10 Ways to Create a Romantic Garden
Delve into a sensual garden design that sings of love and speaks to the senses
Jay Sifford
3 March 2020
Gardeners are a diverse, passion-driven crowd. Some of us are brazen in our approach, utilising bold colours or rare plants to stake our claim in the world as collectors, artists or whimsical gardeners. Then there are the romantics among us, those who celebrate life and love with sentimentality, passion and zeal.
Romantics are often accused of seeing the world through rose-coloured glasses. Though arguably, they may have the best view of all. Let’s look at how to design a garden that satisfies the spirit of the romantic.
Romantics are often accused of seeing the world through rose-coloured glasses. Though arguably, they may have the best view of all. Let’s look at how to design a garden that satisfies the spirit of the romantic.
1. Create a private entrance
The romantic garden is not open to everyone. Unlike the garden of the extrovert, where the gate may be transparent and open, the entrance to the romantic garden is solid and private, and the gate comes with a lock. Softening this hardscape with delicate vines or softly textured plants gives a subtle hint of what is to come while establishing boundaries.
Struggling to create your garden retreat? Find a landscape designer near you on Houzz to make your dream a reality
The romantic garden is not open to everyone. Unlike the garden of the extrovert, where the gate may be transparent and open, the entrance to the romantic garden is solid and private, and the gate comes with a lock. Softening this hardscape with delicate vines or softly textured plants gives a subtle hint of what is to come while establishing boundaries.
Struggling to create your garden retreat? Find a landscape designer near you on Houzz to make your dream a reality
2. Set a seductive mood with paths
Serpentine paths create the sensual vibe of an unfolding story. The entire garden is not visible from any single juncture. A sense of mystery is established as the garden is explored and discovered anew at every turn. A quick straight path is not to be found in this garden.
21 Urban Garden Paths to Follow
Serpentine paths create the sensual vibe of an unfolding story. The entire garden is not visible from any single juncture. A sense of mystery is established as the garden is explored and discovered anew at every turn. A quick straight path is not to be found in this garden.
21 Urban Garden Paths to Follow
3. Allow for impromptu vignettes
Romantics are generally spontaneous people who enjoy thoughtful surprises. An impromptu lunch served on an outdoor table with good-quality table linen, crockery and candles may be just the thing to set the tone for an afternoon. Perhaps next time the table will be placed around another bend in a different section of the garden.
Romantics are generally spontaneous people who enjoy thoughtful surprises. An impromptu lunch served on an outdoor table with good-quality table linen, crockery and candles may be just the thing to set the tone for an afternoon. Perhaps next time the table will be placed around another bend in a different section of the garden.
4. Embrace sentimentality by alluding to a bygone era
There is arguably no period in history that conjures up feelings of romance like the Victorian era. Incorporating a few lace-trimmed accent pieces is a sure way to spark that romantic spirit.
Tip: Arches, urns, amphorae and even subtly placed statues can all add to the aesthetic of a bygone era.
There is arguably no period in history that conjures up feelings of romance like the Victorian era. Incorporating a few lace-trimmed accent pieces is a sure way to spark that romantic spirit.
Tip: Arches, urns, amphorae and even subtly placed statues can all add to the aesthetic of a bygone era.
5. Consider the use of candles
What better way to foster a romantic mood than using candles? Their soft, mellow flickering light illustrates the ebb and flow of romance that satisfies the spirit of this gardener.
Real candles (carefully attended, of course) add the most romantic vibe, but LED and battery-operated candles and fairy lights work just as well and tick the fire-safety box. Additionally, subtle background lighting by means of soft accent lights will complete the mood.
What better way to foster a romantic mood than using candles? Their soft, mellow flickering light illustrates the ebb and flow of romance that satisfies the spirit of this gardener.
Real candles (carefully attended, of course) add the most romantic vibe, but LED and battery-operated candles and fairy lights work just as well and tick the fire-safety box. Additionally, subtle background lighting by means of soft accent lights will complete the mood.
6. Choose your plant palette
Plant choices can make or break a mood, and this is especially true in the garden of the romantic. In this garden, marigolds and petunias give way to solitary roses, spires of salvia and foxglove, and patches of lavender and rosemary.
The rose, more than any other flower, embodies the spirit of romance. Its fleshy, softly textured petals stand in stark contrast to its thorny stems. Fragrance is released as its petals unfold. Early risers can savour the drops of morning dew on its petals.
