CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Jamee Gregory in her garden, where a white picket fence provides a bright backdrop for Queen Elizabeth roses, morning glories and Verbena bonariensis; Walpole’s dazzling selection of outdoor lanterns; a bold planter from Walpole; a beautiful bird house; bright blue morning glories and pink hibiscus accent a white trellis
A COUNTRY GARDEN needs definition. Even the wildest beds, full of tumbling flowers, need punctuation points. Your landscape should offer the viewer a comfortable place to observe—a decorative bench, a swing or an arbor. Borders, trees and flower beds need bones and backdrops; try a lattice, an obelisk or a gate. Why not install a birdcage with a shingled roof, a bird bath or a carousel feeder? Feathered friends may want a perch to call their own, and it will add more interest, movement, sound and color to your garden.
Some people like natural teak or shades of green; personally, I prefer crisp white accents. Some like their wood stained with the grain showing and plenty of shellac, but nowadays many opt for a cellular vinyl material that looks and feels like real wood but won’t warp, rot, split or need repainting. Another garden consideration: a shed, tools or playhouse for your kids. What about beautiful planters to shelter and house your topiary trees or giant hibiscus? All these accents can be found in the Hamptons at Walpole Woodworkers (779 Montauk Hwy., Water Mill, 726-2859; walpolewoodworkers.com).
Walpole offers a variety of fences and pergolas, along with colorful mailboxes that will brighten your property and provide plants with a sturdy surface to cover. Nothing is more romantic than a white picket fence covered with climbing roses, or an inviting arch smothered in fragrant blossoms of wisteria or trailing clematis. Every garden needs a shady spot, a place to pause or a picnic spot under an awning of flowers.
A wide variety of choices will tempt every visitor. A little architecture adds a lot to a green space, no matter the size of the garden, whether a gazebo, a bridge or a fanciful weather vane. You could always instead spring for a rustic planter, an elegant Versailles tub or a Williamsburg-style gate. The sky’s the limit! Having a comfortable spot to rest and read your favorite book or the Sunday papers will make outdoor living a pleasure.
