Springtime in England

Fewer crowds, pleasant weather  (usually),  and generous garlands of fragrant wisteria draped across sturdy arbors and weathered stone walls all make spring one of the best seasons to visit England. My own childhood memories of English springtimes include strolling through beech woods, thickly carpeted with wild garlic and bluebells,  picking posies of wild primroses (frowned…

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Mosaic Magic New Zealand Style

Just when you think you've seen it all….you discover the magical  Giant's House, perched high on a hill in Akaroa, so-named by a small child who declared that the imposing home must belong to a giant since it was so big. Yet the size of the home is modest compared to the imagination of its…

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Unexpected Inspiration from 7000 miles away

What  design ideas can I possibly glean for soggy Seattle from a garden in the driest and coldest part of New Zealand? It turns out, many. Not only that but my visit to Jo Wakelin's garden  at the foot of the Mt. Pisa range in Central Otago is one that has stayed with me, almost…

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Designing Fall Vignettes

Heart-shaped, golden leaves of a katsura tree in fall

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…

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Easy 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…

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