photo credit: SarahMcD ॐ

The birdhouse idea is one I would use but I would add a few vining plants with the houses to add interest and flowing lines. The following you tube show how easy and fast a wall can be decorated.

Birdhouse can be picked up at sales for a dollar or so. They can also be easily made and would make a great family project.

This project will only take a few hours and can use whatever materials you have on hand. I have seen mirrors, old farm equipment, tools, gourds, masks, etc…

Another idea for an old wall is using collectibles on the wall but adding a vertical garden along the fence. It will soften the fence and add depth to the yard. Another advantage is homegrown chemical free produce.

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photo credit: net_efekt

Another benefit of a tea garden is that it takes a very small amount of space. A 6-foot by 8-foot garden is actually quite big. If you have less space you can make it smaller. And if you only have indoor space available, a tea garden will adapt well to being indoors or on a balcony.

If you have more room you may want to set the tea garden up in a cottage garden tea garden design with a small fenced in area with a gate and trellis or arbor.

Many cottage herb garden designs plant honeysuckle, clematis, climbing rose bushes or wisteria on the trellis or arbor. It will not be long before these plants climb over the arbor and trellis and add astonishing color to you garden area.

Whatever size you select for an outdoor tea garden you will want to divide your entire garden down the middle by making a path. The path can be wide enough for a wheelbarrow or a slender path used for harvesting. Next create narrow paths within each planting bed on either side of the path.

Your goal is to make everything is within arm’s length for weeding and harvesting. This will keep you off the soil and allow more room for your herbs. I will often place a flat rock to stand on just off a path if I need to be able to reach into the garden bed further. This also adds a more natural look to the garden.

Choose herb plants that will thrive in your garden zone. A trip to you local nursery or garden center will help you with your plant selections. I also mix a few colorful fragrant flowers, fruits and vegetables in the herb garden just to add interest and color.

As with any garden, plant the garden based on what each plant needs for sunlight and spacing.

Herbs can be planted closer together than many plants and still thrive so fill the garden. If possible leave a very small section for a tiny bench or a very small table. This will give you a place to relax, enjoy the garden and have a cup of fresh tea.

I also try to add a rain barrel to my herb garden area so that water is easily within reach for watering the plants.
photo credit: chaz2b

And if your only available space is the patio or indoors, herbs grow very well in containers and hanging baskets. Just try to find a spot that get 6 to 8 hours of sunlight for the plants.

Herbs make wonderful container gardens because you have interesting color and texture in herbs and by selecting unique containers and planters you can create wonderful relaxing garden art that can be changed during the season and that also adds tea and seasonings to you home.

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photo credit: thingermejig

This you tube video sets up a garden display or vignette for a patio area but it could be used on a balcony, in an apartment or in a backyard tucked in a corner or as a small accent garden.

I could see this garden, which is mainly a container garden, having more vegetable garden plants. Beans, lettuce, cucumbers, carrots and tomatoes are only a few vegetables that would do well. And the addition of herbs would add texture and more useful crops for the home.

This vignette planter could also be tied in with window boxes by using some of the design elements and color in both. This would expand you growing room and create a flow in design. By using intensive gardening techniques you could grow a nice variety of vegetables and fruit.

Mini gardens can be for display, a collection of unique plants or used to grow produce. With all the garden containers, soil and container available you can make a garden for almost any situation.

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