The self-proclaimed 'Queen of Drag' is also the 'Queen of Low-Maintenance Gardens.' As someone with a red thumb, I am enamoured with RuPaul Charles's simple courtyard container garden.
The iconic Drag Race host took to Instagram to share a jokey dancing video in his typical fashion, but I couldn't stop staring at the background. RuPaul's post offers insight into the outdoor space around his home. In contrast to the traditional courtyard garden idea, it has almost no plants. However, what it lacks in lush greenery, it makes up for in architectural wonder.
Since I kill every plant I touch, I had resigned myself to a life of a backyard full of dead grass, wilted flower beds, and scrawny shrubs. RuPaul's urban oasis paints a picture of a much brighter future. It demonstrates how a carefully styled facade and mosaic walkway can look just as beautiful as a sprawling Eden.
Shop the Courtyard Garden Edit
Add some greenery to a gray patio with this sleek, low planter. Its stylish curves and stunning material would add a cozy organic feel to any space.
Perfect for dining al fresco, this metal bench is sturdy and refined. The cushion makes it comfortable, while the sturdy base keeps it grounded.
Subtle pattern and monochrome color prints are always a win in our books, and this indoor/outdoor, charcoal rug really meets the mark. A patio is incomplete without a rug like this.
Since everything I do outside is a gardening mistake, RuPaul's courtyard has inspired me to instead focus on making the outside surface of my house beautiful. He accomplishes this with a striking black and white color scheme and interesting shapes from the arched doorways and Juliet balconies.
It is so visually appealing that it does not need a huge variety of plants to add interest; it's there already. No matter your style, brainstorming the shapes and colors you might integrate into your home's facade is a great place to start.
The second most striking aspect of RuPaul's outdoor space is the black and white mosaic tiles on the patio and floor. They add instant visual interest to the ground, without the use of plants.
Finally, to keep it from looking too spare, RuPaul has added a few of the best plants for courtyards near the side of the house. Since these few plants are in containers, they are much easier to care for and require little maintenance. Fellow plant killers, this one's for us.
There are hundreds of different ways to maintain a beautiful garden, even if that means you can't have plants. A courtyard garden is the perfect place to start.
