While we at Gardenista were posting about all things watery for this week's Life Aquatic theme, the editors at Remodelista were doing the same thing, their way. Join them as they lounge in hammocks and celebrate the nautical life.

Above: Vintage boats hang from the ceiling at Slip, one of two adjoining restaurants on an island in the center of Stockholm. Reminiscent of Wes Anderson, perhaps? See more in Oaxen Krog and Slip: A Marine-Inspired Restaurant in Stockholm.

Above: Interior designer Tom Scheerer has remodeled two cottages on Harbour Island, in the Bahamas, and is now at work on a third (on Abaco). This attic bedroom shows his knack for combining the comfy with the composed. For more, see Island Life: At Home with Tom Scheerer.

Above: A post on Nautical Hardware: 7 Cleats for Home Use gives you a good excuse to hang out in your local marine-supply store. 

Above: Margot got permission to board so she could report on how a group of friends overhauled a beat-up houseboat. We love this shot of a tugboat towing the vessel down the Hudson River to its new home in the Rockaways, in Queens, before the deck-swabbing began. Read more in Rehab Diary: The Ultimate Houseboat in NYC. Photograph by Will Van Dorp via Tugster. 

Above: Julie investigates boathouse chic in her Trend Alert: 11 Rooms with Oars as Decor.  

More Stories from Gardenista

• Table of Contents: Life Aquatic
• Composting: Are You Obsessed?
• Trending on Remodelista: Scandi Midsummer

Some people can't leave a hardware store without buying something. We're that way in garden-supply stores (and websites, too). Here are some special additions we've been eyeing this week: 

• Above: Zinc-finish circle trays are ideal for serving cool beverages or displaying a garden bouquet. These come in a million sizes.
• Whatever your garden style, you'll find the path it deserves among these 41 ideas. 
• A graceful, easy-to-add architectural element: an arbor. Now, where to put it . . .   

• Above: It's called the Face Planter; get it? Silly, but we love it; from our friends at The Sill. 
• A carved-oak rope swing just says summer. Note to self: Need bigger trees.

• Above: Instead of a table runner, a three-foot-long natural branch makes a bold statement for an outdoor banquet. 
• Even the humble garden hose likes to dress up with a new accessory now and then. 

• Above: Kind of adorable. How else to describe the air plant-seashell jellyfish we found on Etsy?
• Two words: June roses.  

For more on Gardenista, take a look at this week's Life Aquatic issue. And check out Remodelista's equally oceanic issue. 

Finally, don't forget to submit your outdoor project to this year's Gardenista Considered Design Awards. Grab your camera; the July 7th deadline is fast approaching! 

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• Current Obsessions: Summer Solstice
• Current Obsessions: London Town
• Current Obsessions: Hello, Peonies

If you haven't prepared your entry to the 2014 Gardenista Considered Design Awards, there's still time to grab your camera and get snapping. But you only have 10 more days to submit your project!

Insider Tip: So far, the category with the fewest submissions is Best Small Garden, Amateur. We've received only a handful of entries, which increases your chance of winning in this category. Remember, this category is defined broadly: You can enter your indoor garden, window boxes, fire escape garden, container garden, vertical garden, even your houseplants. 

We also have plenty of room in the Best Edible Garden category, which is open to everyone—professionals and enthusiasts alike. 

Here's a sneak preview of some of the great entries we've received so far, followed by the full list of Gardenista categories. (And remember, you can see all contest entries as soon as they're submitted on the Gardenista Awards page.)

Gardenista Awards Categories

• Best Garden/Amateur: Best overall outdoor garden designed by an amateur gardener.
• Best Small Garden/Amateur: Houseplants, indoor gardens, window boxes, fire escape gardens, container gardens, vertical gardens, etc. designed by an amateur gardener.
• Best Outdoor Living Space/Everyone: Outdoor sitting rooms and lounge spaces, outdoor kitchens, outdoor dining rooms, outdoor showers and baths, etc. open to both professionals and amateurs.
• Best Edible Garden/Everyone: Kitchen gardens, vegetable patches, raised beds, outdoor herb gardens, etc. open to both professionals and amateurs.
• Best Hardscape Project/Everyone: Stairways, decks and patios, driveways, pathways, fences, swimming pools, garden gates, trellises, etc. open to both professionals and amateurs.
• Best Professional Landscape: Best overall outdoor garden or landscape designed by a professional.
• Best Garden Shed or Outbuilding/Professional: Garden sheds, storage sheds, barns, garages, carports, greenhouses, pool houses, backyard studios, outhouses, guest houses, etc. designed by a professional. Though an outbuilding is typically detached from a main house, it's not required here.

Click here for rules, prizes, and FAQ; see our roster of guest judges; and enter the contest by July 7.

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• The Countdown Is On: Submit Your Projects to the Considered Design Awards
• Winner's Prize: 2014 Gardenista Considered Design Awards
• Technical Difficulties: Gardenista Awards Submissions

The sprinklers are on. The fire hydrants are spraying. And the neighbors have invited us to watch fireworks from their balcony. In between socializing this week (and celebrating Independence Day), we'll be rounding up some of our favorite signs of summer: hydrangeas, guest cottages, hostess gifts, and a tiny glassed-in work studio that converts to instant party space. You're all invited to the block party:

Monday

Above: Lindsey visits the quintessential All-American garden on Cape Cod—hydrangeas, anyone?—and shows us how landscape architect Stephen Stimson transformed the traditional into something utterly modern in this week's Landscape Architect Visit. Photograph via Stephen Stimson.

Tuesday

Above: The challenge: a 186-square-foot guest cottage, with a tiny bathroom and an even tinier kitchenette. In this week's Steal This Look, Michelle hunts down every item you need to ensure the guests can make their own coffee (and drink it out there too) in the morning. Photograph by Nicole Franzen for Gardenista.

Wednesday

Above: This time we mean it. We know we promised a 10 Easy Pieces featuring glass laboratory vases last week, but then we suddenly fell in love with Sarah's 10 Black Wharf Lights and rushed them into the lineup. This week? Stay tuned for our roundup of beakers and flasks and test tube vases. (Hint to summer houseguests: These make lovely hostess gifts.)

