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10 Easy Pieces: Mail Slots

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Handwritten letters may be an endangered species but a slim, elegant mail slot (or maybe you say “letter plate?”) will always be a stylish accessory for the well-dressed front door.

We’re rounded up 10 of our favorite mail slots—from classic styles to sleek, modern lozenges—in a variety of finishes for your consideration. Junk mailers, take note: If your bulky catalogs don’t fit through the door, it’s no accident.

A Grove Letter Plate is available in two finishes, bright nickel and matte brass (see the top photo for another view of it). Measuring 30 centimeters long (approximately 11.8 inches), it is £58 from Rowen & Wren.
Above: A Grove Letter Plate is available in two finishes, bright nickel and matte brass (see the top photo for another view of it). Measuring 30 centimeters long (approximately 11.8 inches), it is £58 from Rowen & Wren.
A Polished Brass Mail Slot has a lift-up flap and is 11 inches long. It is $24.74 from TS Distributors.
Above: A Polished Brass Mail Slot has a lift-up flap and is 11 inches long. It is $24.74 from TS Distributors.
An Ashtead Letter Plate made from solid brass and finished in lacquered polished brass is £34.21 from Broughtons Lighting and Ironmongery.
Above: An Ashtead Letter Plate made from solid brass and finished in lacquered polished brass is £34.21 from Broughtons Lighting and Ironmongery.
A 10-1/8-inch-long Traditional Solid Brass Mail Slot is available in four finishes including polished brass as shown; $39.95 at Signature Hardware.
Above: A 10-1/8-inch-long Traditional Solid Brass Mail Slot is available in four finishes including polished brass as shown; $39.95 at Signature Hardware.
A Stainless Brass Letter Plate measuring 10 inches in length is £59 from Broughtons Lighting and Ironmongery.
Above: A Stainless Brass Letter Plate measuring 10 inches in length is £59 from Broughtons Lighting and Ironmongery.
A Brass Accents Letter Mail Slot With Exterior Flap is available in four finishes including polished brass as shown at prices from $49 to $60 depending on finish from Van Dyke’s Restorers.
Above: A Brass Accents Letter Mail Slot With Exterior Flap is available in four finishes including polished brass as shown at prices from $49 to $60 depending on finish from Van Dyke’s Restorers.
Slim and sleek, a 12-inch stainless steel Line One Letter  Plate designed by Atelier 522 is water-tight and has a spring loaded hinge. It is $191.25 from Design Within Reach.
Above: Slim and sleek, a 12-inch stainless steel Line One Letter  Plate designed by Atelier 522 is water-tight and has a spring loaded hinge. It is $191.25 from Design Within Reach.
A Rope Mail Slot with a patterned edge is available in three finishes (lacquered brass as shown, un-lacquered brass, and hand-antiqued brass) and is 11 inches long; it is $135 (there is a surcharge for hand-antiqued brass) at Charleston Hardware.
Above: A Rope Mail Slot with a patterned edge is available in three finishes (lacquered brass as shown, un-lacquered brass, and hand-antiqued brass) and is 11 inches long; it is $135 (there is a surcharge for hand-antiqued brass) at Charleston Hardware.
In a satin nickel finish, a 10-inch Marcus Letter Plate is £22.50 from Ironmongery Direct.
Above: In a satin nickel finish, a 10-inch Marcus Letter Plate is £22.50 from Ironmongery Direct.
Some people like labels. If you’re one of them, a Classic Heavy Duty “Mail” Letter Slot announces its intent clearly. It is 10 inches long and available in four finished including Antique Brass as shown for $69.95 from Signature Hardware.
Above: Some people like labels. If you’re one of them, a Classic Heavy Duty “Mail” Letter Slot announces its intent clearly. It is 10 inches long and available in four finished including Antique Brass as shown for $69.95 from Signature Hardware.

Is the concept of “mail” old-fashioned? We hope not. Here are more of our favorite mailboxes to encourage handwritten letters, postcards, and the occasional love note:


Succulents Explained: How to Identify and Grow Graptos

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If only we could identify our particular succulents, we’d know how to keep our little friends happy—no more droopy, shriveled leaves, yellowing stems, or threats of sudden death. At least that’s the theory.

This is the third installment of our Succulents Explained series (you can identify Kalanchoes and Sedums and Crassulas and Sempervivums with tips from our previous posts). We’re focusing on Graptosedums and Graptoverias today (hereafter: Graptos) because these hybrid succulents which result from crosses between cousins are everywhere we turn these days. At the plant nursery the other day there were so many that the Graptos were grabbing my pants legs and begging, “Please, miss, can’t you take me home?”

So…why are there so many Graptosedum and Graptoveria cultivars, how do you know if your succulent is one, and are Graptos the succulents for you? Keep reading to find out.

Photography by Mimi Giboin.

Graptoverias

Graptoveria ‘Moonglow’.
Above: Graptoveria ‘Moonglow’.

First, what is a succulent? We’ve covered this before, so a summary: “Succulent” is an adjective that describes a plant’s characteristics, not its formal botanical name. There’s no single plant family (or genus, or species) called Succulents. Instead, there are thousands of kinds of succulent plants with similar physical characteristics: pillowy leaves where they store their own water supply, thick stems, and swollen roots.

In the world of succulents, plants get hybridized frequently. Breeders are always crossing one succulent with another to try to come up with a super offspring that embodies the best characteristics of its parents. Plants that belong to the succulent family known as Graptopetalum, with colorful rosette shapes, are frequently crossed with compact Sedums or waxy Echeverias with the intent to emphasize the best features of both.

In the Graptoveria cross shown above, for example, you can see its parents in its shape (rosette), leaf structure (pointed), and color (ghostly gray-blue).

Sedums

From left, sedums to grow indoors or out include Sedum rubrotinctum ‘Pork and Beans’; non-red-tinged Sedum rubrotinctum ‘Pork and Beans’; Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’; Stonecrop ‘Golden Glow’ (in the black bowl), and Sedum ‘Lime Gold’.
Above: From left, sedums to grow indoors or out include Sedum rubrotinctum ‘Pork and Beans’; non-red-tinged Sedum rubrotinctum ‘Pork and Beans’; Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’; Stonecrop ‘Golden Glow’ (in the black bowl), and Sedum ‘Lime Gold’.

Sedums never get woody stems, are perennial, and produce diminutive flowers with five petals. The main reason to cross these low-growing, hardy succulents with Graptopetalums with is to create attractive, compact perennial ground covers.

Graptosedums

Three hybrids talk things over; from L to R, they are Graptoveria ‘Moonglow’, Graptosedum ‘Ghostly’, and Graptosedum ‘Vera Higgins’.
Above: Three hybrids talk things over; from L to R, they are Graptoveria ‘Moonglow’, Graptosedum ‘Ghostly’, and Graptosedum ‘Vera Higgins’.

The hybrids have more interesting shapes, colors, and textures than their parents. I think this is what we all want for our children, by the way.

Graptosedum ‘Vera Higgins’ is a favorite edging and ground cover plant because of its handsome, burgundy colored leaves.
Above: Graptosedum ‘Vera Higgins’ is a favorite edging and ground cover plant because of its handsome, burgundy colored leaves.
Graptosedum ‘Ghostly’ has an eerie, Casper the Ghost coloration that plays well against grays, blues, and purples in a garden bed.
Above: Graptosedum ‘Ghostly’ has an eerie, Casper the Ghost coloration that plays well against grays, blues, and purples in a garden bed.

So, are Graptos for you? In general, they will perform better outdoors in the garden than indoors as houseplants (this is true of most succulents with blue-gray or purple leaves). If you can offer them sandy soil, bright, indirect sunlight, and the promise of good drainage, they will spread quickly to create plush perennials mats in garden beds.

If, however, you’re looking for a houseplant, these may not be the best succulents for you. To choose the best indoor succulents, see our earlier posts,  9 Secrets to Growing Succulent Plants Indoors and Succulents: 8 Tips to Help Your Favorite Indoor Plants Survive Winter.

See more growing tips in our curated guides to our favorite Succulents & Cacti 101, including Aloes, Agaves, and Aeoniums.

Current Obsessions: In Full Color

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Among the things we’re noting this week: the return of a favorite magazine, two spring must-reads, and more.

An artful arrangement spotted at Scribe Winery in the foothills of Sonoma during our visit there a few months back. (For our tour of the winery kitchen, see Kitchen of the Week: A Hacienda Kitchen in Sonoma’s Hippest Winery.)
Above: An artful arrangement spotted at Scribe Winery in the foothills of Sonoma during our visit there a few months back. (For our tour of the winery kitchen, see Kitchen of the Week: A Hacienda Kitchen in Sonoma’s Hippest Winery.)

Recently in Current Obsessions:

Gardening 101: Poppy Anemone

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Poppy Anemone, A. coronaria: “Lilies of the Field”

Of the more than 100 species of perennial anemones, the colorful poppy anemone is one you are likely to see in spring gardens (and to covet for yours). With its large, velvety petals and wide range of colors, Anemone coronaria flowers also find their way frequently into florists’ refrigerator cases and bridal bouquets. But be warned: This charming cut flower has a short vase life (from three to five days, on average).

Are poppy anemones the right flowers to grow in your garden (or your container garden)? Read on.

Photography by Christin Geall.

Anemone coronaria ranges in color from white, to purple, to magenta and red. The plant’s fine deep green foliage lays low as the flowers emerge.
Above: Anemone coronaria ranges in color from white, to purple, to magenta and red. The plant’s fine deep green foliage lays low as the flowers emerge.

A favorite since ancient times, anemones were made mythic by the ancient Greeks (the scarlet red flower symbolized the blood of Adonis, Aphrodite’s lost love) and their habitat extends throughout Mediterranean climates. Botanists and Bible scholars have long debated whether the New Testament’s injunction to consider the carefree nature of “the lilies of the field” referred to poppy anemones rather than to lilies.

