Stress-busting garden

Take a tour of a clever Santa Fe garden designed for tranquility

Stress-relieving garden

Steven A. Gunther

Stress-free design

Aria Ponciroli’s backyard is a peaceful retreat.

Click ahead to see how she did it with no-fuss plantings, cooling shade, and optical illusions.

Optical illusion

Steven A. Gunther 

Optical illusion

Faced with moss rock, a raised bed hugs the far end of Aria Ponciroli's backyard. The bed steps down gradually, allowing the tallest section of wall to be an inviting focal point.

Meditation walk

Steven A. Gunther

Meditation walk

A meandering path encircles a central planting island. Crunchy pea gravel gives the path texture, and Boral bricks in Savannah Brown are designed to slow the journey. 

Cooling shade

Steven A. Gunther

Cooling shade

A Japanese pagoda tree (Sophora japonica) is perfect for shading a small garden, thanks to its pleasing structure, moderate size, and willingness to coexist with understory plants. 

Easy island

Steven A. Gunther

Easy island

Most of the plants ― including coral-flowered 'Top Notch' rose and sunset hyssop, greenish ‘Autumn Joy’ sedum, and pink penstemon ― are no-fuss, low-water types.

 

Out of the box

Steven A. Gunther

Out of the box

Thick carpets of ice plant (Delosperma congestum) spill out of beds here and there, adding a little gentle messiness to an otherwise orderly garden.

Design Monika Hellwegen and Azul Cobb, Carlotta from Paradise, Santa Fe (505/983-1109)

 

Printed from:
http://www.sunset.com/garden/landscaping-design/stress-busting-garden-00400000046937/

Copyright © 2013 Sunset Publishing Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy ( Your California Privacy Rights). Ad Choices