Quantcast
Channel: Gardenista
Viewing all 5861 articles
Browse latest View live

Countdown: 5 Days Left to Enter Our 2018 Considered Design Awards

0
0

The countdown is on: You have only five more days to submit your garden and home design projects into the 2018 Gardenista Considered Design Awards. Enter by midnight Pacific on Friday, June 22, in any of 13 contest categories across Gardenista and Remodelista.

We’ve outlined the basics here, but be sure to read our Rules & FAQs for more details including category descriptions, photo requirements, and entry guidance.

Good luck!

Submission Deadline

11:59 pm Pacific time on Friday, June 22

How to Submit

Click here to Submit Your Project. (Be sure to read our full Rules & FAQs page for instructions on how to enter.)

Gardenista Contest Categories

Open to amateur gardeners:

Best Garden

Open to professional designers:

Best Landscape

Open to everyone:

Best Outdoor Living Space
Best Curb Appeal
Best Edible Garden
Best Hardscape Project

Judges

Gardenista:

Brook Klausing, landscape designer
Erica Tanov, designer and founder of Erica Tanov

Remodelista:

Stephen Alesch, founder of Roman & Williams
Jenni Kayne, fashion designer and founder of Jenni Kayne

The Organized Home:

Wiebke Liu, founder of Blisshaus

Prizes

Winning projects will receive a full feature post on Gardenista, Remodelista, or The Organized Home, and each winner will receive a $500 gift card to shop Schoolhouse online or in stores. Professional winners will receive automatic entry into Gardenista’s Architect/Designer Directory.

Details

Readers in the United States and Canada (excluding Quebec) are welcome to enter in the appropriate categories. Please read our Rules & FAQs page for complete entry instructions and contest rules.

For inspiration, here’s a sneak peak at five projects that have been submitted so far this year. (Browse the Gardenista Contest Page to see all entries.)

R Design Landscape Architecture entered this Boulder, Colorado, midcentury-inspired garden into our Best Professional Landscape category. Photograph by Michael Deleon.
Above: R Design Landscape Architecture entered this Boulder, Colorado, midcentury-inspired garden into our Best Professional Landscape category. Photograph by Michael Deleon.
Kyle Hagerty created an urban farmstead in Sacramento, California, starting from a completely empty lot. His project is a contender in our Best Edible Garden category, which is open to both amateur gardeners and professional designers.
Above: Kyle Hagerty created an urban farmstead in Sacramento, California, starting from a completely empty lot. His project is a contender in our Best Edible Garden category, which is open to both amateur gardeners and professional designers.
An aerial view of a four-season Brooklyn garden submitted by Liz Pulver Design into our Best Professional Landscape category. Photograph by Oresti Tsonopoulos.
Above: An aerial view of a four-season Brooklyn garden submitted by Liz Pulver Design into our Best Professional Landscape category. Photograph by Oresti Tsonopoulos.
Over eight years, Cheryl Takata transformed an empty lot into “a private haven for making pottery, gardening, and enjoying nature.” See the rest of her project, submitted into our Best Amateur Garden category.
Above: Over eight years, Cheryl Takata transformed an empty lot into “a private haven for making pottery, gardening, and enjoying nature.” See the rest of her project, submitted into our Best Amateur Garden category.
Amliv Land Designs entered this Arlington Heights, Illinois, landscape into our Best Curb Appeal category, which is open to both amateurs and professionals. They transformed an empty corner lot into a shade-loving garden with shrubs, evergreens, and perennials.
Above: Amliv Land Designs entered this Arlington Heights, Illinois, landscape into our Best Curb Appeal category, which is open to both amateurs and professionals. They transformed an empty corner lot into a shade-loving garden with shrubs, evergreens, and perennials.

Don’t forget to enter our contest by submitting up to 10 photos of your project by this Friday, June 22. There are separate contest categories for professional and amateur designers on both Gardenista and Remodelista, and winners get a $500 gift card to shop Schoolhouse.


Designer Visit: Sheila Jack’s White Garden in West London

0
0

A career in art direction is a useful grounding for anybody wishing to go into garden design. Sheila Jack‘s career shift was not so much a break as a continuum of research, editing, and presentation. Before designing the pages of Vogue magazine, her first job was for the architect Norman Foster; these visual strands from the past feed into her present-day job as a landscape designer.

We visit the project which turned Sheila’s design ideas into something more three-dimensional: her own urban garden.

Photography by Britt Willoughby Dyer for Gardenista except where noted.

A work studio faces the house in Sheila Jack’s garden in Hammersmith, London.
Above: A work studio faces the house in Sheila Jack’s garden in Hammersmith, London.

“When we added my husband’s garden studio we needed to create a pathway to it,” explains Sheila of the garden’s current layout. “Our children were beyond the need for lawn, so there was scope to include more planting.”

Photograph by Sheila Jack.
Above: Photograph by Sheila Jack.

I first met Sheila by the photocopying machine at Tatler magazine, several decades ago. Amid the madness, Sheila stood out as a beacon of clarity, in a crisp white shirt. A few years later I spotted Sheila, ever crisp, at 444 Madison Avenue, a recent arrival at Condé Nast in New York. While I failed to take my job on the 17th floor seriously, Sheila worked hard downstairs, in the scary offices of Vogue. Then she suddenly appeared on Instagram, with beautifully composed pictures of gardens, in focus. How had she got from there to here?

Sheila’s London garden of mainly green and white.
Above: Sheila’s London garden of mainly green and white.

After Vogue, Sheila was art director of Harpers & Queen (before it was gobbled up by Harpers Bazaar). At the Chelsea Flower Show, she recalls, “Harper’s & Queen were the media sponsors of the Laurent Perrier gardens, during the epic Tom Stuart Smith era.” That was when Stuart Smiths’s sophisticated take on meadow planting caused one of the few genuine revolutions at Chelsea, in the 1990s. “Seeing those gardens close up was hugely inspirational,” says Sheila.

Iris ‘White Cliffs of Dover’.
Above: Iris ‘White Cliffs of Dover’.

“All of my white irises have been propagated by division from two plants bought at the Chelsea sell-off [when designers and stall holders off-load plants at the end of the show, before packing up to go home]. Many of the roses came from Chelsea too,” says Sheila. She started collecting these plants during her time at Harpers.

An east-facing bench that catches the sun in the morning.
Above: An east-facing bench that catches the sun in the morning.

Sheila enrolled in an intensive one-year design course at the London College of Garden Design at Kew Gardens, where she was recognized with an award for “top student.” She immediately won two awards with the Society of Garden Design as soon as she graduated and her ability with a pencil is evident in the entries.

A rambling rose scrawls laterally along the horizontal slats of the perimeter fence.
Above: A rambling rose scrawls laterally along the horizontal slats of the perimeter fence.

“There were a whole range of transferable art and design skills,” says Sheila of her two careers. “I enjoy doing pencil sketches to illustrate an idea or convey an atmosphere, combining that with photography and art and architectural inspirations to flesh out the detail.”

Rosa ‘Gruss an Aachen’.
Above: Rosa ‘Gruss an Aachen’.

“My former life of page layout, editing photography, and art have given me a strong visual reference point,” says Sheila. “I’m interested in detail and how things are made, and how they in turn can be edited to the purest form.”

Looking back toward the house from the south-facing studio.
Above: Looking back toward the house from the south-facing studio.
A river of iris and allium runs through the garden in early summer.
Above: A river of iris and allium runs through the garden in early summer.

What does the first year of a newly qualified award-winning designer involve? “I am working on a range of projects from urban London gardens and roof terraces to a beautifully located riverside country garden,” says Sheila. “I’ve also been extending my professional experience by working with more established designers. I had an amazing week as part of Tom Massey’s planting team during the build of his Lemon Tree Trust garden at Chelsea.”

For more on this particular show garden, see: Chelsea Flower Show 2018: Heart and Soul at the Lemon Tree Trust Garden.

Evergreen foliage lines the path.
Above: Evergreen foliage lines the path.

Has Sheila’s new career had an effect on her garden? “The planting is constantly evolving; there are more grasses, with delicate plants like Thalictrum delavayi and Selinum wallichianum. I’m lucky to be designing other people’s gardens now,” she adds, “so there’s not much time for wholesale changes at home.”

Are you designing a new garden or updating a flower bed? Start with our curated guides to Garden Design 101 for our favorite cottage garden Perennials and Annuals.  Read more:

10 Easy Pieces: Weeding Forks

0
0

It’s weed season. Why make it a fair fight? To defeat the enemy, I prefer a multi-pronged fork that you can push into crevices to tease out roots. A weeding fork can be the best tool to use between pavers, on a brick path, or in a tight corner. Here’s a roundup of 10 sturdy weeding forks to give you the advantage in the garden:

