Filoli Before Spring

Notice how even in lousy light and with the deciduous woody plants being void of leaves, this garden is photogenic? That it’s simple (especially at this time of year, before the flower riot is in full swing) the plantings are stunning, and how the structure of this garden – the layers and mass of its “bones” – support the flower beds. When looking at the images, did you feel like it was not colorful enough? I didn’t.

Read Full Post »

Mixed lawns – alternatives to turfgrass

Even if you don’t go to the expense and trouble of removing an existing lawn regardless of its condition, simply overseeding with white clover can start a remarkable transformation. Adding clover to your turfgrass lawn can begins the transformation of adding little flowers, benefits from nitrogen fixing, and gaining a more textured, greener appearance.

Read Full Post »

Obsess much?

Two of my favorite things below: silver/gray foliage and green flowering bearded irises. See, I told you it was esoteric.

Read Full Post »

Lawns: what they’re good for or not…

When asked about turf grass lawns, some clients feel that they should have one but cannot provide a particular reason. “Because they’re nice” someone once said to me. I don’t think that is reason enough if there’s no functional or aesthetic need for it. If a lawn fills a particular emotional need or is meaningful in some way, that is a different story. Unfortunately, the care required to keep them healthy makes turf grass lawns one of the least environmentally friendly growing things you can have.

Read Full Post »

Green – the color, not the movement.

I once said to a client that their plant materials would have foliage in different shades of green.  The husband looked at me like I was from mars, he thought that green was green.  Sometimes, it isn’t.  Oh, and by the way – that big gorgeous bearded Iris in the blog header is green, too.  [...]

Read Full Post »