courtyard garden design

Toad Hall’s Gardens Evoke Folklore & Spirit Through Native Plants

April 20, 2015

The tale of Toad Hall is steeped in folklore. Toad Hall is a 32-acre residential property located in a magnificent valley in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains. The property boasts historic log structures, a passageway barn, a writer’s cottage, a stone bank barn, and a potting shed. When it came time to design the landscape, the owners turned to our team here at Dargan Landscape Architects.

The owners had a vision to turn the whole site into a lush English-style garden with native plants, natural materials, picturesque pathways, and majestic trees. The approach and arrival sequence takes you on a long pastoral drive amidst covered bridges, wildflower fields, grazing sheep, a trout stream, and even a little white chapel. The trout stream runs parallel to the drive and leads you to the heart of Toad Hall, a meadow nestled between majestic mountain woodland and soaring mossy boulder cliffs on the edge of Blackberry Farm.

A geothermal pond in a private enclave near the trout stream makes for a mini oasis. Complete with a tulip poplar island with turkey sculptures, the picturesque pond inherently ignites the same childlike wonder as “The Adventures of Huck Finn.” Weeping willows line the lake, and a crescent moon can be spotted on the door of the log guest cottage. Rustic locust posts stand in place of lamp standards.

Arriving on the grounds, you are greeted by a gravel courtyard framed by a beautiful barn and stone shed. A pathway of orchard stones takes you through a grassy forecourt enclosed by billowing boxwoods. From tulip poplars to old-fashioned hydrangea to antique roses, native flowers weave in and out of the property, forming postcard-like backdrops.

The centerpiece of the site is a stunning eighteenth-century kitchen garden. The period design consists of four parts enclosed by an edible natural fence of espalier and apple trees. The four areas are separated by Kingsville boxwoods and are connected by rosemary and lavender in the center. Edges are constructed of tumbled cobblestone, and walkways are made of weathered stepping stones nestled in grass which help to blend the garden gracefully into the natural surroundings.

Read more about the enchanting landscape and log homes of Toad Hall in the Architectural Digest article online.

We’d love to see how we can help create your own home utopia. To learn more about our landscape design services, contact Dargan Landscape Architects online or by calling 404-231-3889.

Creating Focal Points with Garden Color Palettes

January 30, 2015

When decorating our homes we generally choose a color scheme and then create focal points with contrasting colors. Often when gardening however, we create color explosions due to the vast array of plant types and colors available. Using your garden much like an artist uses a blank canvas, you can easily be creating focal points with garden color palettes.

Even a carefully thought out garden plan might look jumbled and lack cohesiveness when you have many colors in bloom at once. Monochromatic schemes can provide a soothing yet far from boring alternative to such garden spaces. If you would not enjoy a fully monochromatic scheme, you might opt to use one as a border, or for focal points to break up the variegated colors. To create a monochromatic scheme, choose plants with blooms in similar colors, such as blues, mauves, and purples. To create texture and depth throughout the space in your garden, use plants that vary in height.

Another means of creating focal points with garden color palettes is to create a virtual river or lake of plants. Since it takes multiple plants to create this effect, you should choose a plant that spreads easily and grows quickly to keep costs down. Choose one color for your “water” and use only one or two plants to make the best impact. Add structure using well-placed shrubs, grasses, or even boulders. If using tall blooms for your river effect, consider creating a “shoreline” with low plants in a contrasting color to define the edges.

Dargan Landscape Architects has been designing Utopian gardens for nearly 40 years. We invite you to browse our online designs and contact us to design your perfect garden.

Outdoor Sanctuaries

April 25, 2014

As spring continues to bloom, it’s hard not to spend your day outdoors. In an outdoor sanctuary, you’ll find the best of both worlds — wonderful fresh air and natural beauty, along with the intimacy of the great indoors. In Mary Palmer’s book Timeless Landscape Design, she shares some features of the best in class for this category to help you get the most out of your outdoor sanctuaries, whether you’re looking to add a terraced perimeter, courtyard, walled garden or all of the above.

Terraced Perimeters
A terraced perimeter is a paved outdoor area that behaves as an extension of the nearest room(s). They make the adjoining rooms feel and appear larger and can add space and seating that may be lacking otherwise. Consider adding a series of these areas to create a linked perimeter that wraps around your home. By simply bordering your home with a terraced perimeter, you’ll create a 24/7, multipurpose space for relaxing, eating and entertaining.

Buckhead landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Cashiers landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Courtyards
Courtyards are paved outdoor sanctuaries in which two out of four enclosing walls are shared with the home itself. The size, wall height and wall material used in courtyards vary depending on building codes and personal preference. It’s best to choose a style that will appear seamless with your home’s existing style instead of making a separate design statement.

Charleston SC landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Atlanta landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

For privacy, walls enclosing courtyards are typically six to eight feet tall. Growing vines and creeping plants along your walls can soften their solid appearance. To achieve this effect, try adding a custom treillage to your wall, or support lattices that guide the direction of your plant’s growth. Water elements are perfect for drowning out unwanted noise, creating ambiance and providing a lovely focal point. Remember that every decision and selection appears magnified in smaller spaces, so your area should be carefully planned and executed.

Walled Gardens
Walled gardens cover a wide variety of functions and are less room-like than courtyards. They enclose everything from swimming pools to formal gardens to lawns. They also operate as separate entities, not necessarily adjoined to any other rooms or walls of the home. You can even situate a small courtyard within a walled garden to create more dimension.

