Types of Gardens : Part 2

This is Part 2 to our Types of Gardens series. If you missed Part 1, go back HERE. There are many different types of gardens, and this is just a small sampling of all the different options out there.

Japanese Garden

This type of garden is designed in a traditional Japanese style. It features water elements and rocks and is usually meticulously pruned and manicured. These gardens tend to have balance between different elements, such as water and stone or the contrast of empty and filled spaces. Tea houses, stone lanterns, bridges, and dry landscape such as sand and gravel are often present. There are also sub categories of Japanese Gardens if you want to research this even further.

English Cottage Garden

English cottage gardens are more informal and have a natural layout. They often incorporate natural features like rolling lawns, trees, ponds and streams, and meandering pathways. The flowers and plants in an English garden showcase a wide variety of plants with a lot of colors and textures. Some of the most common flowers found in these gardens are roses, peonies, and delphiniums. I like to think of English gardens as being very romantic.

Butterfly Garden

A butterfly garden is a garden specifically designed to attract and support butterflies. Specific plants are used that the butterflies get their nectar from and host their caterpillars. Some of these nectar-rich flowers are milkweed, butterfly bush, coneflowers and zinnias. Butterflies lay their eggs on specific plants that their caterpillars can eat from. This includes milkweed for the monarch butterfly. Aside from these important features, a butterfly garden should have ample sunlight, colorful flowers, and places for them to sit and rest or drink. It’s very important to avoid pesticides in a butterfly garden.

Xeriscape Garden

Xeriscape gardens are created with plants that tolerate can drought-like conditions. Their main emphasis is to conserve water and be environmentally friendly. Some common drought tolerant plants are succulents, native plants (plants that have evolved in a certain climate for a long period of time without humans help), and ornamental grasses. Many xeriscape gardens do not use lawn or turf grass. Instead of grass, xeriscape gardens use gravel, ground cover or synthetic turf because of their water conserving features. In addition, these gardens are great for wildlife and birds.

In conclusion, there are several types of gardens. All have different aspects that make them visually appealing. You could use several of them in your own garden based on your climate and preference. I love looking at other gardens because it helps me understand my own likes and inspires me to do different and new things in my own yard. I’m excited to incorporate some of these ideas this next year.