The Boulevard Gardens and Yard Artistry of James Handtmann
The Boulevard Gardens and Yard Artistry of James Handtmann
Claiming he lives "in a garden with a house attached to it," Jim Handtmann of Minneapolis transformed every inch of his small ordinary yard into a series of distinct, magical places to unwind.
Starting in the back
(figure A)
several years ago, Jim's garden
moved to the sides and front of his home, then across the sidewalk into the
little, often-neglected strip at curbside
(figure B).
The flower-filled boulevard
garden has caused a turnaround in his neighborhood, changing it from a declining,
impersonal atmosphere to one of activity and caring.
"I think boulevard gardening
is a very powerful thing," says Handtmann, "because it gets people out of
their houses and into the front of their yards where they can talk with their
neighbors and keep track of the neighborhood."
Handtmann has a whimsical side that nudges him to incorporate unique objects
he's found or made or been given by friends (figures C and D).
When Handtmann moved in, he had a concrete patio and sidewalk in the back
that were sinking and breaking up. He took them out and put in a pond and
stream (the plastic for these came from houses getting new roofs), and a
deck and walk (made from wood that came from fences he noticed were being
torn down).
He built a circular focal point, anchored by a fountain (figure E),
using rocks that came from construction sites (figure F) and plants
that were bought on sale; in fact, the most Handtmann has ever spent on his
garden at one time is $15. Keeping his costs down this way allows Handtmann
to experiment with various plantings and garden elements.
Handtmann shuns plans and themes in favor of spontaneity and prefers to describe
his garden this way: "It's not English. It's not real Japanese. It's just
jam-packed with everything that I can put in here." On his trellis (figure
G), for instance, he plants wisteria, clematis and climbing rose. "They
kind of decide themselves which one is going to flourish there."
Handtmann transformed one corner of his back yard using tires filled with
sand to create a natural landscape that includes small mountains with waterfalls.
Picture what nature has done with rocks and twigs, he says, and try to make
the garden look natural instead of like a man-made thing. "Would I call this
a putzing garden? Yes, absolutely. That's all I do is putz. I've driven people
nuts because I can't sit down for more than 10 minutes. There's always a
pot that has to be turned, there's always a rock that has to show more, there's
always a branch that has to be tied over."
When Handtmann had finished with his back and side yards, he turned the front
yard into a sitting area--actually he calls it a "nosy neighbor lookout."
From his lookout, Handtmann could see his neighborhood going into decline,
and it was then that he decided to turn several blocks of the boulevard (the
narrow slice of land between the sidewalk and street) into gardens. Consequently,
neighbors came out of their houses and starting talking to each other, children
came out to play, some people even started their own gardens.
Be sure to check with the city you live in about any regulations regarding
the height of plants and flowers near the street, advises Handtmann, and
do what you can to make the garden "child-proof." If blooms are too showy,
they'll be stolen!
Throughout his gardening experiences, Handtmann's philosophy has remained
simple and laid-back: "If you think it's work, don't do it. If it's gonna
be a pain, don't bother. If you're gonna have somebody else do it, why bother?"
He believes the garden is there for one simple reason: to enjoy. "You come
home after work and you just putz around in your garden and all the stress
leaves."
Minnesota Garden
"Minnesota gardener Jim
Handtmann . . . who over nine years has transformed a rectangular flat
yard in northeast Minneapolis into an eclectic Japanese-inspired garden.
Jim's garden bursts from the center of his city block like a lava flow
of form, texture, and color. Ample use of shrubs and small trees,
combined with drastic changes in elevation throughout the property, are
key to the garden's flowing, soothing, shape-oriented composition."
-- Don Engebretson, Better Homes and Gardens
Japanese Garden
"What do you get when
you cross a Japanese garden with a salvage yard? You get Jim Handtmann's
northeast Minneapolis lot, a blend of refined Asian garden elements set
against a rugged hardscape of scavenged bricks, cobblestones and
limestone."
-- Kim Palmer, Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Boulevard Garden
"Starting in the back
several years ago, Jim's garden moved to the sides and front of his
home, then across the sidewalk into the little, often-neglected strip at
curbside. The flower-filled boulevard garden has caused a turnaround in
his neighborhood, changing it from a declining, impersonal atmosphere
to one of activity and caring."
-- Home & Garden Television
"INSPIRED BY
THE FAR EAST,
A GARDENER CREATES A BOUNDARY-CROSSING STYLE ALL HIS OWN"
B o w l i n g L a w n
As featured in the October 2004, Better Homes and Gardens.
By Don Engebretson
Photographs by John Reed Forsman
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For Most This Amazing Day
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