June 8, 2016

Patio Landscaping Ideas

Martie Big Creek Farmhouse Remodel Big Creek, gnome garden decor, gnome garden village, miniature gnome garden, patio landscaping ideas, pea gravel 20 Comments

I’m sure you remember my beautiful rock terrace, or multi-level patio, right outside my back door here at Big Creek.  I’ve been hit with some exciting patio landscaping ideas, thanks to some beautification Coach and I did last weekend in that area. Isn’t it amazing how doing some simple cleaning up can spur ideas for something bigger and better? 

Patio Landscaping Ideas

This trouble spot has just been an ugly eye-sore for so long, and Coach and I have been talking about cleaning it up and mulching it forever. It’s just a patch of dirt between the shop building and the sidewalk leading up to the chicken coop. I don’t have many  ‘before’ pictures, but this one definitely gives you an idea of how boring and bare this spot was.

There’s too much shade for anything to grow in that spot, and the dogs have always loved to stretch out there and nap (I think they’re hoping for some fresh chicken). As you can see, this spot also loved to collect leaves, which brings mosquitos! Ick! I’m loving what we have done here so much better than mulch, and I have big patio landscaping ideas brewing in my head! Here’s an after shot, for comparison.

Home Depot had a big sale on Memorial Day, including 5 bags of mulch for $10, and 4 bags of this smooth little pea gravel for $10.  We hadn’t even thought about putting pea gravel there until we saw it on sale!  We did cash in on the mulch, too, and have since finished up the flower beds on the rock terrace, but as soon as I saw the pea gravel a light-bulb went on in my head!  How perfect would that look in our little “no-man’s land” next to the shop?

Coach is full of patio landscaping ideas. He knew just what to do! First, he dug a little trench along the edge of the sidewalk so we could make a border of bigger rocks to hold the pea gravel in.  He also put down some old newspaper underneath the rocks to keep weeds from growing there.  It was a simple project that made a big impact…it looks so much cleaner and more groomed! 

More Creative Ideas

My plan?  I’m going to have a gnome village garden there! Big Creek needs a gnome village garden, don’t you think? I haven’t done much more than a few sketches of things I’d like to see in my village, but I definitely have a vision.  The outer wall of the shop is made of tin, and will make an awesome canvas for me to paint a sweet little scene as a backdrop for my gnome and fairy town.  I’m imagining houses, stores, paths, and possibly even a creek or river running through it all.  I’m just full of patio landscaping ideas, and not just your run-of-the-mill flowers and mulch.  I want paint, gnome garden decor, and tiny little architecture!

I can’t wait to get started…but wait I will, because we’re expecting temps in the high 90’s for the rest of this week. It’s going to have to cool off considerably before I’ll be caught out there trying to paint the backdrop for my miniature gnome garden.  I can begin construction on some of the tiny dwellings, maybe some park benches and other cute little things, while I’m indoors in the air conditioning.  I’ve already started collecting supplies!

 Can you picture it, too?

What kind of patio landscaping ideas do you have?  Do you like to get creative, or do you prefer your outdoor spaces more symmetrical and tidy? I’m looking forward to doing something really fun with this spot, which was once just an afterthought, and not really part of our patio landscaping at all. I think the chickens will love my ideas! 

X,O,X,O,   Martie

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