Every garden has a story to tell.  The beginning of that story is your garden gate entrance. Your garden reflects who you are and what is important to you.  Let these gorgeous garden gates in Carmel-by-the-Sea provide inspiration for your own unique and special garden. Gardens evolve and grow, and with them, your story grows.  What glimpse of your life do you want friends and family to have?  Your gate sets the tone for the beginning of the story. Your gate lets everyone know the intention of your story.  Is your gate inviting?  Does it have bright colors or entice with warmth?  Is it more private, implying mystery and intrigue? Whatever it is, your story begins with your gate.  It should suggest what we may expect to see once we enter your garden.

Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are–Alfred Austin

This rustic hinged wooden gate set into stone is typical of the fairy tale style homes peppered throughout Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as paint and the soil and sky as canvas–Elizabeth Murray

The use of a small heart cut-out in this garden gate, hollyhocks & roses, give this cottage garden depth & charm.

Always throw spilt salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can–Alice Hoffman, “Practical Magic”

Out of the window, I can see them in the moonlight, two silhouettes saying goodnight by the garden gate–Ray Davies, “Come Dancing”

Framed by a sculpted hedge, this arched gateway leads to a secluded garden.

A garden must combine the poetic and the mysterious with a feeling of serenity and joy–Luis Barragan

This open garden gate framed by geraniums conveys a sense of warmth and welcome, inviting guests to enter.

Charming and colorful green and red decor and a hanging bell set this garden gate apart.  Note the unique bicycle decor also.

This garden gate is very symbolic of the fairy tale cottage look in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

A simple and classic white garden gate is dressed up with ivy trained to form an x design.

This garden gate is the cat’s meow!  Literally.

A beautiful and delicate filigree gate balances the ponderous stone arch.  A topping of stacked stone “shingles” adds quaint character.

The boxwood hedges flanking the stone path and the rose covered arch provide elegance and romance to this garden gate.

Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom–Marcel Proust

Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help.  Gardening is an instrument of grace–May Sarton

Your promises, your pleasures, your penchants, are all portrayed in your garden.  A garden gate that expresses your sentiments and passions provides a warm and inviting welcome to your garden.  I hope that you enjoyed and were inspired by these lovely garden gates from Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Thank you for visiting my blog!  Wishing you peace, love, happiness, and beautiful vistas!