Thursday

Above: Ellen explains everything you ever needed to know about red clay roof tiles—the ones shown here are Mission Barrel style, by the way—in this week's Hardscaping 101. Photograph via Revitcity.

Friday

Above: Photograph by Mimi Giboin for Gardenista.

Our friend Mimi trekked high into the hills above Barcelona to bring us photographs of a special Outbuilding of the Week. We'll tour florist Manuela Sosa's glassed-in greenhouse work studio on the day she sets up for a summer dinner party.

The party's on over at Remodelista too; take a look at more Block Party posts there this week.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Trending on Remodelista: Life Aquatic
• Table of Contents: Life Aquatic
• Composting: Are You Obsessed?

At one time, building a house right on the Cape Cod shoreline seemed like a good idea. No more. And after it was determined that the house and terrace on this two-acre property in Osterville (near Hyannis Port on the south shore) infringed on the sensitive coastal ecosystem, an architect and a landscape architect were called in to remedy the situation. The solution: building a new house, guesthouse, and garage, all set back farther from the shore, and installing a permeable landscape that would protect and enhance the banks.

The Cape Cod landscape architecture firm Stephen Stimson Associates considered both the setting and the client's needs—including a request for lots of lawn for outdoor games—in the design. Boston's Catalano Architects designed the new house and outbuildings, and the Stimson firm worked closely with them to create outdoor spaces that balanced the formal and informal. A main objective was to replace any impervious surfaces with driveways, paths, and patios that conserved water, required little maintenance, and allowed for the activities of a busy household.  

Photography courtesy of Stephen Stimson Associates.

Above: A view from the parking area toward the guesthouse and driveway gate. The new hardscaping is both simple and elegant. This water-permeable paved area employs brick on edge, dry-laid with granite edging. 

Above: The granite path from the guesthouse to the swimming pool bisects the driveway, a visual cue to emphasize that pedestrians have the right-of-way here. 

Above: Joe Wahler, a Stimson senior associate and the project's key designer, first studied the soil to ensure that it was sufficiently porous, meaning that it has the air space to allow water to drain well. After the soil was amended, suitable hardscaping materials were chosen to create a water-conscious landscape. The grass median shown here improves the drainage of this granite path leading to the water-sports shed. 

Above: A permeable crushed granite path, edged in granite, ends at a gate. Wherever possible, drought-tolerant native plants were used to establish diversity for wildlife and to help stabilize the banks. 

Above: The south side of the house is bordered by a crushed granite path and a hydrangea hedge. The sparkling waters of West Bay lie at the end of the path. 

Above: Long granite steps lead down to the swimming pool; beside the steps is a bed of shrubs and summer perennials.

Above: The lawn on the terraced front garden, used for play and entertaining, is planted with drought-tolerant, low-maintenance fescue grass. Linear granite steps serve to connect the house to the bay, and a wooden bench facing the water offers a contemplative view. 

For more, see Required Reading: 10 Landscapes by Stephen Stimson on Remodelista. And for another of our favorite seaside gardens, see A Kitchen Garden on Cape Cod.

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• Boston's Best-Kept Secret: Eva's Organic Garden
• Outbuilding of the Week: A Norwegian "Love Shack"
• Landscape Architect Visit: A Hudson Valley Farm, Pond Included

Hydrangea; Hydrangea macrophylla: "The Madonna"

The hydrangea isn't called “the madonna” because it resembles the parent of any religious figure. Nor is it named for the singer Madonna, who in 2011 received a bouquet of these flowers at a press conference and ungratefully whispered, “I absolutely loathe hydrangeas!” Too bad for Madonna, the mike was still on—and the hydrangea community, outraged, came down on her like a sack of bricks. No, the hydrangea is called the madonna as in “an idealized virtuous and beautiful woman.” 

Above: Click on the image to see more Hydrangeas in our Photo Gallery. 

The hydrangea became popular in England’s Victorian era, so it's no surprise she acquired all the talents of a proper lady. The hydrangea can sing and she can sew: Her elaborate yet charmingly blowsy gown of white, pink, or blue petals captivates the eye. A short shrub laden with generous pom-pom blossoms, the mophead hydrangea steals the show without for a moment presuming to overbear.

Above: Photograph by BBC American Girl via Flickr.

Another virtue of the hydrangea: She always shows up on time. Some varieties bloom not only once but twice a year, in spring and fall. She's also flexible and accommodating, happy to switch her attire to suit a different occasion. You can change the color of your hydrangea blossoms from pink to blue and, if you so desire, back to pink again. 

Above: Photograph via Saipua.

Cheat Sheet

• Naked hydrangea shrubs look sad in winter; shield them by planting evergreens nearby.
• Some like 'em pink. To change the color of hydrangea flowers, amend your soil to make it more alkaline (for pink) or acidic (for blue). 
• Space shrubs from 3 to 10 feet apart to give them plenty of room to flop.

Keep It Alive

• Versatile; will tolerate full sun or partial shade.
• Hardy in zones 2,4,5,6,7,8, and 9.
• In colder climates, mulch heavily before winter to protect the roots.

 Above: Photograph by Justine Hand for Gardenista.

This outdoor plant goes beyond the call of duty, making wonderful indoor centerpieces and adornments. And it's easily dried, whether you want to retain the original color or let it turn a shade of honey brown.

Read More:

Read more about Hydrangeas and browse our Field Guide archives for tips on more summer garden plants: Foxglove, Alyssum, and Tomatoes, to name a few.

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Meet Eva Sommaripa, a farmer who grows more than 200 kinds of uncommon herbs, greens, and edible "weeds" that are highly coveted by Boston's best chefs. 

What makes the harvest from Eva's Garden, her farm in Dartmouth, MA (about an hour's drive south of the city), so special? For one thing, most of her 22 acres are set aside for wild edibles. And on the 2 1/2 acres she actively cultivates, many of the plants she grows are rarely encouraged elsewhere because they're considered weeds or invasive species. But they're also delicious. Eva's organic purslane, juniper berries, lovage, sorrel, stinging nettles, autumn olives, wild roses, Japanese knotweed, cardoon, chervil, chickweed, and wild carrots—to name a few—make their way north to end up on the menus of many Boston restaurants.

