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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Hide & 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…

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Front 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…

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