This is the time of the year when I need to be on my game, the most creative, innovative….. However this the point in the year when I feel most removed and beaten down by the winter. To combat this “Designer’s Block” I peruse through images…. Pinterest, Instagram, and pictures from my travels. Garden visiting is so vital to my … READ MORE
Tag Archives: gardens
Garden Inspiration – Chanticleer Gardens
I have been absent all summer from blogging, but am back with a post crammed with garden porn to make up for lost time. In mid-October I was outside Philadelphia speaking at the Perennial Plant Conference hosted by Chanticleer Garden, Longwood Gardens, and Scott Arboretum (Swarthmore College). Put it on your calendar next year! The lineup of speakers was second to … READ MORE
Using Barn Foundation Stone in the Landscape
Earlier in July, we visited Malabar Farms in Lucas, Ohio. The farm’s claim to fame is the home of Louis Bromfield, Pulitzer Prize winner author and the location of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall’s wedding. Besides these notable characteristics, Bromfield and Malabar are notable for pioneering sustainable agriculture practices. The farm is now a State Park, with miles of trails, … READ MORE
Embracing Container Gardens – Part One
The next series of posts on Thinking Outside the Boxwood are going to be more of rant than normal as I attempt to solidify the impact container gardens have in residential gardens. By no means are container gardens a ground breaking concept, there are hundreds of books from edible containers, instant containers and succulent containers to name just a few. But the more I travel … READ MORE
Spring in Miniature, RH + Branch Studios, Plant Obsessed and The English Garden Revivial
I know “round ups” for blogs normally are posted on Fridays, but lately I have only been able to devote snippets of time to pleasure reading. Just in case the gardener’s spring to do list also has you busy, here are some quick hits of stuff you might find interesting. SEEING: Spring in Miniature We only had a few warm … READ MORE
Garden Tour: Tuinen Mien Ruys
THE GARDEN: Called one of the most influential garden designers of the past century, Mien Ruys paved the for the modern Dutch landscape design. With a background in perennials and architecture Mien, bridged the gap between the two mediums to create her style. She was not afraid to push the envelope of design and experimented with combination of different materials. The gardens … READ MORE
Garden Inspiration: Cheshire, England
Since old man winter has his grip tight on the throat of the Midwest I want to continue with the theme of gardens I have visited that inspired me over the years. This garden is a private residence that I was very fortunate to visit while studying in Northwest, England. Cheshire is really know for its medieval wall and Tudor … READ MORE
Garden Inspiration: Palace Het Loo
Today in Central Ohio the temperatures are in the teens and the landscape it an abyss of white and grey. Since I was feeling uninspired by my surrounding- I am sure that others may be in my shoes. Over the years I have been very fortunate to visit gardens all over North America and Europe, call it a pilgrimage or … READ MORE
Millstones in the Garden
Last year we completed a project that included a small water feature for the family’s dog to take a quick drink when outside. The feature needed to be low, include moving water and do the best at keeping the dog’s paws from getting soaked. The solution we designed was an old millstone resting over river rocks with water bubbling up through … READ MORE