A three-pronged Sophie Conran Weeder (shown also at the top of the post) “is especially good at tackling those devilish weeds that regrow if you leave in any of the roots. Simply hold the weed in one hand, submerge the prongs around the roots of the plant and twist to remove the offending intruder with all its roots,” notes retailer Father Rabbit; $69 NZ.
Above: A three-pronged Sophie Conran Weeder (shown also at the top of the post) “is especially good at tackling those devilish weeds that regrow if you leave in any of the roots. Simply hold the weed in one hand, submerge the prongs around the roots of the plant and twist to remove the offending intruder with all its roots,” notes retailer Father Rabbit; $69 NZ.
Handmade in the US, a 12-inch Dandelion Weeder by Red Pig Garden Tools has a hardwood handle. “Two very sharp teeth easily plunge into the soil to grab the roots of the weed and the ‘S’ bend in the tang allows greater leverage to get them out,” notes the retailer. It is $23 from Garden Tool Company.
Above: Handmade in the US, a 12-inch Dandelion Weeder by Red Pig Garden Tools has a hardwood handle. “Two very sharp teeth easily plunge into the soil to grab the roots of the weed and the ‘S’ bend in the tang allows greater leverage to get them out,” notes the retailer. It is $23 from Garden Tool Company.
A Weeding Fork from Sneeboer is “hand-forged in Holland from top-grade stainless steel, fitted with sturdy FSC-certified hardwood handles, and sharpened and finished by hand, each tool carries a lifetime guarantee,” notes the retailer. It is $52 from Healdsburg Shed.
Above: A Weeding Fork from Sneeboer is “hand-forged in Holland from top-grade stainless steel, fitted with sturdy FSC-certified hardwood handles, and sharpened and finished by hand, each tool carries a lifetime guarantee,” notes the retailer. It is $52 from Healdsburg Shed.
Designed for “small, hard to reach areas,” a two-tine DeWit Bio Weed Fork has a rocker arm for leverage and is $26.24 from Hayneedle.
Above: Designed for “small, hard to reach areas,” a two-tine DeWit Bio Weed Fork has a rocker arm for leverage and is $26.24 from Hayneedle.
Made in the US by Garden Works, a Round Tine Hand Fork is 11 inches long with four rust-proof stainless steel tines and a solid wood handle. With curved tines, it is “good for use in planters or containers where it effectively cultivates, digs and weeds around plants,” notes the retailer. It is $21 from Garden Tool Company.
Above: Made in the US by Garden Works, a Round Tine Hand Fork is 11 inches long with four rust-proof stainless steel tines and a solid wood handle. With curved tines, it is “good for use in planters or containers where it effectively cultivates, digs and weeds around plants,” notes the retailer. It is $21 from Garden Tool Company.
Made by Barebones for Terrain, a Weed Grubber with twin prongs has stainless steel tines, a bamboo handle, and a leather loop for hanging. It is $22 from Terrain.
Above: Made by Barebones for Terrain, a Weed Grubber with twin prongs has stainless steel tines, a bamboo handle, and a leather loop for hanging. It is $22 from Terrain.
A Stainless Weeding Fork from UK-based Burgon & Ball has a seal of approval from the Royal Horticultural Society; £11.99.
Above: A Stainless Weeding Fork from UK-based Burgon & Ball has a seal of approval from the Royal Horticultural Society; £11.99.
A 2-Pronged Small Handled Weeding Fork by DeWit has an ash wood handle and “a blade made from one piece of hardened boron stamped steel.” It is $37.99 from Home Depot.
Above: A 2-Pronged Small Handled Weeding Fork by DeWit has an ash wood handle and “a blade made from one piece of hardened boron stamped steel.” It is $37.99 from Home Depot.
A titanium-tined Weeding Fork with a handmade walnut handle is destined to become a garden shed heirloom. From Sneeboer Tools, the titanium collection was developed by master blacksmith Frank Sneeboer, who described the development process: “The welding process of Titanium is totally different from welding of stainless steel. Different choice between a wire or electrode, different kind of welding gas, different kind of backing gas to prevent incineration of the Titanium etc, etc. The testing process took us about three years, but now we have a perfect result and a perfect foundation to build on in the future.” A titanium weeding fork is €230.
Above: A titanium-tined Weeding Fork with a handmade walnut handle is destined to become a garden shed heirloom. From Sneeboer Tools, the titanium collection was developed by master blacksmith Frank Sneeboer, who described the development process: “The welding process of Titanium is totally different from welding of stainless steel. Different choice between a wire or electrode, different kind of welding gas, different kind of backing gas to prevent incineration of the Titanium etc, etc. The testing process took us about three years, but now we have a perfect result and a perfect foundation to build on in the future.” A titanium weeding fork is €230.
A three-pronged stainless steel Hand Grubber made specially for retailer Manufactum by UK-based Burgon & Ball has a well-balanced design. “Particular attention has been paid to the weight (it’s light: a bare 300 g!) and to the balance between head and handle, with the idea of making the grubber easy and pleasant to use over longer periods,” notes the retailer; €34.
Above: A three-pronged stainless steel Hand Grubber made specially for retailer Manufactum by UK-based Burgon & Ball has a well-balanced design. “Particular attention has been paid to the weight (it’s light: a bare 300 g!) and to the balance between head and handle, with the idea of making the grubber easy and pleasant to use over longer periods,” notes the retailer; €34.

Are you upgrading your collection of garden tools? For more shed basics see our curated selection of Garden Tools and our newly updated 10 Easy Pieces archive. See more of our favorite garden helpers:

Plant Based Diet: 16 Edible Flowers to Grow

0
0

The beauty of flowers sometimes makes us believe that appearance is all they have to offer. But like other edible plants, flowers can bring to our plates (and glasses) elements of texture, aroma, and flavor. While some edible flowers have better looks than flavors (I’m looking at you, violas), many others have herbal or sweet personalities that make them valuable ingredients in everything from cocktails to salads to dessert.

Read on for 16 edible flowers that taste as good as they look.

Photographs by Marie Viljoen

Arugula (Eruca sativa)

 Allow your arugula to bolt just to enjoy its peppery flowers. In fact, skip the black pepper altogether when using these to finish a salad or enliven a creamy soup.
Allow your arugula to bolt just to enjoy its peppery flowers. In fact, skip the black pepper altogether when using these to finish a salad or enliven a creamy soup.

See more growing tips in Arugula: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design.

And not just arugula: all brassica flowers are edible. Upland cress flowers are wasabi-hot, and horseradish’s white blossoms taste like the root in miniature form. Add them to your green gazpacho for a pop of pepper.
Above: And not just arugula: all brassica flowers are edible. Upland cress flowers are wasabi-hot, and horseradish’s white blossoms taste like the root in miniature form. Add them to your green gazpacho for a pop of pepper.

Barberry (Berberis)

Barberry is better known for its sour, late-summer fruit (and in the Northeast it is notorious for harboring ticks), but in early spring its pretty yellow flowers are a delectable treat. Drape them across vinegary boquerones as a bright appetizer, drop them into miso broth, or simply steep them in hot water for a fragrant tea.
Above: Barberry is better known for its sour, late-summer fruit (and in the Northeast it is notorious for harboring ticks), but in early spring its pretty yellow flowers are a delectable treat. Drape them across vinegary boquerones as a bright appetizer, drop them into miso broth, or simply steep them in hot water for a fragrant tea.

Begonia (Begonia)

Summer’s begonia flowers add an unexpectedly tart and crisp bite to any dish that calls for acid. I like to add the petals whole or torn apart to warm weather ceviches and cold soups. The sour flowers work very well in salads featuring thinly sliced fennel and warm potatoes (standing in for lemony sorrel).
Above: Summer’s begonia flowers add an unexpectedly tart and crisp bite to any dish that calls for acid. I like to add the petals whole or torn apart to warm weather ceviches and cold soups. The sour flowers work very well in salads featuring thinly sliced fennel and warm potatoes (standing in for lemony sorrel).

See more growing tips in Gardening 101: Hardy Begonia.

Borage (Borago officinalis)

The clear blue of borage’s sputnik-blooms sings cucumber. Drop the flowers into ice cube trays and freeze to chill a jugful of Pimm’s Cup. Or add a handful of the summer flowers to crushed chunks of cucumber dressed with slivered mint, salt and sugar.
Above: The clear blue of borage’s sputnik-blooms sings cucumber. Drop the flowers into ice cube trays and freeze to chill a jugful of Pimm’s Cup. Or add a handful of the summer flowers to crushed chunks of cucumber dressed with slivered mint, salt and sugar.

See more growing tips in Borage: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design.

Milkweed  (Asclepias syriaca)

A North American native perennial, milkweed is one of the most fragrant flowers of early summer. Adding common milkweed to your meadow garden will give monarch butterflies a boost (their larvae feed on its leaves).
Above: A North American native perennial, milkweed is one of the most fragrant flowers of early summer. Adding common milkweed to your meadow garden will give monarch butterflies a boost (their larvae feed on its leaves).

The unopened flower buds are a delicious cooked vegetable, and the fragrant open flowers can be fried into celebratory beignets. Milkweed cordial is a delicious drink, a deeply tinted dark pink; to make it, see Recipe: Milkweed Flower Cordial Captures Summer in a Glass.

Ground Elder (Aegopodium podagraria)

Its many common names (including bishop’s weed and goutweed) are an indication of ground elder’s usefulness to humans. The flowers are assertively flavored: lovage meets carrot tops and celery heart.
Above: Its many common names (including bishop’s weed and goutweed) are an indication of ground elder’s usefulness to humans. The flowers are assertively flavored: lovage meets carrot tops and celery heart.
Scatter ground elder flowers across an early summer radish salad. The flowers infuse gin with their herbal fragrance, and also make a very good fresh herb salt.
Above: Scatter ground elder flowers across an early summer radish salad. The flowers infuse gin with their herbal fragrance, and also make a very good fresh herb salt.

Hyssop  (Agastache)

Scatter ground elder flowers across an early summer radish salad. The flowers infuse gin with their herbal fragrance, and also make a very good fresh herb salt.
Above: Scatter ground elder flowers across an early summer radish salad. The flowers infuse gin with their herbal fragrance, and also make a very good fresh herb salt.

The minty blooms are fantastic in fruit salads as well as mixed drinks, while the anise-flavored flowers work well in savory dishes, especially with grilled fish or in fennel-and-citrus salads. See more growing tips in Hyssop: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design.

Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

June in my Brooklyn neighborhood smells particularly good: Japanese honeysuckle and linden trees bloom at the same time. Make a honeysuckle syrup by infusing a jarful of simple syrup with the flowers, overnight. Strain and keep in the refrigerator. Dilute with seltzer and a squeeze of lime for cool, long drink.
Above: June in my Brooklyn neighborhood smells particularly good: Japanese honeysuckle and linden trees bloom at the same time. Make a honeysuckle syrup by infusing a jarful of simple syrup with the flowers, overnight. Strain and keep in the refrigerator. Dilute with seltzer and a squeeze of lime for cool, long drink.

Lavender (Lavandula)

Best known as an aromatic and calming essential oil, lavender’s fresh flowers add bold flavor to dishes ranging from home-cured duck prosciutto to infused syrup for ice creams. Add a teaspoonful of flowers with rosemary to a rub for your next grilled rack of lamb.
Above: Best known as an aromatic and calming essential oil, lavender’s fresh flowers add bold flavor to dishes ranging from home-cured duck prosciutto to infused syrup for ice creams. Add a teaspoonful of flowers with rosemary to a rub for your next grilled rack of lamb.

See more growing tips in Lavender: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design.

Locust (Robinia)

North American native black locust flowers (Robinia pseudoacacia, which are actually white) are called acacia in Europe, and make the famous acacia honey (well, the bees make the honey). The flowers are richly fragrant as well as delicious.
Above: North American native black locust flowers (Robinia pseudoacacia, which are actually white) are called acacia in Europe, and make the famous acacia honey (well, the bees make the honey). The flowers are richly fragrant as well as delicious.

