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Sustainability

 Establish A Community - Part 4: Ecological Function, Aesthetic Form

  Our modern perceptions of what a beautiful landscape looks like are not really our own ideas. They were in large part shaped by English landscape artists of the 18th and 19th centuries. Their highly romanticized works interpreted for the public what landscape designers were providing for the wealthy upper class. Their paintings, like the …

What's In Bloom Today?

Ornamental grasses are at their best in the fall and Dwarf Fountain Grass is no exception.     At it’s best in the full sun, dwarf fountain grass is easy to grow in average, moist soil. It will tolerate part shade, but may not flower well. The 2 1/2 foot to 3 foot clumps have …

Establish A Community --    Part 3: Design Principles -  The Layered Look

  The technique of planting in layers is neither new or revolutionary. For years, designers have considered the front, middle and back as layers in residential bed design, making sure that the three layers work together harmoniously. Rainer and West, co-authors of the book Planting in a Post Wild World, add an additional dimension to …

What's In Bloom Today?

  The bees and the butterflies are ecstatic! Asters are in full bloom.     An easy to grow native perennial, New England asters are a cheerful addition to the front of the fall border, in a rain garden or as a naturalized area. Asters love full sun and moist, rich soils, but will also …

What's In Bloom Today?

Whether you know it as Wandflower. Whirling Butterfly or Gaura, this native wildflower is a must for the garden.   Another low maintenance choice, this long blooming, (August through October) clumping herbaceous perennial grows best in a full sun location with sandy, well-drained soil. It tolerates heat, humidity and drought. Wiry stems, which can range …

What Is A "Sense of Place"?

  Last week I promised that we would explore the principles of designing a shade garden using the concept of a designed plant community. And we will be doing that — just not today. Today I want to answer a question that was posed to me after last week’s blog.  A reader contacted me and …

What's In Bloom Today?

Blue Mist Spireas , or bluebeards, are stealing the show right now.         Bees, butterflies and other pollinators flock to this lightly fragrant but always showy deciduous shrub throughout its lengthy fall bloom period. Caryopteris is easy to grow in a full sun, well-drained location, but does not like wet feet!  It …