Posts by Karen Chapman
Designing Fall Vignettes
Is the fall interest in your garden limited to the decaying foliage of summer perennials? That can often be the case without some advance planning. Here are a few ideas to help you create vignettes that truly celebrate the season rather than apologize for their demise. Temper The Fire The temptation is to focus on…
Read MoreEasy Fall Containers
With my new garden still being firmly in the 'planning and dreaming' stage I decided to plant up a couple of containers to feed my creative spirit and bring some much needed color into the space. Seattle winters are so grey and I knew that would be compounded by the expansive concrete patio, weathered cedar…
Read MoreHide & Seek: Design Tricks from Sudeley Castle
There are so many castles in England that choosing which ones to take a tour group to can be tricky. All are fascinating in their own way whether their medieval history, tales of renovation or collections of priceless art and most have gardens that are worth a visit but truthfully the only reason I included…
Read MoreFront Garden Assessment
As my regular readers will know, we have just left our 5-acre garden of 16 years and moved into what can best be described as "the ugliest house in Duvall". The garden isn't a whole lot better being a blend of dead grass, dead bamboo (mercifully container in a planter), every self-seeding annual you can…
Read MoreA New Season
Today was the day we signed on the dotted line and sold our garden to its next caretakers. (We agreed to sell our home and barn too). We made the decision a year ago, recognizing that as much as we loved it here, it was taking us longer to look after the 5 acre property…
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