Eva is considered a pioneer in the farming world, and not just for her unusual plantings and the quality of her produce. It's also because of her firm commitment to a simple, sustainable life based on the principles of preserving, conserving, salvaging, and bartering. Here's what Eva was growing when I visited her the other day:

Photography by Christine Chitnis for Gardenista.

Above: Grapevines (L) and alliums (R), with Eva's winter greenhouse in the distance.

Eva showed me around the farm, imparting some of her vast and intimate knowledge of the natural world. She knows the taste, season, and growing tendencies of every edible we encountered.  

Above: At one stop, she plucked a fistful of bronze fennel and urged me to drop it into my water bottle. "It will give the water a sweet, slightly licorice flavor. Go ahead, try some," she encouraged while popping a bit in her mouth. By the time we'd walked through the entire farm, I had tasted many herbs and weeds that I'd never encountered before.

With her lanky frame, mud-stained jeans, and wind-blown hair, Eva looks younger than her age (she's in her seventies). She credits outdoor work, fresh air, and a diet of farm-fresh whole foods—she visits a grocery store only once or twice a year. 

Above: Eva began farming more than 40 years ago in a small kitchen garden. The Dartmouth property she now calls home was her family’s weekend cottage back then, an hour’s drive from their main residence, in Cambridge. When her garden began producing more herbs than she could use, Eva took the extras back to sell to markets and restaurants in the city. At the time, fresh herbs were hard to find in the Boston area, so Eva’s business soon flourished.

Above: Treviso Radicchio, an Italian heirloom variety in Eva's garden.

As interest in her produce grew, so too did Eva’s interest in horticulture. She began taking guided walks with foraging expert Russ Cohen, and quickly realized that many of the wild edibles they found were growing as weeds in her own garden. “Once I learned that the weeds I was battling were edible, and incredibly nutritious, I let them grow,” Eva says. “To this day, weeds are still an important part of our production. But it's always a balancing act to decide what to leave and what to pull so that they don’t choke out the other plantings.”

Above: Eva makes room for peonies and other flowers in her organic garden.

Eva takes a seasonal approach to both the growing and preserving of food. Spring finds the forest teeming with wild edibles, and the waking garden putting forth tender shoots. Summer brings a full harvest and bustling sales to restaurants and chefs across the northeast. (Any extra bounty is preserved for the barer months.) In fall, only the heartiest greens survive the dipping temperatures and first frosts. Finally, winter means relying on stored root vegetables, which find harmonizing flavors in juniper berries, a foraged winter treat. 

Above: Lunch from the farm. Eva manages to feed her family and her farmhands, and to keep her customers supplied, year-round—not an easy feat in New England's harsh climate.

Above: When her children were young, farming wasn't a full-time venture for Eva. Nowadays, however, the farm seems to run in overdrive, with multiple farmhands on staff, a busy delivery schedule, and a phone that never stops ringing as chefs from Boston and New York place their orders.

I asked Eva to explain the current interest in wild and foraged edibles. She doesn't think it's just their superb nutritional value; she also credits the human love of discovery. “People are fascinated to learn there are things growing right under their feet, whether it's in the city or in the country, that are not only edible, but incredibly tasty and nutritious,” she told me. “It’s the same joy we get from pulling fresh vegetables from the soil. The thrill of harvesting our own food, whether cultivated or foraged, is one of life’s ancient, lasting pleasures.”

Above: Purple hollyhocks flourish in Eva's garden.

After my day with Eva, I started to explore the uncultivated areas of my own community garden. I've already maxed out the growing potential in my modest 6-by-9-foot raised bed, so I'm tempted to supplement my production with foraged edibles. And now I feel compelled to examine every weed I pull. In fact, I believe that kind of attention is Eva's wish for all home gardeners. It's doubtful we'll cast aside our lettuce and spinach to snack on knotweed and purslane, but perhaps we'll give those weeds a second thought. And once in a while, we'll sneak a handful onto our dinner plates.

For more, see Christine's own garden in DIY: A Family Friendly Vegetable Garden.

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• Landscape Architect Visit: A Very American Garden on Cape Cod
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• Landscape Architect Visit: A Hudson Valley Farm, Pond Included

Why does the word "kitchenette" sound so retro? When we recently featured a tiny 186-square-foot summer cottage as our Outbuilding of the Week, we admired the way it relies heavily on Ikea to make modern use of every inch of space (giving houseguests an excuse to stay out of sight till after breakfast). Here's how to recreate the look:

Above: Photograph by Nicole Franzen for Gardenista.

Furnishings first. The secret to making a 186-square-foot cottage look spacious is diminutive furniture. A 30-inch wooden Tripod Table ($199 from West Elm) seats two comfortably. Ikea's birch plywood Frosta Stool (£8 in Great Britain, but not available in the US) is a copy of the Alvar Aalto original and extremely versatile; it doubles as side table or nightstand when needed.

Above: Photograph by Nicole Franzen for Gardenista. The back wall is covered in 4-by-8-foot Wainscot Panels ($19.75 each) from Home Depot.

Above: On the shelves, Everyday Restaurant Salad Plates ($17.99 for a set of six) and Everyday Restaurant Mugs ($17.99 for a set of six) are available from Williams-Sonoma.

Above: Before we get started on the fixtures, let's fix ourselves a nice pot of tea. From Staub, an Enameled Cast Iron Round Tea Kettle in basil green is $159.99 from Big Kitchen. 

Above: Bellocq's 3.5-ounce reusable travel caddy filled with Majorelle Mint Tea is $32 from Sundance.

Above: Guests can boil water in the microwave and then pour it into the kettle to brew. A GE 1,200-Watt Black Countertop Microwave sits on its own recessed shelf; $179 from Lowe's. 

Above: Braced to deal with the plumbing? An Edsvik chrome faucet is $49.99 and a Fyndig Single Bowl Sink is $26.98; both from Ikea. They're mounted on a 1.5-inch-thick beechwood Numerär Countertop ($195 for a 73 1/4-inch length from Ikea).

Above: Made of recycled glass, a Copper Soap Dispenser holds 13.5 ounces; $30 from Terrain.

Above: A nickel-planted Fintorp dish drainer ($14.99 from Ikea) attaches to the wall with two screws and holds a removable tray.