Anemones are best known today as a large group of plants grown for decorative purposes. The species A. coronaria (‘corona’ refers to the crownlike arrangement of the stamens), is grown as a cut flower, seen most commonly in its black-centered purple, red, or white form. It’s available in single, double, and semi-double forms.

Easily grown, the tiny corm-like tubers of A. coronaria can be planted in the fall (in warm climates) and in spring (in colder regions). They are hardy to USDA growing zone 7 in light soils.

Anemones send up many stems at once, each flower gradually unfurling before opening to the sun.
Above: Anemones send up many stems at once, each flower gradually unfurling before opening to the sun.

Cheat Sheet

  • To grow poppy anemones, soak dried tubers until they become plump (this may take a day). Keep the water running at a drip, to provide oxygen.
  • For container plants, place the tubers directly into deep pots filled with loamy soil. To grow poppy anemones out in the garden, keep them cool (about 40 degrees Fahrenheit) in a tray of damp coir until they sprout. This could take upwards of two weeks.
A pre-spouted anemone tuber is ready to plant in the garden.
Above: A pre-spouted anemone tuber is ready to plant in the garden.
  • After poppy anemones sprout, choose a sunny site in the garden with light fertile soil, amended with a balanced organic fertilizer. A. coronaria likes free draining soil, so avoid wet ground.
  • A. coronaria produces a tasteful rosette of deeply cut leaves before sending up flowers. Snip flowers at the base of their stems and the plant will deliver numerous blooms.
  • On arid hillsides where they grow wild, anemones go dormant after blooming when the weather heats up. If you live in USDA zones 7 or warmer, the tubers can overwinter in the ground. (I lift mine in the Pacific Northwest in midsummer after the foliage has browned off, hang the tubers in mesh bags to dry, and pre-spout them again in the fall for winter planting under cover. Occasionally I miss a few in my garden beds and they re-sprout in January of their own accord.)
An Anemone coronaria flower is ready to be picked. Notice how the sepals have formed an open ‘ruff’ around the flower.
Above: An Anemone coronaria flower is ready to be picked. Notice how the sepals have formed an open ‘ruff’ around the flower.

Keep It Alive

  • Nurseries carry plants in spring. These can be popped right into a sunny location in the garden or planted into a pot.
  • To harvest, cut the stems from the base of the plant when the green “ruff” of sepals surrounding the flower is at least 1/4 inch from the base of the bloom. (You also can cut anemones after the flowers are open, but they won’t last quite as long).
  • Support the stems of anemones in a tall vase while they open and treat them as you would any cut flower: keep them out of direct light and change the water often to discourage the buildup of bacteria.
Try harmonizing the dark centers of anemones with matte black or plum-colored foliage and flowers such as heucheras, Sambucus nigra, and Fritillaria persica.
Above: Try harmonizing the dark centers of anemones with matte black or plum-colored foliage and flowers such as heucheras, Sambucus nigra, and Fritillaria persica.

N.B.: For more about spring flowers, our Garden Design 101 guides, including our primer on Bulbs & Tubers 101, can help answer your questions:

Plant-Based Diet: How to Grow 5 Delicious Foods You Never Find in Shops

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“I wish we’d stop growing potatoes, carrots, and onions,” says Mark Diacono. “Life is too short to grow unremarkable food.”

Welcome to Throwback Sundays: Readers’ Favorite Posts from the Past.

Diacono, award-winning blogger, author, and photographer (and head gardener at River Cottage HQ), says: Don’t grow things because you think you should: Instead make a wish list of “un-buyables.”

Vegetables and fruit that are no trouble to grow—but almost impossible to find in the shops—are just as easy as growing something dull. Take quince, for instance.

Photography by Mark Diacono, except where noted.

Quince

Quince, like all top fruit, is double value, performing early and late with its spring blossom, followed later by evocative and picturesque fruit.
Above: Quince, like all top fruit, is double value, performing early and late with its spring blossom, followed later by evocative and picturesque fruit.

A three- to four-foot-tall Jumbo Quince Tree is $19.95 from Willis Orchards.

Consumer demand for quince is relatively low, so those that want it can’t find it in shops. Grow your own and give away extra fruit (though it is unlikely that you will have a glut).

Salsify

Salsify. Lovelier looking above ground than below, but below is where the unique flavor is stored. Heritage fruits and vegetables are sometimes criticized for their comparatively low yields. But do you really need to harvest vast quantities? Choose flavor over yield, says Mark Diacono.
Above: Salsify. Lovelier looking above ground than below, but below is where the unique flavor is stored. Heritage fruits and vegetables are sometimes criticized for their comparatively low yields. But do you really need to harvest vast quantities? Choose flavor over yield, says Mark Diacono.

A packet of Mammoth Sandwich Island Salsify Seeds is $1.85 from Victory Seeds.

Wineberries

Japanese wineberries. We buy more vegetable seeds than those of flowers in the UK and enjoy the idea of circumventing the supermarket to put our own food on the table. But has the practice of growing our own made us any wiser? There are still plenty of things out there which we have never even heard of, but which are perfectly able to grow.
Above: Japanese wineberries. We buy more vegetable seeds than those of flowers in the UK and enjoy the idea of circumventing the supermarket to put our own food on the table. But has the practice of growing our own made us any wiser? There are still plenty of things out there which we have never even heard of, but which are perfectly able to grow.

A Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius) plant is $13 from Fruitgarden via Etsy.

“Japanese wineberry has wonderful fruit that arrives in the lull between summer and autumn raspberries,” says Diacono, who sells all kinds of recherché edible plants at his nursery. “It is deeper-flavored than raspberries and more wine-y; hence the name. The canes are covered in deep pink hairs: very beautiful, especially in autumn and winter.” The Japanese wineberry also makes an informal boundary or hedge.

Alpine Strawberries

Alpine strawberry, filed under Easy. Some would say too easy as alpine strawberry plants run amok among the flower beds. And yet, they are sought after by chefs and restaurateurs, served up as an un-buyable delicacy.
Above: Alpine strawberry, filed under Easy. Some would say too easy as alpine strawberry plants run amok among the flower beds. And yet, they are sought after by chefs and restaurateurs, served up as an un-buyable delicacy.

A potted Alpine Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) plant is $10 from The Shop at Monticello.

Freckles Lettuce

Rows of Freckles lettuce. Salad leaves come under the category of “you can never have enough,” shared with peas, parsley and, arguably, all soft fruit. Autumn raspberries come along to cheer us up after we’ve said goodbye to the too-short summer raspberry season. These can be expensive and their autumn counterparts are simply not for sale, at any price. Photograph by Kendra Wilson.
Above: Rows of Freckles lettuce. Salad leaves come under the category of “you can never have enough,” shared with peas, parsley and, arguably, all soft fruit. Autumn raspberries come along to cheer us up after we’ve said goodbye to the too-short summer raspberry season. These can be expensive and their autumn counterparts are simply not for sale, at any price. Photograph by Kendra Wilson.

A packet of Freckles Lettuce Seed is $2.75 from Organic Seeds.

Wondering what other delicious things you ought to be growing? See our guide to Edible Gardens Design 101 and our Edible Plants 101 growing guides, including spring garden favorites Arugula, Peas, and Lettuces.

Pros and Cons: Artificial Grass Versus a Live Lawn

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Artificial grass has been gaining ground—and a reputation for being eco-friendly because it doesn’t need water, fertilizer, or to be mowed. Plus, the newest generation of artificial grass often looks good enough to fool us into thinking it’s real.

But have we been too quick to extol the virtues of artificial grass? After Michelle included it on a list of 13 Landscape Design Ideas to Steal in 2015, some readers revolted: “It might be better to grow something, rather than smother the living soil beneath it,” Susan Krzywicki wrote. Another reader pointed out, “Artificial turf is extremely hot. Ask any child who plays soccer in the DC. region. On a bad day, the turf can burn through your cleats.”

Our readers got us thinking. Does artificial grass offer salvation to drought-prone climates—or it is one of those inventions that will eventually end up in the too-good-to-be-true file? Here’s a close look at the pros and cons of live lawns versus artificial turf.

Where do you stand on this issue? Tell us in the comments section below.

Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista.
Above: Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista.

Our London editor Christine Hanway’s backyard has lush green grass—real or fake? Read on to find out. But first, the backstory.

Turf Grass Lawns: Drawbacks

If you have live grass, a Brass Turned Sprinkler will spray water into the air in a circular pattern, “for those parts of your garden where a rather narrow, but precision-adjustable sprinkling water radius is required,” notes Germany-based home and garden shop Manufactum. It is €68 (approximately $75 US).
Above: If you have live grass, a Brass Turned Sprinkler will spray water into the air in a circular pattern, “for those parts of your garden where a rather narrow, but precision-adjustable sprinkling water radius is required,” notes Germany-based home and garden shop Manufactum. It is €68 (approximately $75 US).

Velvety green lawns come at a cost to the environment. They account for one-third of all residential water use and pose an environmental disaster in dry climates. Our efforts to maintain lawns–mowing, blowing, and trimming with gas- and electric-powered tools–create air pollution that far outstrips the oxygen-producing benefits of grass. If you use fertilizers on grass, the chemicals pollute the groundwater.

The issues surrounding the environmental impact of real turf have caused some municipalities to restrict the size of lawns in new projects. For instance  in Mill Valley, CA regulations allow only 500 square feet of real grass for a new home or major remodel. Will we soon have grass police?

Turf Grass Lawns: Benefits

An aerial view of Christine Hanway’s London garden. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista.
Above: An aerial view of Christine Hanway’s London garden. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista.

“A lawn is a beautiful, emotional thing, like a pool, and it has an emotional value. It makes a garden look beautiful and serene,” says environmental crusader Sally Dominguez, who invented the Rainwater Hog rainwater catchment tank.

A transplant from drought-plagued Australia, architect Dominguez says, “Don’t give up your lawn. My take on it is this: When we moved here from Australia, we went to a house for a cocktail party and saw this lush lawn. My kids and I couldn’t believe it. It looked so rich and inviting, we all immediately took off our shoes and walked in it.”

