Planting around tree roots (especially when those roots are large and growing above ground) is one of the most common questions frustrated homeowners ask me. Many gardeners feel defeated and either avoid planting altogether or resort to growing grass around the tree. Unfortunately, lawns in these areas often lead to damaged roots, scraped trunks, and […]
I’m excited to share with you the rustic potting benches in my garden. While I should be outside this weekend pruning my roses, it’s cold, wet, and downright dreary. So instead, I hope to give you a bit of potting table inspiration. Everyone should have an area in their garden where they can comfortably putter […]
I love designing with ball-shaped flowers. Don’t get me wrong, I also adore spire-shaped flowers (click here if you missed that post!) However, there’s something about spherical shapes that always makes me smile. Maybe its because the lollipop shapes tend to be more playful? Or maybe its because the symmetrical, round balls are such a […]
This time of year, I’m often asked what my favorite spring bulbs for warm climates are, and how I incorporate them into my garden’s design. If you garden in a warmer climate (as I do in zone 9), the good news is it’s not too late to plant spring-flowering bulbs. Ideally, I aim to get […]
Over the years, more and more people have asked me for help with replacing a pool with a garden. Maybe it’s because of California’s ongoing drought? Maybe it’s because of kids who have grown up and flown the coop? Either way, removing a pool and replacing it with a garden is a hot topic […]
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 […]
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 […]
Welcome to Freeland and Sabrina Tanner’s garden! I’m re-writing this post (originally written almost 15 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 is one of the easiest ways to add a little sparkle, contrast, and visual motion to the garden, resulting in that wow-factor moment. 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 […]
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 fellow gardeners which heat-loving, deer-resistant perennials truly thrive in hot summer gardens, and which ones survive year after year without constant coddling. While I’ve written about many of these tough plants before, I’ve gathered them all into one comprehensive guide, adding 15 new tough-as-nails perennials that have proven themselves in my […]
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 […]