Above: Ikea's freestanding two-door Akurum Base Cabinet Faced With Rubrik Stainless Steel measures 30 inches wide ($245).

Are you looking for inexpensive and stylish ideas to kit out a summer guest cottage? See Steal This Look: Beach Cottage on the Dutch Coast and on Remodelista, Steal This Look: A Finnish Cottage Kitchen and Dining Room.

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LA creative director Sarah Sherman Samuel, who blogs at Smitten Studio, clearly has a thing about eating outdoors. We're with her all the way. She's even developed her own line of modern "picnic-ware" that looks vintage, for sale at A Sunny Afternoon. Many of the items are made in her father's workshop in Michigan, often using wood that her dad, Lee, has salvaged from downed trees or otherwise reclaimed.

Photographs via A Sunny Afternoon.

Above: This woven picnic basket is a prime example of Samuel's wares: It's handmade from Appalachian white ash, has sturdy leather handles, and is lightweight and exceptionally durable.  

Above: The basket is lined with green-and-white gingham vinyl; there's also a version with a black-and-white lining. Each measures 18 by 12 by 10 inches and sells for $125.

Above: Remember the scene in Mad Men when Betty shakes out the picnic blanket and walks away, leaving all the litter on the grass? Not that we'd do that today, but this basket looks just like something the Drapers would have carried. Go to A Sunny Afternoon for more of Samuel's products, including the linen-cotton Polka-Dot Napkins ($26 for a set of two) shown here.

A basket this nice deserves high-caliber accessories. Check out the great choices in Janet's posts on 5 Favorites: Portable Coolers and 10 Easy Pieces: Picnic Blankets.

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• DIY: Raspberry Sparkler for the Fourth of July
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When I was growing up, the Fourth of July was one of my favorite holidays. That was no doubt because it falls close to my birthday, and our family celebrations usually included some kind of sheet cake with my name scrawled in blue icing. Now that I'm older my sweet tooth is more refined, but my ardor for the Fourth of July hasn't waned.  

Olivia Rae James of Everyday Musings has a similar yen for festive gatherings. She developed this cocktail with just enough sparkle to make it fit for a holiday devoted to fireworks—er, independence. If you're still making your party plans for the Fourth, consider the Raspberry Sparkler; full recipe below.

Photography by Olivia Rae James for Gardenista.

Above: Olivia's refreshing Raspberry Sparkler cocktail uses raspberries, lemons, limes, and mint—plus gin and vinho verde, the slightly effervescent Portuguese wine.

Above: Farmers are just starting to send their raspberries to market in New York. So begins my favorite time of year.

Above: Olivia pairs lime and lemon juice with sweet muddled raspberries.

Above: Honey cuts the tartness of the citrus juices (but not so much that the cocktail is overly sweet). 

Above: Raspberries, mint, and honey are muddled with lemon and lime juice (Olivia used a Porcelain Mortar and Pestle from William-Sonoma; $49.95).

Above: The recipe below makes enough for four; I'm tempted to make a pitcherful.

Raspberry Sparkler 

Ingredients:

• 1 lemon 
• 1 lime
• 1 pint fresh raspberries
• 2 tablespoons honey
• Handful of fresh mint leaves
• 4 ounces gin
• 4 cups vinho verde 

Squeeze juice from the lemon and lime. Muddle the juices with raspberries, honey, and mint. Distribute the mixture evenly among four glasses. Add an ounce of gin to each glass, then fill with vinho verde and ice cubes. Best enjoyed when surrounded by friends, family, and a water view.

Looking for more garden-inspired drink ideas? Here are a few more of Our Favorite Summer Cocktails. Don't you think this cocktail would be perfect for one of these Summer Drink Dispensers?

N.B.: This is an update of a post originally published July 2, 2013.

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Remember walking around with a pink-stained tongue all summer long? I don't advocate the return of Kool-Aid to your diet, but if you keep a tray of DIY rose petal ice cubes in the freezer, you will be able to instantly replicate the excitement of drinking pink.

The moment I spotted rose petal ice cubes at Sweet Paul Mag, I knew I had to have them for my own. But why stop at cubes that contain a single perfect petal? My Cardinal de Richelieu climbing rose produces miniature cube-perfect flowers, so I tinkered. In the end I made ice cubes that can each hold an entire rose suspended in their shimmery cold depths:

Photography by Michelle Slatalla for Gardenista.

Above: Basically, all you need for this project is an ice cube tray, water, some pesticide-free rose petals (or whole miniature rose flowers) from your garden—and patience. The trick to getting the petals to appear suspended in the middle of the cube is to freeze the ice in layers.

Step No. 1: Pour enough water into an ice tray to fill it one-third of the way. Freeze.

Step No. 2: Place petals or whole roses on top of the ice. Add enough water to fill the tray two-thirds of the way and freeze again. 

Step No. 3: At this point, the petals or flowers will be stuck in the ice and unable to float annoyingly to the top of the cube. It's safe to fill the tray the rest of the way with water and freeze.

Above: Rose petal ice cubes are a lovely addition to any clear or light-colored drink. Put them in drinking water. Or vodka. Or a Lillet cocktail.

Lucky UK gardeners have lots of sources if they want to buy a Cardinal de Richelieu rose. For instance, the climber is £14.50 from David Austin. (N.B.: Do you know of an online source for US gardeners? If so, please share it in the comments section below.) 

Above: When you use tap water to make the ice, you may end up with tiny air bubbles. If you crave perfect crystal-clear cubes, use distilled water or boil and cool tap water before freezing.

Above: I can't decide if I prefer a scattering of individual petals or a whole flower in my ice. Either way, it's better than Kool-aid.

Above: I used an old-fashioned metal Onyx Stainless Steel Ice Cube Tray; $29.95 from Amazon.

For another edible rose recipe, see DIY: Rose Petal Honey.

N.B.: This is an update of a post originally published June 11, 2013.

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You can make a party in the city just by hanging out on the stoop. But what if you don't have a stoop? Maybe you're lucky enough to actually have a city garden? Here are 10 great spaces on the east and west coasts to socialize with the folks on the block. Please, BYOB:

Above: Architect Kim Hoyt created a lush and leafy backyard retreat in Brooklyn's Boerum Hill neighborhood, with plenty of seating for a crowd. For more, see Before & After: A Brooklyn Townhouse with a Double-Wide Garden. Photograph by Dan Wonderly. 