Dip them in a batter for a decadent fritter, or eat them raw in salads.  Southwestern R. neomexicana has pink flowers, and is equally edible.

Magnolia (Magnolia)

Your first bite of a magnolia blossom will be startling. It is not sweet at all, but wildly herbal. Pair it with strong flavors. Fish sauce, lime, mint. I sliver the succulent petals and toss them over grilled, sliced steak that has marinated in unpasteurized soy sauce. Or I infuse a good vinegar with the flowers.
Above: Your first bite of a magnolia blossom will be startling. It is not sweet at all, but wildly herbal. Pair it with strong flavors. Fish sauce, lime, mint. I sliver the succulent petals and toss them over grilled, sliced steak that has marinated in unpasteurized soy sauce. Or I infuse a good vinegar with the flowers.

Use large-petaled blooms (like endive in texture) as edible receptacles for a herbed chicken salad, or a shrimp cocktail.

Which magnolia tree would look prettiest in your garden? See our guide to Magnolias: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design.

Wild Pea (Lathyrus)

Contrary to folklore, wild pea flowers (including Lathyrus latifolius, above) are not poisonous, but perfectly edible. Tossing a handful into a salad brightens the bowl and gives you that distinctively snap-pea freshness.
Above: Contrary to folklore, wild pea flowers (including Lathyrus latifolius, above) are not poisonous, but perfectly edible. Tossing a handful into a salad brightens the bowl and gives you that distinctively snap-pea freshness.

Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima)

This invasive shrub’s intensely sweet scent is welcome in late winter, when nothing else is in bloom. Its lemony fragrance is easily captured in an infused simple syrup (or vodka), and the flowers themselves offer a light and sweet crunch when scattered across a plate thinly sliced, marinated raw winter root vegetables.
Above: This invasive shrub’s intensely sweet scent is welcome in late winter, when nothing else is in bloom. Its lemony fragrance is easily captured in an infused simple syrup (or vodka), and the flowers themselves offer a light and sweet crunch when scattered across a plate thinly sliced, marinated raw winter root vegetables.

Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis), (W. frutescens)

Perfumed like musky grapes, the gorgeous blossoms of wisteria have a luscious texture as well as a typical raw legume sweetness.
Above: Perfumed like musky grapes, the gorgeous blossoms of wisteria have a luscious texture as well as a typical raw legume sweetness.

See more growing tips in Wisteria: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design.

Wrap wisteria flowers in summer rolls (you can also use Solomon’s seal, brassica, and chive flowers), add them to creamy tahini-dressed chickpeas, or ferment them to make fizzy drinks and even vinegar. The green parts of wisteria, including the bean-like pods, are considered toxic.
Above: Wrap wisteria flowers in summer rolls (you can also use Solomon’s seal, brassica, and chive flowers), add them to creamy tahini-dressed chickpeas, or ferment them to make fizzy drinks and even vinegar. The green parts of wisteria, including the bean-like pods, are considered toxic.

Wisteria frutescens is a North American native, and less aggressive than the invasive W. sinensis.

Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

These lovely early spring ephemerals have a seashore flavor—best raw—that makes me think of fresh oysters. Dress those shucked mollusks with the flowers and a floral sauce mignonette, or stir them through cold soba noodles with a slick of soy and sesame oil.
Above: These lovely early spring ephemerals have a seashore flavor—best raw—that makes me think of fresh oysters. Dress those shucked mollusks with the flowers and a floral sauce mignonette, or stir them through cold soba noodles with a slick of soy and sesame oil.

Yucca (Yucca)

The stalks of stately yucca (which belongs to the Asparagus family) give rise to midsummer flowers whose petals remind me a floral iceberg lettuce. Deploy them in exactly the same way. The pistil and stamens can be bitter, so nip them out of the large flowers if their flavor bothers you.
Above: The stalks of stately yucca (which belongs to the Asparagus family) give rise to midsummer flowers whose petals remind me a floral iceberg lettuce. Deploy them in exactly the same way. The pistil and stamens can be bitter, so nip them out of the large flowers if their flavor bothers you.

Tell us your favorite edible flower stories. What are you eating, and how?

When you grow the food you eat, it tastes better—and you know exactly what you are eating. Browse our Plant Based Diet archive for recipes. Don’t miss:

Australian Open: A Romantic Landscape in the Southern Highlands

0
0

In the Southern Highlands an hour’s drive south of Sydney, a region known for its vineyards and mild climate, landscape designer Nicholas Bray encountered sweeping views and a low-slung house with Colorbond metal sheeting on his client’s 100-acre property. “It’s modern and very Australian,” he said.

The challenge? To design a swimming pool easily accessible from the house—but with its own separate identity.

The solution? A pool with a simple silhouette, an open-air pavilion and a strikingly simple Corten steel fence. Grand sweeps of golden grasses connect the pool and pavilion to the larger landscape. And a series of garden improvements—including metal landscape edging—define the curves of a gently sloped lawn to visually connect the main house to the swimming pool pavilion.

Photography courtesy of Nicholas Bray Landscapes.

Corten steel fence panels seem to float but actually are fixed to a concrete footing, hidden by plantings of native perennial tussock grass (Poa labillardierei).
Above: Corten steel fence panels seem to float but actually are fixed to a concrete footing, hidden by plantings of native perennial tussock grass (Poa labillardierei).

Known as Poa lab, low-maintenance tussock grass clumps grow along roadsides in Australia and look their best if cut back every two to three years during the off season.

The custom fence panels vary in size on the eastern side of the pool; widths range from 300 to 600 millimeters (approximately 12 and 23.5 inches, respectively).
Above: The custom fence panels vary in size on the eastern side of the pool; widths range from 300 to 600 millimeters (approximately 12 and 23.5 inches, respectively).
Surrounding the pool is a tiled concrete deck.
Above: Surrounding the pool is a tiled concrete deck.

Inside the pool pavilion is a fireplace. “The pool is oriented north, so the pavilion gets some sun but is shaded by the roof,” Bray said.

A Sunbather Automatic Security Pool Cover keeps a low profile and disappears beneath the edge of the pool when it is fully retracted.
Above: A Sunbather Automatic Security Pool Cover keeps a low profile and disappears beneath the edge of the pool when it is fully retracted.
Opposite the wide-paneled fence is a fence designed with narrow, 65-millimeter plates to create visual contrast.
Above: Opposite the wide-paneled fence is a fence designed with narrow, 65-millimeter plates to create visual contrast.
The pool pavilion is an open-air structure with a solid wall on the southern side to protect the space from southwesterly winds, Bray said.
Above: The pool pavilion is an open-air structure with a solid wall on the southern side to protect the space from southwesterly winds, Bray said.
Steel landscape edging surrounds planting beds and echoes the style and material of the Cor-ten poolside fence.
Above: Steel landscape edging surrounds planting beds and echoes the style and material of the Cor-ten poolside fence.
Steel edging follows the curves of the land to create informal steps on the front lawn, Bray said.
Above: Steel edging follows the curves of the land to create informal steps on the front lawn, Bray said.

Are you designing a new swimming pool (or upgrading an existing one)? Start with our design guide to Swimming Pools 101 in our Hardscape 101 section. Read more:

10 Easy Pieces: Lightweight Planters

0
0

A new planter—even a very big planter—shouldn’t feel like a lifetime commitment. We went searching for lightweight and luggable pots suitable for patios, terraces, and stoops. Here are 10 of our favorites (all light enough to carry indoors when the weather turns cold):

Japan-based designer Naoto Fukusawa’s large Cup Planter for Serralunga is made of molded recyclable polyethylene and is available in four colors, with a diameter of 19 inches; $195 at DWR.
Above: Japan-based designer Naoto Fukusawa’s large Cup Planter for Serralunga is made of molded recyclable polyethylene and is available in four colors, with a diameter of 19 inches; $195 at DWR.
Lightweight planters made from made from a mixture of natural stone and resin, Modern Outdoor Planters are available in four sizes and shapes at prices from $142 to $821 depending on size from Botanicus Green.
Above: Lightweight planters made from made from a mixture of natural stone and resin, Modern Outdoor Planters are available in four sizes and shapes at prices from $142 to $821 depending on size from Botanicus Green.
 From Spain-based Gandia Blasco, a Sahara Planter is made of molded recyclable polyethylene and is available in various sizes at prices ranging from $550 to $750 depending on size from Y Lighting.
Above: From Spain-based Gandia Blasco, a Sahara Planter is made of molded recyclable polyethylene and is available in various sizes at prices ranging from $550 to $750 depending on size from Y Lighting.
Made of a lightweight polymer resin, a Madison Planter is available in five sizes from 14 to 34 inches; from $50 to $497 depending on size from Urbilis.
Above: Made of a lightweight polymer resin, a Madison Planter is available in five sizes from 14 to 34 inches; from $50 to $497 depending on size from Urbilis.
An oversize Vas-One Pot designed by Luisa Bocchietto made of recyclable polyethylene is four feet tall and currently on sale for $720 from DWR.
Above: An oversize Vas-One Pot designed by Luisa Bocchietto made of recyclable polyethylene is four feet tall and currently on sale for $720 from DWR.
At 15 inches in diameter and 15.5 inches tall, a Saabira Fiberstone Planter will accommodate a large plant or a small patio tree; $79.95 from Crate & Barrel.
Above: At 15 inches in diameter and 15.5 inches tall, a Saabira Fiberstone Planter will accommodate a large plant or a small patio tree; $79.95 from Crate & Barrel.
Made in the US, Lightweight Planters made of commercial grade polyethylene are available in three diameters at prices from $42 to $75 depending on size from Arizona Pottery.
Above: Made in the US, Lightweight Planters made of commercial grade polyethylene are available in three diameters at prices from $42 to $75 depending on size from Arizona Pottery.
With a molded textured surface, Antique Green Ficonstone Square Pots are available in four sizes from 8 to 14.5 inches and at prices from $18 to $55 depending on size from Jamali Garden.
Above: With a molded textured surface, Antique Green Ficonstone Square Pots are available in four sizes from 8 to 14.5 inches and at prices from $18 to $55 depending on size from Jamali Garden.
Made of a “super-light aggregate of polyresin and stone, a Shore Wide Polyterrazo Planter is 20.75 inches high with a base measuring 20.75 inches; $99.95 from CB2.
Above: Made of a “super-light aggregate of polyresin and stone, a Shore Wide Polyterrazo Planter is 20.75 inches high with a base measuring 20.75 inches; $99.95 from CB2.

white-lightweight-cube-planter-gardenista

Above: A Fibreglass Buxus Cube Planter is frost-proof and can stay outdoors year-round. For more information and pricing, contact The Pot Company.

