Christmas Waves a Magic Wand
Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
Local
Whenever I am speaking at Flower Shows or Garden Clubs I always stress the importance of doing business with a good local nursery. The big box stores are fine for rakes, leaf bags and the occasional bag of potting soil but when it comes to plant material you cannot beat a local nursery. Many of the staff are devoted plant people, “geeks” if you will. Many have worked and studied hard to achieve accreditations from industry groups like the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (shout out to my fellow MCHs and MCLPs). Many are Master Gardeners. In other words, these are typically people who know plants. You want to get to know them. Get on their good side. Bring them brownies. Or beer. They have access to the plant material and they need to know your name. Once they realize that you are a true plant lover they might let you know when the delivery of that really cool plant is arriving. They may even put one aside for you.
I could not be successful in my business without the support of great local nurseries. One of my favorites is A. Thomas and Sons in Milton, MA.
These guys are awesome and if you live in the area you owe it to yourself to check them out.
A Winter Garden
The first snowfall of the season has reminded me again of the importance of planning for a winter garden. Here in New England the winters can seem well…long. Often we are looking at nothing but white and brown from November until late March. Lack of planning for a winter garden means the garden that wowed you in June will leave you wanting in January.
Evergreens are certainly one way to add color to a stark winter garden but I am also a huge fan of deciduous trees and shrubs that have a structural beauty. Even without leaves these plants can be breathtaking due to exfoliating bark, colorful stems or berries. Birches, Japanese maples, dogwood shrubs, winterberry hollies – these are all-stars in a winter landscape and when I am designing gardens I try to incorporate them whenever possible.
But even if you only garden in containers, consider winter.
A new client tasked us with creating a beautiful collection of containers to decorate his deck. He wanted it to be beautiful year round since his family looked out on it from several rooms. Of course we used evergreens but we also featured a beautiful deciduous tree commonly known as Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick.
…… Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’) …..
What a Tool
As a garden designer I love plants. That’s a given. But not too far behind my love of plants is a love of tools. Especially those that make my life easier. When I first started in this business over 15 years ago I did most everything the hard way. I slept well, due to exhaustion, but my back hurt, my knees ached, and my fingers tingled. As I have gotten older, and wiser, I have realized that tools can be a really good friend.
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