Slowly, (very slowly) but surely BF and I are working our way through my yard trying to fix it up. Last year I was sick all through the spring and then the summer was so hot that the whole yard was quite neglected. The back part by the garage is a jungle. Hopefully soon BF will finish my compost arbor. The next thing is trying to fix this "patio" thing I would like. I have a patio swing which I love to sit out on at night, and I have ideas for a little garden to view from the swing. I have the swing at a certain angle for maximum yard viewing, and privacy from the close-in neighbors. At first I just had the swing on grass but got tired of moving it all the time to mow. Plus we might occasionally want to use our little fire pit in front of it. So the idea is for us to install a little patio for the swing area. The problem is, what shape and what material? Ideally we would like something water permeable.

Initially we thought maybe stone or pea gravel. That would need quite a bit of maintenance, or at least that's what I thought, but I could be wrong. Also, the landscape fabric I have to put under it isn't water permeable although maybe they make something like that, I dunno. Anyone have anything like this?

Another thought was a low wood deck, but not sure if I need yet another material in my yard, from an aesthetic point of view.

Last but not least, some type of landscape brick. That's what we're leaning towards now, but really do not know what shape to make the patio. Last week BF suggested we do away with the lawn all together. So now I'm wondering if maybe a brick patio and then a small stone area in front of it. I am NOT crazy about the grey brick that I have for the other patio and path, it seems busy against the backdrop of my brick house and garage. Different colors, different textures, etc. They make a grey/red type of patio brick but it is way more expensive than the plain, which is why I didn't get it in the first place. But maybe we can afford it since we are doing it ourselves this time. But again, not sure if it is wise to mix colors and materials in this tiny space.

Here is a photo of the area, from spring where you can see the patio, and now in July with the arbor materials stacked up out there. Also a link to some of my RUDIMENTARY sketches of shapes. None of them are very good ideas, I think. Right now I have the swing sitting on these red cement pavers that I had left over from my "before" yard configuration when I bought the house.

Current photo of yard, taken in July

Link to album with ideas for patio shapes
Patio Ideas

I'll think about it while I'm in the doctor's office waiting...

/tricia

I'm drooling over your copper roof!! Love that and would play off the colors of your roof in landscaping materials. I really am not sure but that window would become a door in a heartbeat! Nothing like being able to walk right out into your back yard.

Have fun with this project! I do like the espalier idea and think it would look fantastic.

The CAR reminded me...I'm sure you've already seen it but here's NOAA's new 30-Year Climate Normals. The new zone map is at the bottom of Page 2. I had to zoom in to 400% to learn that I'm officially a Zone 7 now. In the magazine, Longwood Gardens talks about more diseases with warmer nights. Probably didn't make a difference with the CAR though. I've always kept detailed garden info including weather & my journal has told me for the past 8 years that the old average lows were colder than what was happening in our gardens. Anyway, I think we'll all have more disease/pest problems going forward & should keep it in mind when choosing plants. I'm having trouble with 'Miss Kim' & I believe part of the problem is we're not always meeting her dormancy requirements. Lilacs grow best in zones 3-7 so we're getting borderline & my journal tells me that we've had a couple Z8 winters.

Lpink, looking at the pictures I think some selective pruning would help to visualize exactly what you've got. I'm also thinking that it's not a bad idea to lose the grass. We have a 6' wide curving ribbon of turf that encircles our property & I like the way it sets off the other plantings but, in your case, your existing walkway accomplishes the same thing beautifully. Then, you'd have the grass area to either expand the hardscape making more room for the swing & use colorful pots, etc. for edible plantings (blueberries do great in pots as do dwarf peaches!) or you can use the space for in ground veggies.

I'll keep thinking...I agree though that the red pavers could be improved upon. I like the existing main patio/pathway.

They do make permeable landscape fabric & a crushed stone patio is a possibility but it requires at least a 4" foundation of sand underneath & even then with the trees it would be hard to maintain, IMO.

/tricia

We also plant a container garden that goes in the area every year, and I choose brightly colored hummingbird annuals to put in the sun around our pond to feed my hummingbirds. There are things like fuchsias, ferns and gardenias in partial shade, and begonias for deep shade. It's pretty, very natural, and easy to maintain.

If you wanted to dig out the grass, that would give you some depth in which to spread the mulch which would keep down the weeds beautifully, without needing any landscape fabric (which just seems to get in the way and is a big hassle to install.) Keeping it simple with just the mulch, gives you more room to ''landscape'' and putting your money into containers and maybe a fabulous fountain, makes the most sense. We've bought yards of mulch that were dumped on the driveway, and bought it in bags. After moving around mulch both ways, we actually think it's easier to put down mulch from bags without the immediacy of having to get a big pile off your driveway.

When the season is over, plants go into the compost pile, and I turn my containers upside down under my cedars to live out the winter until next year. After so many years, I pretty much know how much I need now to fill them. I love my garden, and the low maintenance aspect of not having grass to mow makes me happy. You already have a beautiful garden. I don't think it will take much to tweak it to a place where you'll be happy too.

IMHO:

In a compact space, the most important approach is to avoid clutter. I would get rid of as much as possible non-essential items and landscaping.

The second important thing is to be selective in all elements/furniture that end up in the space.

It is a very good thing that you have a very nice paving done. It seems to me that most of the time the view/focus is towards the garage. Therefore, creating a design statement using the garage can be effective in dressing-up the yard. The rendering shows fake 1/2 columns and molding superficially applied on the garage wall, framing the wooden swing, which in itself, is a very interesting piece of craftsmanship.

The wall, with a simple flower bed edging, can serve as the canvas for some climbing/flowering plants such as clematises, or even grape vines.

The entrance door to the yard should be changed from galvanized fence to a wood gate. There is no picture showing the path coming to this door. That too can be an interesting experience with some elegant lighting and wall hung planters.

I agree with tricia's thinking, especially about the lawn, unless you and BF enjoys playing Frisbee.

I don't think it will be outrageously expensive to do the above.

dcarch

If you wanted too, you could make the area gorgeous with all kinds of small plants, trellises, containers, and seating areas.

The last garden tour I went on had a smallish house with every square inch of space turned into some kind of garden: the 8' x 8' miniature conifer area, the tiny rock garden area, the miniature rose area, it certainly gave me inspiration if nothing else and was incredible.
So much to look at in a small area.

I know cash and time are tight but you still have a nice space that can be easily more satisfying.