A modern parterre garden

A parterre is a formal garden that consists of planting beds edged in stone or tightly clipped hedging and gravel paths. The layout of a parterre is usually symmetrical.

Here’s an example of a traditional parterre garden with hedges, bay trees, and topiary at Bickham House in Devon, England (photo from pro.corbis.com).

And here’s a modern take on a parterre garden in Vancouver, BC. It was designed by landscape architect Ron Rule:

I love how the white hydrangeas with their green foliage stand out against the dark gray house.

The fountain is made from an antique Chinese wheat grinding wheel.

I always like decks and patios that have multiple levels. In this case, you can see the eating area to the upper right. The lower level looks like a great place to lounge around in front of the fireplace.

This water wall is an interesting take on a water fountain. The design is beautiful and unique, and would be lovely even without the flowing water.

All pictures from Style At Home May 2009