Atlanta Garden Designer Paula Refi did not set out to have a full sun garden. In fact, after years of gardening in the shade she was content with her collection of interesting and unusual plants including those with beautiful blooms and striking foliage. But as often happens mother nature intervened suddenly. As the result of a storm and the loss of two mature trees, overnight her shady oasis became a hot full-sun challenge. You might think that coming up with a design for this altered space would be easy work for a designer who is used to coming up with solutions for all types of gardens, but her own property proved to be a bit more challenging. As she put it, when you live with a garden certain ideas become ingrained and it’s hard to have a fresh eye. Because of this, Paula spent a long time looking and thinking about what she wanted for this narrow pie shaped lot that points downhill.
The Design
When Paula finally put pen to paper she had four goals she wanted to accomplish.
1. She wanted more space for seating next to the existing pond.
2. Paula wanted to use the side of the garage in some way, to make it part of the garden. A chance encounter with a Victorian mantle at a junk yard presented the perfect solution. The stone used for the hearth is the same type used for the dry stack walls. She also added a window sash, with mirrored glass. She calls this her humorous take on the outdoor living room trend that many designers have incorporated into their gardens.
3. In her shade garden Paula had one large bed. With her new sunny growing conditions she decided to have two raised beds which would give her an opportunity to grow more of her favorite and unusual plants.
4. Paula also wanted to hide the derelict rental property which borders one side of her garden. She is encouraged and excited by how quickly the dogwood, Cornus 'Venus' is growing. She believes that this hybrid between Cornus kousa and Cornus nuttallii is a choice ornamental tree.
Paula's graceful sloping pie-shaped garden now features raised beds with a combination of unusual plants like a hardy selection of pittosporum called Pittosporum heterophyllus 'Variegata,' a golden leaved mock orange called Philadelphus coronarius 'Ogon' and lots of herbs such as rosemary and creeping thyme which she appreciates both for their sweet scents and the different roles they play such as screening and ground covers. A large existing camellia that is at least 35 years old has been limbed up while a mass of azaleas and anise, Illicium parviflorum provide evergreen anchors. With the exception of one small patch of turf at the top of the hill, pea gravel makes for a low maintenance groundcover. On one side of the garden Paula added two stone steps, leaving the other without steps to allow easy access with a wheelbarrow.
With her innovative approach to a challenging site, Paula has created a lovely garden that offers opportunities to grow a variety of plants as well as spaces for entertaining or just sitting and relaxing.
Erica’s Pick
Japanese Flowering Anemone
Botanical name: Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'
About the plant: This Japanese Anemone blooms in late summer to fall with single white 2 to 3" blooms on 3 to 4' tall stems.
Use in the garden: Plant this in the perennial border for late season color with hardy mums, asters and salvias.
Planting and care: A moist well-drained soil in full sun or part-shade is ideal.
Source: Scottsdale Farms, 15639 Birmingham Hwy, (Hwy 372), Alpharetta, GA 30004, 770-777-5875
Erica Glasener is a horticulturist and host of "A Gardener's Diary" which airs at 6:30 a.m. Fridays on HGTV. For questions visit Erica Glasener's Web site and follow her on Twitter.
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