener so can’t advise anything. But I spotted that nice acer you have at the back.
Personally I’d seriously look to have water tricking down that amazing rock face into a pond. You’d need a pump that provides high head (height) but low flow. Then I’d grow climbers on the wall at the back and left side as a backdrop to the pond. Then try to get water loving plants in the spaces in the rock. Moss, ferns etc. Could be fantastic.
Looks GORGEOUS wow. Alpines could work too in the rocky bit. Looks challenging to maintain but wow. Beautiful
That’s a seriously beautiful garden you have there. I’d keep the bottom area as is, it’s a nice sheltered area for seating and bbq. Maybe some seating at the top too, but with more plants. I’d put some aubretia in those rocks, it’d look gorgeous cascading down, alongside some succulents and alpines.
You’ve got so much potential here!
More colour in the steep bit near the steps and a way to make the top bit a private secret garden style.
Or a waterfall.
Have you been there long? Seen it in the summer? Looking at it as it is now I’d only look to add to it not take anything away, it looks like a lot of ferns in that bank and bluebells?
That rock wall is amazing. My first thought was that I’d have to add candles to its dark gaps
Very little! It’s great. If I’m being picky I’d argue with the lower level is a bit grey and I bet it echoes. You could add a planter to green it up a bit but in a sun trap it’s going to be dry. Either commit to regular watering to get something super drought tolerant. You want something BIG as this will retain water longer, and you want to mulch, maybe with something aesthetically pleasing such as seashells. If it’s mostly shady maybe a small acer in a cute pot. I’ve got a Japanese witch hazel in a shady planter, it’s not loving life but it’s ok and the foliage brings good colour. Make sure you get a nice (BIG) pot for it, not a shitty plastic one, and use a saucer or it’ll stain the paving. Stick it where the compost bags are.
If it’s truly shady you could maybe try a big tree fern where the small planting is to the right of the compost bags, but you’ll need a decent depth of space in that bed. Remember it might “only” get sun at 2pm but actually that means it gets the sun at its fullest power, so it’s not a perfect space for shade lovers.
Sorry to be rude but you also have a lot of clutter with pots and potting activities on display – yet you have the perfect hidden spot to conceal all that work. I would put a workbench in the greenhouse and do those tasks in there rather than have the pots etc out on display.
If you don’t want the greenhouse I’d make it into a seating area, a couple of sofas and a table for afternoon cocktails. You could have a pergola squeezed into the space and grow some campsis or big fat clematis to give it an exotic feel. String up some lanterns for evening ambience. Not even a whole pergola, just a couple of horizontal wooden bars, or you might be able to get an extra wide metal arch off amazon or two.
If you still need storage then I’d make a false back where the breeze block wall is by fitting a fence panel onto a frame with some heavy hinges, store all your ugly things behind it so it doesn’t mess with the vibe.
Something rainforesty would look amazing… I’m not sure exactly what though! Maybe look at the [Eden](https://www.edenproject.com/sites/default/files/styles/1_1_media_extra_large/public/2021-05/malaysian-house-eden-project-rainforest-biome.jpg?h=ef215de6&itok=NE16qypP) project for inspiration… with some lights and cold misting fog (and the right plants) it could be amazing, although that’s quite ambitious. Just the right plants would be good!
I would have like million projects on a go with place like that. So much potential! I’m jealous. Sorry not very helpful.
Nothing apart from a nice waterfall feature and some bird feeders…
wow lovely
i would do all the things. dirty, messy things.
Clematis Montana growing up the side of the rock into the ivy.
Beautiful garden by the way. Very unique.
I’d just love it!
Amazing space. As much as I love greenhouses, this one I’d move.
What would I do with this space? I’d bloody love it. Wow
As an MS sufferer, I’d have to either install an elevator or employ a lot of helpers! Lovely looking place though.