Tag: Vertical Gardening

One Window Box for Four Seasons window box design

One Window Box for Four Seasons

I love designing a window box for all four seasons.  Not only because window boxes provide yet another opportunity to plant, but because they’re a fantastic way to add vertical interest in the garden. When standing in line at the grocery store, I can easily pass by all the fashion magazines, except for articles like […]

Transforming a side yard from Blah to Beautiful Transforming a side yard

Transforming a side yard from Blah to Beautiful

I originally wrote this post about transforming a side yard eight years ago.  However, I’m re-writing this in honor of my friend who created this magical side yard, and who recently unexpectedly passed away. I often highlight this garden in various presentations, and it’s always a HUGE hit with the audience.   In fact, this garden […]

I’m a caladium convert

I’m a caladium convert

I’ll admit it – I’ve never given much thought to caladiums.  But having trialed several this year (thanks to the generous folks at Classic Caladiums) I can proudly say I’m a Caladium Convert! Similar to coleus, they come in a psychedelic array of color combinations,.    Caladiums, however, seem to have more of an air […]

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 […]

A Jewel Box Courtyard that’s Wheelchair-Friendly

A Jewel Box Courtyard that’s Wheelchair-Friendly

Today I want to share with a darling jewel-box courtyard (that’s wheelchair friendly, too!) Three years ago our local newspaper ran a story on our (then) new book, Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces. Within 24 hours, I received a phone call from Judy, who was in desperate need of transforming […]

The art and soul of Freeland Tanner freeland tanner garden art

The art and soul of Freeland Tanner

What do you get when you combine a pile of twigs, sprinklers, and watering cans with the right side of the brain that just won’t quit? It’s not what you get; it’s who you get – Freeland Tanner. You may have read about Freeland and his equally impressive wife Sabrina here and here.  Or, you may […]

Pyracantha Pandemonium pyracantha

Pyracantha Pandemonium

Today began like any other chilly January day, wandering through my garden while appreciating the subtle beauty of the muted winter garden. This was before all sorts of chaos erupted.  But I digress – let’s get back to the pyracantha. For the past week, I had been admiring one of my favorite shrubs growing in […]

Think vertically when designing side yards side yard design

Think vertically when designing side yards

One of my favorite chapters in my first book Garden Up!,  tackles a common problem many gardeners face – what to do with those narrow side yards? These awkward spaces are often neglected, turning into dumping grounds for junky items collected over the years. While it’s true we all need a place to store some of this […]

Repurposing a fireplace mantle in the garden

Repurposing a fireplace mantle in the garden

Today I wanted to share how I repurposed a fireplace mantle in the garden. While driving around in the rain a few months ago, I spotted this mantle leaning next to a dumpster with a ton of junk piled on top of it.   The dumpster was located behind a furniture staging company, but this […]

Living Walls in a San Francisco Community Garden

While in San Francisco recently, I stumbled upon this community garden sandwiched in between a really busy road and an apartment building. It’s a community garden built and maintained by a homeless shelter and surrounding neighbors (which is cool enough!) but I loved all the repurposed living wall elements along the chain-link fence.  The colorful […]

Vertical Gardening & Garden Up! Cyber Book Party

Vertical Gardening & Garden Up! Cyber Book Party

Ta Da!  Today is the official launch of our book Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces. To celebrate, Susan and I are hosting a cyber book party, complete with door prizes and party favors – and you’re all invited! Of course, two blogs isn’t much of a party, and if you’ve […]