Harmony in the Garden Blog

Category: Lawn-Free Gardens

Light and Airy Flowers for a Naturalistic Garden

Light and airy flowers, which I fondly call ‘bobbers,’ are one of the key components of a naturalistic garden. Despite their varying shapes (balls, umbels,

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Designing a Modified Meadow

Designing a modified meadow in my new garden has been one of the most challenging yet most rewarding things I’ve ever created. Also known as

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Designing a Hellstrip

Designing a hellstrip is often an afterthought, something considered once the rest of the garden is complete, which is such a shame! When visually

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Replacing a Pool with a Garden

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

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Designing with Ornamental Grasses

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.

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The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Lawn-Free Garden

Here it is – the ultimate guide to creating a lawn-free garden! Over the past several years, I’ve written a lot about creating a lawn-free

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Transforming a Sloping Front Garden

Transforming a sloping front garden is tricky for a variety of reasons: poor drainage and water run-off, soil erosion, and difficulty in maneuvering around, just

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Gardening Under Oaks: Learning to Love Dry-Shade Plants

Gardening under oaks and learning to love dry-shade plants go hand-in-hand. Sensitive to summer irrigation, fertilizers, and root disturbance means creating a garden near an

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