Cool Summer Coutyards

You know you are a landscape designer when someone asks you what your house came with and you rattle off a list of all the plants. Then you realize they were asking what appliances stayed...With that, my sincerest of apologies for my hiatus these past two months. Through this time period, I have since started a new position as director of Main Street Greenwood and bought a house...all of which allow for little time for writing, but I am getting back in the swing of things with the start of summer.

Welcome to the official start of summer. For many of us though, it feels as if we have been in the throws of summer for months now. It is such a crying shame that temperatures have been so high because this is the time of year we want to be outside...at least I for one do. The days are longer, crickets are chirping, baby birds singing, and lighting bugs are illuminating the sky in the evenings.  Therefore, the question then lingers, how to enjoy this time of year outdoors without feeling like you are in a sauna? The answer is quite simple, a cool summer courtyard.

 our model courtyard

For those of us without screen porches, courtyards provide the ideal transition space into the outdoors. It allows us to be outside with the many of the same amenities that can be found inside. The best news of courtyards is that you don't necessarily have to have an area contained on three sides with walls. Plants can provide a barrier to help you simulate a courtyard wall without the cost of any new construction. Courtyards come in all shapes and sizes. Often the smaller the space, the more intimate the courtyard and the more use you will get out of it.

There are several key elements to a courtyard. We'll discuss each one and how it can be adapted into your own plan. First of all you will need a space; a space that in someway connects to your house for ease of access and function. Then you will need to think of your space as if it is a box with 3 walls, a floor and a ceiling. What are your walls made of? What is the floor material? Do you need a ceiling? If it is not enclosed on at least 3 sides, decide the best way to enclose it. As I mentioned earlier, an evergreen hedge, fence or wall are ideal. The walls for this courtyard just happen to be the three outer walls of the home. A brick floor was incorporated to connect the walls. While brick offers texture and color to the space, you may decide on a stone, wood, or concrete base for your courtyard. The ceiling is a wooden pergola.

the layout

The next step is to decide what you would like to incorporate into your space. For instance, in this courtyard we incorporated: shade, water feature, outdoor dinning area, grilling area, and reading nook (a swing in this case). See the above layout.

ceiling fan & pergola

Shade

Shade is achieved through our pergola and Carolina Jessamine interwoven throughout. For added effect and to get some air moving, an outdoor ceiling fan is in the center of pergola.

A Water Feature (or two)

In this courtyard two separate water features were incorporated; one a wall mount and one a free standing water feature. Neither feature is elaborate, but both provide the tranquil sound of trickling water at both ends of the courtyard.

urn water feature

 wall mounted water feature

The Outdoor Dinning Area

Your dinning area can be as simple as a small bistro table or as large as a 12 setting dinner table, the choice is up to you and well, the size of your space. We have both in this courtyard. The bistro table allows for morning cups of coffee, while the dining table allows for family dinners. The location of the table should be convenient to get to from your kitchen/cooking space. No one wants to take a hike to the dinner table with steaming plates. And remember, the table does not always have to be perfectly "set" all the time. When this this table is not in use, it is an ideal place for potted sedums, herbs or other smaller container plants. Pull the chairs out to the side to create more seating areas that aren't necessarily right around the table. Notice on the layout that our grilling area is tucked just out of site, as to not dominate the area, but provide a great amenity for summer suppers.

table set for summer supper

Your Foliage

Because they can be used pretty much year round in the South, courtyard foliage should consist of a strong evergreen base for a consistent palate of green. And just because it is evergreen does not mean it is boring! Incorporate variegated varieties for splashes of color and different leaf types for varieties of texture! As with any area pay close attention to the conditions of your space. Take note of shady areas, wet areas, or areas that may be prone to more foot traffic than others. Our model courtyard is consistently shady with the overhead pergola, so we stuck to shade tolerant varieties. Since the majority our bedlines are only about 20", we had to incorporate plants with more compact growth habits. Some great must haves for these conditions include: 

Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

Holly Fern (Cyrtomium falcatum)

Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)

Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata)

Dwarf Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides 'Radicans')

 Vines:
Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)

Creeping Fig(Ficus pumila)

For Larger Areas: 

Dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor)

Fatsia (Fatsia japonica)

Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)

Tea Olive (Osmanthus fragrans)*

Viburnum (Viburnum japonicum)*

 *great evergreen screens to create a barrier or wall

Perennials/Deciduous Shrub Options: 

Fern (Dryopteris spp. or Polystichum spp.) 

Elephant's Ear (Calocasia spp.)

Caladium (Caladium bicolor)

Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.)
Hosta (Hosta spp.)
Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis)
Banana Tree (Musa spp.)

...just to name a few

                    holly fern with banana tree background                          potted variegated ivy

 fern varieties

 hydrangea bloom

 cast iron plant, viburnum & elephant ear

creeping fig along windowsill

potted fatsia

Character

 No garden space should ever follow a "formula". Don't be afraid to add little touches of your character throughout. Sculpture, bird houses, water features, planters can all add detail to bring your space to life.

the windowsill gnome family

a hidden little blue bird

 McCarty bells

 bottle tree

 collection of antique "frogs"

moss covered pots in flower bed

Don't expect your courtyard to be perfect in the beginning. As with any garden space, give it time to mature and develop. This courtyard has been in the making for 6 years now. Most of you may recognize it as the Pegs' courtyard at our house in Greenville. It's hard to believe that the space used to exist of a sweltering wooden deck with hardly any plants. Now, it is a space that we absolutely couldn't live without. From coffee in the mornings to dinner in the evenings, we're always out there trying to beat the heat, so consider creating your own cool summer courtyard and enjoy our great outdoors this summer.