Creating a "There, There" in Your Garden: Designing Destinations That Draw You Out

Gertrude Stein famously said, "There is no there there." She wasn't describing gardens, but the phrase haunts gardeners who've planted masterpieces — only to admire them from a patio slammed against the house. Wouldn't it be better to enjoy your work from somewhere in the garden?

Explore these interventions to create compelling destinations that realize your garden's full potential.

Andrew Renn — Compress space with trees, a gate, or an arbor to entice exploration. Obscuring the view ahead adds mystery to the journey.

John Milner Architects, Inc. — An elegant outdoor fireplace across a courtyard from the house becomes a dominant garden feature, visible from indoors and calling people out. No chartreuse trees needed.

B. Jane Gardens — A simple hammock creates a place to pause. Sometimes a modest gesture is enough to lure you into the magic of outside.

Smith & Vansant Architects PC — A pavilion artfully positioned to capture borrowed views creates an ideal destination. Most of us lack majestic landscapes, but we can all learn to spot and develop our site's opportunities.

Lucid Land Studio — Boulders offer rest and palpable mass. A tree scrim behind begs exploration.

Wagner Hodgson — Water always allures. From Islamic gardens to 16th-century Italian villas, water centers the landscape. Designer Julie Messervy suggests water recalls the womb — whatever the psychology, time by water is restorative.

Thuilot Associates — A fire bowl beyond a pool draws people into the evening garden. Even a simple boulder fire ring at the property's far end becomes a beloved gathering spot.

Randy Thueme Design Inc. - Landscape Architecture — Carefully editing woodland plants — keeping desirable, removing invasive — creates explorable spaces without adding garden plants. A rustic path with a small seating area and sculpture becomes magical.

Bliss Garden Design — These examples translate across landscapes and budgets. Great design isn't just for the wealthy. A few boulders in a circle add as much joy as a custom fireplace. To enjoy your landscape, explore possibilities — just get outside.