A Room with a Magical View

Arriving late afternoon at our AirBnb we were jet-lagged and weary having just flown from Seattle to Heathrow before then driving west for several hours. Yet, before I had even put the kettle on I grabbed my camera and dashed outside. The facade of this traditional Welsh farmhouse on the edge of the Brecon Beacons…

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Caisson Gardens – a hidden gem

As our coach inched its way down the narrow country lane, the tall hedgerows of hawthorn and cow parsley on either side creating a leafy green tunnel, our sense of anticipation grew. When the coach could go no further, our adventurous tour guests hiked the last 0.2 miles on foot, before finally reaching the  driveway…

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Garden Design: Mimicking Nature

I'm a firm believer that gardens should be experienced – not just observed. They should invite exploration and contemplation, pique our curiosity in some way. On my recent trip to the Hudson River Valley, I visited three public gardens that really spoke to me because they achieved this so well and did so, not by…

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Heligan: History, Romance & Adventure

Forget Hallmark movies for the Holiday feel-good factor. I've got a better story for you: The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Once upon a time, there was a vibrant estate in Cornwall, England called Heligan. The original Heligan Manor had been built in the 1200s, with Heligan House built in the Jacobean style in 1603, then…

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Gateway Wildlife Garden – Chelsea 2023

It's a balance. I want to create habitat for wildlife – but that doesn't mean I want to live in an overgrown 5-acre field. I therefore designed the gardens closest to our home to be more ornamental, featuring some of my favorite deer-resistant trees, shrubs and perennials, with a mid-point transition area consisting of a…

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