Barewood: A True Romantic Garden

When you purchase an internationally-acclaimed garden with your new home (itself a historic 100-year old homestead), it's a formidable responsibility. Yet the new owners of Barewood have not only risen to that challenge they have excelled and their enthusiasm is infectious. This four-acre garden, in the Marlborough district of New Zealand, has matured over the…

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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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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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New Deer-Resistant Shrub to Grow: El Nino Desert Orchid

Back of the border, flowering shrubs are a welcome addition to any garden but those that are also deer-resistant are a cause for celebration. In the past I've looked to Carolina allspice (Calycanthus) to fill this role, especially the variety Aphrodite, although I have been told that while they have proven reliably deer resistant in…

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