Tags
handmade clay brick, lion head clam shell fountain, New Orleans style garden, old world charm, old world fountain, pond plants, rasied bed, southern garden, Statue Makers Fountain
New homes built in the New Orleans row house style are popular in the Heights. This homes architecture begged for more old world charm. I played with one of the after pictures to create and old looking photo of the fountain and cafe table….What do you think?
We started with a blank slate. Which is both fun and challenging!
The garage wall was boring and made the space seem closed in. 
The wrought iron fencing between the town homes leaves little privacy. Working on keeping the view inside the garden was important. These custom fabricated wrought iron trellis, are for growing Red Cascade roses on. We designed them based on the big trellis at the Getty museum in LA.
Hand made bricks from Mexico with their irregularity in shape and color help create the look of an old brick courtyard. They are installed on a base of decomposed granite DG, with only the soldiers mortared in. 
The clients wanted a pond that was large enough for water plants and perhaps gold fish. I was inspired by these two pictures I found online. 
And this one. The clients loved the lion head and shell. 
We used the same brick as the patio as a facade on cinder block. Statue Markers here in Houston cast the shell and lion head for us. 
I love the shape of a simple rounded arch and so I used it on both the back wall and the pond. And while it is not obvious in the photo the rose trellis is a semi-circle.
Combining the brick, the fountain with southern acclimated plants pulls the space together and gives it that old world feel. 
I generally I suggest smaller movable furniture or furniture that can be folded and easily stored for smaller patios. This way you can have more flexibility to entertain various amounts of guests.
We added a small raised bed between the steps and A/C as a place for a small kitchen garden. 
View from the back stairs. I think it came together to create a very inviting and usable space for sitting and reading or enjoying an evening with friends.
I really enjoy seeing the beautiful pond plants. 
Water lilies seem very happy in Houston. 
Once the roses grow in on the beautiful wrought iron trellises they will create a greater sense of intimacy and feeling of an out door room. On our next blog I will show you what we did in the front garden. 
Time will patina this garden and make it even better!
Happy Gardening!
Ravenscourt Gardens 
I love it. I want to be friends with those people, and get invited to the opening party event. Along with you, of course! Now for those darn 2,000 miles in between…
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Thank you Patricia, wouldn’t that be fun! If you decide to visit Houston we can crash her garden and have our own party!
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Beautiful and I love the trellis. 🙂
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Thank you Judy! The trellises did turn out just as I imagined them. Can’t wait to see the roses climb up them.
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Excellent! What fun you must have had. I love love love those Getty trellis and would love to have a couple of my own. Inspiring!
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It was fun to try and get the feel right! I was very please with how the trellises turned out. There are 4…I worried they would be too much!
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That’s lovely, Laurin! I love the trellises and the fountain.
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Thank you Pam. I had to do a bit of research to understand how deep. It really adds to the feel of the space and is a good distraction from neighbors yards, I mean focal point : )
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Nicely done! You’ve created an inviting space and also a surprising amount of privacy in such a short time. I like your use of brick and wrought iron to “age” the space.
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Thank you! I love it when a design comes out even better than I imagined.
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What a dramatic transformation! I love the intimacy of a small, in-town garden.
‘Red Cascade’ is a great choice for your trellises. (Have you seen the Peggy Martin roses trained to a similar-but-much-larger structure at Antique Rose Emporium?)
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Thank you 🌞! I have and I use them in larger areas and structures. I agree the Red Cascade will be a good fit and they are hardy.
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When you say blank slate, you aren’t kidding. Love the water feature and the raised edibles bed.
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Thank you! I look forward to seeing it grow in! Needs more patina!
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