**EXCITING UPDATE! In conjunction with Garden Design, I’m facilitating a series of two-day garden design classes not only taught by the Tanners but also held within Freeland and Sabrina Tanner’s garden. This is a rare opportunity to see this incredible private garden in person and to learn valuable garden design advice, tips, and techniques first-hand from the Tanners. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 being buried under […]
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 […]
Over the years, I’ve noticed many gardeners are a little unsure of 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 […]
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 […]
Growing tulips in warm climates can certainly be done; it just takes a little extra work in the form of pre-chilling the bulbs (but boy, is it worth it!) Fall seems to be the time of year new clients tell me they want loads of tulips planted in their new garden beds to enjoy for […]
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’ve been designing with ornamental grasses for decades and consider them an indispensable staple not only in my own garden but in those I design. However, when meeting with new clients, I’m always amazed at how often I hear something along the lines of ‘I really like grasses, but I’m not sure how to use […]
