Garden | Planning Phase II

When it comes to design, I am learning to sketch my visions and inspiration first. This helps me to think of the unique aspects my family will utilize and enjoy most instead of minding trends we may not appreciate for the long haul and eventually replace.

After getting our vision down, I seek counsel in archives, public spaces, textbooks, and see what other details I may have overlooked or did not consider. Over the winter, I have consulted several friends and neighbors with thriving gardens and overwhelmed them with questions.

After editing the original design, I comb over the the final blueprint to my husband. We review everything from a budget, timeline and plan of execution.

Phase II of our backyard design, I hope, will be complete the garden and patio areas. We are aiming to add a landscape bed for garden privacy and exploration for the smaller children. In an existing landscape bed, adding roses in honor of my mother with stepping stones and remnant tree logs for the children. On the patio, I’m searching for furniture to create a conversation area that compliments the outdoor grill that is reasonably priced but durable.

Phase II of the garden expands our seasonal exploration of cultivating food, florals, as well as, drawing our entire family outdoors.

These are resources I have used for outdoor design:

• Cut Flower Garden by Floret Farms

• Take It Outside by Brasier, Magee & Santis

• David Austin roses

• Encyclopedia of Plants & Flowers

• Zone related text like Midwest Gardener’s Handbook and Native Plants of the Midwest

• Local nurseries, gardeners, and city botanical gardens

When it comes to homemaking, I am going very slowly. We have a lot of bare spaces indoors and outdoors. I hope not to fill them all nor fill them with meaningless decor. With some restraint and intentionality, I hope to add reflections of our memories as a family or curiosity corners.