10 NEW Deer-Resistant Perennials for 2025

With seed catalogs arriving daily, gardeners are in full planning and dreaming mode. As much as I enjoy growing a few things from seed it's also really exciting to be able to purchase fully grown plants and of course I want to see what is both new and deer-resistant. Proven Winners always comes up with…

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Lawn-less in Seattle!

One project often leads to another. In this instance, the construction of a workshop meant re-grading and re-thinking the back garden of a lovely  home in Sammamish, WA, a popular residential neighborhoood in the Greater Seattle area. In its favor this garden was a good size, had some interesting elevation changes and several mature trees…

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Foliage First makeover for a Front Garden

When the homeowners of this beautiful Sammamish, WA home could no longer see out of their front windows, they knew it was time to call me. I had already re-designed their back garden (I'll share that another day) so I knew their tastes as well as the home itself. It's a common problem: a garden…

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The Power of Contrasts: a Cotswold Garden

Understanding the variety encompassed by the phase "English gardens" means fun adventures to explore formal gardens, cottage gardens, contemporary gardens and everything in between. It also means taking the road less traveled, visiting tiny suburban plots and wild hillside farms, historic estates and unassuming private gardens. As an English-born designer I'm always thrilled to share…

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Color Highlights from the Hudson River Valley

Visiting gardens near and far is always fun. I love to be shown new ways to use familiar plants, new design ideas for pathways, patios and structures, and simply things that make me pause. I glean ideas not only for my own garden but for the gardens I design for others. Last month I led…

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