Rebecca Sweet

The High Line Garden in Autumn high line autumn

The High Line Garden in Autumn

Last November, my daughter and I took a spontaneous trip to New York to visit the High Line garden again – only this time in autumn.  While visiting a garden in the spring and summer is magical, there’s something about a fall garden that grabs my soul.  Perhaps it’s the perennials taking their sweet time […]

Freaky, Creepy Plants for Halloween creepy freaky plants halloween

Freaky, Creepy Plants for Halloween

It’s always such a fun surprise to discover a garden that’s able to incorporate a few freaky, creepy plants for Halloween. In the past, in honor of this holiday, I’ve written about my favorite black & orange plants, and spooky old cemeteries (click here and here, if you dare!)  This year, I thought I’d share with […]

Freeland and Sabrina Tanner’s Garden freeland sabrina tanner

Freeland and Sabrina Tanner’s Garden

Welcome to Freeland and Sabrina Tanner’s garden!  I’m re-writing this post (originally written over 12 years ago!) to introduce newer readers to my favorite garden ever. After a several-year absence, I recently revisited this garden, and while I didn’t think it was possible to get any better than it was – boy was I wrong.  […]

Designing with Spire-Shaped Flowers spire shapes

Designing with Spire-Shaped Flowers

When designing a garden, some of my favorite plants to include are those with spire-shaped flowers. Spire-shaped flowers are typically triangular, with a broader base that tapers up to a point (similar to a cone or a rocket shooting into space). Those who have read my blog for some time probably know how much I […]

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 […]

25 Heat-Loving, Deer-Resistant Perennials for HOT Summer Days heat loving deer resistant perennials

25 Heat-Loving, Deer-Resistant Perennials for HOT Summer Days

I’m regularly asked by other gardeners what my favorite heat-loving, deer-resistant perennials are, and what has survived year after year.     Even though I’ve written a lot about my favorites, I’ve combined my various posts into one article, adding FIFTEEN new tough-as-nails perennials.    I’ve also indicated if they bloom early 0r mid-summer (or both!)   Click […]

Refrigerate Peony Buds for Months of Blooms refrigerate peony buds

Refrigerate Peony Buds for Months of Blooms

Today I’m sharing something I tried for the first time ever – how to refrigerate peony buds for months of blooms.   The reason I thought of doing this in the first place is that my mother and I were SO busy with her moving, that I knew we couldn’t fully enjoy them. I’ve read about […]

Saying Goodbye to Your Garden with Pressed Flowers pressed floweres

Saying Goodbye to Your Garden with Pressed Flowers

Saying goodbye to your garden with pressed flowers can help make this emotionally challenging event a bit more bearable.   I remember just a few years ago when I said goodbye to my garden of 30+ years – hoo boy, was that hard.   While I came up with some helpful coping strategies to make the transition […]

Geraniums and Pelargoniums in My Garden geraniums pelargoniums

Geraniums and Pelargoniums in My Garden

Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’ Geraniums and pelargoniums may look fragile and delicate, but they’re actually some of the hardest working plants in my garden.  Why? They’re ignored by browsing deer, they take our never-ending drought with a grain of salt, and I even have a some in our zone 6 Lake Tahoe garden that don’t mind […]

Designing a Barren Berm Designing a barren berm

Designing a Barren Berm

It’s been no easy feat designing a barren berm and transforming it into a pollinator paradise.   But, five years later I’m happy to say it’s been a huge success.   Believe it or not, the depressing photo (left) is now one of my favorite areas of the garden (below.) When designing gardens for others, I always […]

How To Use White In The Garden white in the garden

How To Use White In The Garden

Often overlooked, the color white frequently takes a back seat to all the showier colors out there, which is such a shame!    Though people may think of white as subdued, colorless, or ordinary – it’s actually incredibly versatile, serving many functions in the garden.  Is your garden too chaotic, boring, shady, or hot?  Believe it […]

The Fall Garden in NYC’s Little Island

The Fall Garden in NYC’s Little Island

Have any of you heard of the Little Island garden before?  Well, I sure hadn’t, so imagine my surprise when I quite literally stumbled upon this breathtaking fall garden that appeared to float in the Hudson River! A few weeks ago, my daughter, Emily, and I took a quick trip to New York City.  It’s […]