Back Deck
3. Minty hint. The mostly paved backyard of a fiction writer in Portland, Oregon, takes many design cues from the nearby Portland Japanese Garden, including the pattern of its concrete pavers with planted joints. “In essence we paved the whole thing but softened it with these moss elements in between,” says Michael Howells, the project’s architect.
Narrow, elegant, and functional
Narrow space elegantly landscaped
Angled steps up to deck rather than straight on
Winding shady garden leading from back deck up to front yard with spaced pavers creating a path.
Gravel floor instead of brick?
Add a mirror to make the space look larger?
Howells planted Scotch moss (Sagina subulata ‘Aurea’, zones 4 to 8) and Corsican mint (Mentha requienii, zones 6 to 9) between the concrete pavers. Both plants handle foot traffic, grow to about 1 inch tall and provide a cushy, bright green outline around the concrete pavers. The Corsican mint also emits a strong fragrance when it’s stepped on. “I have always wanted to do a project where I could introduce that idea of the sense of smell,” Howells says. See more of this Japanese-inspired backyard
Q