Rather than get rid of real lawns, Dominguez recommends recycled laundry and shower water–known as graywater–to water our lawns. If you stick with organic fertilizers and can tolerate a less-than-perfectly-green lawn, you don’t have to feel guilty about having a patch of real turf, she says.

Photograph courtesy of Rainwater Hog.
Above: Photograph courtesy of Rainwater Hog.

For more of Dominguez’s tips, see Ask the Expert: 7 Ways to Save Water in the Garden, from a Graywater Crusader.

Artificial Grass: Benefits

A true outdoor carpet, artificial grass directly addresses the primary environmental concerns of real turf. It requires no watering, no mowing, and no feeding. Some manufacturers use recycled materials, such as old tires or plastic bottles. And, while expensive, the life expectancy of artificial turf can be upwards of 25 years, making it a less costly alternative to real turf over its life span. For a crash course in artificial turf, see Hardscaping 101: Artificial Grass.

Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista.
Above: Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista.

We can’t ignore the aesthetic value of synthetic turf. Available in an array of blade lengths, colors, and textures (including variegated strands), the new generation of synthetic grass can fool most.

A lawn of artificial grass in SF-based architect Barbara Chambers’s garden. Photograph by Liesa Johannssen for Gardenista.
Above: A lawn of artificial grass in SF-based architect Barbara Chambers’s garden. Photograph by Liesa Johannssen for Gardenista.

“I would never had thought I would be a fan of fake anything, but I’m sold,” Chambers says. For more of her garden, see Architect Visit: Barbara Chambers at Home in Mill Valley.

“I love my artificial grass. They have come a long way with the design, texture, and color,” Chambers says, “There is no way you can tell my lawn is fake unless I confess.”

How has the synthetic grass fared in Chambers garden? “I’ve had my artificial grass for almost two years, and it still looks like new—no maintenance, no fuss, no gophers, and no water,” she says. “While the cost was very high to install, I’m certain it’s paid for itself by now. Best of all, it looks amazing all the time.”

In Brooklyn homeowner Rony Vardi’s backyard has a lawn of artificial turf. “It’s the greatest,” says Vardi. “Five kids play here, it drains well, we have fewer mosquitoes, and no one has to mow.” Read more at Brooklyn Makeover: A Homey Townhouse with a Modern Garret on Remodelista. Photograph by Pia Ulin, courtesy of Bangia Agostinho Architecture.
Above: In Brooklyn homeowner Rony Vardi’s backyard has a lawn of artificial turf. “It’s the greatest,” says Vardi. “Five kids play here, it drains well, we have fewer mosquitoes, and no one has to mow.” Read more at Brooklyn Makeover: A Homey Townhouse with a Modern Garret on Remodelista. Photograph by Pia Ulin, courtesy of Bangia Agostinho Architecture.

Artificial Grass: Drawbacks

While synthetic grass may look and feel like the real thing some simply can’t get past the fact that it’s plastic. It is hailed for its water-saving benefits, but artificial turf has its own environmental drawbacks. It is a petroleum-based product that creates pollution and waste in the manufacturing process. And, while it is often made partially with recycled materials, it is not biodegradable. After a long life of from 15 to 25 years, it will, ultimately, end up in a landfill.

Critics point to synthetic turf as an environmental heater. It absorbs heat and feel hot to the touch in direct sun. Pet owners give synthetic grass a mixed review. It does not absorb animal waste (but is permeable so liquids pass through to the ground underneath).

Lawn Alternatives

Nonplastic alternatives to real turf that will stand up to heavy foot traffic and offer soft landing for kids’ play areas include: wood mulch (sometimes called “playground chips”), ground covers that require little water and maintenance (see Fields of Green: 5 Favorite Lawn Substitutes), and decomposed granite (see Low-Cost Luxury: 9 Ways to Use Decomposed Granite in a Landscape).

Christine’s backyard terrace is carpeted with artificial grass, a surface that stands up to pets, teenage boys, and variable English weather. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista.
Above: Christine’s backyard terrace is carpeted with artificial grass, a surface that stands up to pets, teenage boys, and variable English weather. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista.

For more environmentally friendly ways to live with a lawn, see:

Before & After: A Landscape Where Horticultural Worlds Collide at Scribe Winery

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In California, our architecture is young. We joined the Union in 1848 and since then have endured so many biblical calamities in the form of fires and earthquake that it’s a shock to find any building with a history that dates to 1850—much less a grand Spanish-style mansion with a pillared front porch and a terra cotta tile roof, presiding over Sonoma County’s velvety green, rolling vineyards.

So you can understand how the hacienda at Scribe Winery sets the tone for the rest of the landscape. When landscape architects Alain Peauroi and David Godshall of Terremoto LA took on the job of creating new gardens to surround the grande dame that brothers Adam and Andrew Mariani purchased in 2007, they realized no ordinary garden would do.

The hacienda, rebuilt after an earthquake in 1906, had been abandoned for 20 years before the Mariani brothers bought the winery.

“How does one do ‘landscape architecture’ in a place where wild coast live oaks cascade down from the foothills and crash into grapevines?” wondered  David Godshall. “How do you build a garden in a place where culture and wilderness physically touch?”

Here’s the answer to those questions:

Photography courtesy of Terremoto LA except where noted.

 A grand survivor; the hacienda and vineyards escaped damage during last year’s devastating northern California wildfires.
Above: A grand survivor; the hacienda and vineyards escaped damage during last year’s devastating northern California wildfires.

Sonoma is an enchanting place, and Terremoto took full advantage of warm temperatures, a lack of humidity, and the magical quality of light to create “a microcosmic daydream” of northern California, said Godshall.

The hacienda makes a grand entrance. To reach it, turn off Napa Road and drive down a long allée of palms.

 A whimsical mix of ornamental grasses, succulents, low-water perennials, and a monster palm tree welcome guests to the hacienda.
Above: A whimsical mix of ornamental grasses, succulents, low-water perennials, and a monster palm tree welcome guests to the hacienda.

“We planted a wild garden that will be a place where landscape ecologies meet,” said Godshall. “Coast live oaks are confronted by palms, artichokes run wild, native buckwheat will stumble into twining white roses, and dune grasses will sweep into the edible garden.”

Terremoto created tiered edible gardens and paths that invite visitors to explore the landscape.
Above: Terremoto created tiered edible gardens and paths that invite visitors to explore the landscape.

Before

“We extended the existing stacked rock walls on site to almost touch the hacienda,” said Godshall.
Above: “We extended the existing stacked rock walls on site to almost touch the hacienda,” said Godshall.

Santa Rosa, CA-based Manuel Fernandez Landscape oversaw landscape construction and planting.

 Sturdy redwood timbers from a local mill were laid as garden steps; over time, they will bleach and age in the elements, said Godshall.
Above: Sturdy redwood timbers from a local mill were laid as garden steps; over time, they will bleach and age in the elements, said Godshall.

Napa, CA-based Cello & Maudru oversaw construction of the new hardscape elements.

After

“We elongated the olive grove to push farther out into the site,” said Godshall. Photograph by Andres Gonzalez.
Above: “We elongated the olive grove to push farther out into the site,” said Godshall. Photograph by Andres Gonzalez.

“There is beauty and meaning in the provocative moments when horticultural worlds collide, and so that, in a nutshell, is what this landscape project is about,” said Godshall.

Photograph by Andres Gonzalez.
Above: Photograph by Andres Gonzalez.

A gentle slope, paved in gravel, leads to the hacienda’s entrance.

Unobtrusive pathway lights blend into the landscape. Photograph by Andres Gonzalez.
Above: Unobtrusive pathway lights blend into the landscape. Photograph by Andres Gonzalez.
Photograph by Andres Gonzalez.
Above: Photograph by Andres Gonzalez.

Prominent among the succulents on site are what Godshall calls “floating feral agaves” (and their offspring).

Photograph by Andres Gonzalez.
Above:Photograph by Andres Gonzalez.

In restoring the hacienda, the Mariani brothers worked with architect David Darling of San Francisco firm Aidlin Darling to “preserve the patina” of its past, Andrew Mariani recently told Architectural Digest.

After a redwood tree fell on the property, Petaluma-based woodworkers Noah Elias and Dan Ford transformed its lumber into weather-resistant outdoor dining tables and benches.
Above: After a redwood tree fell on the property, Petaluma-based woodworkers Noah Elias and Dan Ford transformed its lumber into weather-resistant outdoor dining tables and benches.
 Photograph by Andres Gonzalez.
Above: Photograph by Andres Gonzalez.

Inside the hacienda, “in addition to extensive structural work and an upgrading of all its systems, the project involved a careful uncovering and preservation of its many layers, which mark the passage of time,” said the architects.

“We found a warm gray brick for the patio that married worlds old and new with a soft sensitivity,” said Godshall. Photograph by Andres Gonzalez.
Above: “We found a warm gray brick for the patio that married worlds old and new with a soft sensitivity,” said Godshall. Photograph by Andres Gonzalez.

Visit the interiors of the hacienda on Remodelista, at Kitchen of the Week: A Hacienda Kitchen in Sonoma’s Hippest Winery.

