small garden areas
White-flowering Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus, USDA zones 5 to 9; find your zone) 10. Showy specimen plants. To use a tree or a small shrub as a focal point, choose one with outstanding characteristics — such as spring flowers, interesting branch structure or brilliant fall leaves — and plant it with a bit of room to breathe. For example, put a specimen tree in the center of a patio or within a garden bed surrounded by lower-growing plants.
Edgy screens. As an alternative to a hedge, use interesting screens to both provide privacy and act as a focal point. Here, a trio of metal panels calls attention to the interesting semitransparent design, rather than the neighbor’s deck. Panels and screens also could be used to form a point of focus at the end of a walkway.
Pathway pivot. Corners and pathway intersections are prime spots for adding a focal point. In this garden in Seattle, a glazed ceramic container set against a lattice screen creates a place for the eye to rest as one walks down the pathway from one garden area to the next. The wooden chair acts as a second focal point for the latter part of the journey.
Container among foliage. Work focal points into garden beds to provide a resting spot for one’s gaze amid drifts of plants. For example, an empty ceramic container nestled in the bed draws one’s focus and then encourages the eye to wander over the surrounding plants in a slower appreciation of the bed.
Art boulders. A huge rock (or three or four) can do wonders to bring focus to your garden — define a zone, add interest to a grassy area or accent your favorite spot with just one great big rock. Plain boulders are beautiful on their own, but painted ones are another option to consider for an artful twist. You can either purchase rocks with painted designs or create your own.
Arterra Landscape Architects SaveEmail Garden Elements Flexible seating areas. Skip built-in seating areas that are heavy on hardscape, and opt instead for more flexible arrangements of chairs, tables or fire pits that can be moved around. Portable furniture allows you to move your outdoor gathering spot according to what feels best in each season. Perhaps one area of the garden — such as under the canopy of a large shade tree — is more appealing in summer, while a spot that catches late-afternoon sun can be welcoming in winter.
Arterra Landscape Architects SaveEmail Garden Elements Flexible seating areas. Skip built-in seating areas that are heavy on hardscape, and opt instead for more flexible arrangements of chairs, tables or fire pits that can be moved around. Portable furniture allows you to move your outdoor gathering spot according to what feels best in each season. Perhaps one area of the garden — such as under the canopy of a large shade tree — is more appealing in summer, while a spot that catches late-afternoon sun can be welcoming in winter.
Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates SaveEmail Complete the mood with simple sounds and soft music. The primal sound that a single drop of water makes as it falls into a basin is just as appropriate as a softly playing classical piece in opening the senses to the full beauty of the romantic garden. Less is more, so choose appropriately; then savor the heady sensuality of this garden in all its fullness.
Le jardinet SaveEmail Layer your plants. Layering will give this garden depth and interest, not unlike weaving a tapestry. Consider varying heights, textures and visual weights when it comes to choosing plants. Plants with an open form, such as this tall verbena (Verbena bonariensis, zones 7 to 10) act as a sheer lacy curtain, adding depth and drama to a planting scheme
Choose your plant palette. Plant choices can make or break a mood, and this is especially true in the garden of the romantic. In this garden, marigolds and petunias give way to solitary roses, spires of salvia and foxglove, and patches of lavender and rosemary. The rose, more than any other flower, embodies the spirit of romance. Its fleshy, softly textured petals stand in stark contrast to its thorny stems. Fragrance is released as its petals unfold. Early risers can savor the drops of morning dew on its petals. White roses are especially appropriate in this garden because they symbolize purity and innocence.
Plant a container garden. Although grasses are much easier to maintain, if you really want flowers to brighten up your backyard, perennials are a safe bet. Although annuals do tend to do well in container gardens, they need to be replanted each year. Container gardens are great because they allow for a ton of versatility. You can mix various types of plants together (as long as they have the same water and sun needs) and avoid the issues that come with poor soil. Here a combination of herbs create a rich palette of texture and color.
Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum), USDA zones 4-8. This is a plant that does well in full sun, so place it in a hot, sunny path. Like the thyme you're used to using in cooking, it has rounded leaves and a wonderful fragrance. But unlike its counterpart, creeping thyme grows nice and low to the ground (usually not more than 2 centimeters tall), and is extremely tough. It will grow in very difficult soils and can handle inconsistent watering.
