Garden Planning 101

We've had a cold, wet spring, but today is the first day of summer and the sky is blue and the birds are singing and I'm day dreaming of my new garden.  I've wanted a garden my entire life.  My parents are big gardeners and we always spent hours & hours in the backyard digging, mowing and planting.  All that natural exploration is what inspired me to study biology and then become an entomologist.  Mom & Dad have no one to blame but themselves!

Moving in late July/early August does not give me a lot of time to get my garden going before fall, but hopefully with a well thought out game plan I can make a big impact and be ready to hit the ground running next spring.

The first thing I'd like to do is cut down on the mowing by cutting down on the amount of lawn. I'd like to turn the front yard into a rock garden to highlight a beautiful Japanese maple that's already there. Also in the front are some gorgeous industrial poured concrete planters. I want to give them year round beauty by filling them with lavender plants and ornamental grasses. You're going to have to walk by a bustling ecosystem of bees and birds to get to my front door!

I also plan to create a large perennial garden underneath the balcony and right outside of the kitchen in the backyard. It will line the path to the lower portion of the yard and it's home to a dog house Olney is inheriting from generations of Fabri's family's dogs. I have to study the amount of light it gets, but it's on the East side of the house and should get plenty of morning sun. I'm thinking a backdrop of hydrangea bushes with hostas, coreopsis and yarrow. This might also be a good place for herbs both in pots and in the ground. Currently I have basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary and sage growing on the balcony, but I really could use some dill, parsley, cilantro and mint to keep me a happy cook.

Traditional Landscape

Another problem I'd like to tackle through gardening is the amount of mosquitoes. Remember years ago when you could play outside in the backyard all day and not worry about mosquitoes? That was before the terrible day-biting tiger mosquito made its way into our gardens. Well they're here too and they're horrible! I plan to clean up some of the wilder places in the yard to cut down on any standing water that could provide breeding habitat to those little blood suckers. Also we're putting screens in all the windows and doors. This is not a standard feature here in Europe. Planting geraniums and lemon grass in window boxes might keep the mosquitoes at bay as well. Ceiling fans in the bedrooms and outdoor dining area should keep any infiltrators from biting. Being a know-it-all American entomologist, I'd like to try to educate my new neighbors and maybe work with the town hall to create a PSA for all of Savigliano. Eliminate standing water! Bacillus thuringiensis for life!

Of course this garden is going to be mostly for Giulio to play and run around in, so I've been thinking of some great spaces for him as well. A sand box is a must and I'm debating a natural looking space or something more confined (see below). Esthetically I prefer the natural look, but in practice I'd like to be able to easily cover the sandbox to keep out rain and animals. Though I will be relying on Olney to keep my yard free & clear of all felines. I'm sure a play set is in our future and I'm super jealous of this one my cousins David & Jen built for their little ones Emma & Jonathan.

Contemporary Landscape by Los Angeles Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Stout Design-Build

The roof lowers down to cover the sandbox when not in use.

Next year I'll be planting a vegetable garden.  I think that will be a great activity to share with Giulio and I'm thinking a pole bean teepee might just be a necessity.  He already loves picking sweet peas with me and helping me process them in the kitchen. We'll also plant sweet corn, zucchini, pumpkins, tomatoes and sunflowers.

Traditional Landscape by Boston Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Maria Hickey & Associates Landscapes

Another project that will be left to next year is a back deck.  It will be right off the patio in front of the kitchen.  It's placement will mitigate the steepest part of the hill that slopes down from the house.  That way we'll lose the most difficult part of the yard to mow and have plenty of room to barbecue and entertain!

We have floors!

My contractor told me that in a month the house will be move in ready! That's exciting but on the other hand, we need to hustle to choose paint colors and lighting fixtures. Also we need to maybe buy a vanity for the master bathroom! 

This past week they put in the floors on the main level and tiled the master bathroom. Here's a look at the house now:

View as you come in the front door!
New floor, open floor plan and modernized fireplace.

View from the kitchen with new floors and new doorway

Master Bathroom. This will be the shower. There will be a mosaic and glass shelves on that back wall there.

We can't wait until it's all done! Don't forget, the 3 guest bedrooms are ready for visitors as soon as we move in (projected date: beginning of August).