Above: Also in Brooklyn, a townhouse garden designed by dlandstudio capitalizes on a soaring, weathered-brick wall. Pea gravel adds an appealing crunch underfoot. We source the elements in Steal This Look: Midcentury Mod Townhouse Garden in Brooklyn. 

Above: In Brooklyn's Park Slope, Kim Hoyt designed an airy steel structure that supports a deck, a massive wisteria vine, and steps that lead to the courtyard garden below. For more, see The Garden Designer Is In: Kim Hoyt Architecture/Landscape. Photograph by Dan Wonderly. 

Above: Outdoor space is even tighter in Manhattan, but the residents have learned to make do. This terrace in Harlem is tailor-made for cocktail parties. Read more in Garden Visit: 66 Square Feet (Plus) on a Harlem Terrace. Photograph by Marie Viljoen.

Above: Down in Manhattan's West Village, the space in a modest yard is maximized for family use and entertaining. Note how the espaliered shrubs turn the fence into a focal point. For more, see Landscape Architect Visit: A Lush NYC Backyard by Robin Key. 

Above: In Brooklyn, landscape designer Susan Welti of Foras Studio created this low-maintenance scheme with its handsome symmetrical beds. To navigate that crushed bluestone, best to wear sneakers—or maybe just flipflops. Read more in Steal This Look: Modern Brooklyn Backyard on a Budget. 

Above: Heading to the West Coast, we find bluestone pavers instead of grass at a San Francisco property. If you're worried about the ivy trashing the building (an artist's studio), don't: It's growing on a wire frame. Get the details at Landscape Architect Visit: Scott Lewis Turns A Small SF Backyard Into an Urban Oasis. 

Above: This San Francisco backyard was transformed by Arterra Landscape Architects with a pleasing mix of stone, steel balls, and soft grasses. Find this and other alfresco party spaces in Architects' Roundup: Our Favorite Outdoor Living Rooms. Photograph by Michele Lee Willson Photography. 

Above: To make the most of a .2-acre backyard in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood, Lutsko Associates divided it into three distinct spaces separated by shrubbery and a translucent glass wall, and kept the color palette at green, gray, and white. Read more at Pacific Heights Mystery: A Hidden City Garden Reveals Its Secrets. Photograph via Contemporist.

Above: Party in the back! An LA patio is ready to get down, with the simple addition of bright cushions and lights in the trees. Find out where to buy those chairs, that crazy "bullet" planter, and more in Steal This Look: A Mod LA Patio with Twinkly String Lights. Now, do we have enough ice?

Mandatory: Before the sun goes down, have some Cafe-Style Outdoor String Lights in place. And you might want something to keep drinks close at hand: 5 Favorites: Outdoor Bars, DIY Included. All set now?

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• Boston's Best-Kept Secret: Eva's Organic Garden
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Were you the kid who asked Santa for a chemistry set every year because you dreamed of filling glass beakers and flasks with colored potions that would fizz and give off puffs of acrid smoke? Or was that just me? A lust for labware never wanes; the adult way to handle it is to collect science-experiment-worthy glass vases. Here are 10 I'm coveting:

Above: Photograph via Landet Järna.

Bulbous vase, skinny neck: It's the perfect shape for displaying a single delicate stem (with or without roots attached). My own collection of labware glass includes real beakers and flasks along with some skinny-neck vases whose shapes pay homage to chemistry class.

Above: When Scandinavian designer Estrid Ericcson got the idea in the 1930s to germinate acorns in a vase, he created a bulbous glass beaker with a narrow neck. The small opening in the Acorn Vase is useful for arranging a wildflower stem or two just so; 150 KR via Svenskttenn.

Above: If you want to get me something for my birthday, consider a clear glass Trio Vase Set designed by Jonas Wagell. Heights range from 6 to 12 centimeters; $42 from Scandinavian Design Center. (These also come in blue, amber, and green. I'd prefer clear glass, please.)

Above: An unabashed valentine to your childhood science set, the Chemistry Flask Vase comes in two sizes (150 ml and 500 ml); available for $20 and $25 at Bliss Home & Design.

Above: From CB2, a Wall Mounted Teardrop Vase is 7 inches long, with a flat back; it sells for $4.95. A group of these can be used to create an instant DIY Living Wall. See how Erin installed them in her sister's office here.

Above: A Chemistry Glass Test Tube Vase is $36.60 from Not On the High Street.

Above: Designed by Michael Anastassiades, a glass Bottle Vase with a brass knob and base is an homage to the designs of Josef Frank. The clear glass body makes it possible to study the parts of a bouquet—stems and roots—that might otherwise hide under water; 1,000 SEK via Svenskttenn.

Above: A Beaker Glass Tube Vase has a hole to attach to a wall via nail, screw, or hook. It measures 8 inches long and sells for $2.95 from CB2.

 Above: Hardcore. From designer Seletti, a trio of Interior Lab Vases is so anatomically correct that they'd blend right in at chemistry class. Sold separately, the beaker, flask, and cylinder are $60 apiece from The Uncommons.

Above: A budget-friendly alternative, the Hanging Test Tube Vase is 65 cents from Flowers & Supplies, for either the 6-inch or 8-inch version (wire not included).

Above: A set of three handblown Science Flask Vases with white printed measuring lines is $34NZ from White Villa.

Picking summer posies? For more of our favorite vases, see 10 Easy Pieces: Single Stem Bud Vases and 10 Easy Pieces: Simple Glass Vases Under $30. And Shop all our editors' favorites at Remodelista Vases.

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Gardening is not in my family or in my blood. But one fine morning nearly 30 years ago, the sun slanted seductively into my Toronto backyard and my garden suddenly seemed the most glorious place on earth. I knew that I could do something interesting here and—ho, ho—I would have complete control. In very short order, I moved from being a daily gardener to an all-day gardener. 

My garden measured 19 by 136 feet, and I decided to divide the space into three sections (back then I didn’t know they were called garden rooms). Each one would be dedicated to plants that thrive under different conditions: morning sun, shade at noon, and afternoon sun. For me, that was a major revelation: Different plants need different light conditions. 