Looking for outdoor planters (and ideas about plants to put in them)? Browse through all the posts in our newly updated 10 Easy Pieces collection. Don’t miss:

Cow Parsley: An English Weed with Royal Connections

0
0

In England, hedgerows froth with a creamy white haze of cow parsley as Anthriscus sylvestris (a cousin of Queen Anne’s lace) rises up from ditches, billowing along roadside verges and lighting up the perimeters of fields and meadows.

These are weeds. Or at least they used to be.

Nowadays cow parsley has found a champion in revered gardener Fergus Garrett, who oversees the gardens at Great Dixter, which everyone agrees are a national treasure. But cow parsley in the flower borders? Most rural gardeners are happy to let this short lived perennial linger, adding bucolic charm to the edges of rural gardens, but only the seriously brave invite cow parsley into the inner sanctum and allow it to feel thoroughly at home. Garrett is one of them.

Photography courtesy of Great Dixter.

Cow parsley and euphorbia edge a path at Great Dixter, undercutting the formal topiaries standing sentinel.
Above: Cow parsley and euphorbia edge a path at Great Dixter, undercutting the formal topiaries standing sentinel.

Nothing sums up England in May like the airy umbels of cow parsley, especially when clustered under equally beguiling hawthorn trees or spilling over a post and rail fence. In the US, it is an early spring flower, peaking in May.

Above:
Above:

Although cow parsley and Queen Anne’s lace may look very similar, don’t be fooled if you’re planting seeds in a flower bed.  Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota) has a denser umbel of tiny white flowers and is a safer alternative in the garden—it will self seed, but not as vociferously as cow parsley will.

 Cow parsley acts as a foil to the zingy lime green of euphorbia and dances around the towering spires of giant fennel.
Above: Cow parsley acts as a foil to the zingy lime green of euphorbia and dances around the towering spires of giant fennel.

In the Sussex gardens that Fergus Garrett oversees, cow parsley mingles with emerging perennials, creating a haze of white that floats above mounds of lush new foliage.

 Where Garrett leads, others follow—so expect to see a lot more of this humble plant: at weddings, roadsides, and maybe even in your own garden.
Above: Where Garrett leads, others follow—so expect to see a lot more of this humble plant: at weddings, roadsides, and maybe even in your own garden.

At a recent Garden Museum event in London, Garrett talked about his longstanding use of what many others would consider a rampant weed that they wouldn’t let anywhere near their borders. He said he’s currently taking part in a field trial at the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens at Wisley, putting varieties of cow parsley through their paces. Cultivated forms include the beautiful dark-stemmed Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’ (which looks wonderful interspersed with dark moody flowers) or A. sylvestris ‘Golden Fleece’, which has soft lilac-tinged flowers.

Above:
Above:

As for a humble weed’s royal connections? When Prince Harry married Meghan Markle last month,  white heads of cow parsley were incorporated into florist Philippa Craddock’s sublime flowers for St George’s Chapel, Windsor. Just like much of the native tree foliage and white roses, the peonies, and the foxgloves, it was plucked from Windsor Great Park and the Royal parkland.

Read more on this subject at Queen Anne’s Lace: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design. And if you’re planning to add a wild touch to a flower bed, see our favorite wildflowers in our curated guides to Annuals 101 and Perennials 101. Read more:

Swimming Pool of the Week: A Generous Pool for a Modest California Weekend Retreat

0
0

When San Francisco landscape architect Loretta Gargan and her partner, the art photographer Catherine Wagner, set out to buy a weekend house in the warmer climes of Marin County just north of the city, they shopped modestly, with big plans for the future.

The pair purchased a 500-square-foot, one-bedroom cottage that was the blight of its neighborhood in Ross, California. Likely built in the 1930s as the guest house to a larger estate since divided, the house had low ceilings and small, dark rooms. Its smallish lot—about 7,500 square feet—was unkempt, full of weeds and mature trees that had sprung up haphazardly, bordered by a fallen fence. But the aging property charmed its new owners and, though the lot’s slope precluded outdoor seating, it had views of a small mountain nearby.

The owners hired architect Jonathan Feldman to overhaul the cottage and add a small new wing, while Gargan and Wagner planned the landscape. They wanted usable outdoor spaces more than anything, so they graded the slope into tiers fit for outdoor dining, sun soaking, container gardening, and swimming in their new sunken concrete pool. For parking, they added a detached garage on the edge of the lot, designed by Feldman and planted with a living roof by the homeowners. Let’s take a closer look.

Photography by Phil Bond, courtesy of Feldman Architecture.

A cherry blossom tree grows next to concrete stairs leading from the new addition to the detached garage.
Above: A cherry blossom tree grows next to concrete stairs leading from the new addition to the detached garage.

The new wing, pictured here, is 500 square feet split between two levels. The top floor features a master suite with deck, and the bottom floor family room opens onto the garden via full-height glass doors.

The view of the house from the roof of the new garage. The original home, at left, has siding of old-growth redwood and an exterior chimney made of local Sonoma stone.
Above: The view of the house from the roof of the new garage. The original home, at left, has siding of old-growth redwood and an exterior chimney made of local Sonoma stone.
The pool was fittingly sited on the sunniest part of the property. The Corten beds adjacent to the gravel patio are planted with edible flowers and herbs.
Above: The pool was fittingly sited on the sunniest part of the property. The Corten beds adjacent to the gravel patio are planted with edible flowers and herbs.
The sunken concrete pool is 36 feet long—enough for swimming laps. On the pool deck, Gargan had plots reserved for plants, both in-ground and in containers.
Above: The sunken concrete pool is 36 feet long—enough for swimming laps. On the pool deck, Gargan had plots reserved for plants, both in-ground and in containers.
A water-resistant wood bridge crosses between the pool and hot tub.
Above: A water-resistant wood bridge crosses between the pool and hot tub.
The pool and its sunken benches are lined in pale gray cement tile.
Above: The pool and its sunken benches are lined in pale gray cement tile.
Two in-ground umbrellas provide poolside shade as needed.
Above: Two in-ground umbrellas provide poolside shade as needed.
During the demolition phase inside the house, architect Feldman found original Douglas fir paneling and details—which inspired his use of local, reclaimed woods wherever new wood was required throughout the project.
Above: During the demolition phase inside the house, architect Feldman found original Douglas fir paneling and details—which inspired his use of local, reclaimed woods wherever new wood was required throughout the project.
A stepped wood fence behind the pool is lit by warm-hued LED strips.
Above: A stepped wood fence behind the pool is lit by warm-hued LED strips.
Gargan carefully positioned uplighting throughout the landscape to highlight features like a small rock grove behind the pool.
Above: Gargan carefully positioned uplighting throughout the landscape to highlight features like a small rock grove behind the pool.
The new garage has stained board-and-batten siding to match the new wing of the house, and is planted with a green roof of drought-tolerant grasses and wildflowers.
Above: The new garage has stained board-and-batten siding to match the new wing of the house, and is planted with a green roof of drought-tolerant grasses and wildflowers.

There are just two days left to enter our garden design awards! Submit up to 10 photos of your project by this Friday, June 22. There are separate contest categories for professional and amateur designers on both Gardenista and Remodelista, and winners get a $500 gift card to shop Schoolhouse.

For more California favorites, see:


Object of Desire: A Handblown Flycatcher from Sweden

0
0

Yes, you could make a flytrap from an empty tomato sauce jar or a dish with plastic wrap, but neither of these methods elevates the task of combatting flies in your house. This glass flycatcher, however, does.

Made of handblown glass, the jar is perched on four legs and is available from Swedish shop Artilleriet. Fill it with leftover wine, honey, or anything sweet to attract summer insects (wasps included).

The Flycatcher is 550 SEK ($61.80 USD) at Artilleriet.
Above: The Flycatcher is 550 SEK ($61.80 USD) at Artilleriet.
The glass measures about seven inches wide and 11.5 inches tall.
Above: The glass measures about seven inches wide and 11.5 inches tall.
The glass flycatcher isn’t a new idea: You can source antique versions from 19th-century France from Fireside Antiques and on eBay.
Above: The glass flycatcher isn’t a new idea: You can source antique versions from 19th-century France from Fireside Antiques and on eBay.

For another fly repelling method, see Domestic Science: A Magic Fly Repeller. See more:

Gardening 101: Sweet Chestnut Tree

0
0

Sweet Chestnut, Castanea sativa: “Beauty in Utility”

Handsome, long-lived, with texture galore, sweet chestnuts in their several varieties are distinguished trees. They are also abundantly generous, in gate posts and nuts, the latter being a cheerful reminder of the holidays.

Photography by Britt Willoughby Dyer, except where noted.

sweet chestnut tree

Above: The fruits of sweet chestnuts in autumn. In the UK, ripening nuts are often ejected from their shells, which cling on to the tree, resembling flowers. Ideally, they will fall in clusters and ripen on the ground, still enclosed in their sharp green spines. The most delicious nuts require more sunshine than the British Isles can guarantee and they are generally imported from Spain, France, and Italy.

In the United States, chestnuts from the sweet chestnut (aka Spanish chestnut) are imported for their superior size and flavor. At one time, the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) formed about a quarter of the tree population in the eastern states before almost total devastation from chestnut blight in the early 20th century. There are signs of life but the most commonly grown sweet chestnut tree in the US is now the Chinese chestnut (C. mollissima).

sweet chestnut tree

Above: Although the sweet chestnut is confused with the horse chestnut, it is related to oak and beech. Everything about the sweet chestnut is more beautiful than the horse chestnut: the edible (versus toxic) fruit, the tightly packed coat of spines, the elegant glossy, serrated leaves, the swirling, deeply fissured bark.

Sweet chestnut tree and bark at Burghley House, Lincolnshire

Above: Photograph by Jim Powell.

A sweet chestnut tree at Burghley House in Lincolnshire, part of the tree population planted there by Capability Brown in the second half of the 18th century. A favorite tree for parkland, old specimens of chestnut are often planted in groups or in lines in historic gardens and landscapes. Sweet chestnuts easily live to 700 years and sometimes for millennia.

sweet chestnut tree

Above: The Spanish chestnut is considered to be a medium-large tree, being about 100 feet at maturity. The American chestnut used to tower over it, at 200 feet, while the Chinese chestnut, which has widely replaced the American, is a quarter of that size, at 50 feet. Crucially, it is drought-resistant.

