Southern Lady May/Jun - Gardens & Porches 2018

How wonderful it is to live in a region with such a rich tradition of outdoor living! What’s more Southern than sipping a glass of sweet tea or lemonade as you sway on a porch swing or settle into a rocker to enjoy a cool breeze? Alfresco spaces are an extension of our homes, and so often they are where hospitality begins—chatting with neighbors, greeting passersby on a fine evening, catching up with a dear friend or two beneath the shade of the veranda. And if there’s a beautiful garden in the picture—formal or casual, cloaked in greenery or bright with blossoms—so much the better. In this special issue, we pay tribute to some of our favorite porches and gardens throughout the South. Revel in the idyllic charm of a water lily-bedecked…

British horticulturist Gertrude Jekyll said, “The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies.” This enduring affection rings true in the majestic gardens on display throughout our region, and especially in the gems highlighted within this issue. Their lush backdrops dotted with a kaleidoscope of blossoms showcase not just the splendor of nature, but the labor of love bestowed by those who tend them. A garden is a home’s first greeting, welcoming both residents and visitors alike. As with home interiors, garden design is intentional, and a well-cultivated space will create a harmonious balance with the structure it surrounds. Some gardens have a classic feel, where verdant elements like precisely trimmed evergreen hedges and decoratively shaped boxwood provide interest amid subtle flowering accents. Some are more relaxed retreats…

Fanciful Touches As with the rooms of a well-designed home, the garden contains distinct segments throughout, each with its own identity and a striking mix of accessories. Outdoor accents like planters, urns, and ornate gates pair perfectly with a lovely mix of colorful annuals, as well as perennials like the purple clematis that adorns a charming birdhouse. Shapely Appeal Evergreen hedges trimmed into elaborate designs set the scene in the garden, providing both interest and structure all around the residence. Favorite Southern vines scale the walls and arch over the windows—all drawing attention to the refined architectural features. The harmony between the home and its natural backdrop continues in shrubs that help define the space, as well as informal plantings that soften harsh exterior lines. Lively shrubs and hedges provide privacy for the…

You’ve Got Mail Antique industrial pieces are built sturdily and are especially well suited for use in your garden. A mail cubby placed atop a potting bench is a clever way to store scissors, twine, plant markers, and other garden goods. Outdoor Elegance The garden is ripe for decoration with more than just flowers and foliage. Architectural salvage, flea market finds, and pieces left over from indoor projects all add a sophisticated flair to outdoor rooms. Keep your look cohesive by using objects that are all within the same color family. Heirloom Accents A weathered antique cabinet adds rustic appeal and abundant storage. Along with the usual supplies, we filled ours with unique and unexpected items that can be used as outdoor accessories, vases, and containers. (Opposite) A birdcage-style accent makes a perfect spot to…

Room for Revelry When this homeowner wanted to carve out more entertaining space in her mostly wooded backyard, she called on garden designer Troy Rhone of Birmingham, Alabama, to come up with a plan that offered cozy patio seating amid natural surroundings. With an expanse of French doors linking the home’s interior to the outdoors, it was important to create a harmonious flow between the two. Troy echoed the clean lines of the interiors with a simple but polished layout. He enclosed the newly expanded garden with a hedge of Mary Nell holly and added creeping fig to existing brick walls. Classic, low-maintenance boxwood makes up the majority of the landscape plantings. Bi-level patios are edged in the same red brick used for the retaining wall, where a concrete carving and…

Homespun Charm Arrange pots in varying shapes and heights, and fill them with towering lavender, bunches of light purple African daisy, gorgeous blooms of pink hydrangea, trails of variegated ivy, and patches of fragrant oregano. (Opposite) A brightly hued teakettle gets new life as a vessel for a loose arrangement of leaves and dainty, feathery blossoms. The deep red of the foliage makes for an engaging contrast with the kettle's apple-green tone. Summertime Salute Alongside Old Glory, a crisp white window box with flowers in varied shades of red, white, and pink captures the spirit of freedom and joy that summer brings. A lush swag of English ivy adds a graceful flourish and softens the edges of the wooden box. (Opposite) Silver serving pieces encircle moss bases into which petite flowers and greenery…