We had a wonderful time in Niagara Falls and Toronto this past weekend. The drive through old towns and vineyards was beautiful and the Falls were worthy of the trip. In front of our hotel was a beautiful garden –     Pleached Tilia hedge            

Over the Fourth holiday we are traveling to Niagara Falls and Toronto with some friends. Even though I have lived with in 6 hours driving from the falls the majority of my life, I have never been. Of course we plan ride Maid of the Mist and enjoy all the standard tourist attractions, but we also plan a visit to the … READ MORE

Summer is the time for outdoor dinning. We eat most of our meals outside during the summer, except on the hottest days. There are a few standards for making sure you are ready for ourdoor dining (table and chairs), but endless options for the materials and layout. Using tall hedges surrounding the dining area allows you to feel like separate room … READ MORE

Happy first day of summer! It is a very humid and hot summer day in Central Ohio, so I am dreaming of cooling off in a pool. Here are some inspirational pools to daydream about as you crank up the AC and celebrate Summer! The rose bushes in terracotta containers help to define the pool area and the large weeping … READ MORE

Finally on Saturday before heading down to Toledo, Ohio we stopped in Gross Point. I have heard about the beautiful homes in Gross Pointe for years, and the quick trip did not disappoint. The home were amazing, but the landscapes could use some improvement. I need to go back when I have more than an hour to spend walking around. … READ MORE

While in Michigan we stayed outside Troy, MI and driving to our hotel we passed this amazing farm house and modern building with native plants surrounded by large office buildings on a four lane plus road. With the large trailer behind the truck we u-turned and stopped to look around. The building is home to the Kresge Foundation, founded in … READ MORE

On Friday I traveled up to Detroit with the family to pick up some containers at Detroit Garden Works for a client. Since we needed to be in Toledo, Ohio the next day we made it a mini-holiday. We did not do any planning, but asked if there were any nice neighborhoods near Detroit Garden Works to walk and shop … READ MORE

Boxwoods surrounding a reflection pool.Image from here.

This week my copy of Landscapes in Landscapes by Piet Oudolf arrived from Amazon.  I know I have mentioned a few times how much I admire Piet Oudolf, so I will not go over board again here. His new book is very good, but more geared towards those in the field compared to weekend gardeners ( I would recommend getting Planting the … READ MORE