Cheat Sheet

• Chop it, don’t saw it; chestnut is stronger when it is split along the grain.
• Chestnuts used to be a diet staple (ground into a kind of flour) before the introduction of maize and potatoes. Although chestnut is nutritionally similar to wheat, it is naturally gluten-free.
• Save your fingers and buy vacuum-packed sweet chestnuts, in which the three protective layers have been removed.

sweet chestnut tree

Above: Fruit is formed at the base of germinated catkins, which cling on, desiccated yet determined, after their duty is done.

Keep It Alive

• Although Castanea has both male and female flowers, it is not self-pollinating. Another chestnut (any variety) is needed, for a crop of nuts.
• Its nickname “Spanish chestnut” is instructive: it flourishes in full sun with well-drained soil. It also does well in high altitudes.
• Chestnuts also need winter cold, for optimum nut production.

Hurdles-Hay Rakes-Ladder

Above:  Photograph by Joe Rodriguez.

The wood of chestnut is high in tannins, giving it impressive durability when left outdoors, untreated. Chestnut woodland is abundant in Sussex and Kent in southern England, traditionally providing poles for the growing of hops (for beer making). Chestnuts have been coppiced here for hundreds of years. Coppicing is a sustainable system in which certain broad-leaved trees are cut down close to the ground, only to re-sprout, straight and multi-stemmed. As farming practices for hops have changed, coppiced wood is used mainly for fencing. Wood shingles on buildings are also made from chestnut.

The sweet chestnut woods next to Great Dixter in East Sussex provide raw materials for the handmade tools and accessories sold in the Great Dixter shop (shown above). For more information, see: The New Ruralism: Barn Style Accessories from England.

sweet chestnut tree

Above: Castanea sativa growing in southern England.

For more fences and gates, see Fence Hurdles and Gates from Green Man Wood Crafts
and Garden Visit: Camera Ready in the English Countryside at Walnuts Farm.
For more landscaped parkland using sweet chestnuts, see: England’s Greatest Landscaper: 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Capability Brown.

Finally, get more ideas on how to successfully plant, grow, and care for sweet chestnut tree with our Sweet Chestnut Tree: A Field Guide.

Interested in other types of trees? Get more ideas on how to plant, grow, and care for various trees (specimen, deciduous, evergreen) with our Trees: A Field Guide.

Gardening 101: Arborvitae

0
0

Arborvitae, Thuja: “Tree of Life”

Arborvitae trees are North American natives that earned their appreciative nickname (arbor vitae translates to “tree of life” in Latin) a few centuries back when Canada’s early French settlers discovered that brewing a tea from thuja bark was a cure for scurvy.

Guaranteed, you’ve seen thuja trees—either in your garden or someone else’s: they’re the evergreen cedar trees with curiously flat, fanned foliage. Depending on the species and cultivar, their height at maturity can range from “shrub” (dwarf thuja bushes can grow to heights of from 15 inches to  10 feet) to “major tree” (giant thuja trees can be 200 feet tall).

Commonly known as white cedars, red cedars, eastern arborvitaes or other nicknames, Thuja trees are hardy, fast-growing workhorses often planted en masse to create windbreaks. Planted in a row in front of a fence, they’ll grow together to create a dense screen within five years.

Is arborvitae the best tree for your garden? Keep reading to find out:

Thuja occidentalis ‘Rosenthali’ can be grown in USDA zones 3 to 8, depending on the cultivar. Photograph by F.D. Richards via Flickr.
Above: Thuja occidentalis ‘Rosenthali’ can be grown in USDA zones 3 to 8, depending on the cultivar. Photograph by F.D. Richards via Flickr.

Also known as eastern arborvitae or northern white cedar, T. occidentalis varieties will grow to a height of about 50 feet at maturity (making them medium size trees). They will thrive in spots with either full or partial sun so long as they have well-drained soil.

Arborvitae seedlings in window boxes create a green privacy screen for a dining area in a Paris apartment. For more, see 9 Small-Space Ideas to Steal from a Tiny Paris Apartment.
Above: Arborvitae seedlings in window boxes create a green privacy screen for a dining area in a Paris apartment. For more, see 9 Small-Space Ideas to Steal from a Tiny Paris Apartment.

Some dwarf varieties of thuja to consider: Thuja ‘Fire Chief’ (height of up to 4 feet and has gold-green foliage which turns red in autumn); T. ‘Anna’s Magic Ball’ (a mere 15 inches high, it’s a small-space evergreen shrub), and T. ‘Filip’s Magic Moment’ (height of up to 8 feet and golden foliage).

A ruffled arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis ‘Tiny Tim’ is a specimen plant that creates a visual focal point. Photograph by Leonora Enking via Flickr.
Above: A ruffled arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis ‘Tiny Tim’ is a specimen plant that creates a visual focal point. Photograph by Leonora Enking via Flickr.

Cheat Sheet

  • A fast-growing tree, Thuja makes an effective privacy screen.
  • A row of arborvitae trees planted at the base of an ugly fence will soon make the backdrop disappear.
  • With a wide range in shape and size (including 15-inch balls and slender, 20-foot-high pyramids), thuja trees can solve problems in nearly any size garden.
Also known as emerald green arborvitae, evergreen Thuja ‘Smaragd’ thrives in USDA growing zones 4 to 8. Photograph by Dan Keck via Flickr.
Above: Also known as emerald green arborvitae, evergreen Thuja ‘Smaragd’ thrives in USDA growing zones 4 to 8. Photograph by Dan Keck via Flickr.

Keep It Alive

  • Depending on the cultivar, Thuja can be happy in USDA growing zones 2 to 9.
  • Thujas will be happy in sun or partial shade as long as they can count on well-drained soil.
  • When planting thuja trees, dig a wide hole, but not too deep—the top of the root ball should sit at or slightly above ground level when you fill in the hole. To help the tree get established, put it on a drip irrigation line or water for 24 hours with a soaker hose twice a week during its first season in the ground.
Photograph by William Zhang via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by William Zhang via Flickr.

A few Christmases back, Justine bought a live thuja tree to decorate indoors—and then planted it in her garden after the holidays. Are you thinking of doing the same thing? See DIY: Plant Your Christmas Tree in the Garden.

For more growing tips, see Arborvitae: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design.

Are you wondering which tree would be the best choice for your garden? Get ideas from our curated guides to Trees 101 in our Garden Design 101 section. For more evergreen conifers, see our guides to Yew Trees and Cedar of Lebanon Trees. See how some of our favorite trees look in a landscape when they reach maturity:

Trending on Remodelista: 10 Scandi-Style Summer Design Ideas to Steal

0
0

A visit to their favorite Scandinavian design haunts always surprises and delights the Remodelista editors. New ideas to steal for your own remodel:

Swedish Cabinet Knobs

Dot cabinet pulls in a kitchen. See more in A Melbourne Victorian’s Contemporary Overhaul by Hecker Guthrie. Photograph by Shannon McGrath, courtesy of Hecker Guthrie.
Above: Dot cabinet pulls in a kitchen. See more in A Melbourne Victorian’s Contemporary Overhaul by Hecker Guthrie. Photograph by Shannon McGrath, courtesy of Hecker Guthrie.

Swedish designers Malin Bäccman and Fia Berglund are purveyors of top-quality residential hardware including handmade hooks, handles, and knobs (in a variety of solid metals and finishes, including brushed and polished brass, plus copper, aluminum, and steel).

High Back Sofas

Designer Børge Mogensen’s Spoke Back Sofa (introduced to the world in 1945) is available in the US for $9,222 at Danish Design Store.
Above: Designer Børge Mogensen’s Mogensen Spokeback Sofa (introduced to the world in 1945) is available in the US for $9,222 at Danish Design Store.
A high back sofa shelters you—think of it as a room within a room. See our favorites in this week’s 10 Easy Pieces post.

Wall Mounted Dish Racks

Above the sink is a stainless steel wall-mounted dish rack (the same dish racks seen at Atelier September). They sourced it from French designers Tsé and Tsé, who no longer import the Indian kitchen staple. You can find an identical Middle Plate Rack for £150 from The Plate Rack in the UK.
Above: Above the sink is a stainless steel wall-mounted dish rack (the same dish racks seen at Atelier September). They sourced it from French designers Stainless Steel Wall Dish Racks, who no longer import the Indian kitchen staple. You can find an identical Middle Plate Rack for £150 from The Plate Rack in the UK.
In an attic apartment in Copenhagen, clever storage solutions lurk under the eaves. See more in this week’s Steal This Look post.

Marbleized Trays

Studio Formata’s birch veneer Deep Jade Cocktail Tray (at left) is 196 KR (approximately $30 USD). At right, the birch veneer Aqua Breakfast Trayy is 196 KR (approximately $30 USD).
Above: Studio Formata’s birch veneer Deep Jade Cocktail Tray (at left) is 196 KR (approximately $30 USD). At right, the birch veneer Aqua Breakfast Trayy is 196 KR (approximately $30 USD).
Writes Julie: “In our latest book, Remodelista: The Organized Home, we devote almost an entire chapter to trays as organizational tools. Our latest obsession? Jewel-toned, one-off marbleized trays from Sweden’s Studio Formata.”

Swedish Green

Glanta Rug from Ilse Crawford Gronska Collection for Kasthall

See more in Rugs by Ilse Crawford, Inspired by the Swedish Landscape.

Today is the Deadline to Enter Our 2018 Design Awards Contest

0
0

This is it; today is the last day to enter the 2018 Gardenista and Remodelista Considered Design Awards. You have until the clock strikes midnight Pacific time tonight—Friday, June 22—to submit your projects into any of our 13 categories.

If you haven’t started, you still have time: Just upload up to 10 photos of your garden or home design project, and complete the online Entry Form with photo captions and a brief description of your project. It’s free to enter and you could earn a $500 gift card to Schoolhouse if you win.

Not sure where to start? Browse all 2018 Submissions for inspiration, then head to our Rules & FAQs page for full information, including category descriptions, detailed rules, and photo requirements.

Good luck!

Submission Deadline

11:59 pm Pacific time on Friday, June 22

How to Submit

Click here to Submit Your Project. (Be sure to read our full Rules & FAQs page for instructions on how to enter.)

