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
Container Design: Experiment with BIG FOLIAGE
From my experience container designs are the best areas to experiment with plant combinations. You have control over soil, watering and fertilization in a finite area. Also with seasonal plantings, you can play with plants of different hardiness. On our driveway we have a large aluminum trough on wheels that this year was the first time planting. We think it … READ MORE
Garden Tour: Sakonnet Garden
Back in June I traveled to Rhode Island to give a talk at Blithewold Mansion in Bristol, RI along with Joe and Shari Russell of Russell Tree Experts and Juniper Flower Co. The talk was about how young professionals are forging unique paths in the horticulture industry. It was a reunion for Joe, myself and Julie, the Education Programs Manager … 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
Cultivate 18 – Trade Show Recap
Today marks the last day of Cultivate, “THE” horticulture industry trade show for growers, retailers, educators, designers and everyone in-between. I saw THE, because it brings horticulture leaders from around the world and fills the entire convention center floor. Yesterday it took us over five hours to walk the 3 plus miles of rows. The annual show is held here … READ MORE
Pilgrimage to Hummelo – 2018 Last Dates Open to Public
So Piet is basically like Bono or Sting in the gardening world, only needs one name for instant recognition. And the complete Piet Oudolf, is arguably the most recognizable horticulturist to the general public. This is down to Peit being the force and artist in painting actual landscapes in sweeping perennial drifts that create texture, movement and structure in the … READ MORE