Scribe’s dreamscape of low-water plantings sacrifices nothing to sustainability. If you’re designing an environmentally friendly landscape, find design tips in our curated Garden 101 guides and inspiration from more of our favorite gardens:

10 Easy Pieces: Rectangular Wooden Dining Tables

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With the official start of outdoor dining season weeks away, it’s time to take stock. We’ve rounded up a selection of rectangular wooden tables suitable for dining in the open air. They all meet the requirements for longevity, capacity, simplicity (and in some cases, expandability). Here are 10 favorites:

A George Table Outdoor with a trestle base is approximately 94.4 inches long and made of recycled teak. It is 16,995 DKK ($2,061.50 US) from Artilleriet.
Above: A George Table Outdoor with a trestle base is approximately 94.4 inches long and made of recycled teak. It is 16,995 DKK ($2,061.50 US) from Artilleriet.
An 80-inch Terassi Dining Table by husband-and-wife designers Julie and Mika Tolvanen of Helsinki is 60 inches long and made of teak; $2,507.50 at DWR.
Above: An 80-inch Terassi Dining Table by husband-and-wife designers Julie and Mika Tolvanen of Helsinki is 60 inches long and made of teak; $2,507.50 at DWR.
From Ikea, an Ängsö outdoor dining table measures 80.7 inches long and is stained white; $299.
Above: From Ikea, an Ängsö outdoor dining table measures 80.7 inches long and is stained white; $299.
A 59-inch-long Barlow Tyrie Equinox Rectangular Dining Table has a teak tabletop and stainless steel frame and is $1,899 at Didrik’s.
Above: A 59-inch-long Barlow Tyrie Equinox Rectangular Dining Table has a teak tabletop and stainless steel frame and is $1,899 at Didrik’s.
Made of sustainably sourced teak, a 102-inch Teaka Table seats eight; $1,399 from Article.
Above: Made of sustainably sourced teak, a 102-inch Teaka Table seats eight; $1,399 from Article.
A 79-inch Kayu Teak Dining Table is constructed of solid, unfinished planks that will develop a patina over time; $2,210 at DWR.
Above: A 79-inch Kayu Teak Dining Table is constructed of solid, unfinished planks that will develop a patina over time; $2,210 at DWR.
 

A Regatta Natural Extension Dining Table made of solid FSC-certified teak has two self-storing butterfly extension leaves (expanded, it seats 12); $2,339 at Crate & Barrel.
Above: A Regatta Natural Extension Dining Table made of solid FSC-certified teak has two self-storing butterfly extension leaves (expanded, it seats 12); $2,339 at Crate & Barrel.
 Pure II Rectangular Dining Table by Henry Hall Designs measures 70.75 long by 37.5 inches wide; $2,700. For more information on showrooms or purchasing, contact Henry Hall Designs.
Above: Pure II Rectangular Dining Table by Henry Hall Designs measures 70.75 long by 37.5 inches wide; $2,700. For more information on showrooms or purchasing, contact Henry Hall Designs.

 The Dakota Dining Table is made from white oak wood and measures 77 inches in length; $1,799 from Crate & Barrel.
Above: The Dakota Dining Table is made from white oak wood and measures 77 inches in length; $1,799 from Crate & Barrel.
From venerable UK-based teak furniture maker Barlow Tyrie (known for its high quality products); the 59-inch Monaco Dining Table is $1,569 at Didrik’s.
Above: From venerable UK-based teak furniture maker Barlow Tyrie (known for its high quality products); the 59-inch Monaco Dining Table is $1,569 at Didrik’s.
 

Are you designing or updating a dining area on an outdoor deck or patio? For tips and inspiration, see our curated guide to Decks & Patios 101. And if you’re in need of a different size or style of outdoor table, see:


Gardening 101: Plum Trees

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Plum Tree, Prunus: “Early and Late”

Plum trees open and close the growing year. They are among the loveliest and earliest trees to blossom after winter, and their fruit is one of the last to ripen in late summer. In Japan plums are celebrated for their blossoms, with ume festivals preceding the more famous Hanami (cherry blossom festivals) by a couple of months.

Continue reading to learn more about what plums are which, and how to grow them.

Photograph by Annelies Deslé via Instagram.
Above: Photograph by Annelies Deslé via Instagram.

Billowing with white blossoms, the common or European plum is Prunus domestica. The fruits of its numerous cultivars and subspecies are yellow- or green-fleshed. They are usually used commercially for drying or canning because they have a short season and do not travel well. Grown at home, though, common plums are a good choice because they only have to travel from the tree to your mouth; their flavor is highly valued. Common plums include the subgroup of famous gages (think greengage). As they are mostly self fertile, you only need one tree for fruit production. They are hardy from USDA zones 5 to 8.

A Mirabelle Plum tree is $32.50 from Raintree Nursery. A Blue Damson tree (from seven to eight feet) is $109.95 from Willis Orchard. Photograph by herb.master via Flickr.
Above: A Mirabelle Plum tree is $32.50 from Raintree Nursery. A Blue Damson tree (from seven to eight feet) is $109.95 from Willis Orchard. Photograph by herb.master via Flickr.

Damsons and mirabelles are closely related to P. domestica although there is disagreement about whether they are subspecies or different species altogether. Gorgeously dusky-fruited damsons are widely available, but mirabelles are the (online) subject of some confusion, in the US: Although a trade agreement with France prohibits the import of the fruit, it is entirely legal to grow and sell mirabelles within the US.  These plums are hardy from USDA zones 5 to 7.

Photograph by autan via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by autan via Flickr.

The fruits usually found in supermarkets, month in, month out, are cultivars of Prunus salicina, or Japanese plums.

Photograph by tanakawho via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by tanakawho via Flickr.

The blossoms of P. salicina vary widely in terms of color, and their fruiting season is longer.

Photograph by coloredby via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by coloredby via Flickr.

Japanese plums are usually not self fertile, so two or more trees are necessary for fruit-set. They are hardy from USDA zones 5 to 9.

Photograph by Roger Bunting via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by Roger Bunting via Flickr.

Then there is Prunus spinosa, the celebrated sloe or blackthorn of English hedgerows. Knitting itself into thorny thickets (or living fences, depending on your point of view), the large shrub’s pure white blossoms open in succession across western and northern Europe to signal the end of winter.

Photograph by Drew via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by Drew via Flickr.

Sloe bears the small, darkly intense fruit famous for infusing sloe gin. It is traditionally gathered after the first frost. The plants “sell like hotcakes,” say the purveyors at Forest Farm, Oregon. Get them while you can. Sloes are hardy from USDA zones 4 to 9.

Photograph by Marie Viljoen..
Above:Photograph by Marie Viljoen..

North America has its own native plums, of course. Native to northeastern shorelines beach plum (Prunus maritima) shrubs burst into a froth of white bloom in early spring. The sprawling shrubs are very hardy and also more drought tolerant than most plum species. Their purple, cherry-sized fruit ripens in early fall. Hardy from USDA zones 3 to 7.

A twelve- to eighteen-inch beach plum is $8.95 from Oicos Tree Crops

Photograph by Jim Culp via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by Jim Culp via Flickr.

Keep It Alive

  • Plum flowers are susceptible to frost; it is important to position your new tree or trees in a spot sheltered from biting wind.
  • Plums love plenty of moisture, but well drained soil is essential.
  • To improve drainage add compost to the pot (and make sure it has drainage holes) or to the hole when planting your tree.
  • Mulch newly-planted in summer to prevent moisture loss (but do not mound the mulch against the trunk, or it will lead to rot).
  • Indigenous plums will tolerate local conditions.

Cheat Sheet

  •  If you are not sure what is in bloom near you, look closely at the petals: plums have rounded petals; cherry petals each have a tiny cleft at the tip (and peaches, blooming in between, have teardrop-shaped petals). Plum blossoms also grow tightly against the branches, while cherries have noticeable stems.

For more of our favorite flowering trees, see our curated design guide to Trees 101, including Apple Trees 101, Dogwood Trees 101, and Lemon Trees 101. For more inspiration, see:

Key West’s Secret Garden: A Modern Landscape for an Author’s Victorian Cottage

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Three weeks before last year’s hurricane, Key West–based landscape architect Craig Reynolds completed a new tropical garden for one of the best-known Victorian cottages in the island’s historic Old Town district.

The property is on a quiet lane where five houses share a handful of parking spaces; visitors arrive on foot. In addition to being tucked away, the house has a provocative provenance. It was formerly owned by Nancy Friday, author of the best-selling 1973 book My Secret Garden: Women’s Sexual Fantasies, suggesting a theme for the new landscape: the secret garden.

When the hurricane hit, “trees went down on one side of the property,” says Reynolds. But six months later you’d never know it. The secret garden’s owner, whose primary residence is in New Jersey, decided “we should just keep going, to replant trees, and fix the garden,” Reynolds says. Here’s the result.

Photography by Tamara Alvarez, courtesy of Craig Reynolds Landscape Architecture.

Walls at the edge of the property are built of Miami oolite, a sedimentary rock that is “softer stone than caprock but not as soft as riprap,” says Reynolds. “You can sculpt it, but it is also hard enough to hold its own.”
Above: Walls at the edge of the property are built of Miami oolite, a sedimentary rock that is “softer stone than caprock but not as soft as riprap,” says Reynolds. “You can sculpt it, but it is also hard enough to hold its own.”

Visible at the left of the gate, a single piece of Miami oolite was set on level, compacted ground to create a tiered effect, softened by plantings. Beyond the gate, a winding brick path leads to the front door.

From the vantage of the porch, looking back toward the front gate, “the idea is you have to come around a corner to see the house,” says Reynolds.
Above: From the vantage of the porch, looking back toward the front gate, “the idea is you have to come around a corner to see the house,” says Reynolds.

A brick path is edged with layered tropical plants including at left Anthurium ‘Hot Rio Nights’ and on the right Kimberly Queen Boston ferns behind a low edging of mondo grass.

 Brick pavers are set in a herringbone pattern on a 45-degree angle with a soldier course border. “Brick is not indigenous to Key West, but because of all the Victorian houses it’s very common, and it looks good,” says Reynolds.
Above: Brick pavers are set in a herringbone pattern on a 45-degree angle with a soldier course border. “Brick is not indigenous to Key West, but because of all the Victorian houses it’s very common, and it looks good,” says Reynolds.

Specimen plants, including at left a gum palm (Dioon spinulosum) and in the foreground Elephant Ear (Alocasia ‘Portora’), create a dramatic tropical backdrop for the house.

