Gracious garden gates - building a 'welcoming' garden gate - Brief Article

Sunset, Spring, 1997 by Dick Bushnell

An arched gate with a "porthole" leads to Michael Barclay's garden in Kensington, California.

Not so long ago, many gates served as barriers that all but shouted "Keep out!" Happily, those unfriendly designs of the past have given way to gates that delight the eye as they welcome guests. But a gate can be much more than a door to a garden; it can be used to frame a view or provide a transition between outdoor rooms. A gate might even serve as a focal point. The gates pictured on these pages exemplify the range of creative designs you'll find in Western gardens.

You can build a gate as a design statement in tandem with a fence, using the same style and material for both or choosing a contrasting material or design, such as a wood or wrought-iron gate with flanking brick pilasters. A low picket gate or one made of airy lath invites people in with its open, friendly appearance. The minimum width for a gate is 3 feet, but an extra foot creates a more gracious feeling.