Learning Landscape Design Part I
This past winter while I was ‘patiently’ waiting for our property to be subdivided, I decided I would teach myself landscape architecture with the goal of designing the farm and the landscape around the Guest House and Artist Retreat. Using aerial images, Andy drew out the different sections of the property. I’m not trained in Auto Cad, so I went old school and used graph paper to map the scale of each area. With a bit of tape and tracing paper, I designed each space indicating the different planting areas and outbuildings. We’ve since revised the plan to reflect the exact measurements of the property which includes the addition of the road that now runs through it. Eventually I want to render it in watercolor.
We started with a linear drawing of the outer edges of the property. Each square on the graph paper represents five feet. For this project, I’ve been collecting several reference books on landscape architectural design, gardening, and farming. I’ve included the list of books at the end of this blog post. The English gardener Monty Don and his book The Complete Gardener was a huge help as I began visualizing the farm. Another inspiring landscape architect was Beatrix Farrand. She was a true a trailblazer as she was also the first female landscape architect in the United States! I saw a documentary on her work streaming on Amazon Prime and bought the book Beatrix Farrand: Garden Artist, Landscape Architect which includes numerous examples of her designs!
Although I ‘spot read’ most of my reference books, it was the visual examples that were included within the text that I relied on the most. By ‘spot read’, I mean I only read the parts of the books that were relevant to what I am planning and growing. With reference books in hand, I set to work making a list of the things we wanted to grow on the farm. Given that we are living in Palisade, growing fruit on the farm, both stone and soft, was already a forgone conclusion. I’ve blog about the specific varieties that we will be featuring on the farm in earlier blogs, so I won’t go into any more detail on that in this post. My lists of vegetables, herbs and flowers are less specific at this stage as I’m still figuring out what I want to grow. For these sections of the farm, I’ve mapped out beds but held off on identifying specific varieties. For the vegetables and herbs my criteria includes what I like to cook, what we eat, and what I’ve seen being sold and not sold at our local farm stands. If I can find a niche that is not being met, then all the better! Andy wants to grow a variety of peppers so there will be a whole area devoted to his growing interests.
The flowers are even more tricky as I know which ones I like visually, but I also want to choose flora that will have a cohesive color palette throughout. My goals for the cut flowers is to provide myself with fresh flowers as well as sell them to local farm stands and perhaps wedding venues as I have a friend, Donna, who owns The Wedding House in Palisade. Donna is the one who planted the seed (so to speak) about growing flowers for future brides!
With my lists made I set to work drawing out the grid. I included hedges that will surround the farm as that will help cut down on the wind (I leaned that from Monty Don!) Depending on the location, the hedges will be either yellow Forsythia or purple Lilac bushes. I also included the walkways, and plant boarders that lines the walkways. These boarders will be botanical lavender plants not to be confused with culinary lavender; the former is used to make botanical oils, soaps and scented candles as well as perfumes, the latter is for cooking. In the center of the Boutique farm there will be a pergola with outdoor dining table and chairs. I will light the pergola with solar powered bistro lights for added ambiance. All pathways lead to this central area. Each section of the farm will have a seating area, such as a bunch strategically placed to enjoy the views of both the farm and the Grand Mesa beyond. The orchard will include a small outbuilding to house Andy’s bee keeping gear. The cut flower garden will be home to the “Haiku Hut” a small outbuilding which visiting writers can use as a secluded writing studio. In the herb garden I will build a small stone chapel (and by small, I mean 10 ft x 10 ft) which will act as a quiet place to meditate. Andy’s satellite office will be in the vegetable garden. I’ve also paid close attention to sightlines from the main house and from the guest house. Surrounding the farm area will be a continuous walkway so that guests as well as Andy and I can comfortably walk the perimeter of the farm while being immersed in the sights, smells, and sounds of the area. Originally, I had the chicken coop located in the vegetable patch as well, but after reading that chickens can completely destroy a vegetable garden, I opted to move it to the potting shed area so I can keep an eye on them and they can wander freely when I’m out working in the shed, or planting seedlings etc…
The potting shed will be a large shed as I am in the process of converting the pole barn into the potting shed. This area of the property will include one, perhaps two hoop houses, cold frames, the compost bins, and another smaller shed. This latter building came with the property and was formerly used as a dog kennel. I will also build a long outdoor table in this area that I will use as a worktable for repotting, planting seedlings and whatever else needs to be done. Eventually I would like to build a more permanent glass green house, but those aren’t cheap so that will be built out over time.
We will be strategically placing Andy’s beehives throughout the farm with each one being painted to reflect the area in which it is located. For example, the hive in the cutting garden will be painted with flowers, the one located in the soft fruit area will be covered with berries of different kinds and so on. My understanding is that you locate the hives in this manner so that they venture out and pollinate all the farm, not just one area. Painting the hives helps them to locate the boxes more easily and to identify them as their home, or so I’ve been told.
In addition to growing fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers, the farm and Palisade Posh is also designed to be a destination, a place where our guests want to visit, to stroll the land, to dine alfresco or to sit and enjoy. The aesthetic design of the property is very important. This includes both the farm side as well as the other areas where the guest house and art studio will be located. It even includes the outbuildings such as the potting shed, hoop, and greenhouses! There will be additional landscaping throughout which will include ornamental trees, flowers, shrubs, and grasses. The entrance of the Guest house will face a small yard and beyond that will be two rows of grape vines which once established we will produce our own Estate Wine (once I find a winemaker willing to make it for me… I will not be getting into the business of making my own wine!) Beyond the vines will be the breath-taking view of Grand Mesa.
The main house where Andy and I live will also be taken into consideration, so it visually flows with the rest of the property. This area of the property is where our nine Pecan trees live. Our plan is to harvest the Pecans once they fall from the trees. If all goes well it will be a bumper crop as the trees are loaded with nuts and these then will be our first harvest, we offer for sale! More on that adventure in a later blog post!
So there you have it, my adventures into landscape design and architecture, definitely low tech but it helps me stay on target and make the vision a reality! Tons to do, and never a dull moment here on the Palisade Posh farm!
Kim’s reference book list for designing the Palisade Posh farm:
The Complete Gardener
By Monty Don
ISBN 978-02414-2430-8
Beatrix Farrand: Garden Artist, Landscape Architect
By Judith B. Tankard
ISBN 978-1-58093-593-7
The Magic of Monet’s Garden: His Plantings Plans and Color Harmonies
By Derek Fell
ISBN 13: 978-1-55407-277-4
Monet’s Garden: Through the Seasons at Giverny
By Vivian Russell
ISBN 1-55670-415-1
Create a Mediterranean Garden: Planting a low-water, low maintenance paradise – anywhere
By Pattie Barron
ISBN 978-0-754-83524-0
The Elegant & Edible Garden
By Linda Vater
ISBN 978-0-7603-7237-1
Small-Space Vegetable Gardens
By Andrea Bellamy
ISBN 978-1-60469-547-2
Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on ¼ Acre
By Brett L. Markham
ISBN 10: 1-60239-984-0