Gardenista Contest Categories

Open to amateur gardeners:

Best Garden

Open to professional designers:

Best Landscape

Open to everyone:

Best Outdoor Living Space
Best Curb Appeal
Best Edible Garden
Best Hardscape Project

Judges

Gardenista:

Brook Klausing, landscape designer
Erica Tanov, designer and founder of Erica Tanov

Remodelista:

Stephen Alesch, founder of Roman & Williams
Jenni Kayne, fashion designer and founder of Jenni Kayne

The Organized Home:

Wiebke Liu, founder of Blisshaus

Prizes

Winning projects will receive a full feature post on Remodelista, Gardenista, or The Organized Home, and each winner will receive a $500 gift card to shop Schoolhouse online or in stores. Professional winners will receive automatic entry into Gardenista’s Architect/Designer Directory.

Eligibility

Readers in the United States and Canada (excluding Quebec) are welcome to enter in the appropriate categories. Please read our Rules & FAQs page for complete entry instructions and contest rules.

For inspiration, browse all 2018 Submissions and take a look at winning projects from 2017, 2015, and 2014.

Current Obsessions: Midsommer

0
0

This last full weekend of June, we’re savoring the month’s most beautiful blooms and the summer stretched out ahead of us. More on our radar:

The gatherings for a romantic early summer garland, for midsommer, a garden wedding, and other outdoor fetes. Photograph from DIY: Wedding Garland with Studio Carta Ribbon.
Above: The gatherings for a romantic early summer garland, for midsommer, a garden wedding, and other outdoor fetes. Photograph from DIY: Wedding Garland with Studio Carta Ribbon.

And this week’s Plant Swap Calendar:

Recently in Obsessions:

Landscaping: 10 Rose Garden Design Ideas

0
0

There are more ways to use roses in a garden than there are roses—and as you know, there are many thousands of kinds of climbing, rambling, heirloom, floribunda, hybrid tea, and miniature roses.

Are you designing a new rose garden, reviving a neglected collection, or just trying to decide which scented climber would be the best choice for an arbor? For inspiration, we’ve rounded up 10 ways to use roses in some of our favorite gardens:

Sunken Rose Gardens

Laid out in a precise grid pattern on a 6.9-acre estate in Water Mill, New York, a sunken rose garden designed by landscape architect Quincy Hammond has symmetrical planting beds defined by low boxwood hedges.
Above: Laid out in a precise grid pattern on a 6.9-acre estate in Water Mill, New York, a sunken rose garden designed by landscape architect Quincy Hammond has symmetrical planting beds defined by low boxwood hedges.

See more in Grandeur in the Hamptons: A Sprawling Estate, Sunken Rose Garden Included.

In Quincy Hammond’s sunken rose garden, flower beds are lined up to mimic the spacing between apple trees in an orchard at the edge of the garden.
Above: In Quincy Hammond’s sunken rose garden, flower beds are lined up to mimic the spacing between apple trees in an orchard at the edge of the garden.

Rose Canopies

In Sissinghurst Castle’s gardens,  Rosa mulliganii grows on a framework designed by Vita Sackville-West’s son, Nigel Nicolson.  For more, see Required Reading: Vita Sackville-West’s Sissinghurst.
Above: In Sissinghurst Castle’s gardens,  Rosa mulliganii grows on a framework designed by Vita Sackville-West’s son, Nigel Nicolson.  For more, see Required Reading: Vita Sackville-West’s Sissinghurst.

Rosarian David Austin describes the Sissinghurst specimen as a “massive rambler:  one of the biggest of all climbing roses in this country,” and it certainly dominates the space. Originally four were planted to cover the axes, but they were thinned out to just one.

See more at 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Vita Sackville-West at Sissinghurst Castle.

Control Erosion Ramblers

To cover a massive bank of excavated soil from a pond that runs in between the house at Tattenhall Hall and formal gardens and the meadow, a layer of weed-suppressing membrane was smothered with rambling roses— possibly ‘Flowering Carpet’.
Above: To cover a massive bank of excavated soil from a pond that runs in between the house at Tattenhall Hall and formal gardens and the meadow, a layer of weed-suppressing membrane was smothered with rambling roses— possibly ‘Flowering Carpet’.

“At Tattenhall Hall in Cheshire, a Jacobean manor house that sits in a picturesque English village, the line between cultivation and wilderness is finely drawn,” writes our contributor Clare Coulson. See more at Wild Child: An Intoxicating English Garden at Tattenhall Hall.

Roses as a Refrain

Photograph by Huw Morgan courtesy of Dan Pearson Studio.
Above: Photograph by Huw Morgan courtesy of Dan Pearson Studio.

At Torrecchia Vecchia (an hour’s train ride south from Rome), garden designer Dan Pearson restored 15 acres of the landscape of a 1,500-acre property on which an entire medieval village once stood. Throughout the garden, white and pale pink climbing and rambling roses envelop walls; the repetition creates unity throughout the landscape. See more at Paradise Found: Designer Dan Pearson’s Modern Garden for a Medieval Castle.

Roses on a Budget

My rose garden on a budget. Photograph by Mimi Giboin.
Above: My rose garden on a budget. Photograph by Mimi Giboin.

After a remodel laid waste to my back yard, to get rid of the mud and the dust my husband set a budget of $250. Like many post-remodelers, we were out of cash and in a state of sticker shock. I headed to Home Depot to buy some sensible shrubs, but instead came home with 16 big-box-store roses that haven’t stopped blooming since. See more of my Iceberg rose bushes, climbing New Dawn roses, and generic landscape roses labeled simply “Rose, white”  at Landscape on a Budget: The $250 Instant Rose Garden.

English Roses

Nature abhors a monoculture and sometimes a flower bed does too. At David Austin Roses in Shropshire, England, a rainbow of colors mix in a flower bed of roses and perennials.
Above: Nature abhors a monoculture and sometimes a flower bed does too. At David Austin Roses in Shropshire, England, a rainbow of colors mix in a flower bed of roses and perennials.

At David Austin’s headquarters, “each year 450,000 roses will be crossed, creating 150,000 seedlings that are initially grown in huge greenhouses before 10,000 are selected to grow on. It takes eight years, and a long process of elimination, to release new roses to the market. From those initial seedlings, around three new roses will be eventually released,” writes our contributor Clare Coulson. See more at Shopper’s Diary: David Austin Roses in Shropshire.

Cottage Garden Roses

From David Austin, Rosa Gertrude Jekyll Rose (Ausboard) is $28.50 in the US and £17.50 in the UK; here is it planted alongside Epilobium and Geranium ‘Brookside’. Photograph courtesy of David Austin Roses.
Above: From David Austin, Rosa Gertrude Jekyll Rose (Ausboard) is $28.50 in the US and £17.50 in the UK; here is it planted alongside Epilobium and Geranium ‘Brookside’. Photograph courtesy of David Austin Roses.

In modern English cottage gardens roses engulf a trellis, rub shoulders with herbaceous perennials, and are encourage to spill over picket fences. See more in 10 Ideas to Steal from English Cottage Gardens.

Monster Roses

R. ‘Kiftsgate’ in action. For more of this garden, see 10 Ideas to Steal from the Romantic Gardens at Kiftsgate Court. Photograph by Clare Coulson.
Above: R. ‘Kiftsgate’ in action. For more of this garden, see 10 Ideas to Steal from the Romantic Gardens at Kiftsgate Court. Photograph by Clare Coulson.

Climbing roses are an effective way to light up shaded areas.  At Kiftsgate Court in England, the famous Kiftsgate rose, planted in the 1930s, sprawls up through the trees along one side of the garden and is reputedly one of the largest roses in England.

Formal Roses

: Photograph by Roe Ann White and Bill Dewey.
Above:: Photograph by Roe Ann White and Bill Dewey.

In Santa Barbara, California Brooklyn-based architect Roberto Sosa restored a circa-1929 Spanish Colonial house’s landscape with a light touch: the formal rose garden has clipped boxwood borders, symmetrical hedges, and a warm redbrick path. See more at Landscape Revival: A Secluded, Historic 1920s Estate in Santa Barbara (Rose Garden Included).

Brick Walls with Roses

Photograph by Michael Garlick via Wikimedia.
Above: Photograph by Michael Garlick via Wikimedia.

“When visitors to Sissinghurst admired the endless brick walls that were trained with languorous roses, hydrangeas, and clematis, Vita Sackville-West pointed out that all houses have exterior walls that can be covered with abundant climbers,” writes our contributor Clare Coulson. “Well-trained climbers add another layer of texture to a house, as well as lush foliage and seasonal color. And if you can train scented climbers up high, then they will fragrance your bedrooms too.”


Before & After: A Vintage Florida Cottage and Garden Saved from the Landfill—on a $12,500 Budget

0
0

A few weeks ago a rare thing landed in our in-box: before-and-after photographs of a Florida cottage built in 1935. Before: decrepit, with a sagging roof and a front porch straight out of an episode of Hoarders. After: a charming, cheerful garden and house. The transformation was extraordinary.

Even more exciting, the designer and homeowner Mary Maslow and her husband, Tim, also sent spreadsheets to show the budget, down to the cost of the paint. Here’s a rare look at the nuts and bolts, so to speak, of a landscaping project.

  • House: Built in 1935 in Winter Park, Florida; “a two-one, 750-square-foot home with a detached, one-and-a-half-car garage featuring a full, one-one, 500-square-foot apartment above, and a studio space attached,” Mary says.
  • Purchase price: $199,000.
  • Scope of the project: “It required a full gut renovation,” Mary says, including a new roof, removal of large trees in the front yard, a paint job, siding, and landscaping and hardscaping.
  • Budget for the exterior of the house: $5,500
  • Budget for landscaping and hardscaping: $7,000
  • House purchased: 2014
  • Work complete: 2017

“After” photography by Zach Stovall.

The Maslows installed a “Florida-friendly garden” themselves to save money, including a crushed-shell driveway ($1,600). (For similar ways to plant an eco-conscious garden, see Landscaping Ideas: 16 Simple Solutions for Sustainability.)
Above: The Maslows installed a “Florida-friendly garden” themselves to save money, including a crushed-shell driveway ($1,600). (For similar ways to plant an eco-conscious garden, see Landscaping Ideas: 16 Simple Solutions for Sustainability.)