Charleston landscape design — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Are you inspired by these lush garden ideas? Contact Dargan Landscape Architects, and let us help you turn your home’s outdoor sanctuary dreams into a reality.

P.S. – Don’t forget to join us at The Garden Show of Buckhead this weekend! Hugh and Mary Palmer will unveil their miniature landscapes at the event, which takes place at The Buckhead Theatre Friday through Sunday. Be sure to stop by on Saturday from 4 to 5 pm for Mary Palmer’s Big Birthday!

A Look at the ASLA’s 2014 Outdoor Design Trends

April 9, 2014

Are you looking to spruce up your landscape before summer arrives? Whether you’re completely overhauling or just trying a new project, now’s the perfect time to get your yard in shape. For inspiration, check out this year’s hottest outdoor design trends, which are based on the results of the 2014 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Gardens and landscaped spaces. When it comes to use of space, gardens and landscaped spaces are expected to be the most popular, with outdoor living spaces — outdoor kitchens and entertainment spaces — coming in second, and outdoor recreation coming in third.

Atlanta landscape architects Mary Palmer and Hugh Dargan — Dargan Landscape Architects

Outdoor lighting. Demand for outdoor lighting solutions is rising as homeowners seek to extend enjoyment of their outdoor living areas into the night. Good lighting is necessary for safety, as well as to create ambiance. Outdoor lighting can be integrated into deck posts and stairs, added to pathways, and set on timers to conserve energy.

Also expected to be in demand are seating/dining areas, fire pits/fireplaces, grills and installed seating, such as benches, seat walls, ledges, etc. All these features make outdoor living spaces more welcoming by bringing the comforts of the indoors out.

Terraces, patios and decks. Landscape structures add architectural interest and are the foundation of many outdoor living areas. Terraces, patios and decks in particular, are garnering the most interest this year, followed by fencing, pergolas and decks.

Buckhead-Atlanta GA landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Low-maintenance landscapes. If you’re like many homeowners today, you may want to scale back your landscape to make it more manageable. You can still have a beautiful yard without all the upkeep. Try reducing lawn space, an eco-friendly and low-maintenance option. You could replace some of your lawn with hardscapes or perhaps consider a dry garden or xeriscaping.

Decorative water elements. Traditional swimming pools and spas remain popular, but this year’s trend leans towards decorative water elements, including waterfalls, ornamental pools, splash pools, grottos and water runnels or bubblers. Design is in the details!

Western NC landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects

Sustainable/eco-friendly design. Interest in conserving natural resources and improving the environment is still increasing. The most popular projects in this category include incorporating native/adapted drought-tolerant plants, drip/water-efficient irrigation, permeable paving, reduced lawn and recycled materials into the landscape.

Let us know which trends you’re most interested in by leaving a comment below.

If you’re ready to discuss the possibility of a master plan or tune up and want to incorporate any of the ASLA’s trends for 2014, contact Dargan Landscape Architects. We’d love to schedule a time to speak with you and talk about how we can help you turn your outdoor living space into your own oasis.

Create a Cozy Courtyard with Bistro Tables

March 26, 2014

Who hasn’t envisioned bringing the romance of a sidewalk cafe in Paris to their own backyard? All you need is a bistro table, chairs and a courtyard, terrace or side garden to recreate the scene. Add a cup of coffee, springtime breezes and blooming flowers, and you have the makings of the perfect little retreat within your landscape.

We like placing little retreats such as these in our landscape design projects because they expand our client’s outdoor living spaces and offer a perch for admiring the yard and perhaps enjoying a quick breakfast or drinks with friends. Bistro sets are great for this purpose because they are smaller, making them easy to incorporate into an otherwise empty corner, creating a cozy, intimate spot for conversations.

Take a look at a few of the ways we have incorporated bistro sets into past projects:

A large courtyard is broken up into smaller seating areas, including bistro tables and chairs to suit any occasion, from a quick coffee break to happy hour with friends. The simplicity of the furniture keeps the focus on the surrounding landscape and highlights the beautiful paver patio underfoot.

What could have been a forgotten outdoor space is now a destination in the landscape thanks to the seating area created in this side garden using a chaise lounge and a bistro table and chairs. The pathway leading to the seating area emphasizes the seating arrangement, as does the paver patio that serves as a foundation. What’s more, the table is right outside an entrance into the home, giving owners easy access to the lush hideaway.

landscape architects in Western North Carolina — Dargan Landscape Architects

If you don’t have a courtyard on your property, you can still incorporate a bistro-style setting into a smaller space. Notice that this small terrace, measuring six feet by six feet, is all that’s needed for creating a cozy outdoor dining area for two. The terrace is floored with crab orchard stone in pink hues and a black wrought iron fence is complemented by a black wrought iron bistro set topped with pink cushions, offering a stunning seating for two.

A gorgeous brick patio and side garden are the perfect location in this cozy courtyard for a bistro table and chairs in high-contrast white. The seating provides a place for visitors to enjoy the greenery, as well as an afternoon tea and chat.

Charleston landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Lifelong Landscape Design

Are you ready to update your landscape with a beautiful courtyard, terrace or patio? Contact Dargan Landscape Architects to schedule a consultation. We would love to help you achieve the outdoor environment you’ve always wanted. We can help you find the look that best suits your property, right down to the furniture! For many years we’ve been designing custom seating elements. These custom solutions ensure you get the perfect piece, created with your space, style and other considerations in mind. In addition, our Talbot and Walden line of outdoor furniture is available from Kenneth Lynch & Sons in Connecticut.

courtyard garden design

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