The lush landscapes that you discover during your world travels are an escape from daily stress—but they are so much more. Though you can’t bring home the exotic trees and plants you enjoyed, you can bring back the inspiration to recreate the outdoor oasis in your own garden. To help you set up one of these spaces (there’s still some summer left now, or you can think about it for next year), we take you on a stroll through four distinctive global environs—English, Japanese, Hawaiian and Southwest gardens—and offer a few tips on how you can extend your vacation getaway in your own backyard.
English Garden
The earliest English-style gardens were planted by Romans in the first century, dressing large villas and palaces with formal box hedges and gravel walkways. With each period, from Medieval to Victorian, came variation—the secret gardens were opened, colorful flowers broke monotony and straight lines gave way to curves. Today’s English design, a less formal and contrasting style, makes it a popular choice for a backyard garden, especially in New Jersey, but the planter’s goal is still symmetry and organization.
Set it up: Boxwoods and hydrangeas, says John Jacobs, manager of the custom garden services department at Haskell-based Scenic Landscaping, are ideal plants that provide the needed structure and color for an English garden. These, along with meticulously trimmed yew hedges, can create garden “rooms” or borders, while taller plants like arborvitae and hombeam trees form more private alcoves. Often, the same materials found around the home, like limestone, cobblestone or brick, are used for garden walls and water features.
Japanese Garden
Asian landscapes, whether in Far East lands or in the U.S., promote feelings of tranquility and harmony. And in a Japanese garden, there is plenty of opportunity for peaceful contemplation. (Who doesn’t need a little of that these days?) This style focuses on nature via three essential elements—plants, rocks and water—and design principles like asymmetry and symbolism.
Set it up: Let Asian plants like flowering cherry trees, Japanese maples and azaleas set the tone: They add instant color to the scenery and provide the right atmosphere, as do the weeping atlas cedar and star magnolia trees. Dense plantings, Jacobs says, are often used near a water feature such as a koi pond to balance the elements of land and sea. Keep in mind Japanese gardens are meant to mimic nature, so ponds, rock formations and paths flow in a meandering manner.
Hawaiian Garden
Sunshine, warm weather and soft breezes make Hawaii an ideal vacation getaway, but it’s the lush landscape that makes it an unforgettable tropical paradise. From healthy greenery, bright flowers and playful décor, the Hawaiian garden is meant to be as pleasing to the eye as it is relaxing for the mind.
Set it up: Palm trees are one of the signature plants of this style, and while two-thirds of the palm varieties live in tropical environments, you can have them in your yard. Yes, you can plant the same trees found in Hawaii on your New Jersey property—and they’ll last all summer, Jacobs says. “After October, however, you’ll have to transplant them to a greenhouse or donate them to the landfill because they likely won’t survive freezing temperatures,” he adds. Plants like cala lilies and hibiscus have bright blooms and will bring color to the garden, while leafy hostas and ferns provide additional foliage. Other features such as outdoor fireplaces, chimineas, candles and ponds are also often included. “A waterfall would be a perfect addition to the landscape for a true Hawaii feel,” Jacobs says.
Southwest Garden
Despite rocky soil, desert climates and varying elevations, the American West is home to one of the world’s most distinctive landscapes. It’s the area where gardens highlight the colors brown and taupe, showing that they can be just as beautiful as the brightly hued succulents that grow here. It’s also home of the majestic saguaro cactus, which can rise as tall as 70 feet.
Set it up: Though maintaining desert plants in New Jersey might be a prickly prospect, many are hardy enough to survive here. Sure, the saguaro won’t live long in the Garden State, but there are cacti that can thrive and give your backyard an Arizona flair. The Eastern prickly pear, for instance, can survive sub-zero temperatures when it’s covered (and insulated) by snow. “Different succulents like agave and red yucca can do well in the Northeast too,” Jacobs says. “Decorative gravel and boulders in different sizes and color are nice features too. These can be arranged to complement the plants.” Red clay pavers and Arizona flagstone as well as fountains, pottery and Native American art can also be incorporated.
Which type of garden will you be planting this summer? Tell us on Instagram @njhomemag.