Rounded and mounded forms appear and repeat themselves throughout this dreamy meadow — a rhythmic planting scheme that is alluring and unforgettable. Santolina in shades of silver and green covers the ground, while purple alliums repeat that globe shape on taller stems. The distant wands of dark purple lavender echo the alliums, adding depth.
Daryl Toby - AguaFina Gardens International SaveEmail Circles emanate from a mound of rocks symbolizing mountains in a quiet Zen garden. The gravel has been hand-raked to suggest the ripples on the surface of water caused by a dropped stone. The circular lines intersect other raked lines, parallel ones that have yet another sense of energy. Add the play of shadow and light and this moment in the landscape is forever powerful.
This lovely spiral, rendered in flagstone, seems to vibrate with its own energy. The stones form a rhythmic motion as the spiral narrows, turns in on itself and terminates at a center firepit. Where most of the spaces between the stones are planted with soft, woolly thyme, note the contrasting crushed stone used in just a single band to further emphaisze the strong spiral line in this design.
Exteriors By Chad Robert SaveEmail In the 1977 book A Pattern Language, authors Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa, Murray Silverstein and others describe more than 250 "patterns" as solutions to design problems. The patterns follow design principles but are also deeply rooted in nature and human history, which is why they resonate with us. Pattern number 247, "paving with cracks between the stones" addresses the good feeling of walking from stone to stone. Here is a modern interpretation using precast square and rectangular stepping stones in a gravel garden. I love the rhythm it creates.
Repetition in plants of similar forms — all circles and mounds — creates a beautiful rhythm in an entry garden. Color blocking is also used as a cool design device to draw someone from the concrete patio toward the stepping-stone path. First there's a section of blue, in the form of fescue grasses, then there's a band of green-gold boxwood (right) mirrored by a gold succulent band (left). And finally, a row of taller ornamental grasses in pure green lures you farther into this garden.
Create a portrait. A combination of architecture, horticulture and art turns what could easily have been a prosaic section of fence into an intriguing moment in the landscape. The inspired placement of an Asian stone lantern is the detail that creates emphasis and a point of view. Every other element draws the eye to this spot, from the vivid red canopy of the Japanese maple tree to the stepping-stone path.
Balance the scene. Frame a view with symmetrical plantings, such as clipped hedge forms or a set of flowering crab apple trees placed in all four quadrants around a central element. This design reveals an updated approach to the traditional garden maze. Yes, it is a perfectly symmetrical garden vignette, but the blue-glazed urn downplays stuffy formality.
TerraSculpture SaveEmail Use color for emphasis. The color, form and placement of a piece of art elevates it to a place of prominence in this hip rooftop garden. The glossy orange steel forms in "Tempest," by Jennifer Gilbert Asher of TerraTrellis, make a compelling connection with the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. There's also a whimsical interplay with the row of orange-blooming kargaroo paw plants against the white structure. Brilliant, in more ways than one.
Highlight Mother Nature. Plant an eye-catching island on the sunrise or sunset side of your home to take advantage of the way horizontal rays at dawn or dusk backlight branches, foliage and ornamentation. This beautiful island is a focal point, with large-scale urns integrated with a specimen tree, various shrubs and ground covers. It is almost as dramatic as the snow-capped mountain range in the distance.
Viewpoint Lighting SaveEmail Play with light. Here is another example of how light can create emphasis. Spotlighting and uplighting add glowing washes along the tree trunk and on the face of a sculpture. Garden lighting creates a magical effect that gives the garden a point of view after dark. It may take only one or two fixtures to achieve this effect.
Go diagonal. Enhance diagonal sight lines with pathways and plantings placed at a 45-degree angle to the house. This method allows extended views through the garden while giving your landscape the illusion of being larger. Here, the diagonal stepping stone pathway has its own special point of view: a beautifully placed contemporary planter, its half-sphere bowl mirroring the mounded plant forms.
Studio William Hefner SaveEmail Give prominence to an otherwise ordinary object. Note where your gaze rests as you view the garden. Emphasize the importance of that perspective by displaying an urn, a planted vessel or a small sculpture on a garden table or pedestal. The placement of a table with an elegant base gives this garden niche a heightened feeling.
