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Laetitia Maklouf

Gardening in Five Minutes a Day
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Dicksonia

Dicksonia

Inspiration for a textured green outdoor space

January 16, 2020

I’m planning a much more pared down look for my terrace this year, leaving me free from any deadheading so that I can concentrate on the wider garden. Here are a few images that are inspiring me right now. All of these planting combinations are predominately green and (as with most things in life) it is TEXTURE that creates the magic. That means a really healthy mix of big fat leaves, or leathery, shiny surfaces in with all the delicate, small foliage. There is also a healthy dose of height; there is nothing nicer than feeling enclosed and cosy within an outdoor space…remember that urge when you were a child? That’s why we all threw fabric over things and crawled beneath…we wanted to feel as if we were in a secret, womb-like space. It’s harder to do that outside than in, but as you can see here, you can use structures that plants can clamber up, or hooks to hang baskets from, and obviously trees for their canopy. Ferns are also a must. See my post on my favourite evergreen ferns for containers here.

bp jan big foliage.jpg
bp jan courtyard seclusion.jpg
bp jan foliage and seating.jpg
bp jan generous texture.jpg
bp jan green corridoor.jpg
bp jan green details.jpg
bp jan green gorgeousness.jpg
bp jan green wall.jpg
bp jan hanging ferns.jpg
bp jan hanging vines.jpg
bp jan hosta and fern and water.jpg
bp jan hosta love.jpg
bp jan softness and height.jpg
bp jan texture.jpg
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Softened lines are also a key element here. Lots of creeping plants (soleirolia, thyme, etc have been used to populate the cracks between paving stones. Seating is also crucial (and deserves a post of its own really) but the pink sofa really adds to the cosy feel; and a comfortable place to sit (whether or not you actually have time to sit in it) is crucial.

I’m going to see if I can’t channel some of this vibe over the coming year, and I’ll be clipping, training and adding a couple of key elements to achieve this. Watch this space!

bp jan big foliage.jpg
bp jan courtyard seclusion.jpg
bp jan foliage and seating.jpg
bp jan generous texture.jpg
bp jan green corridoor.jpg
bp jan green details.jpg
bp jan green gorgeousness.jpg
bp jan green wall.jpg
bp jan hanging ferns.jpg
bp jan hanging vines.jpg
bp jan hosta and fern and water.jpg
bp jan hosta love.jpg
bp jan softness and height.jpg
bp jan texture.jpg
bp jan texture and water.jpg
bp jan textured planting.jpg
bp jan big foliage.jpg bp jan courtyard seclusion.jpg bp jan foliage and seating.jpg bp jan generous texture.jpg bp jan green corridoor.jpg bp jan green details.jpg bp jan green gorgeousness.jpg bp jan green wall.jpg bp jan hanging ferns.jpg bp jan hanging vines.jpg bp jan hosta and fern and water.jpg bp jan hosta love.jpg bp jan softness and height.jpg bp jan texture.jpg bp jan texture and water.jpg bp jan textured planting.jpg

x Laetitia

Tags terrace, patio, green, foliage, green spaces, small space gardening, patio gardening, outdoor rooms, outdoor snug
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I do a weekly newsletter full of five minute gardening tips and there's usually a special project too. It’s much more personal than my blog, and subscribers say it gets them motivated to get out there and do a bit of gardening which is brilliant! If you want it, then put your email below, and know that I will NEVER share your details with anyone else x

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