From Bird of Paradise to Begonia: Flowers and their Meanings
Plant choices can make or break a mood, and this is especially true in the garden of the romantic. In this garden, marigolds and petunias give way to solitary roses, spires of salvia and foxglove, and patches of lavender and rosemary.
The rose, more than any other flower, embodies the spirit of romance. Its fleshy, softly textured petals stand in stark contrast to its thorny stems. Fragrance is released as its petals unfold. Early risers can savour the drops of morning dew on its petals.
From Bird of Paradise to Begonia: Flowers and their Meanings
7. Layer your plants
Layering gives this garden depth and interest, not unlike weaving a tapestry. Consider varying heights, textures and visual weights when it comes to choosing plants.
Plants with an open form, such as this tall verbena, act as a sheer lacy curtain, adding depth and drama to a planting scheme.
Layering gives this garden depth and interest, not unlike weaving a tapestry. Consider varying heights, textures and visual weights when it comes to choosing plants.
Plants with an open form, such as this tall verbena, act as a sheer lacy curtain, adding depth and drama to a planting scheme.
8. Use pastels
Soft pastel colours are just the thing to round out the planting scheme in this type of garden. They become subtle supporting actors in the overall theme of the garden in a way that bold reds and oranges could never do. Accenting them with some pops of chartreuse injects just the right amount of understated drama.
3 Colour Palettes to Set Your Garden’s Mood
Soft pastel colours are just the thing to round out the planting scheme in this type of garden. They become subtle supporting actors in the overall theme of the garden in a way that bold reds and oranges could never do. Accenting them with some pops of chartreuse injects just the right amount of understated drama.
3 Colour Palettes to Set Your Garden’s Mood
9. Don’t forget intoxicating fragrances
The garden of the romantic seduces all five senses. A patch of fragrant rosemary or lavender, a trio of gardenias or a trellis covered in heirloom roses all prime the senses to experience the fullness the garden offers those who venture there.
Make sure you pick a single scent and let it mark its territory in the garden. Too many competing scents can be undesirable, though with clever planning you can enjoy different signature scents throughout the seasons.
The garden of the romantic seduces all five senses. A patch of fragrant rosemary or lavender, a trio of gardenias or a trellis covered in heirloom roses all prime the senses to experience the fullness the garden offers those who venture there.
Make sure you pick a single scent and let it mark its territory in the garden. Too many competing scents can be undesirable, though with clever planning you can enjoy different signature scents throughout the seasons.
10. Complete the mood with simple sounds and soft music
The sound a single drop of water makes as it falls into a basin can open the senses to the full beauty of the romantic garden. Less is more, so choose appropriately; then savour the heady sensuality of your garden in all its fullness.
Your turn
Have you indulged your romantic side in your garden design? Tell us how in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Want more gardening advice? Read these 12 Ways to Design a Low-Maintenance Garden
The sound a single drop of water makes as it falls into a basin can open the senses to the full beauty of the romantic garden. Less is more, so choose appropriately; then savour the heady sensuality of your garden in all its fullness.
Your turn
Have you indulged your romantic side in your garden design? Tell us how in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Want more gardening advice? Read these 12 Ways to Design a Low-Maintenance Garden
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oh I totally disagree! I think australian natives are perfect to create a romantic garden. My council only uses natives and they use them in formal classic arrangements. I see so many native plants used for street plantings, westringia, wildflowers, bottlebrushes, flowering gums. I love seeing westringia and bottlebrushes hedged. Bottlebrushes flower prolifically when cut back hard. I have also seen them standardised and set in pots by council. I think grevilleas with their soft flowers are very romantic and they can be weeping as well. I have pink kangaroo paw in pots in my yard! Lillypillies make lovely hedges and topiaries. You could have topiary balls of all sorts of foliage plants in pots. I love the romantic feel of the grey leafed plants and the dainty wildflowers and daisies. Flowering gums are beautiful! I was a big fan of snugglepot and cuddlepie, so I think they are very romantic plants. If you attach planters around your back deck and hanging baskets and fill them with natives and cascading grevilleas you will also have lots of birds! what's more romantic than a visiting family of rosellas?
Thanks for that- you've given me lots of ideas to make my native backyard more romantic and beautiful.
One way to make a
‘vertical garden in a trough’ is to get a length of plumber’s
pipe, put the plumbing fitting on each end to block it up, collect up
several same-size planter pots, cut round holes at intervals along
the pipe and drop the planter pots into the holes. You water into the pipe to
water every pot, and it’s easy to replace anything that dies. If you use 'potted color' it's instantaneous! I saw
a wall done with several of these in layers up the wall, but don’t have a photo. It looked
great!