Garden of the Day: On the Edge of Carroll Gardens

When we bought our house on the “edge” of Carroll Gardens we began a full gut-renovation, both of the house and the backyard (which looked like the surface of the moon). We designed the garden to allow for a generous flower-bed perimeter, a grass center for the kids to play on, and a patio for entertaining. What ended last year’s season as a pathetic, wilting shrub blossomed into a 6-foot high white hydrangea bush this summer, flanked by blue hydrangeas on either side. Our specimen tree also grew rapidly and yielded beautiful cherry blossoms in May. This year’s additions include a dwarf weeping red Japanese Maple, a brilliant pink rose tree, and four clematis of different varieties. One of the clematis had to be potted, thanks to some remnants from the rubble pit beneath the flower bed. Thankfully, this has been the only time the hardened earth beneath our landscaping has caused a problem. Our annuals in the front of the beds are now dahlias, silver leaf, and begonias. A sea of tulips and daffodils came up in late-April.

We replaced the dilapidated chain-link fence with a cinderblock wall, which we covered with recycled slate roof-tile that our contractor removed from an old house. The outdoor kitchen, which my husband happily says is the only thing he got to design in the whole house, is constructed from treated wood and wonderboard. The facade is brick face, the countertop is granite tile and the grill and access doors are stainless steel.

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This poor garden isn't feeling any love yet it seems. I'll start. I really like the open lawn in the middle for the kids (and grown-ups) with the plants and flowers all around the sides. I also really like the patio area - that's some grill and bar set-up! Does anyone sit on the bench? Seems to be not much leg-room there.

Congrats, I think it's very nice and welcoming.

Posted by: Biff Champion at July 28, 2008 12:33 PM

The garden looks great! Care to share the contractor's name?

Posted by: Spunky123 at July 28, 2008 12:34 PM

I agree this garden is beautiful i just called my co worker to come and take a look and she also said that it was beautiful..... I hate to be nosy but i am planning o do the same thing next year to my back yard which is a pretty good size, who is your contractor?? and the out door cooking device where did you get it from?

Thanks

Posted by: mysideofstuy at July 28, 2008 1:35 PM

I wonder what the pH of your soil is - the hydrangea seems to show white pink and blue...

Posted by: dittoburg at July 28, 2008 1:42 PM

I think I know whose garden this is -

couple = teacher & lawyer w/ 2 kids formerly from Concord Village -

do I have that right???

Posted by: fsrg at July 28, 2008 1:51 PM

That outdoor kitchen rocks!

Posted by: Park Sloper at July 28, 2008 3:23 PM

The Bully has the bison and the beer. What's the addy?

Seriously, though, I love the kitchen set up. What materials did you use?

Posted by: Bed Stuy Bully at July 28, 2008 3:33 PM

Thanks so much everyone! Biff, the bench is there because we haven't gotten around to finding the right bar stools yet... A beer tap is coming for the countertop (Brooklyn Lager tap handle, of course). Spunky123, the landscaping was initially done by Shannon Florist on Fort Hamilton Pkwy; the contractor got the yard cleared and ready, and laid down the cement for the patio. He did a great job, but really shined when it came to the house reno itself: Alex & Tom Construction. Mysideofstuy, the built-in grill is a Bull (see bullbbq.com. We have the Angus) and the doors and sink/wet-bar came from All Valley BBQ in California (allvalleybbq.com). The countertop and "island" were custom made by the carpenter. The materials are pretty simple: treated wood, wonderboard, brickface and granite tile. Dittoburg, we are wondering that ourselves. I'm embarassed to say I've been lax about testing for the actual pH level. FSRQ, of course you're right! Park Sloper, my husband will love to hear that - testosterone abounds on that thing. Bed Stuy Bully, I think I answered your question.

Thanks again so much for your wonderful comments.

Posted by: lapmax75 at July 29, 2008 12:49 AM

lapmax75, thanks for the note on the bench (it was just a very minor point I was curious about). I'm sure you'll all have sweet memories of backyard bbqs and quality time with the family.

Thanks for sharing it and all the best.

Posted by: Biff Champion at July 29, 2008 8:35 AM

Thanks again Biff!

Posted by: lapmax75 at July 29, 2008 8:34 PM

I Love it. I'm a huge fan of grass. If you don't mind my asking, what kind of cost did you run into?

Posted by: PutnamStoner at July 30, 2008 7:19 AM

It wasn't extremely cost prohibitive because we did all of the planning, drawing, and designing ourselves of the garden layout, the patio, and the grill area (and the house, BTW). In addition, we tried to use recycled materials, whenever possible, like the slate roof tiles which were about to be thrown in the dumpster by our contractor and some others as well. We picked and bought all of our new materials ourselves, so there were no "middle people" that we had to go through. Also, there were no real hidden costs. So, all told, it was pretty affordable. Just the cost of the new materials,labor, and the plants. Plus, If you can do most or all of the planting yourself, that will also save you some cash. Good Luck!

Posted by: lapmax75 at July 30, 2008 11:38 AM

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July 28, 2008

Garden of the Day: On the Edge of Carroll Gardens

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