Garden Design Inspiration
Sometimes an inspiration “bouquet” helps clients see my vision for their garden design.
We can play with the different plant combinations until we like the result.
On The Road Again
I speak at many different garden clubs during the year and one of the benefits is that I get to travel around New England.
Every trip reveals something that inspires me, whether vineyards in Rhode Island, mountains in Vermont, or beaches on Cape Cod. Just last week I had the privilege of speaking at the Jamestown Garden Club in beautiful Jamestown, Rhode Island. The house where I lectured was right on the water and I thought again how wonderfully that environment, with its sea breezes, lends itself to the gracefulness of ornamental grasses.
Read More»Orange Punch – Container Gardens Match Beds
A client’s recent party had us feeling citrus-y.
It’s always nice to complement what’s blooming in the beds.
Container gardens can turn front doors, back decks and intimate patios into more welcoming places. We have created hundreds of custom container gardens for clients throughout New England. Your empty urn, window box or container is an opportunity to see what we can do for you. It will always be beautiful, never typical. We promise.
“Pockets” Make Easy Fall Containers
This time of year I feel like that kid from the movie The Sixth Sense. Remember the one who saw dead people? That’s me. Only I see dead windowboxes. Containers. Urns.
Ghosts of gardens that were undoubtedly the pride of their owners now left to die.
I can’t help but wonder why the people who delight in designing their summer containers don’t keep the beauty going into fall. After all, fall windowboxes are not difficult to create. The key is planting “pockets”.
Start by planting evergreens in the container to act as the “bones” of the design. Boxwood and dwarf arborvitae are great choices for bones. In between the evergreens, the “pockets”, plant seasonal material. Even if you choose to plant only in summer your evergreen “bones” mean you have a decent looking container during the other three seasons. You can make a great looking fall windowbox without planting a thing, just add simple embellishments. For instance, gather some interesting gourds or seed heads and use branches for height. Just make sure you NEVER use bittersweet vine as it is highly invasive. A simple combination for your fall container could incorporate an ornamental grass, a cabbage or kale, and some pansies. Even though the days are colder don’t forget to water your container. Until the soil freezes the plants still require moisture.
If you are not planting anything in your winter boxes remove fall material before it becomes frozen in place. Cutting off plant material at soil level is a good option if Jack Frost catches you unawares and helps you avoid the “ghosts of containers past” syndrome.
Fall in New England is a beautiful season with spectacular colors and interesting details. It’s the perfect opportunity to plant something in your containers that will take your breath away – before winter does.
This article was originally written for Pine Straw, an apparel and home goods store in Wellesley, MA.
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