Compact patio surfaces leave little room for vegetation, but Diane Keaton's courtyard offers a clever trick for introducing more greenery - a strategy applicable to any garden or paved area.
In the heart of Hollywood, Diane Keaton's Spanish-inspired home boasts a stunning courtyard, designed by Stephen Shadley. The courtyard, adorned with plant pots on tables, showcases a low-maintenance container gardening idea that's perfect for various outdoor spaces, including patios and dining tables.
For those seeking a similar vibe, consider drought-tolerant, foliage-focused plants and compact shrubs. These plants not only thrive in heat and sometimes dry conditions but also offer lush visual appeal.
The foxtail asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus Myers) is a great choice, thriving in semi-shade and requiring occasional pruning and minimal fertilizing. Heucheras, low-growing perennials with attractive foliage, are perfect for adding interest beneath taller plants.
Golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’) cascades over container edges with golden leaves, preferring partial shade and moist soil but adaptable. The Japanese pieris (Pieris japonica) is an evergreen shrub with colorful new growth and showy flowers, suitable for various sun exposures and deer-resistant.
Compact evergreen shrubs and ornamental grasses provide year-round structure and color with little maintenance. These plants, with their mix of drought tolerance, foliage interest, and manageable size, align perfectly with the aesthetic and practical needs of Spanish revival patios.
To ensure the success of your container garden, use containers with drainage holes, employ slow-release fertilizer in spring and late summer, and perform light pruning 2–3 times yearly to keep plants neat without demanding too much time.
If you're a fan of succulents, they make an excellent addition to your container garden. These low-maintenance plants thrive in heat and drought and can elevate your outdoor area with their sculptural forms and sun-loving nature.
The planters used in Diane Keaton's courtyard are available for purchase in a set of three, suitable for a variety of large plants and flowers. Each container includes a convenient drainage plug to help keep plants healthy. These versatile planters are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use and can be used for plants like Monstera, Snake Plants, Fiddle Leaf Figs, Palms, Aloe Vera, and herbs.
The minimalist design and sleek size of the containers make them suitable for tabletop placement. Watering succulents every few days during the peak of summer is necessary to ensure their vibrant, healthy growth. Using potted succulents offers flexibility in arranging and mixing varieties.
Thom Rutter, a master gardener and content editor at Homes & Gardens, encourages bringing plants off the ground and up to eye level. Diane Keaton's table trick makes it possible to enjoy new plants in paved backyards or patios, where incorporating greenery on the ground can be challenging.
The planters have a natural stone coloring, making each one unique. Succulents are perfect for tabletops due to their sculptural forms and sun-loving nature. Styling with succulents like purple Aeoniums and Echeverias can further elevate your outdoor area.
Remember, the courtyard in Diane Keaton's Spanish-inspired home is significantly larger than a typical city patio. The container used for the succulents in Diane's courtyard is made of reinforced PP plastic, making it durable and long-lasting.
Embrace the Spanish revival style and transform your patio into a lush, low-maintenance oasis with Diane Keaton's container gardening tips.
Incorporating compact shrubs and drought-tolerant plants like the foxtail asparagus fern or Heucheras into your home-and-garden, especially your outdoor living spaces, can create a lush visual appeal similar to Diane Keaton's Spanish-inspired home courtyard. For those with tabletop space, succulents, such as Aeoniums and Echeverias, can elevate your patio or paved area, following Diane Keaton's approach of bringing plants up to eye level.
