Courtyard Colorful Design and Key

Colorful Courtyard Design and Key was created as more requests were being make by clients to have an area in their backyard to relax and enjoy. Have you ever looked in magazines or driven by a beautiful defined formal landscape?.

A colorful courtyard design can be formal or informal.

This factor is really determine by your taste. You can also combine the formal and informal look and develop your own flare.

Some people today have a porch, deck, or patio in their yards. They sit out and enjoy the different colors and varieties of plants.

Even if you don't have a deck, porch, or patio, you can take a bench or chairs and put them right out in a courtyard and relax.

Below are just a few suggestions for a garden project. This is just a very simple illustration with plants and information for you. I apologize if the numbers are small for you.

1. Emerald Green Arborvitae - The Emerald Green Arborvitae is considered a small tree. It grows ten to twenty feet tall and three to five feet wide. This is a superb specimen for privacy, and a great substitute for a Leyland Cypress.
   
   The Emerald Green is a great backdrop in a courtyard. The Emerald green is an upright small tree. It can take full sun but also partial shade. Grows well in zones three through seven.
   
   The Emerald Green can be planted in a straight row or can be staggered in an odd number.Plant anywhere from five to seven feet apart. This small tree looks striking with variegated shrubs such as a Lemon Thread Cypress, or a Golden Euonymus. Their rich color will accent any deciduous plant also. One of my favorite small trees. The gallery of plants section gives you details of the Arborvitae family and also many of the plants on this page.



2. Indian Hawthorn - evergreen shrub with pink or white flowers in spring. Blue berries will appear in the in fall and winter months. Indian Hawthorn minor is a bigger shrub and will grow four to six feet wide. The major is a little smaller and will grow three to four feet high and two to three feet wide. Very durable shrub. This shrub will grow in a variety of zones, especially well in zones four through nine. Popular for along your front of the house or good with any variegated shrubs.



3. Blue Pacific Juniper - evergreen low growing shrub. Grows well in zones five through nine. Likes full sun but can take shade better then other junipers. Great plant specimen draping over or in and around rocks or stones. Will grow around one foot high and can sprawl out five to nine feet. Great ground cover. Color is green with teal tones on the long needle like leaves.



4. Bird Bath - many different birth bath styles to choose from. Colors can range from white, black, dark green tone, etc... Bird baths are very common in a courtyard.







5. Decorative fish pond - Many companies offer a variety of styles to choose from. You can build one yourself, or have an professional come and install one. Ponds and Water Gardens, Landscaping with Aquatic Plants, Koi Fish and Shrubs. Add aquatic plants and fish. You can also create a garden project using regular shrubs and flowers around your pond.



6. Gazebo - Modern days bring modern versions of gazebos. They come in any size and shape. Colors vary from white, and a number of different shapes in stain.



7. Bench - pick out a wooden bench, which can give a natural look as well as an old time feel. Iron benches were used a lot in the older English style formal gardens. Concrete benches are becoming more popular today. They come in styles of straight, half mooned, bunny or other animals molded into the concrete.

Both of these fantastic books, Creating Small Formal Gardens