Then, without even contemplating what a cataclysmic change it would make to my life, I switched from general journalism to only writing about my garden. Eventually that turned into 15 garden books for Canadians and one for everyone, Botanica North America (published in 2003, it's out of print but used copies are available, from $3.90 on Amazon).

Photography by Andreas Trauttmansdorff for Gardenista.

Above: The view from my dining room, looking toward the back fence.

My three garden rooms are the House Garden, where Japanese maples and evergreens abound; the Woodland Garden, home to massive hostas, hellebores, and arums; and Le Jardin de Refusé, which houses a small "hospital" for clients' plants that need to be nursed back to health.

Above: Le Jardin de Refusé started out as a place to put stuff I couldn’t deal with in other parts of the garden. It now has Japanese maples, Liquidambar ‘Slender Silhouette,’ and, opposite each other, a Liriodendron tulipifera ‘Fastigiata’ and Cercidiphyllym japonicum, a native and an exotic tree that look as if they belong together.

Above: My Berberis thunbergii ‘Helmond Pillar,’ a great plant that no one seems to propagate any more.

Above: In the Woodland Garden, I went though a collect-every-hosta-possible phase. Now I live with this choice: The hostas get massive, I forget to divide them in spring, and then I can’t bear to whack at them later on. Despite their size, the hostas are in scale with everything else that lopes along.

Above: The view from the House Garden, with my house in the background. In the foreground is my first Japanese maple, an Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum Atropurpureum,’ which I bought 25 years ago for $20. It would cost thousands now. It needs constant haircuts and is pretty much perfect.

Above: Closeup of my Chiononanthus virginicus, or fringe tree.

Above: A Sciadopitys verticillata grows against the fence.

Above: A ginkgo tree (L) beneath the Japanese maples, and (R) a closeup of the ginkgo's leaves.

As I changed, so did my garden. Now I know how to layer plants, what grows where, and when things will bloom. Back then I only knew how to love the plants. But my eye had been honed by years of working in an art gallery: Scale, harmony, and planes were things I understood. So why not apply them to gardening? This was like collecting and displaying sculpture. Gradually, I learned that succession is everything in garden design. 

Above: A variegated dogwood lends pattern and texture to the garden.

Over the years I've become more interested in foliage, patterns, and small moments rather than swathes of blooming color. I have a passion for trees—especially gingkoes, Japanese maples, dogwoods, anything native to the Carolinian forest. It’s impossible to have too many of these in a garden. I indulge my love of perennials when I design other people’s gardens: Let them do the deadheading. I just want to watch my living sculptures grow old with me.

Above: Variegated hostas (R) and Hakonechloa (L) against a background of foliage.

I'll buy any plant designated for any zone (I’m in US growing zone 5) and try to make it comfortable. But I’m fighting the impossible: I live on a flood plain once held in check by hundreds of trees. Most of these have long since been replaced by parking pads and patios. The flood happens annually and we're perpetually devising new ways to deal with it. I am Queen of the Sump Pumps. Then the water drifts away and we have dry shade the rest of the year. If a plant survives in my garden, it will survive anywhere.

Above: Pergolas designed by Toronto-based Earth Inc. support shade-tolerant Clematis ‘Betty Corning’ and C. fargesiodes. 

Above: And then there's my front garden . . .

Everyone lives cheek by jowl here in downtown Toronto, and we respect each other. Except for the guy who ripped out his garden and put in plastic grass. Him we don’t speak to. 

For other Canadian gardens, see Earth Inc. in Toronto: A River Runs Through It and Steal This Look: An Airy Outdoor Shower.  And read more about Marjorie's garden at Marjorie Harris.

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I still remember the first time I saw roofs made of red clay tiles. I was visiting my grandmother in Santa Monica one hot summer, and I was enchanted by the city's combination of terra-cotta roofs, stucco bungalows, cracked concrete streets, and tall, skinny palm trees. Santa Monica seemed warm and gracious, and those tile roofs evoked a feeling of permanence and craftsmanship. And in fact, as I've since learned, they actually are permanent. With care, a tile roof will last forever.

Besides their longevity, clay roof tiles are also insulating and fireproof. What's more, they can be reused and recycled. Why don't we see them everywhere?  

Above: When Dutton Architects renovated a historic Spanish adobe house in Santa Monica, the roof got covered in reclaimed clay tiles. Tour the project, Historic Adobe + Modern Architecture, on Remodelista. 

What is the history of clay roof tiles?

Clay roof tiles date to the ancient Persian and Mesopotamian cultures. Prized for their ability to withstand the elements and resist rot, they have been used for centuries throughout Europe and Asia. After European settlers brought the craft of tile-making to North America, clay tiles started to appear on the roofs of Jamestown, Roanoke, and St. Augustine. By the mid-1600s, building codes in New York, Boston, and other cities encouraged the use of clay tiles due to their fireproof properties. 

Above: Photograph via Dutton Architects.

How are clay roof tiles made?

Terra-cotta is Italian for "baked earth," which is a fairly accurate description. Most manufacturers extract clay from a nearby quarry, press it into molds, and fire the tiles at high temperatures. Tiles can be glazed or treated to withstand freezing or excessive heat. Check with your roofing contractor to make sure you're choosing the right type for your climate.

What colors and styles of clay tiles are available?

Historically, tiles were the color of whatever clay deposit was nearby, ranging from buff to reddish brown. These days there's a wider variety of colors, but earth tones still predominate. They may be uniform or have a range of color within each tile.

Above: The style is defined by the shape: rounded, flat, or ridged. The familiar Spanish tile is the rounded "barrel" tile; the flat English style might be mistaken for another material if not for its ruddy hue. Graphic via Free-Ed.

Above: The Roman style, common in Tuscan architecture, alternates barrel tiles with flat tiles. An expert at Cooritalia, a specialist in reclaimed clay roof tiles, says there's no advantage to this system; it is purely for aesthetics. Photograph via Cooritalia.

Above: Traditional Flat Clay Tiles in a red textured finish have been laid in a staggered pattern similar to that used with shingles. Photograph via Keymer Clay Tiles.

What kind of house looks good with clay tiles? 

