Blue Courtyard

Small backyards don't necessarily mean no garden at all. They can be transformed into garden rooms as an extension of the house. One such example of a garden room courtyard was designed by Jim Fogarty.

The design

The aim was to provide a low maintenance, visually appealing functional garden that would act as an outdoor room with entertainment seating for about 20 people. The site measured 6mx6m (20'x20') with an existing palm tree halfway along one of the fences. The plan was to transform the area by erecting walls that could be rendered and painted using concrete sheets called Harditex.

Note: Harditex base sheets are cellulose fibre reinforced cement building sheets with recessed edges on the two long sides and one end to provide for concealed joint construction. They come in a range of sizes and cost approximately $12.35 per square metre.

The area was then paved with sandstone pavers and a formal pond was built to create a focus at the centre of the back wall. The garden beds were constructed with timber sleepers coach-bolted to sleeper posts so the weight of the garden soil would not push the Harditex sheets and fence over. The colours chosen for the courtyard continue the colours from the inside of the house, maintaining the courtyard as an extension of the back room. The walls were painted with Bristol Paints 'Thunderclap', a deep grey-blue and the area around the fountain was a dusty pink colour. The colours co-ordinated well with the sandstone pavers and the colours chosen for the garden followed the same theme using blues.

Plants

Standard Iceberg Roses (Rosa 'Iceberg') - These were selected to line up about head height to reduce the enclosed effect that high walls have around small areas and to form a relationship with the height of the existing palm tree.
Blue Delphinium (Delphinium 'Bellamosum') - Electric blue Delphiniums were chosen to tie in with the colour of the walls, the white coloured roses and the decor of the house. They add a more vibrant and stronger sense of blue to the area against the sombre blue background.
Tall Bearded Iris (Iris hybrid 'Serene Sea') - Freshly planted Irises replaced the Delphiniums when they were cut back. The irises continue the brighter blue foreground against the darker blue background.
Baby Agapanthus (Agapanthus 'Baby Blue') - These miniature blue agapanthus were planted at the base of the palm because they are hardy and withstand dryness. The blue flowerhead ties in with the other blues in the courtyard.

Cost

To have a professional landscaper do this job would cost $10,000-$12,000. However, this job was done by one person and if you did most of the work yourself, it would cost $5,000-$6,000 to cover the cost of materials and plants.

Further information

The designer of the blue courtyard was Jim Fogarty who is based in Melbourne, phone 0419 571 856.

Copyright CTC Productions 2006