Posts by Karen Chapman
Lessons from Chanticleer – when a Path becomes an Experience
Have you ever visited a garden that literally took your breath away? The sun was barely cresting the horizon when I drove into Chanticleer Garden, affording the merest glimpse of what I would ultimately see. Although I had enjoyed slide presentations, photographic blog posts, and books on this unique place I still gasped a little…
Read MoreThe Little Purple House
There are whimsical gardens and then there is Lucinda Hutson's "Texican" garden – an unapologetic explosion of color that is pure FIESTA. Brought up in El Paso, Texas she regularly traveled to Mexico and central America whose colors and traditions continue to influence her. Lucinda loves to make everday life a fiesta and encourages others…
Read MoreBest Drought Tolerant Perennials & Annuals – that are Deer Resistant Too!
Still stinging from your last water bill? Good news! As promised in my last post on drought tolerant trees and shrubs, here is my report on those annuals and perennials that came through our crazy 2017 PNW summer with style. That means they coped with: three months without rain no irrigation or hand watering (although…
Read MoreReduce your Water Bill with these PNW Survivors
How was your water bill this summer? $200? $300? Over $500? Was it higher than usual and worse than expected? While the cause could be anything from a leaky toilet to an inefficient washing machine, chances are your landscape may have been the main culprit. Whether you have an automatic irrigation system or hand water…
Read MorePathway Transitions: Designer Details
Every garden needs pathways for navigation. Whether it is a means to get from the driveway to the front door, a short stretch from the back door to the garbage cans or a meandering trek through an abundantly planted border, each pathway has a distinctive role. That role in turn determines the paths width and…
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