Americans tend to associate a clay roof with Spanish or Italian stucco architecture. But the wide selection of shapes makes clay tile suitable for many architectural styles. It pairs well with stucco, stone, or brick siding. Flat tiles work particularly well with wood siding, and in both traditional and modern forms.

Note: Slope is an important consideration when planning a clay roof. Typically, clay roofs are only used for roofs sloped from 20 to 50 degrees. 

Above: An example of traditional flat clay tiles on a wood-sided house. Photograph courtesy of Traditional Clay Roof Tiles of Kent, UK.

Above: Traditional materials—stone and clay barrel roof tiles—come together in a modern setting in this house by Bay Area architect Ken Linsteadt. 

What maintenance does clay roof tile need?

Clay roof tiles are durable and long-lasting—manufacturers often give warranties of anywhere from 50 to 100 years. That means the tiles can last longer than the house they're covering, but there are issues to keep in mind. For one thing, the material beneath the tiles must be able to support the weight of the clay tiles, and often needs to be waterproof. To last as long as the tiles, flashing should be lead or copper. In a clay tile roof, leaks are generally caused not by broken tiles, but by substandard or incorrectly installed flashing or metal fasteners underneath. 

While its insulating properties make it an ideal choice for hot climates, a tile roof can also perform well in snow country, as long as the structure is engineered to support the weight of both clay and snow. 

Clay roof tiles never should be walked upon—they can break. Luckily, if a tile does break you can replace it individually. It's not a complex job, but you should hire a professional to do it. And obviously, the repair will match better if you have extra tiles saved from the installation.

Above: A roof topped with reclaimed flat clay tiles from France, paired with copper gutters and downspouts. Photograph via Cooritalia.

How much does clay roof tile cost?

For a new clay roof, let's just say that the adage "Buy quality and you only cry once" applies. Professional installation can cost from $12,000 to $25,000, depending on the size and pitch of your roof. Higher-end tiles can push the price to $70,000, plus the cost of extra structural support if needed.

Above: A white brick house with clay roof tiles with red chairs by Jessica Helgerson.

Where can I buy clay roof tiles?

Manufacturers in the US include: Altusa (based in Florida); Ludowici Roof Tile (Ohio); MCA (California); Boral Roofing (Georgia) Gladding, McBean (California), and Santafé Tile (Southwest). Spain's Tejas Borja exports clay tiles all over the world, and has a US distributor in the Northeast Tri-state area.

Another desirable option: reclaimed tiles, often available from roofing installation companies, salvage yards, or through Craigslist. San Francisco-based Cooritalia specializes in Spanish, Italian, and French reclaimed clay roof tile (they also offer new Roman barrel tiles). 

Above: The UK has several companies that produce handmade tiles. Keymer, for instance, makes the traditional tiles shown here, and has a US distributor. 

Clay Tile Roof Recap

Pros:

• Sustainable—clay is a natural substance and tiles can be reused
• Lasts forever
• Excellent insulator
• Protects against rot and insect damage 
• Fireproof

Cons:

• Expensive
• Can break if walked on
• Heavy; can need extra structural support 
• Underlying material sometimes needs to be replaced 
• Limited aesthetically

Researching roofing material options? See our earlier features:

• Hardscaping 101: Standing Seam Metal Roofs
• Hardscaping 101: Green Roofs
• Hardscaping 101: Asphalt Shingles

For a fun addition to your clay tile roof, Michelle found a Roof Tile for the Birds. And over on Remodelista, take a tour of Norm Architecture's Vedbaek House, a traditional fishing cottage outside Copenhagen with a minimalist interior—and yes, a clay tile roof.

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High in the hills above Barcelona, floral designer Manuela Sosa works in a tiny glass greenhouse, with the sky for a ceiling and expansive views of the city below. A recent story about Manuela's unusual workspace on Freunde von Freunden piqued our interest, so our friend Mimi Giboin took her camera to Spain to investigate further. Serendipitously, she arrived in Barcelona on the day Manuela planned to host a dinner party for friends and colleagues. Here's the report from Mimi:

Photography by Mimi Giboin for Gardenista except where noted.

Above: It turns out that a tiny glass work studio can be easily transformed into an open-air dining room—emphasis on open—with a few stylish and simple accessories. Here's how the studio looked before Manuela began setting it up for the party. Photograph by Silva Conde via Freunde von Freunden. 

Above: When Mimi arrived, Manuela was preparing for a "Welcome Summer" dinner party. The guests would be some of her favorite wedding planners, florists, and friends. 

Above: Manuela is a former furniture designer who went to florists' school in Uruguay, where she grew up. She came to Spain out of curiosity, liked it, and stayed. 

Above: In Barcelona, Manuela decided to start working with flowers and plants, but she kept the name of her furniture design business—Gang and the Wool—for her new venture.

Above: To reach Manuela's place, you take a train ride from Barcelona followed by a bus ride on a small winding road with the most beautiful views of Barcelona's hills and houses. The bus drops you right in front of her little bungalow.

Above: Manuela's view is outrageous.

Above: Manuela grew up with greenhouses, since they're common in Uruguay, and always wanted one. One day a friend called from England to tell her about a company that made greenhouses; Manuela bought one a week later. (Unfortunately, the company is no longer in business.) 

Above: Manuela assembled the greenhouse herself. "That's why the door doesn't close properly!" she says.

Above: Manuela's grandfather was a carpenter, and this carpenter's work table, bought from a local antique store, reminds her of him every day.

Above: This is Manuela's workplace; you don't pop by here to pick up a bouquet of flowers. But she does welcome visitors who call ahead.

Above: Manuela stockpiles dishes and crockery to use at the frequent events—from dinners to weddings—she holds at the greenhouse.  

Above: To organize and store her tools, Manuela uses glass jars, wooden fruit crates, and old drawers.

Above: Mimi watched Manuela make table arrangements for the dinner, putting moss and sea holly on slabs of tree trunk, then covering them with glass domes. "I love the little drops," she said when condensation formed on the glass.

Above: Manuela loves the whole life of a flower: from its young start to the days the petals fall off.

Above: Manuela's next big project will be to landscape the yard the greenhouse overlooks, adding English pathways and lots of flowing water.

