Tag: New England Spring
-
The Heronry that the Beavers Made
Wikipedia defines heronry ” Noun: A breeding colony of herons, typically in a group of trees.” Beavers created the landscape above–perfect for them and even more perfect for the heron colony shown below. Amazing to watch and even more to listen–the sounds of the young herons, red-wing blackbirds, woodpeckers, bull frogs, and who knows what else–created a…
-
Dianthus Joy
The large mass of pink dianthus greeted me recently. The first photo shows it as part of the garden as a whole–notice the way the green Japanese maple foliage and silvery green nepeta foliage masses balance the spread of the dianthus. Also, the bit of purple foliage of the heuchera echos the red side of the color wheel…
-
Work in Progress–Transformation Almost Done
We’re waiting for the lighting and railing contractors. When the lighting’s installed, the mulch can be applied. But in the meantime, this brand new landscape works its magic. The wall, walkway, large ornamental stones, landing and steps refurbish, and the plantings all just installed.
-
Classic Style Courtyard Fountain
It’s wonderful for me to visit landscapes I’ve designed and installed a few years later. This landscape/garden was designed in a ‘classic’ style to echo the home’s architecture. The hard-scape–the sitting/retaining wall, the steps and landing, the fountain, the courtyard paving all looked great when just installed. The plantings did too. But now 6 years later, the plantings…
-
Gloomy Weather Week, but not from my windows
It’s certainly been another rainy gloomy week in the Northeast. Reminds me of winters in Santa Cruz, CA. The only bright spots are the views from my windows. Out the back, a tapestry of different greens created by a variety woodland trees with a flowering cherry or two, a scene so beautiful I find myself in awe…
-
Visiting a Landscape I Designed/Installed in 2006
It takes a few years for a landscape I design and all its elements to approach the vision in my head. This image taken last week shows the garden in early spring–not all the plantings are up. Even just finished–the custom design of the welcoming gate to the back garden, the meandering path from drive to back…
-
As a Landscape Designer I design the seen and the unseen
In April and May, our native and cultivated landscapes come alive. Some are magical–other’s not- so- much. My work as a landscape designer takes the “not-so-much” into magical. As humans we notice the plantings–when they bloom and their shapes in relation to others. What we feel, but don’t usually notice in a successful garden is the…
-
Latest Discovery
The Bloodroot pictured above responded to yesterday’s sun by opening its’ flowers. Bloodroot or Sanguinaria canadensis occurs in our native hardwood forests and as you would expect from its’ name has a red colored root. For me it’s one of spring’s delights to rediscover each year on my garden journey. I treasure it as it’s fleeting–a spring efemeral…
-
Discovery, Astonishment, and Sharing
A few lines from Mary Oliver’s poem were sent to me. It reads “Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” Living within a garden makes it easy to follow her instructions. A journey of discovery offered each day. It’s the opportunity to pay attention and discover, and in that process, notice your breath and connection to…
-
The Garden Comes Alive
I know it’s really spring because the flowers have started. These early blooming spring bulbs cheered me despite the clouds and threatening rain yesterday. Who knows what I’ll find tomorrow after today’s downpours.