Whether it opens onto a secret garden or a charming cottage bursting with roses, the garden gate inspires plenty of daydreams. Gather ideas for your own garden hideaway with these nine creative examples using iron, wood and stone. Ike Kligerman Barkley Ike Kligerman Barkley 1. Secret garden gate. For privacy (and mystery) you can’t do much better than a gate tucked within a tall hedge. The greenery-archway combo, seen at left, fronts the street side of the home, providing a buffer from traffic noise; the opposite side, above, features a curved gate within a neatly trimmed hedge.

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Zaremba & Company 2. Double-door gate. A double door brings a formal feel to the garden entrance, especially when flanked by brick columns as shown here. A border of low hedges takes the place of a fence.

6 Basic Elements of Classic Garden Style Pedersen Associates 3. Bungalow gate. This arbor-topped Western red cedar gate is a charming match for a bungalow or cottage-style home. Boost the charm even more by growing fragrant climbing roses over the arbor. A solid wood gate like this is a good choice when you want to keep pets in (or out of) the yard.

Lay of the Landscape: Cottage Garden Style Dear Garden Associates, Inc. 4. Vegetable garden gate. In a large vegetable garden with more than one entrance, consider aligning the gates for a symmetrical look. Here, roof-like trellises rise above rustic wooden gates, with a grid of paths laid between.

11 Favorite Edibles for Your Spring Vegetable Garden Kimberly Mercurio Landscape Architecture 5. Field gate. This low gate and stacked-stone wall call to mind the gates opening onto farmland in rural England (and New England). Blue hydrangea and bluestone pavers leading to the gate are charming and low-maintenance.

Garden Walls: Dry-Stacked Stone Walls Keep Their Place in the Garden 6. Arched stone and iron gate. An arched stone wall with iron gate is classic, formal and built to last ages. Try this on an expansive property leading to a topiary garden, or downsize it as an entry to a small secret garden.

To Make Your Garden Memorable, Add a Hint of Mystery Pheasant Hill Homes Ltd. 7. Mermaid Manor gate. Mermaids of laser-cut stainless steel were custom-made for this home, which is nicknamed Mermaid Manor. Find a local metalworker to create a symbol special to you, then attach it to your garden gate for a personal touch.

14 Gardens Straight Out of Fairy Tales Zeterre Landscape Architecture 8. Arched arbor gate. Whether part of a stone wall, as shown here, or a simple wooden fence, an arched arbor is undeniably charming. Grow roses or another fragrant climbing plant over the arbor, and plant perennial beds along the fence line.

6 Captivating Roses for an Alluringly Fragrant Garden Land Expressions LLC 9. Decorative metalwork gate. It won’t keep the dogs in (unless lined) but a gate this lovely is made more with inspiration in mind. Work with an artisan to create a gate that speaks to you and fits your site perfectly.

Tell us: Do you have a garden gate you’re proud of? Share a photo in the Comments!

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