7 French Garden Elements to Call Your Own

Easy ideas to give your personal garden a touch of ‘le magic’

1. Create a path that turns at a right angle.

Brick walkways are great for this.  Or rectangular pavers set in borders of wood with pea gravel. Adding a tailored element like this to an otherwise irregular outdoor space will convey your craftsmanship even if some plants are just slightly unkempt. The pea gravel is also very French for the eating and seating areas, plus it connects well with those walkways.

2. Cross-plant different textures in the same patch.

This can be a real eye catcher. Mixing lavender with white or deep red rose plants is often done – or go bold with small plants like at Butchart Gardens in Victoria BC, as seen below.

3. Let your roses get tall

Let them grow up to 7 feet in several patches where the breeze will sway them.  Among them, pick some scented bushes near the walkways to spread the scent.

4. Add metal garden art or fixtures

Setting some functional fixtures in the plantings as a focal point is great for contrast.  Birdbaths with rocks set in them for butterflies is my favorite.  The water reflects the sky and brightens up busy plantings, plus you’ll attract some local wildlife, like this little guy.

5. If not metal, then old stone wall fragments.

Better yet, use the new stone wall blocks as a mixture of eras & textures.

6. Use geometric shapes in your design 

Actively used doors, metal trellises, reclaimed windows can all be helpful to achieve eye catching starts for climbers and other roses.  Single colors often highlight these elements since they balance them out.

7. The L O N G Project

Plant climbing roses against a fence or wall and mount them into an espelier for wide blooming.  Takes some 4 seasons to achieve, but it is spectacular.  Instant backdrop for pictures along the walkway, or just behind the lower bushes in front.  Works well with fruit trees as basic as an apple tree. 

This sounds harder than it is, but really as the long stems are laid horizontally, the side shoots reach for the sun & become the verticals.  Just remember how tender the new shoots are & give the layout time to work together.

Each of these will require a bit of effort. Some more than others, but they will add interest and vibrancy to your garden.