Armed with the couple’s spreadsheets, we also pored over the details of the interior overhaul, from how much the kitchen cost to the DIYs that saved them some pennies, on Remodelista (see The $65,000 Whole-House Overhaul: An Eco-Minded Florida Cottage Transformed, Budget Secrets Included for the full rundown). Today we’re taking a look at the exterior, landscaping, and hardscaping, all completely overhauled by the Maslows.

 The finished Florida cottage, four years later.
Above: The finished Florida cottage, four years later.

When they first saw it, the falling-down shack was covered in so much wild Florida growth that the Maslows almost missed it. “We were looking at a different house across the street and I happened to turn around and notice it poking out of the overgrowth,” Mary Maslow says. “I said to my husband, ‘Now that would be a fun restoration.’

“It went on the market two weeks later. In an area known for tearing down small, dilapidated houses to build new, we were ecstatic to have the opportunity to save it from the landfill,” she says.

When the Maslows found it, the house had a sagging porch and the roof was in dire need of repair. The couple set about restoring the exterior of the cottage: stripping the original doors and windows themselves, with plenty of elbow grease; replacing some of the siding with GAF WeatherSide Fiber Cement Wavy Shingle Siding, to match the existing; and painting the tired exterior in Behr’s Lunar Surface with Ultra Pure White trim. (A genius tip: They added a drop of black tint “to hide dust and dirt,” Maslow says.)

Painting and siding were, in the end, the biggest part of the Maslow’s expenses for the exterior of the cottage, coming in at $4,730.94, including some paid help from a pro.

Before

Before. Talk about curb appeal.
Above: Before. Talk about curb appeal.
Before, the front of the house was almost entirely obscured by foliage.
Above: Before, the front of the house was almost entirely obscured by foliage.

After

A new tree for a new start.
Above: A new tree for a new start.

The couple allocated part of their landscaping budget to digging up two huge, “very invasive” camphor trees growing perilously close to the front of the house—and blocking almost all interior light. They hired a local crew to take them out; while they were at it, the Maslows had the team trim about eight gnarly old oaks in the backyard.

The total for all of the tree work? $775. “After the camphors were torn down, we had them turned into mulch and spread it around the outside of the house,” Maslow says. “Apparently camphor mulch is very good at repelling unwanted insects.” (See some healthy, unobtrusive camphor trees in-situ in Garden Visit: Beautiful Bones at Cape Town’s Vergelegen Winery.)

Florida-Friendly Landscaping

Among the native and Florida-friendly plants they chose (and planted themselves, with the help of their family): Muhly grass, fountain grass, oakleaf hydrangea, sweet almond, and silver saw palmetto for shrubs; and camellia, gardenia, beach sunflower, gaura, and coral honeysuckle for blooms.
Above: Among the native and Florida-friendly plants they chose (and planted themselves, with the help of their family): Muhly grassfountain grassoakleaf hydrangea, sweet almond, and silver saw palmetto for shrubs; and camelliagardenia, beach sunflower, gaura, and coral honeysuckle for blooms.

The Maslows left the excavation and sod installation to the pros.

The total: $2,572.40

Another big portion of the exterior budget: tearing down the dilapidated screen porch in favor of a new, open deck that brings more light into the interiors. The couple hired a team to pressure-treat the existing posts and encase them with weather-resistant fiber cement trim for stability. Total: $1,075.45.

Before, the porch was unusable, and filled to the brim with bric-a-brac, old pots, and storage.
Above: Before, the porch was unusable, and filled to the brim with bric-a-brac, old pots, and storage.

The Final Numbers

The final product: neat, tidy, and charming.
Above: The final product: neat, tidy, and charming.

Throughout, the couple opted for simple hardscaping, including new concrete curbing leading to the front door and around back ($1,800). All told, hardscaping costs came in at $6,285.

Exterior: Paint, Siding, Porch

  • Budget: $5,500
  • Actual: $5,806.39
  • Difference: $306.39 over budget

Landscaping: Trees, Plants, and Hardscaping

  • Budget: $7,000
  • Actual: $8,857.40
  • Difference: $1,857.40 over budget

Though the Maslows came in over budget on both the exterior and landscaping, they say they were still surprised how much they could save. “There is a lot of planning that goes into the design and livability of everything you plant, but it is easily the biggest bang for your buck,” Maslow says. “It’s also so simple to DIY.”

N.B.: A testament to curb appeal: We spotted online that the house recently sold for $400,000—that’s $2o1,000 more than the Maslows bought it for in 2014. See the listing here.

If you are planning a landscape overhaul or just a minor rehab, start with our curated Garden Design 101 guides to Exteriors & Facades, Driveways, and Decks & Patios. For ways to save money on your landscaping overhaul, consult our posts:

Solar Power: French Lanterns Built with Race Cart Technology

0
0

What could make more sense than solar-powered outdoor lighting? But sensible too often comes in basic-at-best packaging. Fortunately, a team of designers at French teak furnishings company Les Jardins has been on the case.

Powered by LED panels that charge just by being left outside, Les Jardin’s solar lanterns are not only better looking than their competition but more finely tuned: the owner’s electrical engineer son and a collaborator applied power management software that they created for Italian race carts to the engineering. That translates to brighter, longer-lasting lights that are energy efficient, water resistant—and evocative of St. Tropez poolsides. Come see.

The Skaal Lantern has a frame of weather-resistant, maintenance-free teak; €239 from Les Jardins. The line will soon be available in the US from Curran Home.
Above: The Skaal Lantern has a frame of weather-resistant, maintenance-free teak; €239 from Les Jardins. The line will soon be available in the US from Curran Home.
The minimalist pyramidal design is just over 15 inches tall; its battery lasts up to 20 hours.
Above: The minimalist pyramidal design is just over 15 inches tall; its battery lasts up to 20 hours.
Les Jardin’s Tinka Solar Lanterns, €125, have powder-coated aluminum frames that come in seven colors.
Above: Les Jardin’s Tinka Solar Lanterns, €125, have powder-coated aluminum frames that come in seven colors.

Les Jardin’s portable solar lanterns are 12-watt LED and have four switch positions: off, low, high, and a motion detector setting. The lithium batteries are good for at least eight hours on standby mode and are rechargeable by the sun or via a USB port. For the lowdown on how solar lighting works and its many applications, go to Hardscaping 101: Solar Lighting.

Especially made for watery settings, Bump, €149, is composed of aluminum and molded plastic.
Above: Especially made for watery settings, Bump, €149, is composed of aluminum and molded plastic.
Teak and stainless steel Blade Lanterns come in three sizes. The 18-inch-tall Teka Teak version (shown center) is $449.51  and the 26-inch Teka Teak (far right) is $499.91 from Lamps Plus.
Above: Teak and stainless steel Blade Lanterns come in three sizes. The 18-inch-tall Teka Teak version (shown center) is $449.51  and the 26-inch Teka Teak (far right) is $499.91 from Lamps Plus.
Our favorite model, the Tecka Teak Lantern; €139, works equally well indoors and out. It’s 15 inches tall and is available as the Teak Solar Lantern for $149.91 from Lamps Plus.
Above: Our favorite model, the Tecka Teak Lantern; €139, works equally well indoors and out. It’s 15 inches tall and is available as the Teak Solar Lantern for $149.91 from Lamps Plus.

To fully light your landscape, see our curated guide to Outdoor Lighting 101. And take a look at:

Gardening 101: Honesty

0
0

Honesty, Lunaria: “Silver Dollar”

Honesty is honestly loved—for its long performing time, early color, and the handsome shape of the plant. Not to mention its jagged heart-shaped leaves, cruciform flowers, and flat disks of seeds that continue to develop in hue and texture over summer. Whether white or vibrant lilac, honesty does the job of brightening a shady spot in a way that is rarely planned.

Photography by Jim Powell for Gardenista.

Lunaria that has self-seeded between a hedge and a path at Great Dixter.
Above: Lunaria that has self-seeded between a hedge and a path at Great Dixter.

In the Lunaria genus are annual, perennial, and biennial species. Most commonly spotted in gardens is L. annua, a flower that self-seeds freely and pops up in unexpected places.

In spring, honesty creeps up on you by gaining height while other herbaceous things are still hugging the ground. It gives a hint of the height and structure to come, with summer’s spires. Being a self-seeder, it sprouts in places that are hard to reach with a trowel, even if you’d thought of planting one there.

Lunaria annua var. albiflora.
Above: Lunaria annua var. albiflora.

Unlike say, allium, the flowers of Lunaria bear no resemblance to the seed heads. Like allium, it is good-looking at every stage. Planted in an awkward corner between a hedge and a building, it softens the scene early on, while fading into the background when everything else catches up. Lunaria is part of the Brassica family.

Lunaria annua in a shady garden.
Above: Lunaria annua in a shady garden.

Honesty has a way of choosing the best spots where its color and leaf shape are seen at their best advantage, with acid green of euphorbia or Smyrnium perfoliatum (shown). They hold their own on a woodland garden floor but benefit from thinning, so that the crowd does not become too dense. When happy, they can grow to heights of two feet and almost as wide.

Self-seeded honesty in the crook of a tree.
Above: Self-seeded honesty in the crook of a tree.

The default version of Lunaria annua is purple-mauve. White is a variation but for something that works twice as hard there is the variegated honesty (Lunaria annua var. albiflora ‘Alba variegata’). With leaves that are outlined in marbled silver, it would be a valuable addition in a white garden.

Fresh seed cases of lunaria provide a coppery foil to alliums and camassia at Great Dixter.
Above: Fresh seed cases of lunaria provide a coppery foil to alliums and camassia at Great Dixter.

Some forethought in sowing honesty seeds (remembering that they won’t flower until two years later) could lead to transformative color combinations. Shown here, a whole range of purples developing over the season at Great Dixter.

Honesty prevents this combination of fireglow spurge, forget-me-not, and fennel from being too tasteful.
Above: Honesty prevents this combination of fireglow spurge, forget-me-not, and fennel from being too tasteful.

Cheat Sheet

  • Despite its name, Lunaria annua, honesty is a biennial. The perennial version, mauve-white, is Lunaria rediviva, with elliptical rather than round seed cases.
  • Variegated honesty, with marbled leaves, is a useful cut flower, with good value in its heart-shaped leaves as well as its flowers.
  • Honesty is a European native and is hardy to zone 4. In the USDA, various varieties will thrive in growing zones 2 to 10.
A bushy colony of Lunaria annua var. albiflora.
Above: A bushy colony of Lunaria annua var. albiflora.