The oolite wall continues alongside a brick path that winds around the the side of the house. Behind the wall is planted a Florida silver palm (Coccothrinax argentata) and Aglaonema ‘Silver Bay’, with silvery foliage that lights up a quiet, shady spot.
Above: The oolite wall continues alongside a brick path that winds around the the side of the house. Behind the wall is planted a Florida silver palm (Coccothrinax argentata) and Aglaonema ‘Silver Bay’, with silvery foliage that lights up a quiet, shady spot.

In front of the oolite wall, a mulch of black Mexican river rock serves the dual purpose of being decorative while directing rainwater flow.

Green thatch palms provide shade, their silhouettes echoed by the understory, where the low, bushy shrub Osmoxylon lineare adds texture.
Above: Green thatch palms provide shade, their silhouettes echoed by the understory, where the low, bushy shrub Osmoxylon lineare adds texture.
Mahogany planks on a 10-foot-deep horseshoe porch wrap around the house.
Above: Mahogany planks on a 10-foot-deep horseshoe porch wrap around the house.
The swimming pool and surrounding brick deck are located on the side of the house.
Above: The swimming pool and surrounding brick deck are located on the side of the house.
An oolite wall and steps at the the back of the pool echo a theme.
Above: An oolite wall and steps at the the back of the pool echo a theme.

The new pool replaced “a kidney-shaped pool that was super ugly,” says Reynolds. “With stone on the coping and the coping material, which is volcanic Cantera stone from Mexico, we tried to make it look like an old lagoon that has been there forever.”

Tennessee Crab Orchard flagstone pavers lead from a brick patio through jungle-like plantings to the pool. On the left of the path, the red foliage of Codiaeum variegatum ‘Stoplight’ creates a tapestry of color.
Above: Tennessee Crab Orchard flagstone pavers lead from a brick patio through jungle-like plantings to the pool. On the left of the path, the red foliage of Codiaeum variegatum ‘Stoplight’ creates a tapestry of color.

“The owner wanted to have private areas and little narrow paths and views and peeks, and at the same time have a landscape that was very lush with lots of shade,” says Reynolds.

A water feature was sited to enable the owner to sit on the front porch and hear the sound of running water. Constructed of a square piece of oolite, as it ages the fountain will sprout ferns.
Above: A water feature was sited to enable the owner to sit on the front porch and hear the sound of running water. Constructed of a square piece of oolite, as it ages the fountain will sprout ferns.

For more design ideas and growing tips for our favorite tropical plants, see our curated guide to Tropicals 101, including:

10 Easy Pieces: Flower Frogs

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The flower frog is the florist’s best friend, creating a secure base for flowers that would otherwise flop.

We’ve rounded up 10 flower frogs in two styles—with sturdy holes to hold soft stems or with spiky metal programs to spear spindly stalks or woody twigs.

Metal Prong Flower Frogs

A round Japanese Flower Frog with a stainless steel base has brass needles to hold stems in place and is $36 from Healdsburg Shed.
Above: A round Japanese Flower Frog with a stainless steel base has brass needles to hold stems in place and is $36 from Healdsburg Shed.
A large stainless Flower Frog has a 1.3-inch diameter and is $2.98 from Axner.
Above: A large stainless Flower Frog has a 1.3-inch diameter and is $2.98 from Axner.
An Ikebana Flower Petal Vase by Moonstar Pottery is available in white (shown) and charcoal; $30 at Food52.
Above: An Ikebana Flower Petal Vase by Moonstar Pottery is available in white (shown) and charcoal; $30 at Food52.
A double Sun And Moon Japanese Flower Frog made of brass and copper is $24 from Healdsburg Shed.
Above: A double Sun And Moon Japanese Flower Frog made of brass and copper is $24 from Healdsburg Shed.
A 4.5-inch Frog Pin with a lead base is $12.99 from Save on Crafts.
Above: A 4.5-inch Frog Pin with a lead base is $12.99 from Save on Crafts.

Ceramic Flower Frogs

A handmade Ceramic Flower Frog/Vase is glazed in white; $45 from Lemonglaze via Etsy.
Above: A handmade Ceramic Flower Frog/Vase is glazed in white; $45 from Lemonglaze via Etsy.
From Luna, a ceramic Flower Frog Vase with a white matte finish is $24 at the Light Shop.
Above: From Luna, a ceramic Flower Frog Vase with a white matte finish is $24 at the Light Shop.
A stoneware Flower Frog handmade in Portland, Oregon, is available in three colors, including matte gray/brown; $39 from Notary Ceramics.
Above: A stoneware Flower Frog handmade in Portland, Oregon, is available in three colors, including matte gray/brown; $39 from Notary Ceramics.
A Round Ceramic Flower Frog Vase measures 6 by 2.75 inches and is $18.92 via Amazon.
Above: A Round Ceramic Flower Frog Vase measures 6 by 2.75 inches and is $18.92 via Amazon.
Notary Ceramics’ stoneware Flower Frog in a matte white glaze is $34 at Hoppe Shoppe.
Above: Notary Ceramics’ stoneware Flower Frog in a matte white glaze is $34 at Hoppe Shoppe.

For more help making floral arrangements, see:

Rethinking Anemones: Arranging a Delicate Spring Flower

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With their watercolor-paint petals, anemones are one of the daintiest spring flowers. Part of the ranunculus family, and sporting leaves that bring to mind parsley, anemones have a delicate charm and are sometimes called windflowers. Traditionally, as a cut flower, I’ve paired them with other spring delicacies, such as grape hyacinth, narcissus, and other ranunculus. For a more modern look, I’ve paired them here with ingredients that evoke a Mediterranean climate (in late winter or early spring) and arranged them in a terra cotta clay vase.

Photography and styling by Chelsea Fuss.

Keep anemones away from direct light so cut stems will last as long as possible.
Above: Keep anemones away from direct light so cut stems will last as long as possible.

Anemones will close in the cold and open with light and warmth. Purchase them when they are at least halfway closed, as they will open very quickly, particularly as they are handled and arranged. In a cool environment, out of direct light, they will last for a week. Of course, you must re-cut the stems at an angle, and provide them with fresh water in a clean vase (the best way to ensure long-lasting cut flowers).

Anemones show their length and work as a focal flower in my Mediterranean-style spring arrangement.
Above: Anemones show their length and work as a focal flower in my Mediterranean-style spring arrangement.

Like tulips, they grow taller in the vase, so watch your arrangement change and develop as the days go by. The way the flower changes over the days just adds more interest to the arrangement.

The first of the season’s lilac blossoms, grasses, olive, honeysuckle, viburnum, vinca, garden calla lilies, and a variety of foraged meadow flowers offer a textured backdrop to let these simple beauties shine.
Above: The first of the season’s lilac blossoms, grasses, olive, honeysuckle, viburnum, vinca, garden calla lilies, and a variety of foraged meadow flowers offer a textured backdrop to let these simple beauties shine.

Place larger flowers at the bottom of the arrangement, and lighter, more delicate blossoms at the top of the arrangement, to balance it visually.

 Stems of anemone paired with tulip and rambling roses.
Stems of anemone paired with tulip and rambling roses.
To ensure your anemones last as long as possible, re-cut the stems at an angle, and provide them with fresh water in a clean vase.
Above: To ensure your anemones last as long as possible, re-cut the stems at an angle, and provide them with fresh water in a clean vase.
Next to the large arrangement, I’ve added anemone stems in Japanese glass and local ceramic cups. In the glass, I’ve paired anemone with a tulip (bulb intact) to offer even more interest through the simple, glass vase.
Above: Next to the large arrangement, I’ve added anemone stems in Japanese glass and local ceramic cups. In the glass, I’ve paired anemone with a tulip (bulb intact) to offer even more interest through the simple, glass vase.
This easy garden-style arrangement brings springtime indoors or to a terrace as a centerpiece for a table.
Above: This easy garden-style arrangement brings springtime indoors or to a terrace as a centerpiece for a table.

So many flowering bulbs, so many ways to use them effectively in a flower bed or container garden. See more of our favorite combinations:

Everything You Need to Know About Cottage Gardens

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When the British garden writer Christopher Lloyd declared that “gardening, like living, should be fun,” he must have been thinking about cottage gardens. With their tight jumble of ornamental flowers, edible herbs, and fruit trees, the best cottage gardens have informal, idiosyncratic layouts that are like fingerprints: each could belong only to the gardener who designed it.

Thank you, England, for inventing the cottage garden seven hundred years ago, on tiny plots of land where families crammed in as many plants as possible to produce necessities (food, medicine, and plants to lure bees and other pollinators to crops). The original intent was practical, but the result always has been charming.

Spring is upon us. Maybe you’re planning a new cottage garden. Or scheming to jam a few more flowers in a garden bed where the overflow already is flopping onto the path. Either way, keep reading for our tips on how to design (and accessorize) a cottage garden, how to select flowers and herbs (and help them thrive in nearly any climate), and for a list of favorite cottage garden must-grow plants in our curated Garden Design 101 guides to Perennials, Annuals, Edibles, and Trees.

Layout & Design

Photograph by Clare Coulson.
Above: Photograph by Clare Coulson.

Brick walkways, old walls, rose-covered arbors, built-in benches, and informally rambling flower beds are quintessential design elements in a cottage garden. See more at 10 Ideas to Steal from English Cottage Gardens.

Photograph by Britt Willoughby Dyer.
Above: Photograph by Britt Willoughby Dyer.

Let us not forget the picket fence, the single most emblematic hardscape element of the cottage garden. See more in Hardscaping 101: Picket Fences.

Ornamental & Edible Companions

See more at Walled Gardens: An Organic and Picturesque Plot at Old-Lands in Wales. Photograph by Britt Willoughby-Dyer.
Above: See more at Walled Gardens: An Organic and Picturesque Plot at Old-Lands in Wales. Photograph by Britt Willoughby-Dyer.

There’s nothing out of place about a formally clipped boxwood or two standing sentry at the edge of the vegetable patch. See more design ideas in and Edible Gardens 101: A Design Guide.