Aquascape SaveEmail Add soothing sounds to your garden — the murmur of trickling water, the cooing of doves, the distant notes of a wind chime — but visually downplay the source of the sound, integrating it into plantings or tucking it just beyond the field of vision. You'll find folks are drawn to sound.
Inspiration for a small transitional deck remodel in Phoenix with a roof extension
Include contrast. “Always think about interesting contrast,” says Freda. Mix square and rectangular shapes with circular ones. Put spiky-leaved plants next to billowy ones. “It’s visually more interesting than if everything is similar,” Freda says. “If you have a square space, I’d do square planters, but then a circular table in the middle so there’s at least one counterpoint.”
Enclose the space. This may sound counterintuitive to making a small space feel larger, but it’s something that might work for your space. “When you enclose a small space even more, you play up its coziness and make it intimate, something that’s hard to achieve with large spaces,” Arthur says. “This also takes it to the next level of feeling like an outdoor room.” Pergolas are great for creating an intimate feel, but you can get the same effect with plantings. Architect Gary Beyerl’s backyard (shown here) is 10 feet by 20 feet. Because he has apartment units attached to his home, he wanted to do something that would afford him privacy. He used vertical plantings like humongous trumpet vines and a redbud tree to create an envelope of plant material. “By extending the plant zone up the vertical surfaces of an urban space, you can make a lot of visual greenery work to your advantage,” he says. “I’ve got a verdant environment even though it’s tiny.”
Distinguishing traits. The ultimate ground cover if you are looking to quickly fill space, golden creeping Jenny provides year-round interest with its dense network of spreading foliage.
shade - Botanical name: Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' Common names: Golden creeping Jenny, moneywort, golden pennywort USDA zones: 3-9 Water requirement: Medium to regular Sun requirement: Full sun to partial shade Mature size: 2"-4” tall x 2’ spread or more Tolerances: Limited foot traffic, rocky, shallow and wet soils Note: Vigorous grower — can be invasive in some regions. Cut back as needed.
shade - Finish with a few flowers. This beautiful combination really needs no flowers — the beauty is in the juxtaposition of fabulous foliage. However, the early-blooming perennial masterwort (Astrantia major 'Alba') offers both a new leaf shape and white, pincushion-like flowers that add a little sparkle to the spring display. USDA zones: 6 to 9 Water requirement: Adaptable to different soils, from fairly dry once established to moist but well drained Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Mature size: 2 feet tall and wide When to plant: In spring or fall
shade - Add some taller highlights. To add interest at eye level, bring in some bright foliage. Golden catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides 'Aureum'), seen at the right, can be allowed to grow as a midsize tree or cut back hard in spring to keep it as a large shrub. Either way, its large, heart-shaped leaves make a great contribution to this combination. These open with a red flush but quickly turn to a vibrant acid yellow. USDA zones: 5 to 9 Water requirement: Adaptable to different soils, from fairly dry to moisture retentive Light requirement: Full sun (once established) to partial shade Mature size: 15 feet tall and wide as a tree, or 6 feet tall and wide if cut back in spring When to plant: In spring or fall
Round. Round or mounding conifers, such as globe blue spruce (Picea pungens ‘Globosa’, zones 2 to 8), pull the eye back down to ground level and contrast well with other shapes in the garden. Additionally, many people find this shape soothing and nurturing. Round conifers tend to be rich in texture. Recommended conifers: Globe spruce, Mr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Bobozam’, zones 3 to 7), dwarf Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Globosa Nana’, zones 5 to 8), bird’s nest spruce (Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’, zones 2 to 8), mugo pine (Pinus mugo, zones 2 to 8) and blue star juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’, zones 4 to 8).
