Garden Walk in Laurel Ridge, First Evening of Summer

With a neighbor, I organized a Garden Walk to visit the patios and plantings around our condominium community.  We had about 20 homeowners participating and about the same number walking.  I took some photos on this lovely first evening of summer as the sun went down.

I started walking at the top of the hill, visiting this patio of new homeowners who want ideas about how to develop a private garden when other homes are close-by. They have the advantage of a fence and some large shrubs, but the tall white pines are going to be cut down soon.

Below is a patio with mature plantings and careful maintenance over many years

that can be an inspiration for them.

Colorful plants in pots, a variety of textures and colors in green, a long view to the side highlighted by the sunset, and a cozy seating area for outdoor living make this a perfect patio secret garden.

Staked signs guided walkers around homes and cul-de-sacs of interest.

This cul-de-sac had been newly mulched after all the grass was removed in the circle.

The neighbors are going to plant for more color but must also remember piles of snow in winter.

Another patio was set for dinner.  Instead of low bushes forming the 

'walls" of the garden, there are benches with planters and pots and saucers of water for wildlife.

Some homeowners don't make the patio the focus of the garden, but create a view instead.

This slope is lined by a stone wall, bird feeders and a variety of green plants on the hillside.

This patio viewed of a slope with Tall Fescue which waves like the ocean in the wind.

Some terraces act like steps leading up the hill for a vantage point from above the long grass.

And here is a garden focus viewed from a sun room and deck.  The grass on the hillside is not the main event, but the bright chairs and hammock, the vintage iron screen and a colorful garden whimsy bring attention to the mountain laurels and the woodland beyond.  Stones lining the woodland edge delineate the bed from the difficult-to-maintain slope and draw your eye right up to the main event.

Some patios are on a ledge. Moss can add interest and green to contrast with the hard gray of stone and pavers. The rock wall continues the line of the boulder and forms the "boundry" of the hardscape.  The laurels of the forest understory bring the green up from planters to the tree tops.

And some of our gardeners have hardscape all around in cement porches, columns, walkways and driveways.  The frog garden ornament seems to say "Oh, my! It's hard and dry here!"

But color can bring it all to life.

Here's a front porch full of colorful bloom--and wildlife.

The curve of shrubs and trees and flowers brings the birds and animals right up to the hardscape of the front porch at a street corner.  Privacy, the scent of blooms, and the sound of birds make a perfect secret garden in plain sight.

There's opportunity to create vignettes everywhere in nature.

and fairy gardens too!

Our Garden Walk tonight gave us many ideas.