For more of our favorite Outbuildings, see Artemis Russell's Tiny Garden Backyard Studio and A Garden Workshop in Cambridge.

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This week, Remodelista editors have been celebrating the start of July by rounding up the ingredients for easy summer gatherings: screened porches, parade stools, folding tables, and festive bunting. Here's what readers have been talking about this week:

Above: An airy conservatory kitchen and dining space were added when a Victorian house on the outskirts of London was remodeled. Readers love the herb planter inset in the marble-topped island. Read about it in House Call: Endless Summer in a London Victorian. 

Above: Antwerp design company Xala's Lungo Watering Can takes its shape from an old-fashioned coffeepot. Yes, it's plastic, but this time we're making an exception. For more, see Belgian Basics with a Fairy Tale Twist.

Above: There's no nicer place to be right now than a screened porch—especially this one. Find out how they did it at Steal This Look: The Perfect Screened Porch. Photograph by Richard Powers for Tsao & McKown Architects.

Above: Bunting doesn't have to be red, white, and blue. This multicolored string, crocheted in wool by Dutch designer Ingrid Jansen, is available on Etsy. If you insist on red, white, and blue, find more at 10 Favorites: Festive Bunting for the Fourth of July.

Above: It's relaxing just to look at this, right? Imagine yourself here, admiring the view from the Driftwood Hotel in Cornwall, England. And read more about the iconic chair at Object Lessons: The Adirondack Chair. Photograph by Crick & Co.

Warning: You only have till Monday to submit your outdoor project to the 2014 Gardenista Considered Design Awards. Let us see what you've got!

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Take a look at what's on our radar this week: 

• Above: We love this linen hold-all for hauling fresh loot from the farmer's market.

• Above: Washington, D.C. has a handful of off-the-grid (and away-from-the-tourists) gardens. Who knew? We're eager to visit the Franciscan Monastery Gardens. Photograph courtesy of Garden Design. 

• Above: Anna Jones's new book, A Modern Way to Eat, is packed with photographs by Brian Ferry and contemporary recipes for the herbivore. 
• Designer outdoor pots in reverse ombré color combinations. 

• Above: A UK roundup of the 10 best roses to grow. Photograph by Nicole Franzen. 
• 5 DIY bird feeders, to tempt your avian neighbors to visit your backyard. 

• Above: We're enchanted by the Instagram feed of Camille Storch (@waywardspark), who lives in a cabin in rural Oregon. Her photos of berries from the USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository, in Corvallis, OR, have us salivating.
• Sourcing flowers grown locally and sustainably can be a challenge. Debra Prinzing, author of Slow Flowers and The 50 Mile Bouquet, has launched a one-stop directory for American-grown flowers. 

• If you want to see your garden, outdoor shed, or outdoor living space on Gardenista, the deadline to enter the 2014 Considered Design Awards is this Monday. What are you waiting for? Enter here. 

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On Monday at 11:59 pm, we'll close the entries to the 2014 Considered Design Awards. Don't miss your chance— share your garden with us!

Our contest is open to both professional designers and amateur gardeners, and entering is easy; just snap some photos of your garden or space, and complete our simple entry form: Enter here. 

Seven Gardenista winners will have their gardens or outdoor spaces profiled for Gardenista and Remodelista's 1.2 million monthly unique readers.

Insider Tip: Competition is lighter in the three categories where we have the fewest entries so far: Best Garden Shed or Outbuilding (Professional); Best Professional Landscape; and Best Edible Garden (open to all). 

Gardenista Awards Categories

• Best Garden/Amateur: Best overall outdoor garden designed by an amateur gardener.

• Best Small Garden/Amateur: Houseplants, indoor gardens, window boxes, fire escape gardens, container gardens, vertical gardens, etc. designed by an amateur gardener.

• Best Outdoor Living Space/Everyone: Outdoor sitting rooms and lounge spaces, outdoor kitchens, outdoor dining rooms, outdoor showers and baths, etc. open to both professionals and amateurs.

• Best Edible Garden/Everyone: Kitchen gardens, vegetable patches, raised beds, outdoor herb gardens, etc. open to both professionals and amateurs.

• Best Hardscape Project/Everyone: Stairways, decks and patios, driveways, pathways, fences, swimming pools, garden gates, trellises, etc. open to both professionals and amateurs.

• Best Professional Landscape: Best overall outdoor garden or landscape designed by a professional.

• Best Garden Shed or Outbuilding/Professional: Garden sheds, storage sheds, barns, garages, carports, greenhouses, pool houses, backyard studios, outhouses, guest houses, etc. designed by a professional. Though an outbuilding is typically detached from a main house, it's not required here.

A few important links:

• Enter Here
• Rules, FAQ, and Prize
• Gardenista Judging Panel
• Sneak Preview of Entries

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Got a tent? Well, how about a teepee? We can definitely help you with that. We're ready to sleep outdoors anywhere there's a breeze. Join us this week as we explore manmade swimming holes, bunkhouses, a miniature woodland garden, and cabins with sand on the floor (in fact, sand is the floor).

Monday

Above: Jeanne takes us to visit a tiny cabin built almost entirely from scavenged materials—swimming pool included—on 16 pristine acres in Northern California in this week's Architect Visit.

Tuesday

Above: Michelle spends her days nearly paralyzed with envy over her next-door neighbor Linda's wee fairytale garden. Linda finally caught her peeping through the fence and invited her over for a Garden Visit. Shown here: the "plant hospital" outside Linda's kitchen window. Photograph by Tom Kubik for Gardenista.

Wednesday

Above: Canvas teepee tents aren't just for kids. OK, some of them are. We've rounded up our favorites for both kids and overgrown kids in this week's 10 Easy Pieces.

Thursday 

Above: We have so many questions about wooden shutters. Janet answers all of them in Hardscaping 101. Photograph via Les Bois Flottais.

Friday

Above: This week's Outbuilding of the Week is a tiny weekend house with the simplest possible floor: beach. As in sand. Luckily, it's for rent. Jeanne kicks off her shoes and shows us around.

And on Remodelista, everyone's dreaming of vacation: check out the Summer Rentals we're rounding up all week.

It's not too late to enter your garden in Gardenista's 2014 Considered Design Awards! Just get your submission in by midnight tonight. Find the entry form here.

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