Jay Sifford Garden Design SaveEmail Ryusen Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Ryusen') This is one truly outstanding maple, unlike any other. You will find it at specialty nurseries, generally staked to a height of 5 to 10 feet. It heavily weeps when it reaches its desired height. The foliage is green and turns a beautiful yellow-orange in autumn. This maple is stunning planted beside a pond, where it reaches down to, and is reflected in, the water. It also looks great grown in a tall ceramic pot, lending an Asian look to a garden. USDA zones: 5 to 9 Water requirement: Average Light requirement: Partial sun Mature size: Up to 10 feet tall, depending on how the plant is staked When to plant: Fall or spring
Twisty Baby Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Lace Lady') This tree grows like a more upright form of Harry Lauder's Walking Stick, reaching an average height of 15 feet. It is a great patio tree that is guaranteed to start a conversation. This locust can be pruned to encourage contorted growth and to control shape and size. The foliage is quite attractive, with bright green panicles of small round foliage hanging from the branches. The foliage turns yellow in autumn. I grow mine in a large pot to give it more presence in my garden. USDA zones: 4 to 9 Water and soil requirements: Average, well-draining soil Light requirement: Full to partial sun Mature size: 15 tall and wide if unpruned When to plant: Fall or spring
Apple serviceberry. Amelanchier x grandiflora, or apple serviceberry is, as James Drzewiecki of Ginkgo Leaf Studio in Wisconsin describes, a perfect tree for smaller suburban yards. “It won’t get so large that it casts a ton of shade over the entire lawn, like large shade trees do, but it is large enough to be in scale with most average-sized homes,” he says. “Plus, the purple berries make a marvelous jam.” USDA zones: 4 to 9 Height: 20 to 25 feet Color: Green leaves in summer; turns orange-red in fall; deciduous Light requirement: Full to partial sun Water requirement: Regular
Westover Landscape Design, Inc. SaveEmail Kwanzan cherry. This double pink flowering tree is a favorite of Robert Welsch's of Westover Landscape Design in New York because it makes a graceful, colorful display along a walkway or street. USDA zones: 5 to 9 Height: 30 to 40 feet Color: Green leaves in summer; turns copper in fall; deciduous Light requirement: Full sun Water requirement: Regular
Chanticleer pear. Pyrus calleryana, or chanticleer pear, is considered by many to be a good street tree because of its tendency not to "litter" leaves. It grows in a pyramidal shape, so it's easy to fit in narrow areas. "For the front yard, my favorite kind of allée [line of trees] is with the chanticleer pear," says Sims. "It softens the expanse of a driveway to help minimize hardscape and provides the visitor with direction to the front door." This allée of chanticleer pear trees is part of a project by Milieu Design. USDA zones: 5 to 8 Height: 24 to 35 feet Color: Dark green leaves in summer; turns fiery orange in fall; deciduous Light requirement: Full sun Water requirement: Regular
Forest pansy redbud. With four-season interest Cercis canadensis, or forest pansy redbud, provides a great focal point in any yard. "This is especially true in the front yard," notes Sims, "where land mass tends to be smaller." Redbuds, like the one in this project by The American Gardener, are rated for full sun but, according to Sims, prefer afternoon shade. USDA zones: 5 to 9 Height: 20 feet Color: Blooms pink in early spring; turns purple in fall; deciduous Light requirement: Full sun Water requirement: Regular
River birch. "River birch is one of my favorites," says Terry Sims of The Garden Artist in Idaho. "During fall the leaves turn yellow, which is a nice contrast to the reds. The exfoliating cinnamon- and cream-colored bark becomes prominent as the tree loses its leaves." The birches shown here are part of a project designed by Windsor Companies. USDA zones: 3 to 9 Height: 40 to 70 feet Color: Green leaves in spring and summer; turns golden in fall; deciduous Light requirement: Full sun Water requirement: Will tolerate moderate flooding; drought resistant
Coral bark Japanese maple. While less dramatic than the Bloodgood, Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’, or coral bark Japanese maple, is one of Ayers' favorites because of the way it imparts shots of yellow into a yard. USDA zones: 4 to 9 Height: 20 feet Color: Yellow-green leaves and coral bark in spring and summer; the leaves turn brighter yellow in fall; the bark turns a vibrant coral in winter; deciduous Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Water requirement: Moderate to regular
Bloodgood Japanese maple. Sandy Ayers of The Garden Route Company in California loves the ruby-red tones of Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’, or Bloodgood Japanese maple. USDA zones: 5 to 8 (find your zone) Height: 15 to 25 feet Color: Deep red in spring and summer, turns scarlet in fall; deciduous Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Water requirement: Moderate to regular
A large bonsai placed exactly at the end of a low cabinet blends beautifully with this well designed modern space. The bonsai's windswept appearance appears to be beckoning us to enjoy the view beyond, creating a connection with the outdoors. While this bonsai does look stunning here, bonsai made from conifers such as pine and cypress are not recommended as house plants and will very likely not live for long. If you are planning on growing your bonsai inside, you may want to consider a tropical variety such as a cherry, hibiscus, camellia, ginseng ficus, Chinese maple or schefflera. These species can withstand higher temperatures and do not require a dormant period.
Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates SaveEmail The placement of this meditative water feature at the center of the garden suggests that it is meant to be admired from afar. It might prompt contemplation of the need to touch and possess objects of beauty.
GEL: Griffin Enright Landscape SaveEmail Even if a side yard is all you have to work with, and even if you can’t bear to part with a swath of lush green grass, you can still sneak in a tidy border of big rocks and a water feature.
As meditative Zen practices can connect us with both the natural and spiritual worlds, it may seem counterintuitive to use industrial elements like steel in a Zen garden design. But there’s no rule book for translating an Eastern idea into a Western landscape. Personally, I love this double-decker garden for its two different vantage points and potentially two different moods.
It doesn’t take much to create your very own monastic-style sanctuary, but with the money you’ll save on plants and your water bill, consider investing in a special border. It will define the space and delineate your contemplative zone within the yard. Treat it like something sacred, and it will become something sacred.
Jim Tetro SaveEmail Rock gardens tend to be xeriscape designs by their very nature, and so are a natural fit for homes seeking LEED accreditation. They consume virtually no water and can be designed using materials found onsite. These sustainable gardens don’t need to take up much space, either. They’re a stroke of genius in shady or forgotten corners where grass goes to die.
Garden Mentors SaveEmail In this design, the sand has been replaced by river rocks, and the mossy ground cover and native Japanese plant species are emphasized as much as the rocks themselves. The Japanese maple and bamboo are thoughtful details, and the translucent acrylic screen recall Japanese shoji screens. This garden is stylized, but it feels completely natural, as if every element is exactly where it must be.
Here in its most faithful incarnation is a Zen garden whose simple, rectangular design follows tradition. It even includes a water feature that drains out through an external wall. True to form, there’s also a smattering of large rocks and a single tree. Everything is deliberate; nothing is superfluous. There are no distractions, in accordance with Zen practice.
A single rock and some sand are all you need to get set up. If you want to get more serious, use a rake to mimic the effect of rippling water in the sand.
The fundamental purpose of a Zen garden is to offer a tranquil space for meditation. A well-designed garden should invite feelings of centeredness and mental clarity, and a flexible labyrinth composed of smooth river rocks is one tried and true path.
A place to be at peace. Consider where in your garden feels the most private and peaceful, and put a seat there. Think of this as your place of peace — different from a social gathering spot, this is meant to be a solo retreat or a place for heartfelt one-on-one conversations. But even more important than the particular chair or location? That you actually devote time to using your outdoor space, reconnecting with nature, your breath and your heart’s desires.
Rain chain. Transform the sound of falling rain into a musical burble with a rain chain. Used in place of a downspout and connected to the gutter of your home, a rain chain directs the flow of water running off your roof into a series of beautiful linked cups. To enhance your rain chain even more, consider adding pretty stones, river rocks or tumbled sea glass to the ground where the water will eventually flow.
Rock cairn. Like a bit of DIY art for your garden, a cairn of stacked stones invites creativity into your landscape. To give your cairn visual weight and importance, start with a hefty rock as the base and stack gradually smaller stones on top. Position your cairn in a spot you’d like to draw the eye to, such as the end of a garden path.
Bonsai. Even the tiniest outdoor space can benefit from a beautiful bonsai or two. These miniature trees are carefully pruned and shaped to look just like the full-size versions out in nature, and make a splendid display on an outdoor table or shelf. Seek out knowledgeable staffers at a local nursery that specializes in this art. They should be able to help you select the right bonsai for your climate, and advise you on how to care for it.
