A Quiet Corner Garden
Creating an oasis of serenity in our less-than favorable concrete yard
Creativity has been key in beautifying and cultivating our back yard, which is still in the condition that we bought it in—mostly concrete— except for a few spots. This quiet east facing corner spot has transformed from an awkward blank slate to a lush and peaceful retreat (when the kids aren’t commandeering the lounge chair).
Step One: We planted a tree
The first thing we did with our yard was to plant a peach tree. Having fruit growing outside seems nothing short of magical to me— a fantasy that probably can be traced back to Willy Wonka’s magical chocolate waterfall garden, where everything in the landscape can be eaten.
Though much of the yard is concrete, this square of earth was spared for some reason, so it was the perfect spot to set down some roots. I knew by the time our tree had grown a bit, we would be ready to do some more planting in the surrounding area. We planted the tree in Spring of 2022 (I think?), and between last spring and this April, it has more than doubled in size. Hoping to be able to harvest some peaches this year!
Soft morning light + afternoon shade
The wall on this side of our yard faces east, which makes for ideal planting here in North Texas— morning sun and afternoon shade. The tree fills the area with dappled shade, so I’m still in the process of discovering what will grow best where in terms of sunlight. David Austin climber “St Swithun” (below) is being trained against the fence, where it receives full sun in the morning hours.
St Swithun is a soft pink climber with one highest petal counts for David Austin English style roses.
I chose a soft color palette for planting— a mix of green and silvery foliage, soft pinks, whites and a bit of lavender. Since the space is framed with concrete, I wanted to also evoke a sort of Mediterranean patio or walled garden feel— so I choose shrubby heat loving plants like santolina, guara and herbs. Some terra cotta pots soften the concrete and add a bit of interest.
Silver mound artemisia, white yarrow and pink guara disguise the hard line of concrete at the edge of the garden.
Garden supplies have become one of my top ‘bolo’ categories for estate sales— the prices in the back yard are not generally as hiked up as the treasures inside. Tarragon, tulips and calendula are planted here in early Spring.
A children’s walkway around the tree gives a magical fairy garden feel
A low hanging tree planted in the corner of the yard is an invitation for a kid-specific adventure. Setting down pavers in a walkway around the tree is my first step to creating a sort of fairy garden for the kids to wander through— the branches are just low enough that an adult has to stoop to make their way around. Some newly planted ajuga will eventually spread throughout the area, and some nasturtiums add some whimsy and charm in the meantime. Currently keeping an eye out for a few small garden statues to further add interest and fun to the space.
The kids love picking nasturtium leaves and carrying them around like tiny parasols.
My favorite part of this space? The fact that it’s proof that beauty can be created anywhere.
For a concrete back yard in Dallas, Texas, this is not a half bad scene, is it? We’re not located in a lush valley near a coastline, or in a quaint town in the English countryside. We don’t even have a yard with a decent lawn. But a bit of creativity and willingness to embrace the imperfection has helped this space to come a long way.
I also find it easier to work with vignettes. To create “moments” by carving out pieces of a larger whole. Trying to landscape an entire yard is daunting, but creating a beautiful corner of it is much more manageable.
Pinterest, as usual, provided ample inspiration, and I found particular inspiration in Athena Calderone’s former Brooklyn back yard, which is a xeriscaped gravel space with a similarly Mediterranean inspired feel.
You’ll notice that Jip is featured in a few of these photos— he was not asked to model but it is also his favorite spot to relax.
List of Plants Used
Walker’s Low Catmint, or nepeta
Artemisia "Powis Castle” and “Silver Brocade”
David Austin Climbing Rose “St Swithun”
Culinary herbs, such as Greek oregano, sage and thyme
