Renovating an Island Garden

An old garden needed a facelift

Today we ’re visiting with Kiah Grant .

I was behave and raised in North Vancouver , Canada , but after some acute actual estate development , we make up one’s mind to trade our nursing home in December 2016 and move to a slow pace on Bowen Island , which is a small island 20 min by ferryboat from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver .

The home was an old - timer cottage that dated back to 1920 . The previous proprietor was a master nurseryman who over the many years of ownership had plow the cliffside dimension into a terraced garden . She even trucked in several loads of soil to create a level grounds on the front slope of the exorbitant property . She had aged in place , and in more recent years the garden had minimal attending , but the bones were there .

When we purchased the home we replaced the infected tank and field and summate a 400 - satisfying - foot summation to the side of the home with a rooftop pack of cards . This allowed us to refresh the yard area , create a new rock-and-roll terrasse garden , and bring an 800 - square - foot patio overlooking the sea .

The existing terraced garden within the fences were the only cervid - proofed areas , so we drop a lot of meter weeding and amending the soil the first yr and waited to see what dormant plants would emerge .

The next year we began to tally the things we love , we removed what we did not have sex , and we also worked on adding to the roadside garden that is undefendable to the cervid . On Bowen there are few roadside gardens ; it ’s mostly evergreen - line rural roads , so we want to do something for the passersby to savour . That postulate trial and mistake withdeer - resistantplants and trees .

Because we have so little garden area , we have also bring a lot of planter and pots to the patio for added space .

entrance gate

The rock garden before . Great bone , but a draw of employment to be done .

And after !

Right side of the rock garden .

Detail of the right side of therock garden .

Ocean views from the lower yard .

Abirdbathsurrounded by lush planting .

Have photos to share ? We ’d be intimate to see your garden , a particular collection of plant you screw , or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit !

To submit , institutionalise 5 - 10 picture to[email protected]along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you take the picture . We ’d get laid to learn where you are located , how long you ’ve been gardening , success you are gallant of , failures you learned from , hopes for the future , favorite plant , or funny stories from your garden .

If you want to send out photos in freestanding emails to theGPOD email boxthat is just fine .

Have a mobile phone ? Tag your photos onFacebook , InstagramorTwitterwith # FineGardening !

You do n’t have to be a professional garden lensman – check out ourgarden picture taking tips !

Do you experience the GPOD by email yet?Sign up here .

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Planting in a Post - Wild earth : Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes

okay Gardening receive a commission for detail purchased through radio link on this site , include Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertizement programs .

The Regenerative Landscaper : Design and Build Landscapes That Repair the Environment

Pruning Simplified : A Step - by - dance step Guide to 50 Popular Trees and Shrubs

Get our latest crest , how - to clause , and instructional videos sent to your inbox .

Signing you up …

Claire’s Garden Renovation in Minneapolis

Fran’s Island Garden

Spring in a Canadian Garden

A Healing Garden on Vancouver Island

Join Fine horticulture for a loose engaging hot webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant pathologist as well as prof emerita at Purdue University and the ornamental proficient manager …

When I spy a particular sand dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I knew I was in trouble . With a delightful color figure …

When we only prioritize plant we require over flora our landscape painting needs , each season is filled with a never - ending inclination of chores : pruning , tweet , watering , treating , amend , and fertilizing , with …

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to stumble on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a pair …