Perennial & Annual Flowers

Hollyhocks find shelter from the wind, growing against walls, fences, and foundations. Photograph by Britt Willoughby Dyer.
Above: Hollyhocks find shelter from the wind, growing against walls, fences, and foundations. Photograph by Britt Willoughby Dyer.

This month, we’ve added nearly a dozen new plant growing guides to our Garden Design 101 section, including more of our cottage garden favorites: see our field guides for Hollyhocks, Bellflowers, and Sweet Peas.  See more in our curated guide to Annuals 101.

Sweet peas. Photograph by Britt Willoughby Dyer.
Above: Sweet peas. Photograph by Britt Willoughby Dyer.

OK, sweet peas deserved their own photo. See more in Sweet Peas: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design.

Foxgloves, the quintessential cottage garden flower. See more in 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from an English Woodland. Photograph by Britt Willoughby Dyer.
Above: Foxgloves, the quintessential cottage garden flower. See more in 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from an English Woodland. Photograph by Britt Willoughby Dyer.

Where would cottage gardens be without foxgloves? For design and growing tips, see Foxgloves: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design.

Herbs & Flowers

In a kitchen garden in Suffolk, England, flowers and edibles are intermingled in raised beds separated by gravel paths. See more in Behind the Hedges: Catherine Horwood’s Hidden Kitchen Garden. Photograph by Clare Coulson.
Above: In a kitchen garden in Suffolk, England, flowers and edibles are intermingled in raised beds separated by gravel paths. See more in Behind the Hedges: Catherine Horwood’s Hidden Kitchen Garden. Photograph by Clare Coulson.

Many ornamentals and edibles are natural companions: strongly scented flowers repel bugs and slugs that would otherwise feast on your favorite crops. See more ideas for companion planting in Everything You Need to Know About Herb Gardens and  The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden.

Mint, chamomile, and pansies all make delicious tisanes. See more in Tisanes: Easy Teas You Can Grow, with 7 Tips from Emily Erb of Leaves & Flowers. Photograph by Aya Brackett.
Above: Mint, chamomile, and pansies all make delicious tisanes. See more in Tisanes: Easy Teas You Can Grow, with 7 Tips from Emily Erb of Leaves & Flowers. Photograph by Aya Brackett.

Hyssop, chives, mint, parsley, and thyme top our list of essential herbs for cottage gardens.

Pots & Planters

At a former estate gardener’s cottage in rural Suffolk in England, galvanized dolly tubs set the tone “for the wild feeling of the garden beyond with brick edged beds spilling over with roses, alchemilla mollis, and in midsummer lots of pastel-toned hollyhocks,” writes our contributor Clare Coulson. See more in English Cottage Gardening: 8 Lessons Learned in Rural Suffolk. Photograph by Clare Coulson.
Above: At a former estate gardener’s cottage in rural Suffolk in England, galvanized dolly tubs set the tone “for the wild feeling of the garden beyond with brick edged beds spilling over with roses, alchemilla mollis, and in midsummer lots of pastel-toned hollyhocks,” writes our contributor Clare Coulson. See more in English Cottage Gardening: 8 Lessons Learned in Rural Suffolk. Photograph by Clare Coulson.

Vintage pots and planters with a patina (and by the way, rust counts) add a casual informality to a cottage garden. See more ideas for vintage (and vintage lookalike) planters in 10 Ideas to Organize the Perfect Potting Shed.

Cold Frames & Greenhouses

Foxgloves for sale at Miserden Nursery. See more at Ridiculously Charming, Even for the Cotswolds: The Nursery at Miserden. Photograph by Britt Willoughby Dyer.
Above: Foxgloves for sale at Miserden Nursery. See more at Ridiculously Charming, Even for the Cotswolds: The Nursery at Miserden. Photograph by Britt Willoughby Dyer.

Get a jump on your springtime cottage garden by starting seeds now. And don’t despair if you don’t have room for a full-size greenhouse: see 10 Easy Pieces: Cold Frame Greenhouses and 10 Easy Pieces: Portable Greenhouses.

For more inspiration and tours of our favorite cottage gardens, see:

Object of Desire: Gardenlust Hose from Lepaar

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Australia-based design house Lepaar transforms prosaic products into objects of desire.

Lepaar’s collection of garden hoses, appropriately named the Gardenlust line, have handmade brass fittings and nozzles designed by master coppersmith Australian coppersmith Louis Berczi. Hard-wearing recycled rubber and a custom manufacturer’s formula make the hoses flexible and resistant to kinks:


hose-gardenlust-white-gardenista

Above: Available in three colors including ivory, a 32-foot Luxe Hose And Hook is $110 AU.

hose-nozzle-gardenlust-gardenista

Above: A brass nozzle “is a joy to use with variable range and spray that is easily controlled with just one hand,” says Lepaar.

More objects of desire:

Gardening 101: Rhododendrons

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Rhododendron, Rhododendron: “Rose Tree”

One of the many things I have learned this year as a volunteer working with the tireless organizers of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden plant sale is that shade is the norm in the backyards of brownstone neighborhoods. That fact underlies the choices made by landscape designer Joan McDonald of Gardens by Joan, who is in charge of ordering the thousands of trees, shrubs, and perennials that will be on sale at the annual event (May 9 and 10). For gardeners with shady backyards, McDonald orders dazzling blooming shrubs such as as mahonia, camellia and the stalwart of the woodland landscape: rhododendron.

Photograph by Michael Gibbons via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by Michael Gibbons via Flickr.

Many gardeners prefer showy sun lovers like poppies, peonies and roses, but those plants often don’t thrive in small plots that are surrounded by big trees, tall fences, and shadow-casting buildings.

So McDonald, a practical woman, ups the number of shade lovers.  More brunnera, less gallardia. More hellebores, less salvia. And while shade plants are often considered to be more subdued than sun plants, that is not always the case.

Photograph by Andrew Hill via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by Andrew Hill via Flickr.

Rhododendrons and their close relatives, azaleas, have been treasured by generations of gardeners for their spectacular but short-lived flowers. In fact the name rhododendron comes from Greek words that mean “rose tree.” Modern gardeners seeking plants that offer four-season interest sometimes bypass them as not sufficiently appealing except when they are in bloom.  However, as fans of these plants point out, with some effort and judicious research, rhododendron varieties can be found that will provide important enhancements to the garden well beyond their blooms.

Azaleas are a group of rhododendrons, distinguishable because their flowers have five stamens instead of 10. Photograph by Tanaka via Flickr.
Above: Azaleas are a group of rhododendrons, distinguishable because their flowers have five stamens instead of 10. Photograph by Tanaka via Flickr.

For more about azaleas, which can be either deciduous or evergreen, see Azaleas 101: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design.

Other rhododendrons are usually evergreen and so will provide color in winter.  With somewhere around 900 to 1000 species, this genus comes in all sizes and shapes from creeping ground covers to giants that tower 80 feet or more.  They can be massed in formidable hedges and screens. Varieties can be found with leaves of many shapes, colors, and sizes, and they can be mixed in borders to provide interesting textural backgrounds for perennials and annuals.  New growth on some rhododendrons is striking and colorful and some varieties have peeling bark and leathery leaves with furry or silvery undersides.  Indeed the claim on the website of the American Rhododendron Society that “you can find a rhododendron to fit any specific garden need” does not appear to be an exaggeration.

Photograph by Jim the Photographer via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by Jim the Photographer via Flickr.

Experts caution that rhododendrons are quite particular about their environment and can be susceptible to various insect attacks and diseases such as powdery mildew and rust if their cultural needs are not adequately met.  Before you add a rhododendron to your garden, make sure you can provide the conditions that will ensure a healthy plant.

A carpet of rhododendrons at the Cornish estate Caerhays Castle. For more, see Rhododendrons and Memories of Manderley: A Garden Visit. Photograph by Kendra Wilson.
Above: A carpet of rhododendrons at the Cornish estate Caerhays Castle. For more, see Rhododendrons and Memories of Manderley: A Garden Visit. Photograph by Kendra Wilson.

Cheat Sheet

  • Select plants that are bushy, with at least four main branches at the base.
  • To make sure that you get the flower colors you want, buy rhododendrons when they are in bloom.
  • Plant in a sheltered area away from direct sun and wind, both of which can burn delicate leaves.
  • Avoid planting in deep shade. Rhododendrons need some sunlight  to flower.
  • Deadheading spent flowers is not necessary but is easily done and is aesthetically pleasing to many gardeners.
Photograph by Chaoshusky via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by Chaoshusky via Flickr.

Keep It Alive

  • Rhododendrons do not like extreme temperatures and grow best in USDA zones 5 to 8.
  • Plant in acidic soil, moist but well-draining.
  • Rhododendrons like plenty of humidity and should be well watered but not saturated.
  • Except in the case of damaged stems or branches, rhododendrons do not normally need to be pruned.
  • Rhododendrons have shallow root systems and should be mulched to prevent the roots from drying out.
Photograph by Bernard Spragg via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by Bernard Spragg via Flickr.

Rhododendrons and azaleas have similar cultural requirements and are often planted together. Experts differ in their theories about exactly what makes these plants different from each other.   When buying azaleas, you may notice that their official Latin names contain the word “Rhododendron.”  For instance the orange-flowered native flame azalea has the Latin name Rhododendron calendulaceum which reflects the fact that, although azaleas once belonged to their own totally separate genus, scientists later folded them into the Rhododendron genus.  To put it another way, all azaleas are Rhododendrons but not all Rhododendrons are azaleas. Generally speaking, azalea plants tend to be smaller than rhododendrons and have smaller leaves.  Unlike most rhododendrons, which are evergreen, many azaleas are deciduous. Azalea flowers usually have five stamens (pollen producing male flower parts) while rhododendrons have ten.

