The Ultimate Small Garden: A Complete Plan for Weekend Gardeners

Three Manageable Planting Beds

Two 5x6-foot beds flank an entry arbor: one for herbs, one for vegetables. A third bed (3x14.5 ft) along the fence showcases a colorful mix of annuals, perennials, and shrubs.

Herb Bed

Golden sage spills from a green-stained terra-cotta urn on its side. Culinary herbs—basil, chives, dill, oregano, parsley, thyme—surround it; taller lavender and rosemary in back, low lemon thyme in front. A path of granite-textured pavers edges the beds.

Vegetable Bed

Just big enough for favorites: patio tomatoes ('Sweet 100'), two Lebanese white zucchini, one 'Eight Ball' squash, four bell peppers, mixed lettuces, plus marigolds, Johnny-jump-ups, and nasturtiums for color.

Flower Bed

A controlled cool palette (blues, lavender, purple with pink, yellow, white splashes) prevents a busy look. Tall blue delphiniums, Echium vulgare 'Blue Bedder', catmint, and 'Tara's Pink' cape mallow against the fence; medium asters, pink snapdragons, golden yarrow in the center; low purple/lavender verbena, white Santa Barbara daisy, white sweet alyssum in front.

Container Plantings

Four 'Eureka' lemon trees in 16-inch-square containers, underplanted with lemon thyme and blue fescue, act as room dividers between the working garden and the deck.

Water Feature

A 16-inch glazed stoneware bowl nestled among the flowers floats blossoms like roses and bougainvillea.