The
Mediterranean Garden Society

Jan Smithen writes:
“When you’re faced with designing a small garden, it’s a good idea to see how you can divide it up so it cannot be seen all at once. One of the best space-making illusions is actually dividing up the area by planting or erecting walls so each smaller space becomes a room. These walls can consist of informally planted shrubs that rise higher than the eye can see. They can be clipped hedges or trellises laced with a vine. Even a modest patio or balcony can be divided with a trellis so that it cannot be seen all in one glance.”

Views of Jan Smithen’s garden:

Hedge of Arbutus unedo ‘Compacta’ hiding the fence behind, with my old front door attached to the fence to imply there is something behind.

The end of the arbutus hedge and vine-covered fence with cypress at the foot of the garden. Neighboring house and tree can be seen beyond. Citrus trees behind low wall mask fence at the back.

A narrow pergola from the house to the rear wall divides the garden so it cannot all be seen at once. One wall of this hall-like pergola is trellis for plants to splay against; the other is the espaliered pear tree.

Through the narrow pergola to the edible garden side, a standard pomegranate in a pot stands in front of a fence covered with Parthenocissus quinquefolia and Lonicera confusa ‘Kate Sessions’.

An espaliered pear tree