A gate sets a tone for the whole garden. It says "Come in" or "Keep out"-- and really, either approach can be tantalizing. The best gates tempt you to push them open. We've rounded up a few favorites:
Above: Sunshine streams through the slats, always a good omen. Image via DWR. The house numbers, by the way, are Neutra House Numbers in Aluminum, currently on sale for $37.50 apiece at DWR.
Above: A gate in Mill Valley, California. On the other side? Paradise. For the rest of this garden, see "Rescuing a 100-Year-Old Garden."
Above: A concrete threshold, with a tiny window that offers a peek of the grasses that grow against the side of the house. To enter, push a handle on the right wall. The entire length of redwood will pivot dramatically, like a giant door, to invite you in. To see what's inside, see "Salt and Sea and a Garden."
Above: A clean look with a gate of horizontal boards framed by a hogwire fence. Image via Environmental Concepts. For more of our picks, see "10 Easy Pieces: Wooden Garden Gates."
Above: A painted gate as a backdrop for potted succulents, pelargoniums, and herbs. For more, see "Inside the Secret Gardens of Venice, California."