Hidden art. Sculpture in the garden doesn’t always need to be obvious — why not tuck a piece of garden art into a less expected place instead? Here, a serene face surrounded by ground cover looks as if it’s growing right out of the ground. Positioning your garden art so that it’s intertwined or partially hidden by a natural element (flowers, vines, moss, leaves) makes it feel more a part of the garden.
Flower mandala. Creating one of these ephemeral works of art is not difficult (you can make it as simple or as complex as you like), and it’s a lovely way to unwind and meditate. You could create one as a decoration for a gathering in your backyard, or make a mandala of flowers and leaves as a personal meditative practice.
Contemplative path. A gently winding path invites slowness and serenity, especially when you’ve planted delicate blooms and plants with soft, touchable foliage nearby where they can be appreciated. And while the river rock mosaic shown here is gorgeous, simple steppingstones, wood slices or pebbles would work as well.
Statuary. A special figure in the garden can be a wonderful prompt to ground and center yourself. Think carefully about placement: You can use the statue to bring attention to a special element in the garden, like a favorite tree or rock, or as the centerpiece of an outdoor meditation area.
A walk in the garden. A garden is a place where magic happens. If you have one, take a leisurely amble, slowing your steps and pausing to sniff or clip. Notice colors, shapes, new growth and lovely smells. Take a leaf from botanist Luther Burbank’s book: “Flowers always make people better, happier…. They are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” Why it helps: As Sigmund Freud noted: “Flowers are restful to look at. They have neither emotions nor conflicts.”
At the edge of a Colorado mountain garden, penstemons and sedums take center stage. In the higher mountain elevations, plants are tucked into the available soil, usually between rocks and trees, rather than being densely packed like in the more open prairie spaces. This landscape follows the same approach. The garden blends into the scenery, rather than competing with it. Tip: Plant more formal and nonnative plants near the house, as was done here, and use the natives on the garden edges as a transition to the natural landscape beyond.
Repetition Pioneer trees in the windows bring birds into view while cleaning the dishes, blurring the lines between inside and outside. Again, the planting idea here is simple. The repetition of the grasses looks more compelling than simply planting one of everything from the garden center. All plants are beautiful in the right context — the right plant in the right place creates magic.
Each plant in this simple palette makes an impact in a subtle, naturalized way. Bold romantic drifts of strong perennials keep this composition intact with minimal management. The kids can ride their bikes through the switchgrass (Panicum) or create openings to hide out in with little worry from the garden designer about damage.
Shade and understory trees create vertical and overhead planes that engage guests in the garden's experience. The simple shrub layer of Nandina domestica has outstanding winter interest and helps buffer the vast driveway beyond. Simple layers of plants cover the ground plane densely. This is a thriving landscape that manages almost entirely without human intervention — almost.
Simplicity Holding back and keeping things simple often creates more visual intrigue than a complicated landscape design. These groves of trees add mystery to what lies beyond. The simplicity of the ground plane does not distract from the harmony of the space. This design is bold but simple, and easy for your 16-year-old neighbor to weed on a Saturday afternoon. The urn isn't terrible to look at either!
A few of my projects have involved carefully identifying desirable plants in woodlands and clearing the undesirable ones. These places can become exciting places to explore, even without adding garden plants. A small seating area, and maybe even sculpture, added along a rustic path could make for a magical place in the landscape.
This fire bowl beyond the swimming pool draws one out to enjoy the crisp air in the evening garden. I can attest to the effectiveness of even the simplest of fires in the landscape. A boulder fire ring at the far end of my property has become a favorite place in my garden for family and friends to spend many an evening.
Whether it’s a large pond or a small architectural feature, water is always alluring. The earliest Islamic gardens and the 16th-century gardens of Italy were often built around water. Designer Julie Messervy has some interesting ideas about how expanses of water recall us back to being in the womb. I’m not really sure what that means, but I always really love time spent by the water.
Colorful accent. Use vivid colors to immediately draw the eye. In this Seattle garden, the designer placed bright chartreuse chairs against a cobalt-blue adobe wall to create a focal point at the back of the property. The wall also serves a practical purpose of hiding a large storage shed.
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