fAmily-friendly patio
With the addition of a stamped concrete patio and numerous planting beds, this backyard went from an eyesore to an area the whole family can enjoy. The unique shape of the custom patio allows for a division into three distinct spaces: a grilling area, a sitting area, and a dining area. Low plantings allow for visual access to the far backyard where a swing set is located.
Established plant materials (grasses, a lace-cap hydrangea, an oak-leaf hydrangea, and hostas) were incorporated into the final design. Orange daylilies were transplanted to another area of the backyard to allow space for a variegated hydrangea and summersweet clethra. Variegated weigela rounds out the slightly reshaped bed beneath the windows.
A portion of the patio was shaped specifically to hold the homeowners’ grill. This area was supplemented with additional tall grasses to provide some privacy for the nearby sitting area as well as some movement to the design.
Two new planting beds were added around the patio to provide color and a feeling of intimacy and enclosure. Butterfly-attracting perennials such as shasta daisy, coneflower, and false indigo provide pops of yellow, pink, and purple. Variegated red-twig dogwood and hydrangea planted near the dining area of the patio provide color in the summer and visual interest in the winter months with their vibrant branch coloring or snow-covered flower panicles. A finely-leafed Japanese maple helps to frame the view of the backyard for occupants of the patio.