Posts by Karen Chapman
The Ugly Duckling – 1 Year Later
Do you remember just how bad it was? The 'warehouse with ample parking meets multiple personality disorder' house we bought last August?? This blog post(opens in new tab) will refresh your memory, and while a year is a mere blink of an eye in garden terms, there has been significant progress in the front garden…
Read MoreBefore, After & 5 years Later: Family Garden Makeover
I recently had the opportunity to revisit a garden we had installed 5 year ago and I was thrilled to see how beautifully the homeowners had looked after it! The skies were grey that morning but this colorful oasis shone regardless. Designing and planning for growth and evolution of a garden isn't always easy. Considering…
Read MoreA Contemporary Medicinal Garden
I'm just back from leading my garden tour Adventures in Yorkshire and the Lake District and couldn't wait to share one of my favorite gardens with you – Littlethorpe Manor. Tucked away in the rural countryside near Ripon this stately manor house sits within 11 acres. The original structure of the landscape was set out…
Read MoreYour Garden Story – The Final Chapter
Think back to your favorite book. The introduction drew you in, you followed the key characters with interest as the story was woven through a series of events and in the final chapter you were left feeling…..what? Surprise because there was an unexpected plot twist that you didn't see coming? Contentment as you read the…
Read MoreGarden Chapters Unified
In this mini-design series of "telling your garden story" we've looked at the introduction (the entry sequence) and ideas for an overall theme. Today I want to explore ways to help you strengthen your narrative by unifying the individual garden chapters using repetition. There's a balance between allowing each distinct garden area have its own…
Read More