Though there is allure in a wild country garden, the simplicity of a pared-back white and green planting will never get old. It feels effortlessly timeless, and quietly luxurious.
If you need evidence, there is none better than the following image of Jackie Kennedy and John F. Kennedy walking across the lawn of his family's estate in 1953. Though the picture was taken almost 70 years ago, if it weren't in black and white, their minimalist garden looks like it could be from today. It embodies classic New England style and elegance.
The planting centers on a wide grassy lawn stretching away from the white gabled house in the background. Medium-height hedging protects the back porch from view. Verdant ivy stretches across the lower levels of the house, snaking across the pergola patio.
Though I always imagine privacy planting as wild swaths of greenery going every which way to obscure a home, the Kennedys' house shows that the best plants for privacy are the simplest ones. The hedges are used to obscure the lower portions of the home from prying eyes, while the climbing ivy draws the eye away from higher windows. With just a few plants, they've created a tucked-away paradise.
This beautiful, verdant ivy plant would be the perfect complement to a wild garden. It looks gorgeous climbing on an antique-style white house. There are enough seeds in the pack to ensure you create a beautiful display, just like the Kennedys.
These Felco pruning shears have hardened blades for effortless trimming in your yard, making light work of tough rose pruning jobs. They're essential in every kind of garden. Furthermore, our in-house master gardener, Thom Rutter believes that they are some of the best pruners on the market.
Japanese Boxwoods are low-maintenance, and provide structure and formality over a long period. They are a fantastic option for garden novices and make great privacy screens when planted together. Plus, they're green all year round to keep your home feeling protected even in the winter months.
To keep a garden privacy idea looking tiny and minimalist like the Kennedys', pruning is essential. Good pruners can be used to keep ivy uniform and prevent hedges from growing too tall.
However, depending on the look you're going for, it can also be important not to overdo it. Rather than uniform topiaries, the family's gardening team has cut the hedges at choppy angles for a more welcoming, summertime aesthetic.
Whatever you choose, channeling your own taste can help you create an outdoor space that feels just as luxe as this classic New England home.