To add to the confusion, there is also a type of Rhododendron known as the vireya.  These are tropical plants that have similar cultivation requirements to orchids.  Natives of South East Asia, vireyas often grow in cloud forests as epiphytes high in trees.  They require a frost-free environment and are often grown in greenhouses or as houseplants.  Although vireyas are not nearly as well known as rhododendrons and azaleas, it is estimated that as many as one third of all rhododendron species are vireyas.

Read more design and care tips at Rhododendrons 101: A Field Guide and get  ideas on how to plant, grow, and care for more of our favorite shrubs and hedges with our Shrubs: A Field Guide. To see how mature shrubs will look in your garden, read:


10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Australia

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Autumn in April is business as usual in Australia. Why have it any other way? As these gardens show, there is a liberation from being closer to the east than the north. Here are 10 modern ideas to steal from a continent unhindered by centuries-old garden traditions:

Water Conservation

A remarkably green, drought-tolerant wall of privet at Lambley Nursery serves as a serene backdrop, making the shapes and colors of individual plants become more remarkable. Shown here: Aloe ferox, with roots that don’t mind competing with those of the hedge. Photograph by Claire Takacs from Can This Garden Be Saved? “It Barely Rains; I Live in a Desert.
Above: A remarkably green, drought-tolerant wall of privet at Lambley Nursery serves as a serene backdrop, making the shapes and colors of individual plants become more remarkable. Shown here: Aloe ferox, with roots that don’t mind competing with those of the hedge. Photograph by Claire Takacs from Can This Garden Be Saved? “It Barely Rains; I Live in a Desert.

Billabongs

Known outside of Australia as an oxbow lake, a billabong is an area of water cut off from the river flow. Filling up every year, they also dry up rather quicklyand a garden billabong can be an improved version. Surrounded by three stories of planting, a sense of enclosure is created. Incorporating billabongs into a design approach is a useful way to capture water while creating a happy ecosystem. Frogs, insects, birds, and mammals will be instantly attracted.

Sustainable Design

 A graywater irrigation system collects water from the washing machine and showers for use in a new garden in the Melbourne suburb Toorak, designed by Grounded Gardens. For more, see Designer Visit: A Courtyard to Covet in a Modern Melbourne Garden.
Above: A graywater irrigation system collects water from the washing machine and showers for use in a new garden in the Melbourne suburb Toorak, designed by Grounded Gardens. For more, see Designer Visit: A Courtyard to Covet in a Modern Melbourne Garden.

Sustainability is about more than recycling and zero waste; water conservation and home-made energy are incorporated into the best designs across the continent. Offset by of tall trees and water, solar panels have never looked so good.

Uninhibited Floristry

Australian designer Kara Rosenlund hung a bunch of rosemary from the pendant light over her dining table and dressed the table with clippings of olive. For more see House Call: In the Kitchen and Beyond with Kara Rosenlund.
Above: Australian designer Kara Rosenlund hung a bunch of rosemary from the pendant light over her dining table and dressed the table with clippings of olive. For more see House Call: In the Kitchen and Beyond with Kara Rosenlund.

Without the baggage of traditional horticulture, florists, flower decorators, and flower artists (call them what you will) have a freewheeling approach which is admired by people working in the same field, in places like England. Australian flower people also know how to exploit their own visual opportunities and camera talent is closely linked with floristry. See also @afloralfrenzy, @poppies_flowers, @jardinebotanic, all on Instagram.

Keep a Low Profile

Whether in the city or in the country, architecture keeps a low profile with single-story houses, like the one seen here from Kennedy Nolan (Architect Visit: An Indoor-Outdoor House in Australia) and human landscape that blends into nature’s hills, forests, and coastlines.
Above: Whether in the city or in the country, architecture keeps a low profile with single-story houses, like the one seen here from Kennedy Nolan (Architect Visit: An Indoor-Outdoor House in Australia) and human landscape that blends into nature’s hills, forests, and coastlines.

Eucalyptus

Fondly known as gum trees, 700 species of eucalyptus provide the lofty canopy in Australian landscapes, as iconic as the middle-story tree fern. For more, see Kidnapped: The True Story of Eucalyptus.

Phoebe Dann, a Melbourne-based graphic designer, transformed a derelict shed (with her architect/product designer husband, Anthony Dann) into a compact, off-the-grid retreat, just big enough for the two of them and their baby daughter, Fleur. Photograph by Astrid Salomon from Off-the-Grid Retreat: A Homemade Cabin in Australia.
Above: Phoebe Dann, a Melbourne-based graphic designer, transformed a derelict shed (with her architect/product designer husband, Anthony Dann) into a compact, off-the-grid retreat, just big enough for the two of them and their baby daughter, Fleur. Photograph by Astrid Salomon from Off-the-Grid Retreat: A Homemade Cabin in Australia.

No Plant Too Weird

Spires of echiums, an idea borrowed from Australian gardens, pierce the foreground in front of Isabel and Julian Bannerman’s Cornish castle walls. Photograph by Isabel Bannerman and Dunstan Baker. For more, see Required Reading: Landscape of Dreams.
Above: Spires of echiums, an idea borrowed from Australian gardens, pierce the foreground in front of Isabel and Julian Bannerman’s Cornish castle walls. Photograph by Isabel Bannerman and Dunstan Baker. For more, see Required Reading: Landscape of Dreams.

With a preferred emphasis on native, local species in modern Australian gardens, things are bound to get a little unusual. Unlike the highly cosseted and not-always-convincing attempts at tropical planting in northern climes, the plant choice here is a natural partner to vitality and innovation. “We are really lucky in Australia,” says Charlie Lawler of Loose Leaf florists in Victoria. “Everything from tropical plants to alpine scrub grows here.”

Recycle and Reuse

Kara Rosenlund takes her wares on the road in Australia, where she offers up practical, well-curated, vintage items from a restored 1956 Franklin Caravan. For more, see A Mobile Brocante in Australia on Remodelista.
Above: Kara Rosenlund takes her wares on the road in Australia, where she offers up practical, well-curated, vintage items from a restored 1956 Franklin Caravan. For more, see A Mobile Brocante in Australia on Remodelista.

Ikebana Influence

It is clear that Australian horticulturalists take more from their closer neighbors in Japan than they do from their colonial ties with Great Britain. The art of ikebana (and its Korean relation kokozi) is characterized by a use of living plants in arrangements, with an exploration of negative space and asymmetry.

A white anthurium floral design by Sophia Moreno Bunge from Anthuriums: Rethinking a Hotel Lobby Flower.
Above: A white anthurium floral design by Sophia Moreno Bunge from Anthuriums: Rethinking a Hotel Lobby Flower.

“We love using big-leaved plants like Monstera,” says Charlie Lawler. “It easily turns any space into a jungle.” Lawler and his partner Wona Bae at Loose Leaf have turned these into Monstera “chandeliers,” with the addition of fig leaf branches. Their shop and studio space in Collingwood, on the outskirts of Melbourne, is also a venue for workshops and for Wona’s weaving. She uses living material on the grand scale, creating wreaths which she could fit into several times, and nests for imaginary giant birds (or humans for that matter). Some of their creations are very small; they are all exquisite.

Tropical Jungles

Artist Wendy Whiteley rescued a rundown plot of railroad land in Sydney and turned it into a tropical paradise. For more, see Wendy’s Secret Garden in Sydney.
Above: Artist Wendy Whiteley rescued a rundown plot of railroad land in Sydney and turned it into a tropical paradise. For more, see Wendy’s Secret Garden in Sydney.

Most of us can only dream of the huge variety of plants available to Australians, subtropical or otherwise. Here, Brachichyton acerifolius, (L), mingles with Elephant Ear or Colocasia and the spiky Sydney native Doryanthes excelsa. The summer humidity and mild winters of the subtropics are ideal conditions in which jungly plant communities can thrive.

For more garden inspiration from Australia, see:

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on April 6, 2017.

Object of Design: Classic Thonet Garden Furniture from Vienna

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In the 19th century Austrian furniture maker Michael Thonet, the inventor of the bentwood style, brought his five sons into a family business that thrives today. In addition to the gracefully curved designs that made Thonet a household name, Vienna-based Gebrüder Thonet also manufactures new styles—and the company’s classic outdoor furnishings (which look just as happy in today’s gardens).

We’re particularly partial to the simple lines of the dining table, chair, and bench in the Garten collection. “Each item is made with the original knotted structure designed in the late 19th century. The result is a high quality, natural, modern, and practical look, that is simple to assemble,” notes the manufacturer.

The Gartentisch Table, available in either acacia or teak wood, measures 63 inches wide by 31.5 inches deep and 30.5 inches high. It is $974 in acacia or $1,771 for the teak model from Bauhaus 2 Your House.
Above: The Gartentisch Table, available in either acacia or teak wood, measures 63 inches wide by 31.5 inches deep and 30.5 inches high. It is $974 in acacia or $1,771 for the teak model from Bauhaus 2 Your House.
An armless Garten Chair made of acacia is  33.5 inches high by 21 inches deep by 17 inches high;  $353 from Bauhaus 2 Your House.
Above: An armless Garten Chair made of acacia is  33.5 inches high by 21 inches deep by 17 inches high;  $353 from Bauhaus 2 Your House.
A Garten Bench available in either teak or acacia is $594 (acacia) or $899 (teak) at Bauhaus 2 Your House.
Above: A Garten Bench available in either teak or acacia is $594 (acacia) or $899 (teak) at Bauhaus 2 Your House.

The outdoor dining season looms; get more inspiration and ideas from our design guide for Decks & Patios 101 and browse our collection of Dining Furniture. Our most recent roundups include:

Gardening 101: Alpine Strawberries

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Alpine Strawberry, Fragaria vesca: “Fraises des Bois”

It’s a romantic flower, the little woodland strawberry or fraises des bois. The white blossom-like flowers perfectly complement fresh, trifoliate leaves, with scarlet jewels of fruit appearing at the same time. They flower and fruit throughout summer, providing a cheery edging to steps, or along fences. Grown in rooty soil under espaliered fruit, Alpine strawberries combine with forget-me-nots to cover the ground with red, white and blue, and lots of green.

