Wednesday, January 15, 2014

A Poolside Garden in Forest Hill, Ontario



Swimming pools are a wonderful luxury in summer, but in terms of garden design, they can really become a big, hulking presence that can dominate a backyard- and not necessarily in a good way. 

It is possible however, to combine a swimming pool with a garden and do it tastefully. Here is just one example.


Flowerbeds dress up the stone-colored perimeter fencing in this Rosedale, Ontario garden greatly adding to the home's curb appeal.


In the half-shade, there are peonies, hosta, foxglove (above) and a number of varieties of salvia (below).



The clipped box hedging means that the public face of this garden is always tidy and presentable.


On the left, we see the entrance to the garden. (I believe these are two Weeping Copper Beech on either side of the walkway to the backyard, but please correct me if I am wrong.)

On the right, we are just inside the back gate. 


Inside the fence, the garden feels like a secluded oasis. 

Boxwood hedges flow seamlessly in from the property's exterior and keep the area around the pool looking neat and tidy. 


The backyard has quite a bit of tree cover and shade lovers like hosta (below, top left), brunnera (below, bottom left) purple colored Meadow Rue, Thalictrum (bottom right) and this Japanese Fern (above) have been incorporated into the plantings.



This flower-filled urn adds an extra punch of bright color and an interesting variance in 
height to the formal planting.


The boxwood hedge frames this little seating area beautifully.


The greenery also helps to soften the hard edge of the pavers around the pool. (Even if you don't have a pool, this might be a nice way to treat a patio area.)


Set above the pool is a large, vine covered pergola. 

Now, wouldn't this be the perfect spot to relax on a lazy summer afternoon? (Even if the pool area were just plain grass, this pergola would work just as nicely into a garden's design.)


The Wisteria was just starting to fade when I took these pictures.


Hanging baskets of flowers and potted plants are used for summer-long color.


Every area has been considered including this spot on the far side of the pool. 

You will note there is always just enough decorative touches to be pleasing, but not so many things that a space might become cluttered. 


Even if, like me, the only swimming pool you can afford is one of those blow-up kiddie pools, there are still lots of great ideas to take away from this superb garden.

27 comments:

  1. A very classy well-planned garden - lots of ideas to think about. You are so lucky to have all these wonderful gardens to visit I am so envious.

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  2. If someone were to have asked me this question before I read this post, and saw these gorgeous examples of combining the two, I would have said, "Probably not." But you have surely shown that it can be done, and beautifully so.

    I really love the first fence, and the way it was "dressed up."

    Thank you for all the wonderful color here, Jennifer. Much appreciated on a very gray day!

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  3. Hands down the coolest garden that I have seen surrounding a pool ever! The boxwood hedge really lends itself to keeping everything flowing in the design! Spectacular photos friend! Mine would be a blowup pool but I am really intrigued by that sitting area on the stone patio with the backdrop of green....and were those potted hydrangeas?? Amazing amazing!!! As always thanks for the inspiration!!! Nicole

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    1. Hi Nicole,Yes, those are potted hydrangea. Considerable trouble and expense was taken to make this garden picture perfect for the TBG tour of gardens in Rosedale.

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  4. This is just a beautiful garden and to have all of this planting space along with a pool is wonderful. I was amazed when visiting Canada how many people had pools in a colder climate.

    Eileen

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  5. This is one beautiful, serene garden! I love every aspect of it, and the pergola is a wonderful feature ... love the vines growing across the top. I really like a shady yard, and the plantings with ferns especially are so eye catching. What a lovely place to sit on a hot, hot summer day. Are we there yet? Wendy x

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  6. I love the use of evergreen trees in that garden.

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  7. The boxwood hedge is perfect for this pool garden. I love the wisteria on the pergola - I have been considering wisteria here at my house but no final decision yet. But most of all, I love all of the sitting areas to enjoy the garden! Your new header photo is beautiful!

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  8. What a wonderful, peaceful garden to just sit in, all the green made a calm oasis. All the planting looked so pristine, not a dead leaf or flower to be seen.

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  9. How beautiful. The pool blends in so well with the garden. Sitting or swimming must both be a delight.

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  10. What a beautiful, elegant environment they've created. I love the boxwood. In fact, we're putting in a boxwood hedge around our front garden this year. I can't wait to add that element of elegance to my home.

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  11. That is definitely a fantasy garden - it looks like a movie set! I wonder if the homeowners would be willing to trade houses with me...

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  12. What a gorgeous garden, Jennifer! Was there a Rosedale Garden Tour last summer? Must have missed it :( Your photos make me feel as if I had been there after all. Thanks!

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    1. Hi Astrid, Yes this was one of the gardens on the Rosedale tour. I managed to make it to most of them, but there were a lot of gardens to see in one weekend!

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  13. I really loved the box hedging and the foxgloves....a beautiful garden for sure.xxx

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  14. This transported me away...what a welcome diversion. Thank you so much. Great photos and great ideas. Loved so much about the plantings and especially along the grey wall fence.

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  15. Egads, how frightfully restrained and painfully tidy. Well, Lahdeedah, lahdeedah as Annie Hall would say. Lovely photos as always though ;-) Looking forward to those posts about wild and free gardens that aren't quite containable.

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  16. I agree, Jennifer; the only pool I have is a kiddie pool I bought for Sophie, but there are so many wonderful ideas here for any garden. The boxwood hedges really set off each area, though they're a little too formal for my garden. Still, a lovely and serene place--I suspect a maid would bring you a glass of tea or wine here, too:)

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  17. How beautiful. Is there anything lovelier than an Ontario garden? There's just something about the surge of heat and humidity that brings everything out at the same time. Pool? It's a kiddie pool for me!

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  18. Absolutely love this garden--great structure and still feels abundant.

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  19. After reading your first sentence, I thought you were going to show one of those pools that looks more like a pond and is naturally filtered with plants. But this is a classic pool design, and a very well landscaped one at that.

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  20. This is definitely very pretty, but it's way too tight and restrained for my taste. Every time I see a boxwood hedge, I just want to chop a big hole in it so the plants behind it can escape. But I just love the Samobar geraniums in the top photo. So beautiful!

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  21. Wow! You are a talent as a photographer! Really beautiful! This garden is just beyond gorge! ❤❤ Thank you for sharing!

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  22. Thank you for the pictures. Any ideas on type of wood for the fence and gazebo ?

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    1. Construction details like this aren't my expertise, but I would make a guess that this is just regular lumber that has been finished with a stain and then a sealer. What makes the fence special is all the detailing. If you look closely at the pillars for the pergola you can see that they are pieced together. Again the detailing is wonderful.

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