Garden Design – Keep Beautiful Views in Mind

The most important concern in our minds when designing a garden is its beauty. We imagine a beautiful garden dotted with pretty flowers and chirping birds that fills our heart with joy when we sit outdoors with a book or view it from the inside through a window while sipping coffee. While the first scenario almost always becomes possible, the second – of seeing the beautiful views of your garden from an indoor window – does not always become possible. Often, you are left facing the back of a hedge or the trunk of a tree which can easily be avoided if this concern is given a thought when planning the design of the garden.

Think Inside the Box

Just like you go to the garden to see if your window decoration look good from a distance, you need to take a hard look at your garden from your window and decide what you want to see. Try to give beautiful views to all the garden facing doors and windows in your house. You might want to see flowers, a mix of leaves, a large tree, a trellis, an arbor or a built structure like a garden pond or fountain. Take your ‘views’ into consideration when designing the garden.

What Not to See

Amongst a host of other things that you wouldn’t want yourself or your guests to see, when peeking out from the windows is the compost bin and the tool shed. A large tree blocking out everything from view is also not desirable nor is the ‘back’ of a hedge that is bordering a pretty bed or rock garden. A vegetable patch need not be seen by formal guests although it will make a good view for any informal guests like your friends who may accompany you into your kitchen. A cozy sitting area in the garden also needs it privacy and shouldn’t be seen from a room where you entertain guests.

A Place for Everything

Just like in your house, everything in your garden should have a place too. Your vegetable and flower gardens, fruit-bearing plants and trees, children’s play area, sitting area etc. The kids would love to have an access to their play area and you might want to have a view where you can keep an eye on them. The flower beds can be grown close to your sitting area where you can relax and take note of the blooms. A fountain can be right in the center of your garden and your pond can be a hidden surprise if you fancy it that way. Your sitting area should face the west so that you enjoy sunsets. Wherever you enjoy your mornings – in the breakfast nook or in your patio – the sunrays should not be obstructed.

Framing the Views

Make your views more interesting by ‘framing’ them. A pair of conifers can beautifully frame a view and will draw your attention to the scenery between them. An arbor is the prettiest frame to see a view through. Alternatively, vines climbing up your window or plants flowing out of their hanging baskets in the patios will make any view more beautiful.