Creating a rustic & pet-friendly backyard garden
In 1998, Bonnie Duma and her husband, John, purchased a ¾-acre lot in Lenexa, Kansas. After the house was built, Bonnie turned her attention outdoors. The yard was a blank slate, offering Bonnie the opportunity to bring her garden dreams to life. Inspired by a childhood spent growing up on a farm, she hopes to pass along a deep appreciation for plants to her grandchildren. Drawing from this heritage, she set out to create a garden that not only reflected her passion but also embraced a pet-friendly design catered to her beloved dog, Boomer, all while evoking a rustic farm aesthetic.
A garden for exploring
Today a magical oasis wraps around the property, and it brims with unique features, from upcycled projects to meticulously curated containers tucked around every bend. Let’s tour the garden this Johnson County Master Gardener created.
Private garden getaway
The main entrance to the garden lies to the right of the garage, marked by the arbor in the photo above. As you continue along this side yard path, daylily (Hemerocallis hybrids), iris (Iris spp. and hybrids), coneflower (Echinacea spp. and hybrids), spirea (Spiraea spp. and hybrids) and panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) provide plenty of color all season. Bonnie repeats ‘Limelight’ panicle hydrangea throughout the garden because it grows well here, and she loves its beautiful green and white blooms. The sunny side yard kitchen garden hosts the vegetable garden and a windowbox full of herbs. Bonnie also keeps a potting bench in this easy-to-access spot.
Conversation pit
The first stop in the backyard is the cozy patio in the photo above. It offers a retreat centered around a tabletop firepit — a perfect setting for Bonnie to roast marshmallows with the grandkids or have a cup of coffee with John. This patio is enclosed by evergreens that provide year-round structure and privacy during the months when the rest of the garden isn’t as lively. There are several paths that lead away from this patio: one on a winding path through the shady beds of the backyard and another toward the kitchen garden.
You Might Also Like:
Watch Our Garden Tours on YouTube!
The Best Panicle Hydrangeas for Your Garden
Ideas for Growing Herbs in Pots
Dog-friendly Garden Design
Backyard garden
The retaining wall made from historic barn stones in the photo above marks the beginning of the backyard plantings. It edges a bed bursting with an array of flowers, including peony (Paeonia spp. and hybrids), iris, catmint (Nepeta hybrid), shrub roses (Rosa hybrid), allium (Allium spp. and hybrids) and a variety of trailing sedums (Sedum spp. and hybrids) tucked between and cascading over the stones.
Further exploration of the path that runs next to this retaining wall unveils the backyard garden in layers through an intricate layout that leads you throughout the property. But before we venture down the paths, let’s stop at the deck and learn why this might be Bonnie’s favorite spot in the garden.
Creating a space for gathering
The low-maintenance composite deck was one of the first features in the garden, and Bonnie loves to host lively gatherings here. Lush greenery, vibrant potted plants, ornaments and upcycled projects help this space create a serene and welcoming atmosphere where guests can gather and enjoy the views of the garden.
Bonnie designed distinct “garden rooms” throughout the garden. Casual gatherings often form on the deck, which has two distinct areas: a living room space perfect for casual conversations and an outdoor dining room surrounded by a narrow pergola.
Container garden creations
When designing container groupings, Bonnie tries to limit herself to two or three colors to achieve a striking impact. Two 5-foot-long woodenbox planters near the dining table match the hanging baskets that line the deck. The combo in the photo above, with a purple, red and chartreuse color scheme, includes tropical plants purple heart (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purpurea’), elephant ear (Colocasia spp. and hybrids), and a selection of begonias (Begonia hybrids) and coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides). Her favorite plant, passionflower (Passiflora spp. and hybrids), has exotic-looking purple-and-white summer blooms. These bright pops of color add energy to the deck and are also visible from inside the house.
Beyond that, Bonnie says, “Don’t be afraid to mix perennials with annuals and edibles.” She also includes edible kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) and perennial coral bells (Heuchera spp. and hybrids) and grasses because of their foliage appeal.
As the season draws to a close, Bonnie overwinters as many plants as possible. Tropical plants go indoors or to the garage for protection from the cold. Some pots remain outdoors, emptied, and turned over for winter storage, while she plants others for multiseason interest.
You Might Also Like:
Tour this Award-Winning Southern Backyard
Patio and Backyard Garden Plans
DIY Project Ideas
Cozy garden decor
In addition to the standard living room and dining room outdoor furniture and beautiful container groupings, she ties the deck together with decorative accents, such as driftwood “sculptures” that hold air plants and succulents, hand-carved tables and benches made by Bonnie’s uncle, lanterns and colorful cushions. The charming, repurposed chandelier hanging above the table adds a warm glow to the space.
Upcycle it!
Bonnie found this chandelier at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore and decided to give it a makeover. She spray-painted it red and highlighted its details with accents of green and blue. She added solar lights to glass balls made for a fountain, then hung it above the table, where it serves as a conversation piece.
You Might Also Like:
DIY Garden Chandelier Project
Easy Weekend Backyard Retreat
Patio Garden Design Ideas
Add structure and privacy
In addition to mature shade trees, an array of smaller trees and shrubs, such as yew (Taxus spp.), Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), seven-son flower (Heptacodium miconioides) and panicle hydrangea, create a sense of seclusion and privacy in the backyard. Although the main paths are of flagstone, additional stone-bordered paths covered with bark mulch wind through the garden and invite exploration.
Unique upcycled garden design elements
Bonnie has meticulously placed upcycled gems that tie into her rustic aesthetic throughout the garden. She and John built a wooden box around the full-size metal bed frame in the photo above to create a whimsical raised bed. Here, grasses mimic pillows, and coleus and begonia emulate a quilt pattern. Keep walking the paths and you’ll see driftwood displays and a tall wooden ladder Bonnie salvaged from her farm that acts as a trellis for clematis (Clematis spp. and hybrids).
Dog-friendly garden design
When she designed the garden, Bonnie knew that she’d be sharing it with her dog, Boomer. To determine the path layout, she paid close attention to the routes he naturally took through the backyard, and used that as a template. In the garden beds, she included lots of low-growing plants, such as hostas (Hosta spp. and hybrids) and ferns, that she knew would tolerate a bit of trampling if Boomer decided to wander from the paths.
The stone edging on the path in the photo above was salvaged from an old commercial building tear down and helps keep the paw-friendly, but easily displaced, bark mulch from being kicked off the path. Bonnie frequently raked pine needles out of the beds and onto the paths to make the surface softer for his paws. As much as he enjoyed exploring, Boomer’s favorite place was wherever Bonnie and John were. Sadly, Boomer recently passed away, but Bonnie has many happy memories of their times together in the garden.
An ever evolving garden
This constantly evolving tapestry of blooms, secluded garden rooms, winding pathways, and stunning containers bursts with rustic charm, and each area revives a memory for Bonnie or creates an opportunity to make a new one!
