Looking for design help
Related Discussions
Blackout curtains behind vertical blinds
I have two 6' patio doors, and I want to add blackout curtains to keep the sun/cold out. What is the best way to hang them, and what can I use to push the curtains ba... See more
How to make a balloon garland?
Does anyone know how to make a balloon garland or a balloon arch?
How can I make an electric pole “go away” in my landscaping?
We live in N. Texas, the “concrete capital of the world” And we are building our house on raw land. I’ve tackled all of the weeds, brought in topsoil and we are... See more
Do you recommend painting the inside of a fence?
I have a small patio and think about painting my fence on the inside so I can put some colorful decor up. Is this a good idea?
How can I make a power tower in my back yard more appealing?
It is such an eye sore. Do you have any suggestions as to how to make it more appealing? Please keep in mind that the power company does not allow anything on the tow... See more
How to cut and finish the edge of a chain link fence privacy screen?
I need to cut a privacy screen for a chain link fence similar to the photo. It's much too long. Has anyone ever done this? How did you finish the edge? Sew it? Glue i... See more
Can't hardly see the fountain and area, but generally in your climate, paint isn't gonna stick for long, I would go with a concrete paint, or if its concrete you could stain it and seal it.
As to oriental garden, why not visit or study some Japanese gardens, its a real art form that I love and have appreciated for over 60 years. Once you see the plants they typically use, I would visit your local nursery and see which ones would be appropriate for your climate and exposure. Rhododendrons, azaleas, wisteria, cypress trees, pines, japanese maple, dogwoods and of course cherry blossum trees are popular. flowers.... most popular is the iris. Water features and rock gardens are incorporated.... the garden should be viewed in all four seasons.
Pinterest has many good pages on the art.... https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=japanese%20gardens&rs=typed&term_meta[]=japanese%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=gardens%7Ctyped
Have you considered talking to a Landscape architect? Perhaps for a small consultation fee you could get a basic outline and advice of how best to reach your goals. Some Adult Education Classes in landscaping for home owners may be offered at your local college or by an senior center.
sounds like you have some work ahead, so have fun with it, it'll be worth it when your done.
Remove the Etruscan vase from the fountain. Replace that with an oriental figure made for fountains. Keep the larches because they go with the perfect oriental garden. Mulch comes in many colors now, as do rocks. Simple wooden chairs and benches would be nice, as would a pergola. Best wishes with all the details. ☺️
Too much information, sorry.
Hi Sandy,
I think you have too much questions/concerns for a simple answer.
I would suggest contacting a designer for a consultation and an overall design concept. Online design services available.
www.JapaneseGardensMD.com
Yes, you do digress. What is your main question? I thought it was about painting the fountain - then I got lost. Please break it down for us.
Simple oriental design= Large Rocks and Gravel raked into a pattern or to taste) Large Plant Pots filled with Trees - Or Large Pond with Bridge or Stepping stones.
If you are inspired to do it yourself - I say do it. Experts are great but think of everything you will learn. I agree with taking off the vase and replacing it. I would consider a white stone base of rock it will really pop your vegetation and give it a very oriental feel. What I have observed with Japanese gardens is that less is more. Resist the temptation to buy more until you have marked off you space and laid ground tarp and put it stone. In Japanese landscaping, areas are defined. I would consider placing the fountain back or considering a smaller fountain. Good Luck.
Okay, lets start with the porch:
The space where the fountain is:
Place where your small bird bath is beyond the porch:
Replace the small bird bath with your larger fountain and top the fountain with a more fitting statue (see below)
Personally, I would go with a lot of flowering shrubs.... I would check out your local nurseries for advice, and note down each side's exposure i.e. north, south etc. so they can help you select the right ones.
I wouldn't plant a tree that close to the house.... roots can mess up a foundation and moisture can cause mold. Relocate them further out... if you want this garden to be private, you could make them part of the boundary of the garden edge.
I like your little topiary shrub, to make it more Asian, simple prune some branches out to make it more asymetrical.
Most small gardens have a specimen feature tree like a red Japanese maple, cherry blossom tree, dogwood, or a pine.
I don't love the ground cover, I think I would remove it, put down landscape fabric, and do gravel and rake it for a Zen garden look, then let your tree and fountain be the focal point. Then add a few flowering shrubs like azaleas, a boulder and some moss. But if you like it, tame it into an interesting curvey shape.... https://www.google.com/search?q=pictures+of+sculptural+ground+cover+in+Japanese+garden&client=opera&hs=jrv&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjs2qm_7KjaAhUHYK0KHWx0DooQ7AkIRg&biw=911&bih=421
Here is some more inspiration.... https://www.google.com/search?q=pictures+of+the+Portland+Japanese+garden&client=opera&hs=M6F&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjq8r2o5qjaAhUIbKwKHRMaA9IQ7AkIQg&biw=911&bih=421
Perhaps instead of paint, you could maybe sand blast the concrete pieces and stain them with concrete stain. It comes in many colors and they do it to garage floors and counter tops all the time. It might last longer than paint and perhaps look better. Oriental gardens are supposed to be calming and peaceful. Flowering shrubs, perhaps. Some that bloom in different seasons and one focal point.
I worked at a nursery and we would custom paint concrete fountains and other pieces of concrete for our customers and it would hold up for pretty well. I did one for my parents about 8 years ago and it still looks good. For an antique Bronze look we would start with a latex base of "chicken crap" tan (yes folks thats what it looked like). Then we would mix a clear concrete sealer(oil base) with a latex black and brush on. Ye
s oil and water do not mix, but this allowed for it to get that aged bronze look. It is basically same process for antique copper look , just use a green/teil base.
There was no specific brand as for as the latex paint was concerned, the sealer was no specific brand either, just a good quality paint and sealer. When i get home I will check to see what I used on the last one I did for myself.