PRACTICAL PATIO POINTERS

A natural "sitting out" area in a large frontyard
( Click to enlarge )

Lucky is the urban dweller that has space for a patio. These days developers seldom leave more than a token space in new construction and often not even that. Rooftop, garagetop or decks are the norm.

If you are one of the fortunate ones to have a patio, treat it as an outdoor room that you will use frequently in the summer. If you haven't installed one yet, how you plan to use it should determine where you locate it. If you entertain a lot or like to eat outdoors then you want it near the kitchen or ( as the one in the photo above ) located away from the house and surrounded by screenings of shrubs, trees or trellis .

Patios are normally flat and open so adding benches, planted containers and other ornamentals will add another dimension. Arbors, pergolas or trellises will give it further interest and welcomed shade in a sunny location. It will also support flowering vines or roses for added beauty and fragrance. Sweet Autumn Clematis is a wonderfully prolific and fragrant vine that I have on my pergola and its sweet smell fills the surrounding area. Placing containers with fragrant flowers on or near the patio is another option.

Planting shrubs of various heights not only adds privacy but can control the wind and screen out views, making a small yard more appealing and mysterious.

For added pleasure, the sound of water can't be beat and a small re-circulating fountain or a fish pond nearby will provide it. A bird bath for our feathered friends is also a good choice, especially those with a solar powered fountain that keeps the water circulating.

Decorating your outdoor room with furniture adds a splash of color and coziness. Old existing pieces can be reused until you budget for the one of your dreams. Cover resin tables with an exotic, colorful tablecloth and splurge on an outdoor dining service and some fragrant candles. Add colorful cushions to chairs. String some Italian lights or Chinese lanterns around the pergola or some outdoor solar lights and lanterns nearby for evening entertainment.

I am one of the fortunate urban dwellers to have a patio and I seldom cook indoors once summer is here, which will probably be around mid-to-late May. As April in Chicago is still a month of transition I spend it planning on what needs to be done in the garden. Thus far, I've replaced my old worn out highback chair cushions with some colorful stripe and floral ones. Expensive; ouch , even though I got them at half price. It's early yet but I need to replace the cocoa mats in my hanging baskets, buy a new halved whiskey barrel and other containers for herbs and flowers.

It helps that my birthday is in May and that I'm SO easy to buy for. Plants and paint.

As Rosanna Rosanna Danna says " It's ALWAYS something. " There's never NOT nothing to do in the garden if you look hard enough.

THANKS ( I think ) BLOGGER FOR MAKING ME FAMOUS

My thanks once again to Blogger for selecting me as a Blog of Note. The past week has sent more than 30,000 visitors from all over the world to Sweet Home and Garden Chicago. I'm lucky to get that many in a year.

While most of the messages were complimentary I did receive a warning that "google was spying for the CIA, " a few propositions and some solicitations to advertise.

I look forward to seeing more garden bloggers become a Blog of Note.

GINA'S BIG FAT GARDEN PLAN

Gina's Blank Canvas
( Viewed from the House )

Click on to enlarge

A conceptual drawing of my plan for Gina's Back 40
Click to enlarge

Gina at Myskinnygarden is seeking design advice for her backyard. She indicates that she likes a cottage-style garden. She says that she won't move her raised veggie garden containers unless I go there and do it myself. SO, I've left them in place and worked around them.

I've sketched the blank canvas of her yard from photos so obviously it is not to scale but it gives an idea of what the configuration is.

Details of my plan : A pergola stretches across the walkway to the other side of the patio. Some roses may need to be moved since the posts for the structure are to be dug in that bed. An alternative is to have the shade structure attached to the house.

There's an A/C unit next to the patio. In my experience it doesn't cost much to have this moved to a new location, an ideal spot which I've indicated on the drawing. A decorative open trellis enclosure for the a/c will conceal it without obstructing air flow.

Moving the A/C allows room for a BBQ area next to the patio. An easy DIY project : 1 Sq. ft. wood patio blocks ( Home Depot or Lowe's ) can be laid on a bed of pea gravel and sand and surrounded by 2 x 4 's to stablize. A built-in bench ( or an option is a free standing one ) will provide extra seating.

A natural compressed granite path allows traffic to all areas of the garden and a shortcut to the garage. Two ornamental shrubs near the patio provide a sense of mystery as it prevents the eye from seeing all the garden at once.

A large concrete pad adjacent to the garage is used for storage of compost bins and garbage cans. To screen the area, tall shrubs or trees can be used, or another option would be a free standing trellis or screen.

The existing raised veggie garden containers can be enhanced with large containers of flowers nearby.

I've added one ornamental tree since they seem to be sorely missing in the yard. One fairly good sized tree would make a big impact.

For added interest, a bird bath or water feature in the cottage style garden bed is attractive. All existing plants are to be incorporated into the plan, along with evergreen shrubs for year-round interest and cottage garden plants of Gina's choosing.

The narrow walkway and concrete pad could be stained brown with a concrete stain which would soften it and make it look more natural.

This plan can be implemented in stages as time and budget allow.

SO, Gina, hope you like it. I haven't copyrighted it : ) and you can use it as you see fit. Any questions ?

EARLY APRIL AT THE GARDEN CENTER

This past weekend was Spring Openhouse at the garden center where I work a few days a week. This is where you meet and greet the avid gardeners eager to see some beauty after a long cold Chicago winter.

We have the annual Hellebores festival as well and lectures on various interesting subjects which draws large crowds especially on the Spring-like weekend we had with temperatures in the 60's.

After experiencing many heartbreaks from late April freezes I have learned my lesson and won't plant until mid-to-late May. A day or two of warm weather in April do not a Spring make. As a matter of fact, last April my 'Betty' dwarf magnolia froze in bud.

It was wonderful to walk among the rows and rows of colorful tulips, pansies, daffodils and other blooming flowers. It won't be long now before I see the Spring display in my own garden.

April is best spent planning the garden or landscape and I was delighted to see many Chicagoans out to do just that. I love helping young couples with their first garden, especially those who are willing to do much of the work themselves. To see their delight as the garden evolves is great satisfaction.