Wall Water Features

Can someone help me design a garden on my gravel patch....?

We have a sunken hole we want to turn into a 'garden' of some kind. ...the land is very high at the rear of our house so its basically just a big hole in the ground with scrubby grass sides! NOT very pretty - we work from home so expect to have lots of visitors this summer - here are photos - http://myauctionpix.com/membertemplate.php?a_id=1321&bg_id=25....it has to stay gravelled as its also drainage for the whole garden/paddock that slopes into it (thats the concrete well on the right ) - under the gravel is drainage pipes - I'd love a paved area for a gazebo & maybe some kind of water feature - maybe also an american style stone BBQ table with seating area etc - we have a TON of stone as you can see so we can build walls and all sorts for nothing - if you have any ideas i would be grateful as i have NO idea what to do with this area? ( btw - the patio will have wooden rails in a few days so that wil be more 'finished' too....thankyou so much - i really need some inspiration !

Public Comments

1. I would put a retaining wall across the back arch of the gravel area. you can build a shorter wall in front of that to make into planting areas. You can also include the water feature in the center of the retaining wall, maybe just a small feature as you dont have tons of space back there. A greek head on the wall with water coming from it to a small pool down below which can be recycled. A nice flowering tree at each end of the wall to help with retention, beds below the trees. Planters on the gravel surface which can actually be very nice if you keep going smaller and smaller with the stone. You can put a medallion or such in the middle of the gravel area. To the left or the right could be for grilling and the seating area would be centered over the medallion area. I would plant colorful plants for full summer color and allow some to grow over the edge softening the stone. Planters up on the patio and maybe window boxes also. Good Luck
2. My suggestion would be to level the area with sand and create a central patio with flat paver stones (sand under and between each stone). This could be covered with a free standing gazebo. You could then add soil to create berms for planting in front of the retaining walls, along the back slope and along the base of the existing patio. Toward the back of the space, would be an ideal location for a stone fireplace/barbecue pit with built in table and benches. There would also be room for a container style water garden at one side of the area. Good luck with this project, it looks like fun.
3. I'd build a stone retaining wall at the back where the arch is (all the way around) in the centre of the wall at the high point, I would use the height by putting in a wide waterfall in, either natural looking (flowing from a garden on top) or one of the new modern long rods they put horizontally the the water pours from. Make sure you have a decent size wide 'pond' at the bottom. You don't want water splash to drive you crazy. Then plant along the remaining wall with large lush plants. Think large, it is a big area and if you are entertaining you don't want this little water feature stuck on the wall. It should be in keeping with the size of the house and the garden. You could make a pattern with large square pavers in the centre of the gravel (leaving gaps for drainage) and put your garden setting there. If you put in the retaining wall you can plant a garden on the top and incorporate some medium deciduous trees then you wont need a gazebo. When planting the garden on the retaining wall incorporate some spreading plants that will hang down the stone walls softening the look. Hope this gives you some ideas.
4. I would look at decorative grasses to feature on the banked area - grass already grows there quite well ! and use some of the stone for a japanese style water feature- more of a spring tumbling over rocks, which you can dress with a small tree or some of the feathery types of bamboo if a tree would be too big. This will not take up so much of your entertaining space, and be less maintainance than a full-size pond.