The inspiration process is difficult to document and explain in words or photos. Waves of ideas come at odd times and often are images created in your head and finding examples to showcase an element or idea that does not yet exist is often impossible. Also the connection between the thoughts are so personal, it is hard to explain how … READ MORE
Tag Archives: garden inspiration
2018 Garden Learnings – Containers
While I was traveling we received the death frost, wiping out the last of the summer annuals. Before I left, I filled a box truck with the tender plants I wanted to save or covered a few of the special plants I could not fit. It was a abrupt announcement of fall, returning to the skeleton of plants. So now … READ MORE
Small Buildings in the Garden
While I was going through my iphone photos this week looking for project photos, I noticed how many photographs I take of small buildings. When I design a garden I take into account adding auxiliary structures and their relationship to the garden. These add an additional personality to the garden and don’t need to take themselves so seriously. Plus I … READ MORE
Garden Tour – The Blue Garden
Part three of my garden tours through Rhode Island brings us to the famous Fredrick Law Olmsted Jr. designed Blue Garden. This garden owes its significance from its original patroness, Harriet Parsons James, Olmsted’s vision and its contemporary savior, Dorrance “Dodo” Hamilton. The story of how this garden was rehabilitated from its long hidden original form is awe inspiring. I have … READ MORE
Garden Tour – Green Animals Topiary Garden
Back in June, during my trip to Rhode Island our host, Blithewold Mansion scheduled a few private garden tours in the area for the group. I already shared Sakonnet Garden, and this week I am sharing the remaining gardens, Green Animals and The Blue Garden. Our tour of Green Animals Topiary Garden was led by the property’s head horticulturist, Dan … READ MORE
Great Garden Videos – Nowness
I love watching garden videos, not gardening how-to, but garden experience videos. My favorite videos allow you to see the movement and life of the garden and include narration by the garden’s creator. I am constantly getting lost in rabbit holes on youtube, mainly during the winter months when I am craving anything having to do with gardens. The other … READ MORE
Boxwood Growth over Four Years
Back in 2011 I blogged about how long it takes boxwood to grow into a hedge. Being able to showcase the years of growth require me remembering to photograph the boxwood every year for a prolong period. I found another project where over the course of four years I have the grow documented. So here is an update of Boxwood … READ MORE
South Franklin Circle: Perennial Sweeps in a Retirement Community
A Saturday trip to the east side of Cleveland included picking up a Smith & Hawken teak sofa, visiting Holden Arboretum to enjoy the canopy walk and emergent tower and a walk around the town of Chagrin Falls and nearby South Franklin Circle Retirement Community. This is typical weekend activity for us, traveling to a new area and searching out … READ MORE
What’s in (post) Bloom
Often, when I go out into the garden I can quickly find blooms to cut and create an arrangement of that exact moment in the season. The other weekend when faced with the need for a large amount of blooms to decorate a table, the gardens seemed lacking blooms. We needed to get creative and look at items past their … READ MORE