Tag: Books

Decorating with Plants – book review and giveaway

Decorating with Plants – book review and giveaway

I first met Baylor Chapman almost a decade ago when researching gardens for my first book, Garden Up!  (remember seeing these beautiful succulent shutters, below?  They’re Baylor’s.) I’ve since written about her floral design studio, Lila B. Design, and the fantastic community courtyard where she lives (click on the links to read more.) Well, when […]

Design your Garden Toolkit – a review, a story, and a giveaway

Design your Garden Toolkit – a review, a story, and a giveaway

  Recently my good friend, Michelle Gervais (who was also the former garden editor of Fine Gardening magazine for many, many years) asked me to take a look at her new book ‘Design your Garden Toolkit.’ I jumped at the chance, knowing that her years of knowledge and down-to-earth approach would make for a fantastic […]

The Bold Dry Garden – a review and giveaway

The Bold Dry Garden – a review and giveaway

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to attend a party celebrating Timber Press’s new release, The Bold Dry Garden, written by Johanna Silver (who is also the garden editor for Sunset magazine). The event was held at one of my favorite places, The Ruth Bancroft Garden (appropriate, as that’s the subject of the […]

Garden therapy in the midst of trauma – a story and a giveaway

Garden therapy in the midst of trauma – a story and a giveaway

I’ve been home from my trip to New York for ten days now and have been excited to share with you some of the gardens I visited but life seems to have gotten in the way – for now, at least. On the last day of my trip, I received a phone call from Dan, […]

The Water-Saving Garden book party and giveaway

The Water-Saving Garden book party and giveaway

I’m thrilled to be invited to help celebrate the release of Pam Penick’s second book, The Water Saving Garden, with a party that you’re all invited to attend (awesome prizes included!) As a follow-up to her first book Lawn Gone (and one of my personal favorites), The Water Saving Garden delves even deeper into the practical […]

California Carnivores

California Carnivores

While visiting Sonoma earlier this summer, I told my husband that I just had to see a nursery located in Sebastapol, just a few miles away. He groaned, assuming that once again he’d be stuck wandering alone through the aisles of yet another nursery while I quickly disappeared, only to return an hour later with a […]

Tantalizing Tillandsias tillandsias air plants

Tantalizing Tillandsias

It’s no secret that this past year has been a whopper for me.  During most of my chemotherapy treatments I was able to continue writing and public speaking, but it became increasingly more difficult as time went on. After my surgeries (6 total!) I needed to hibernate for awhile and take a break from everything […]

Quiet reflections, gratitude and a holiday offer for you

Quiet reflections, gratitude and a holiday offer for you

This is the fourth night in a row where I’ve awoke at 3:00 in the morning, not feeling sick and nauseous as I typically do during this week of my cancer treatment, but wide awake and filled with gratitude and happiness. Night after night I’ve quietly laid here, letting my mind wander to where it […]

Book roundup + giveaway! The 20-30 Something Garden Guide, The Plant Recipe Book & Sunset’s Western Garden Book of Landscaping

Book roundup + giveaway! The 20-30 Something Garden Guide, The Plant Recipe Book & Sunset’s Western Garden Book of Landscaping

Spring has arrived! And along with the sweet scent of jasmine, the bursting blooms of tulips and rosebuds just beginning to open comes a new crop of gardening books.  Luckily my mailman remembers that, around this time each year, his load gets a little heavier with all the books I’m sent to review.  I thought […]

Replacing a lawn with a garden – Part 2

Replacing a lawn with a garden – Part 2

Phew – I’ve been busy!  As promised a few weeks ago, here’s the next phase of my front lawn-removal project. After deciding on the materials and final shape of the pathways, the next step was to remove the lawn.  A physically grueling task to be sure. Enlisting help from those with strong backs, we removed […]

Looking at your garden with fresh eyes

Looking at your garden with fresh eyes

As a designer, I’m often asked how I go about deciding how and where to begin when it comes to transforming a garden bed. While visualizing where to begin is relatively easy for me (it’s what I do for a living, after all!) I realize that’s not necessarily the case for others.  In fact, I experienced […]

Refresh Your Garden Design Virtual Book Party!

Refresh Your Garden Design Virtual Book Party!

I’m officially announcing the birth of my new baby…I mean book, Refresh Your Garden Design with Color, Texture & Form, and to celebrate you’re all invited to attend my Virtual Book Party – with some very ‘refreshing’ party favors (yes, pun intended).  Six garden blogging friends and I are hosting 7 great giveaways this week, all related […]