Walled Gardens in NM landscaping (new house, closing, live)

[PaddyMac]

After looking at NM houses online, I notice quite a few of them may say they are on a 1 or 2 acre lot, but the owners have built a high wall enclosing a much smaller garden area. Inside the walled area there might be a nice patio, garden plants, furniture, etc. Outside the wall is a native southwest landscape.

We were wondering whether the walls serve a purpose or whether they are just the local style? Are the walls designed to:

- reduce the amount of gardening you have to do?
- help with security (maybe there are alarms on the gates?)
- be used as wind breaks so you could better enjoy being outdoors?
- to keep pets safe from coyotes?
- to keep your garden plants safe from bunnies? (though they are good at getting through gates)
- keep bears away from bird feeders?!

any comments welcome!

[chilegal]

From what I have seen they are for keeping pets in and helping with the wind. When it does blow, it can blow sand and this helps keep it away from thehouse.
Jane

[Dancingearth]

When I lived in Eldorado I wanted to build one to define the garden area, to protect from the wind, maybe keep some of the rabbits out, some privacy, and I liked the aesthetics of it. I never heard anyone think they were for security. The bears never got that close

[Towanda]

I agree with Dancingearth.

I will have a couple of walled areas in my new house in Eldorado...mainly to keep my dogs in, not to keep varmints out (though that will be nice.) I also want to cut down on the wind a little. And mostly I just like how the walled courtyards look.