Creating a rustic & pet-friendly backyard garden
In 1998 , Bonnie Duma and her married man , John , purchase a ¾-acre spate in Lenexa , Kansas . After the home was built , Bonnie turned her attention outdoors . The yard was a white slating , put up Bonnie the opportunity to bring her garden dreaming to life . Inspired by a puerility spent growing up on a farm , she hopes to lead along a bass appreciation for plant life to her grandchildren . imbibe from this inheritance , she go down out to make a garden that not only reflect her passion but also embraced apet - friendly designcatered to her beloved dog , Boomer , all while kick up a rustic farm artistic .
A garden for exploring
Today a magical haven wrap around the prop , and it brims with unique feature , from upcycled projects to meticulously curated container tucked around every bending . Let ’s tour the garden this Johnson County Master Gardener create .
Private garden getaway
The primary entering to the garden lies to the right of the garage , commemorate by the spindle in the photo above . As you continue along this side grand itinerary , daylily ( Hemerocallis hybrids ) , iris ( Irisspp . and hybrids ) , coneflower ( Echinaceaspp . and hybrids ) , spirea ( Spiraeaspp . and hybrids ) and panicle hydrangea ( Hydrangea paniculata ) furnish plenty of vividness all season . Bonnie reprise ‘ Limelight ’ panicle hydrangea throughout the garden because it grows well here , and she loves its beautiful unripe and whitened blooms . The sunny side pace kitchen garden hosts the vegetable garden and a windowbox full of herbs . Bonnie also keeps a potting work bench in this easy - to - access spot .
Conversation pit
The first stop in the backyard is the intimate patio in the photo above . It extend a retreat centered around atabletop firepit — a gross setting for Bonnie to jest at marshmallows with the grandkids or have a cup of coffee berry with John . This patio is enclosed by evergreens that cater year - round anatomical structure and privacy during the months when the repose of the garden is n’t as brisk . There are several paths that lead off from this patio : one on a winding course through the shady beds of the backyard and another toward the kitchen garden .
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Backyard garden
The retain rampart made from historic b stones in the photo above mark the rootage of the backyard planting . It butt a seam bursting with an array of flowers , including peony ( Paeoniaspp . and hybrids ) , iris , catmint ( Nepetahybrid ) , bush roses ( Rosahybrid ) , genus Allium ( Alliumspp . and hybrids ) and a smorgasbord of trailing sedum ( Sedumspp . and hybrids ) tucked between and cascading over the stones .
Further geographic expedition of the course that run next to this retaining wall unveil the backyard garden in layers through an intricate layout that leads you throughout the property . But before we venture down the paths , permit ’s break off at the deck and read why this might be Bonnie ’s favorite spot in the garden .
Creating a space for gathering
The down in the mouth - sustentation composite pack of cards was one of the first features in the garden , and Bonnie make out to host lively gatherings here . lavish greenery , vivacious potted plants , ornamentation and upcycled task help this outer space produce a serene and welcome atmosphere where guests can gather and savor the position of the garden .
Bonnie designed clear-cut “ garden rooms ” throughout the garden . nonchalant gather often form on the deck , which has two distinct area : a sustenance way space perfect for casual conversations and an outdoor dining room surrounded by a narrow pergola .
When designing container grouping , Bonnie test to bound herself to two or three colors to achieve a spectacular wallop . Two 5 - foot - long woodenbox planters near the dining tabular array match the hanging baskets that line the deck of cards . The combo in the photo above , with a purple , cerise and chartreuse colour scheme , include tropical plants violet heart ( Tradescantia pallida‘Purpurea ’ ) , elephant ear ( Colocasiaspp . and hybrids ) , and a option of begonia ( Begoniahybrids ) and coleus ( Plectranthus scutellarioides ) . Her favored plant , passionflower ( Passifloraspp . and hybrid ) , has exotic - sounding purple - and - white-hot summer blooms . These shiny soda water of color add energy to the pack of cards and are also seeable from inside the house .
Beyond that , Bonnie says , “ Do n’t be afraid to mix perennials with yearbook and edibles . ” She also admit comestible cabbage ( Brassica oleraceavar.acephala ) and perennial coral bells ( Heucheraspp . and hybrids ) and grasses because of their leafage appeal .
As the season draw to a finis , Bonnieoverwinters as many plant as possible . tropic plants go indoors or to the garage for protection from the coldness . Some sens stay outdoors , emptied , and turned over for winter repositing , while she institute others for multiseason involvement .
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Cozy garden decor
In gain to the standard living room and dining elbow room outside furniture and beautiful container grouping , she ties the deck together with decorative emphasis , such as driftwood “ sculpture ” that hold gentle wind flora and succulents , bridge player - carved tables and bench made by Bonnie ’s uncle , lanterns and colored cushions . The magical , repurposed chandelier hanging above the table adds a warm glowing to the space .
Bonnie found this chandelier at aHabitat for Humanity ReStoreand decided to give it a makeover . She spray - paint it red and spotlight its details with accents of green and grim . She added solar light to chicken feed balls made for a fount , then hung it above the table , where it serve as a conversation spell .
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Add structure and privacy
In addition to mature ghost trees , an raiment of smaller tree and shrub , such as yew ( Taxusspp . ) , Japanese maple ( Acer palmatum ) , seven - son flower ( Heptacodium miconioides ) and panicle hydrangea , produce a sense of privacy and concealment in the backyard . Although the primary paths are of flagstone , additional Harlan Stone - bordered paths wrap up with bark mulch wind through the garden and invite exploration .
Unique upcycled garden design elements
Bonnie has meticulously placed upcycled gems that tie into her countrified esthetic throughout the garden . She and John built a wooden box around the full - size metal bed chassis in the photograph above to make a impulsive raised bed . Here , grasses mimic pillows , and coleus and begonia emulate a quilt pattern . Keep walking the paths and you ’ll see driftwood displays and a tall wooden ladder Bonnie salvaged from her farm that acts as a trellis for clematis ( Clematisspp . and hybrids ) .
Dog-friendly garden design
When she designed the garden , Bonnie knew that she ’d be apportion it with her dog , Boomer . To determine the path layout , she paid airless attention to the route he naturally took through the backyard , and used that as a template . In the garden beds , she included lots of low - growing plants , such as hostas ( Hostaspp . and hybrids ) and ferns , that she knew would tolerate a bit of trample if Boomer resolve to wander from the paths .
The stone edging on the path in the picture above was salve from an old commercial-grade construction tear down and helps keep the hand - friendly , but easily displaced , bark mulch from being kicked off the path . Bonnie frequently rake pine phonograph needle out of the bed and onto the route to make the surface softer for his hand . As much as he enjoyed exploring , Boomer ’s preferred place was wherever Bonnie and John were . Sadly , Boomer recently passed away , but Bonnie has many happy memories of their times together in the garden .
An ever evolving garden
This perpetually evolving tapestry of blooms , secluded garden rooms , winding footpath , and stunning containers bursts with countrified charm , and each area revives a retentiveness for Bonnie or creates an opportunity to make a new one !
