Design the garden from where you actually sit, not from the street.
Most gardens are planned from the curb, for the view a passerby will see. Yet the view that matters most is the one from your favorite chair. Sit there for a few minutes before you plant anything and notice where your eye goes first.
Frame that view. A pair of matching planters at the top of the steps, or two clipped shrubs at the edge of the lawn, act like a picture frame and give the garden a sense of order. Boxwood, holly and dwarf yaupon hold their shape all year.
Plant for scent close to the house. Gardenia, star jasmine, lavender and sweet autumn clematis release their fragrance in the evening, exactly when you are most likely to be sitting outside. Keep them within a few steps of the porch.
Layer from low to high. Ground covers and spilling herbs at the edge, perennials in the middle, and a flowering tree or tall grasses at the back create depth even in a small yard. Repeat one or two plants throughout so the garden reads as a whole.
Finally, plan for every season. A garden that peaks in May and goes quiet in August disappoints the person in the chair. Add late bloomers, berries and evergreen structure, and the view will be worth sitting for all year.
