If you're interested in more articles like this one, plus would like to receive a free copy of my theme garden eBook, please sign up for email updates here.
4.23.2014
GEUMS ARE GEMS
I discovered this flower only a few years ago and now cannot imagine living without it. In early spring it pops out like orange polka-dots all over my zone 5 sunny perennial border. The foliage is wide and round giving much needed coarse texture to the garden. The flowers balance above about 12-18". There are many different cultivars, so I may be creating my own sweet little geum collection soon. Be warned that it does not transplant well. My greedy side wanted more, so I attempted to divide and move them around, but only lost some in the process. I guess that is a a good reason to go plant binging shopping again.
If you're interested in more articles like this one, plus would like to receive a free copy of my theme garden eBook, please sign up for email updates here.
If you're interested in more articles like this one, plus would like to receive a free copy of my theme garden eBook, please sign up for email updates here.
4.15.2014
SUCCULENTS ON THE FRONT PORCH
Over the last couple of weeks I've been participating in an online illustration class...Make Art that Sells by Lilla Rogers. I'm always looking for fun ways to improve my graphic communication skills, so am excited about this class and how I can explore additional methods to teach garden design.
The images below highlight our last project using succulents as inspiration. I imagined this being a front porch, with mismatched antiques, surrounded my containers of succulent plants. Now I just need a glass of iced tea!
If you're interested in more articles like this one, plus would like to receive a free copy of my theme garden eBook, please sign up for email updates here.
The images below highlight our last project using succulents as inspiration. I imagined this being a front porch, with mismatched antiques, surrounded my containers of succulent plants. Now I just need a glass of iced tea!
If you're interested in more articles like this one, plus would like to receive a free copy of my theme garden eBook, please sign up for email updates here.
4.05.2014
PLANTING DESIGN TIPS
Though I officially learned planting design in college, I didn't begin my real education until I began creating my own garden. These are a collection of tips I've learned over the last twenty years in both capacities.
.jpg)
If you'd like more information on some of these tips please check out these posts:
Drawing Tree Forms
Make Your Garden Pop with Texture
Texture in the Garden
I hope to expand on additional tips in the future...so keep a look out for those.
I'd love to hear your planting design tips too. Please share one in the comments below.
If you're interested in more articles like this one, plus would like to receive a free copy of my theme garden eBook, please sign up for email updates here.
4.01.2014
PLANT BINGE SEASON
Spring brings the urge to plant binge (I'm an admitted plant addict).
How many times have you entered a nursery center with looking as your only goal, but leaving with handfuls of plants? The worst case is at the end of the planting season when everything is marked down to pennies. How could you not purchase a few more goodies for the garden? I fall into this category often, but I do follow a few personal rules.
1. Try to buy at least three (or more) of one plant. Though you may not have a destination in mind yet, at least there will be a nice grouping for the final design (and it will look like you planned it).
2. Try something new. If you're only paying 99 cents, why not try a new plant? If it doesn't do well, no biggie. My garden is filled with sale (and even free) plants that no one else wanted or recognized. I now have some amazing plants that I would have never dreamed up on my own.
3. Is there a season you're lacking great color? Late summer or fall perhaps? Try to find plants that fill those gaps. Don't let the lack of bloom in the nursery distract you - just because it's not blooming at that moment, doesn't mean it's not fabulous. Read the tags and grab the beauties others missed.
4. Pick up those small, special plants (less than 12" tall). These itty bitty plants are perfect for the front of your border or tucked in small spaces. Buy as many as you can. It's so much fun spreading these out along the front of a planting bed to pull it all together (what? a sale item creating a cohesive design?).
What other hints do you have?
If you're interested in more articles like this one, plus would like to receive a free copy of my theme garden eBook, please sign up for email updates here.
How many times have you entered a nursery center with looking as your only goal, but leaving with handfuls of plants? The worst case is at the end of the planting season when everything is marked down to pennies. How could you not purchase a few more goodies for the garden? I fall into this category often, but I do follow a few personal rules.
1. Try to buy at least three (or more) of one plant. Though you may not have a destination in mind yet, at least there will be a nice grouping for the final design (and it will look like you planned it).
2. Try something new. If you're only paying 99 cents, why not try a new plant? If it doesn't do well, no biggie. My garden is filled with sale (and even free) plants that no one else wanted or recognized. I now have some amazing plants that I would have never dreamed up on my own.
3. Is there a season you're lacking great color? Late summer or fall perhaps? Try to find plants that fill those gaps. Don't let the lack of bloom in the nursery distract you - just because it's not blooming at that moment, doesn't mean it's not fabulous. Read the tags and grab the beauties others missed.
4. Pick up those small, special plants (less than 12" tall). These itty bitty plants are perfect for the front of your border or tucked in small spaces. Buy as many as you can. It's so much fun spreading these out along the front of a planting bed to pull it all together (what? a sale item creating a cohesive design?).
What other hints do you have?
If you're interested in more articles like this one, plus would like to receive a free copy of my theme garden eBook, please sign up for email updates here.
