1. Create an Entry Way

Even if your whole yard or property isn’t fenced in, it’s good to create a sense of transition from the outside world, to the whimsical home of your garden.  Guests will be put immediately at ease knowing that they are entering a place of tranquility and hospitality.  Most people spend a lot of time decorating their front doors to give their visitors the same feeling, so make sure to do it with your garden as well.  A good way to create an entry way is through the use of arbors or gates.

Choose a flat top or arch top arbor to fit your personality and vine it with colorful and eye-catching plants.  This wide array of climbing color will immediately spark your guests’ interest, inviting them in to see what else your home carries.

A gate can be another way to transition visitors from the outside world to your garden.  If your yard is fenced in for privacy or pets, an arbor with an attached gate will allow you to keep your garden and lawn enclosed, while giving you plenty of space to vine plants and flowers.  Remember that no small touch in your garden will go without notice, and though we should not judge books by their covers, your entry way will set the tone for the entire journey through your yard.  A rusting metal gate will not welcome people in like a friendly gated arbor.

2. Plant Gardens that Work Together

Your entry way will be more interesting if you use a variety of plants; shrubs, vines, and perennials can be plotted to work together if done with a bit of forethought.  Your guests will be surveying the entry way throughout their walk, so make sure they are never bored by breaks in vegetation or jolted by sudden changes in plant life.

Variety is the spice of life, so don’t stick to one color pallet or one type of flower.  Shrubs, like the Winter Gold Winterberry, that produce colorful berries will make sure that your garden is still vibrant with interesting hues long after the flowers have faded.

If you thought you only had plants to work with, think again!  Use fragrant plants to attract wild life, such as butterflies and hummingbirds, to animate your garden and produce endless hours of entertainment.  Planting Shasta Daisies, Cosmos, and Delphiniums will be sure to invite colorful wild life.  And, to entice all sorts of birds, using an out of the ordinary bird feeder will add more curiosity to your space, while inviting the birds to come and play as well.

Make sure your entry way garden is exciting and varied to keep your visitors’ interest, but don’t allow any large breaks or sudden changes to draw the eye to one specific spot that would pull them out of the entire scene.

3. Have a Place to Gather

Having a welcoming entry way garden will put your guests into a calming mindset, eager to enjoy your tranquil space.  The cruelest trick would be to catch their every interest, then force them inside and away from all the natural beauty.  Having a porch swing, patio group, or garden bench will give you and your friends a bright spot to gather for coffee, tea, and conversation.  Folding Adirondack chairs will allow you to move your party anywhere in the garden, while heavier dining sets and deep seating will form an outdoor living room where guests will feel free to lounge and feel at home. But don’t forget, it’s not always just about your guests!  A well placed hammock or swing bed will give you the perfect spot to relax and enjoy all your hard work (without any outside interruptions!)

See You Outside! (in your entry way garden!)

Hazel