Hidden pleasures: a private new courtyard replaces a very open front lawn

Sunset, August, 1999 by Sharon Cohoon

Not long ago, David and Nan Holt's front yard in Manhattan Beach, California, was stuck in a 1950s-'60s time warp: flat carpet of grass out front, red brick planter boxes tucked up against the foundation, dominant driveway. You'd pass it by without a second glance.

Now their garden is another story, thanks to a new wall, courtyard, and planting beds that replaced much of the lawn. A path of rosy flagstone leads to a handsome gate that opens to the inviting interior courtyard. The scene is welcoming, yet private. The simple changes add up to a big difference because each was carefully thought out.

Take the wall. After consulting with an architect and designer, the Holts were convinced that creating an interior courtyard would solve two vexing problems. It would eliminate an ugly view of parked cars and enable them to dispense with drawn drapes, which provided privacy but darkened the house.

Deciding where to put the wall - as far from the house and as close to the street as city ordinances permitted was not an issue. But determining the best height was. Chris Scuitto, a landscape designer at Artscape, drew several perspectives to help the Holts visualize how the courtyard space would look. The Holts also erected poles and strung wire across the tops to simulate a wall and get a feeling for different heights. "But I still couldn't picture it," says Nan. So she and her husband checked out neighbors' gardens for a firsthand experience of how walled-in spaces of various dimensions feel.

The homework paid off. The 5-foot, 9-inch height they finally chose is perfect, says Nan. From inside, it provides privacy without blocking views of the outside world. "So you never feel claustrophobic," she says.

PROJECT BUDGET BREAKDOWN
(Includes materials and construction)

Courtyard wall               $9,500
Flagstone hardscape          $5,800
Irrigation system            $2,400
Outdoor lighting             $1,500
Plant material               $5,000

TOTAL                       $24,200

Like the wall, the walkway was thoughtfully planned. The flagstone was laid to create a free-form edge that gives the path a weathered look. "The walkway doesn't scream 'freshly installed,' so it's not such an obvious addition," says Scuitto. Other notable details: dyed-to-match grouting and smaller-than-usual flagstone pieces. "I've seen walkways this size done with just eight or nine pieces," he says. "Yes, it's quicker and cheaper, but the scale is way off, so the path looks skimpy."

Plants were also selected with care. Around the existing black pine, Japanese anemone, campanula, and other shade lovers were chosen to create a woodland look. In the courtyard, the emphasis was on small stature and fine texture - delicate ferns, diosma, nandina, euonymus. "Again," says Scuitto, "scale was key. We wanted variety without overwhelming the space." In the beds that screen the driveway from view are tall, narrow plants such as the mayten tree.

Nan is particularly pleased with the majestic kangaroo paws flanking the garden's side entrance. "When they're at their peak, they canopy over the path, and walking through them feels like a ceremony," she says.

David concurs. "Even though it would be quicker to go through the garage, I always come back out and come into the house through the path and the gate for the sheer pleasure of the experience. It never fails to delight me."

TWO BITS OF ADVICE BEFORE TACKLING A RENOVATION

* Know your taste before you engage a designer. Stroll through public gardens, visit model homes, and look through magazines to find out what moves you. Take photographs and cut out pictures of designs you like. "The more information you give us, the better we can tailor a garden to your style, and the more value you get for your dollar," says Scuitto.

* Shop for skill as well as price. If you want careful craftsmanship, you'll have to invest in time as well as materials, says David Holt. "We were more worried about finding someone concerned with careful workmanship than we were with obtaining the lowest estimate," he says.

RELATED ARTICLE: The merits of organic mulch

Spread some now to help plants, foil weeds, and save water

In late summer, as air and soil temperatures rise, plants can be heat-stressed right down to their roots. One of the best things you can do for them is to spread a blanket of organic mulch over their root zones. A layer of mulch not only cools plant roots but conserves soil moisture, reducing plants' heat stress and your water bill at the same time. Mulch also helps to control weeds and gives the garden a tidy look.

Nurseries and garden supply centers usually sell a selection of different organic mulches by the bag or in bulk amounts. Here are some of the merits and drawbacks of the most commonly available mulches.

BARK. Many kinds of trees yield bark that makes attractive, long-lasting mulch. You can buy bark graded into small, medium, or large pieces or shredded into a stringy fiber called "gorilla hair." Since bark breaks down slowly, it's not suitable for use in flower or vegetable beds where you'd normally till mulch into the ground at the end of the season.