Illusions of space for a small garden
Jan Smithen writes:
"When you’re faced with designing a small garden, it's a good idea to see how you can divide it up so it cannot be seen all at once. One of the best space-making illusions is actually dividing up the area by planting or erecting walls so each smaller space becomes a room. These walls can consist of informally planted shrubs that rise higher than the eye can see. They can be clipped hedges or trellises laced with a vine. Even a modest patio or balcony can be divided with a trellis so that it cannot be seen all in one glance."
Views of Jan Smithen's garden:
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Hedge of Arbutus unedo ‘Compacta’ hiding the fence
behind, with my old front door attached to the fence to
imply there is something behind.
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The end of the arbutus hedge and vine-covered fence
with cypress at the foot of the garden. Neighboring
house and tree can be seen beyond. Citrus trees behind
low wall mask fence at the back.
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A narrow pergola from the house to the rear wall
divides the garden so it cannot all be seen at once.
One wall of this hall-like pergola is trellis for plants
to splay against; the other is the espaliered pear tree.
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Through the narrow pergola to the edible garden side, a standard
pomegranate
in a pot stands in front of a fence covered with Parthenocissus
quinquefolia and Lonicera confusa ‘Kate Sessions’.
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An espaliered pear tree |