Holiday Favorites

Need some inspiration for gift-giving this year? My selection is based on items that are either firm personal favorites or offer significant value well beyond the Holiday season. Garden Gnome Tree Ornament It has become a tradition that on Christmas Eve our family exchanges a small gift – specifically a tree ornament. My husband Andy…

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Outside Style: Book Review & Giveaway

I'm not even waiting until this one is available for sale before I tell you about it – I'm that excited!  But let me start at the beginning… I met the author, Ryan McEnaney several years ago over a glass of wine – sauvignon blanc to be specific. We were at a conference for garden…

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Gourdgeous Pumpkin: An Exciting, Colorful Backdrop

I'm always struck by the use of colored walls in garden design. I think the fascination began when I purchased Container Gardening (DK, 2004) by Paul Williams many years ago. The planting combinations are outstanding, showcasing a variety of styles and color schemes with excellent use of foliage, but it is the staging and photography…

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Color-Changing Evergreens

Funnily enough, no-one has ever asked me to design a high maintenance garden, yet there is a common misconception that low maintenance translates to an endless row of boxwood or a border entirely devoted to rhododendrons. While these may be easy care they certainly won’t win any design awards. Yet evergreen trees and shrubs are…

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Gifts for Adventurous Gardeners (& More)

How much more STUFF do we need anyway? This year has changed my shopping habits. I visit stores as infrequently as possible and when I do it's because I need to hand pick something specific. Most of my purchases have been made online, whether  a wetsuit or new walking shoes. With the Holidays just around…

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