Wild strawberries and forget-me-nots are a labor-free combination, though both will need thinning out from time to time.

Photograph by Dorin Mocan via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by Dorin Mocan via Flickr.

Wild strawberries bring out the child in you, easy to pick as you go about your business, or specifically harvested to add to cereal, or pancakes, or dessert.

See more in Tiny Gardens: 66 Square Feet for Alpine Strawberries in NYC. Photograph by Marie Viljoen.
Above: See more in Tiny Gardens: 66 Square Feet for Alpine Strawberries in NYC. Photograph by Marie Viljoen.

They are very sweet, yet acidic; they are like a homeopathic droplet of true strawberry. Highly sought after by restaurants, alpine strawberries are strictly garden-to-table with minimal travel between, since they squash easily and lose their luster.

Photograph by Kahvikisu via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by Kahvikisu via Flickr.

Fragaria can be a purely decorative ground cover, if fruit is not a priority. Beth Chatto includes Fragaria chiloensis in a woodland tapestry, its vitality in winter a good foil to pulmonaria, scilla and snowdrops. The evergreen presence of wild strawberries distracts from the leaf die-back of spring bulbs.

See more in 23 and Me: My Favorite Edible Plants to Grow in Shade. Photograph by Marie Viljoen.
Above: See more in 23 and Me: My Favorite Edible Plants to Grow in Shade. Photograph by Marie Viljoen.

Cheat Sheet

• A member of the rose family, F. vesca’s delightful white flowers are like miniature apple blossom, heralding spring.
• Spreading via runners, the perfectly formed little plants are easily lifted and moved around or given to friends. Very pretty in pots and window boxes.
• As a ground cover, Alpine strawberry mingles with other evergreens such as small leafed periwinkle (Vinca minor) and semi-evergreen forget-me-not (Myosotis).

Photograph by Kahvikisu via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by Kahvikisu via Flickr.

Keep It Alive

• Although its shape and size says “edging” for a decorative kitchen garden, wild strawberry will take advantage, climbing into the beds and traveling across gravel. For neatness, grow runner-less Fragaria vesca ‘Alexandria’.
• Alpine strawberries are easygoing in terms of soil, although they prefer damp and well-drained. They do well in shade but more sun will produce more fruits. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
• Even if you think of Alpine strawberry as a weed, it is a good one, being both decorative and productive.

See more design ideas and growing tips in Alpine Strawberries: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design and don’t miss our other curated Garden Design 101 guides, including Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Tropical Plants, Succulents, Annuals, and Houseplants.

Finally, learn how to successfully design and create an edible garden with our Hardscaping 101: Edible Gardens guide.

Lismore Castle in Ireland: An Insider’s View Through the Seasons

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A little voyeurism can be useful when planning garden visits, and an under-gardener on Instagram, handy with a camera, is invaluable. Lee Behegan (@theplantboyy) began working at Lismore Castle in County Waterford, Ireland, when he was still at school. Now 20, he is “trusted with more horticultural jobs” and will be interning at Chanticleer Garden in Pennsylvania this summer. Here he shows us around.

Photography by Lee Behegan.

Summer

The Upper Garden at Lismore Castle, in County Waterford, Ireland, last September.
Above: The Upper Garden at Lismore Castle, in County Waterford, Ireland, last September.

Lee uses a real camera as well as his phone. His work day begins at eight in the morning and ends at four-fifteen, all year round. Gardening is something that he enjoyed doing with his grandfather, helping in the vegetable garden and competing with him in their annual sunflower competition.

The castle was built as an abbey and was repeatedly plundered by Vikings before being taken over by the Normans. Sir Walter Raleigh owned it for a while, followed by the Great Earl of Cork Richard Boyle in 1602. The garden designed for him at that time remains today in the upper terraces of Lismore, while the lower pleasure gardens were designed by the legendary Sir Joseph Paxton, whose role as head gardener did not preclude activities in castle design.

One of the Paxton vineries at Lismore.
Above: One of the Paxton vineries at Lismore.

Paxton, the gardener at Chatsworth who was eventually knighted by Queen Victoria (for services to botany, engineering, architecture, etc.), played an important part in fashioning Lismore, working closely with the Sixth Duke of Devonshire (its owner), also known as the Bachelor Duke. The previous duke had been neglectful, allowing weed trees to take over the gardens of his properties. His son did the opposite, importing stone from Derbyshire to Ireland, and bringing Paxton over to design buildings, including the vinery shown here, but also less expected things, like a convent in Lismore: “The nuns doat on him,” wrote the Duke.

A small part of the vast walled garden at Lismore Castle.
Above: A small part of the vast walled garden at Lismore Castle.

“The castle is hired out to visitors from around the world,” says Lee Behegan, with one wing saved for Lord and Lady Burlington, the next generation of Chatsworth Cavendishes. “The family are very interested in the gardens and love what we are doing.” In other words, the place is productive.

A vine-covered pergola in the Upper Garden.
Above: A vine-covered pergola in the Upper Garden.

It is fortunate for this place that the Bachelor Duke took such a keen interest in the castle and its gardens, being an aesthete of impeccable style and much admired by the late Deborah Devonshire in her book Chatsworth: The House. In remodeling the castle from 1812 on, his intention was for something “quasi-feudal, ultra-regal.”

The seven-acre garden includes a kitchen garden for growing fruit and vegetables used by the restaurant and family.
Above: The seven-acre garden includes a kitchen garden for growing fruit and vegetables used by the restaurant and family.

Autumn

Ireland has a famously warm climate for subtropical plants.
Above: Ireland has a famously warm climate for subtropical plants.

“Beautiful Lismore Castle afforded us much pleasure.” Sounding like the diary entry of an 18th-century gentleperson, this is in fact the observation of Fred Astaire, in his maddeningly discreet autobiography, Steps in Time. He visited whenever his filming schedule allowed, since his sister, Adele, was married to Charlie Cavendish, younger brother of the Duke of Devonshire. You’d never guess it from Fred, but according to the late Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, Adele loved to shock her English in-laws, while Charlie’s early demise was hurried along by drink.

Shaggy and neat topiary in the Upper Garden at Lismore Castle.
Above: Shaggy and neat topiary in the Upper Garden at Lismore Castle.

Although the Devonshire estates have always passed to the eldest son, leaving them intact, it was useful to have some of the houses lived in by siblings, otherwise they went to waste. Charlie’s sister Maud wrote, in a letter quoted in Deborah Devonshire’s excellent book, The Garden at Chatsworth “We never really felt we had a home, as we had far too many.” Every January to March was spent at Lismore. “It was useless to try and garden, as we were never in the same place when the seeds or bulbs we planted appeared above ground.”

Evening primroses and seed heads light up against the quasi-feudal, ultra-regal walls.
Above: Evening primroses and seed heads light up against the quasi-feudal, ultra-regal walls.
Lee, far right. The head gardener Darren Topps is second from the left.
Above: Lee, far right. The head gardener Darren Topps is second from the left.

“The gardens have really changed in the last four years, since Darren Topps was appointed head gardener,” Lee says. “Each winter we tackle a big development in the garden and have been reaching record numbers of visitors.”

Winter

A frosty morning, when miles of topiary and perfect edging makes the most sense.
Above: A frosty morning, when miles of topiary and perfect edging makes the most sense.

Winter is not as quiet as it looks. “This winter we relandscaped the castle courtyard,” says Lee. “This morning I was mulching the new beds we put in, with enriched compost.”

Spring

Beardless irises in late spring.
Above: Beardless irises in late spring.

The gardens at Lismore Castle open again today, March 16. For information, see Lismore Castle.

Trending on Remodelista: 5 Design Ideas to Steal to Add Color

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Who doesn’t long for a dose of color by the end of a long winter? As yet another snowstorm hit the East Coast this week, the Remodelista editors went in search of hues to add warmth to interiors. Here are five ideas to steal.

Dark Green Kitchens

“We’re undeniably in the era of the Pinterest-approved blue kitchen,” Meredith writes. Yet, “all the while, the dark green kitchen has been quietly simmering in the background. We think it has staying power.”
Above: “We’re undeniably in the era of the Pinterest-approved blue kitchen,” Meredith writes. Yet, “all the while, the dark green kitchen has been quietly simmering in the background. We think it has staying power.”

“Darkest green functions like a neutral—it’s a black for people who don’t want black,” she writes. See more in this week’s post, Trend Alert: 10 Favorite, Time-Tested Dark Green Kitchens.

Colorful Glass Pendants

To “add a dose of translucent color,” Alexa has rounded up her favorite jewel-toned glass pendant lights.
Above: To “add a dose of translucent color,” Alexa has rounded up her favorite jewel-toned glass pendant lights.

See more in this week’s 10 Easy Pieces post.

Crystal Decanters for Soap

In San Francisco, Amy Lindburg keeps her soap and detergent in cut glass and crystal decanters (some inherited from her grandmother). Julie visits her at home and discovers our Kitchen of the Week: A Glamorous Kitchen in San Francisco, Ikea Hacks Included. Photograph by Daniel Dent.
Above: In San Francisco, Amy Lindburg keeps her soap and detergent in cut glass and crystal decanters (some inherited from her grandmother). Julie visits her at home and discovers our Kitchen of the Week: A Glamorous Kitchen in San Francisco, Ikea Hacks Included. Photograph by Daniel Dent.

Vintage Decanters

Fill vintage decanters with your own colorful soaps and potions. For sources, see this week’s Steal This Look post.
Above: Fill vintage decanters with your own colorful soaps and potions. For sources, see this week’s Steal This Look post.

Purple Water Taps

Add color to the bathroom with fixtures in retro colors. Alexa also recommends blue sinks, yellow toilets, and green showerheads. See more in this week’s Bath Fixtures post.
Above: Add color to the bathroom with fixtures in retro colors. Alexa also recommends blue sinks, yellow toilets, and green showerheads. See more in this week’s Bath Fixtures post.
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