Читать книгу Plant Combinations for an Abundant Garden - A. & G. Bridgewater - Страница 22

Many bungalows and houses have a flat, all-weather surface at their rear which forms an outdoor leisure area. Correctly, a terrace is an open area, usually now paved but earlier grassed, that connects a house with a garden. It usually has a balustrade or low wall, especially if raised above the general level of garden. Verandas are radically different in nature, and the name has an Indian origin, meaning an open-sided gallery around a house.

What are terraces and verandas?

Brick pillars on either side of a path’s entrance onto a terrace add distinction and highlight the path’s position.

FORMAL TERRACES

Inevitably, these are covered with paving slabs or companion materials such as bricks in attractive designs. Brick or reconstituted stone balusters and ornate copings create an aged appearance. They have a clinical appearance that goes well with many houses, both modern and early 1900s.

INFORMAL TERRACES

These have a relaxed feel, covered in either natural stone paving or reconstituted paving slabs with an old and weathered appearance. Occasionally, grass is used, but only where an all-weather surface is not important and the area is extremely large, so this is not really suitable for a small garden. Informal terraces look good alongside a lawn, where together they create an open-natured feature.

VERANDAS

The term veranda describes a gallery at ground level, on one side or completely surrounding a bungalow or house. They are a real delight, enabling a garden to be taken right up to a house. Most verandas have a sloping roof. The balustrade is usually of wood to harmonize with the rest of the veranda. Few houses are now built with a veranda and perhaps the feature nearest in design is decking.

Raised pond

If a terraced area is large, consider the construction of a raised pond; it is less easy to fall into than a ground-level pond – and the fish and plants are more easily seen.

Pergolas and trellises

These are ideal for integrating onto a terrace that in summer becomes drenched with sun for most of the day. For summer leisure, the shade these features provide will be essential.

VERANDAS

Planting ideas

Hanging baskets packed with summer-flowering plants are ideal for adorning the edges of verandas, while flowering climbers planted in a narrow border drench the sides in color.

Troughs and small shrubs in large pots are other interesting possibilities.