Keep It Alive

  • Leave the seed cases for decoration but take some seeds for yourself as well.
  • Remove self-sown seedlings if there are too many; sow seeds when the cases become papery.
  • Honesty thrives in any kind of soil that is moist and well-drained, sheltered or exposed, in sun or shade.

For more growing tips, see Honesty: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design in our Annuals 101 and Perennials 101 guides. Read more:

11 Garden Ideas to Steal from the Coast of Maine

0
0

The rocky coast of Maine is known for being a little weather-worn, with Down East charm: old gray Adirondack chairs, hardy plantings that can stand the salt air, and outdoor showers for washing off the sand. It might be because of Maine’s down-to-earth people, or—more likely—because little needs to be added to its spectacular natural landscape of beaches, craggy coves, and quiet marshes, but Maine gardens are best let be. Still, there are a few classic components to a Maine coast garden to steal for your own. Here are a few.

Rosa Rugosa

All along the Maine coast, in gardens, on rocks, and along the little pathways down to the beach, you’ll find Rosa rugosa, also known informally as beach roses. Plant them instead of fences along property lines for privacy. An added bonus? Their sweet smell will remind you of the beach when you walk by. Photograph from Tales from Truro: An Untamed Landscape Channels Thoreau’s Cape Cod.
Above: All along the Maine coast, in gardens, on rocks, and along the little pathways down to the beach, you’ll find Rosa rugosa, also known informally as beach roses. Plant them instead of fences along property lines for privacy. An added bonus? Their sweet smell will remind you of the beach when you walk by. Photograph from Tales from Truro: An Untamed Landscape Channels Thoreau’s Cape Cod.

Weathered Shingles

The quintessential cladding for the Maine seaside cottage? Well-weathered shingles, the grayer the better. Photograph from Landscape Architect Visit: Clamshell Alley on the Coast of Maine.
Above: The quintessential cladding for the Maine seaside cottage? Well-weathered shingles, the grayer the better. Photograph from Landscape Architect Visit: Clamshell Alley on the Coast of Maine.

Adirondack Chairs

The only outdoor furniture you need: a pair of Adirondack chairs—first created in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, but now an iconic Maine garden feature. They’re necessary for reading in the early mornings and taking in the view come evening. Photograph from Tales from Truro: An Untamed Landscape Channels Thoreau’s Cape Cod.
Above: The only outdoor furniture you need: a pair of Adirondack chairs—first created in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, but now an iconic Maine garden feature. They’re necessary for reading in the early mornings and taking in the view come evening. Photograph from Tales from Truro: An Untamed Landscape Channels Thoreau’s Cape Cod.

Ad-Hoc Outdoor Shower

A Maine summer necessity: an unfussy outdoor shower for washing off sunscreen and sand at the end of the day. It can be simple: an exposed pipe and some slatted wood to stand on, as shown here, will do. Photograph by Matthew Williams for the Gardenista book, as seen in 10 Favorites: Outdoor Showers.
Above: A Maine summer necessity: an unfussy outdoor shower for washing off sunscreen and sand at the end of the day. It can be simple: an exposed pipe and some slatted wood to stand on, as shown here, will do. Photograph by Matthew Williams for the Gardenista book, as seen in 10 Favorites: Outdoor Showers.

Granite Pavers

Maine coastal gardens are neither dainty nor precious. The hardscaping material of choice? Granite or fieldstone pavers that look as though they’ve been there all along. (And some have been: granite was long a main export of the state.) Photograph from Landscape Architect Visit: Clamshell Alley on the Coast of Maine.
Above: Maine coastal gardens are neither dainty nor precious. The hardscaping material of choice? Granite or fieldstone pavers that look as though they’ve been there all along. (And some have been: granite was long a main export of the state.) Photograph from Landscape Architect Visit: Clamshell Alley on the Coast of Maine.

Scruffy Pines

The Pine Tree State has plenty of the hardy, scraggly trees, even along the coast, where they smell good mixed with the salt air. See more in The Ultimate Indoor-Outdoor House on 36 Acres in Coastal Maine.
Above: The Pine Tree State has plenty of the hardy, scraggly trees, even along the coast, where they smell good mixed with the salt air. See more in The Ultimate Indoor-Outdoor House on 36 Acres in Coastal Maine.

Handy Kayak Storage

Mainers are apt to opt for the paddle-it-yourself sort of boat (unless it’s a lobster boat). All the more reason to devise a smart storage solution. When I was little, my dad built a two-in-one log shed that could accommodate three kayaks on the back. Or, take this solution from Outbuilding of the Week: A 190-Square-Foot Writer’s Studio in Maine, with a canoe tucked beneath the waterside cabin.
Above: Mainers are apt to opt for the paddle-it-yourself sort of boat (unless it’s a lobster boat). All the more reason to devise a smart storage solution. When I was little, my dad built a two-in-one log shed that could accommodate three kayaks on the back. Or, take this solution from Outbuilding of the Week: A 190-Square-Foot Writer’s Studio in Maine, with a canoe tucked beneath the waterside cabin.

Hydrangea Hedges

Justine has previously lamented the popularity of hydrangea on her native Cape Cod (they feel “too cultivated, too precious,” she wrote; see Bouquet of the Week: Hydrangeas Gone Wild). It’s no different along Maine’s seacoast: Billowy blooms are everywhere, along fences and against houses. But perhaps it’s the hardy, informal, weather-beaten elements of Maine that keep the flowers from looking too prissy. Photograph by Matthew Williams from Swimming Pool of the Week: Dreaming in Blue at a Stylist’s Hamptons Compound; see Gardening 101: Hydrangea Macrophylla and Everything You Need to Know About Hydrangeas for much more.
Above: Justine has previously lamented the popularity of hydrangea on her native Cape Cod (they feel “too cultivated, too precious,” she wrote; see Bouquet of the Week: Hydrangeas Gone Wild). It’s no different along Maine’s seacoast: Billowy blooms are everywhere, along fences and against houses. But perhaps it’s the hardy, informal, weather-beaten elements of Maine that keep the flowers from looking too prissy. Photograph by Matthew Williams from Swimming Pool of the Week: Dreaming in Blue at a Stylist’s Hamptons Compound; see Gardening 101: Hydrangea Macrophylla and Everything You Need to Know About Hydrangeas for much more.

Sand Rinse-Off Stations

No space for an outdoor shower? A simple hose will do for rinsing grass cuttings from feet. Or, place a shallow bucket full of water beside the door for a quick dip. Photograph from Shipshape Cape Cod Cottage Inspired by Wes Anderson’s “The Life Aquatic”, over on Remodelista.
Above: No space for an outdoor shower? A simple hose will do for rinsing grass cuttings from feet. Or, place a shallow bucket full of water beside the door for a quick dip. Photograph from Shipshape Cape Cod Cottage Inspired by Wes Anderson’s “The Life Aquatic”, over on Remodelista.

Hardy New Englander Plantings

To my mother, “Hardy New Englander” is a prized title for anybody who can weather a Maine winter without complaint. It was a familiar refrain—or rather a challenge—throughout my childhood, whenever we questioned whether we really needed to go out for a walk in the middle of a nor’easter. But the same is true for plants. Like people, anything that grows on the Maine coast—and gets to enjoy its splendor—must also be able to weather its tempestuousness: sandy soil, salt air, sometimes harsh sun, and even harsher winters. On his property on the rocky island of Spruce Head, Anthony Esteves opted for native plants that would look as though they hadn’t been planted at all: “blueberry, bayberry, spruce, many types of wildflowers, moss, and lichens.” Read more in Curb Appeal: A Classic New England Color Palette on Spruce Head in Maine.
Above: To my mother, “Hardy New Englander” is a prized title for anybody who can weather a Maine winter without complaint. It was a familiar refrain—or rather a challenge—throughout my childhood, whenever we questioned whether we really needed to go out for a walk in the middle of a nor’easter. But the same is true for plants. Like people, anything that grows on the Maine coast—and gets to enjoy its splendor—must also be able to weather its tempestuousness: sandy soil, salt air, sometimes harsh sun, and even harsher winters. On his property on the rocky island of Spruce Head, Anthony Esteves opted for native plants that would look as though they hadn’t been planted at all: “blueberry, bayberry, spruce, many types of wildflowers, moss, and lichens.” Read more in Curb Appeal: A Classic New England Color Palette on Spruce Head in Maine.
Another hardy choice: lavender. Read 10 Easy Pieces: Perennials for the Seaside Garden for more resilient options. Photograph from Landscape Architect Edmund Hollander’s Grand Estate Gardens.
Above: Another hardy choice: lavender. Read 10 Easy Pieces: Perennials for the Seaside Garden for more resilient options. Photograph from Landscape Architect Edmund Hollander’s Grand Estate Gardens.

The Untouched Coast

When in doubt, let the existing natural landscape do the work: It needs little added. Photograph from Curb Appeal: A Classic New England Color Palette on Spruce Head in Maine.
Above: When in doubt, let the existing natural landscape do the work: It needs little added. Photograph from Curb Appeal: A Classic New England Color Palette on Spruce Head in Maine.

Plus, two Maine summer essentials that can’t go unmentioned: screened porches and bug repellant. Read more at Mosquito Repellent: 5 Flowers and Herbs to Keep Pests Away10 Easy Pieces: Citronella Insect Repellents, and DIY: Scented Candles to Repel Insects, Not HumansThe Summer Living Room: 10 Airy Screened-In Porches, and Steal This Look: The Perfect Screened Porch.

Browse more ideas to steal from coastal gardens, from Cape Cod and beyond:

10 Easy Pieces: Downlights

0
0

Downlights in a landscape will focus attention exactly where you need it at night, with minimal light pollution from glare and excessive brightness. By pointing toward your feet, downlights make it safer to walk on dark paths without creating skyglow, which obscures the stars overhead.

Are you looking for discreet downlights to mount on an outdoor wall, in a stairwell, or at the edge of a path? Here are 10 stylish choices that won’t create light pollution.

Hot dipped in molten zinc during manufacture, the St. Ives Mast Light (also featured in the photo at top) is impervious to the effects of weather. Rated for all outdoor uses (including coastal locations), it is £35 at Garden Trading.
Above: Hot dipped in molten zinc during manufacture, the St Ives Mast Light - Galvanised Steel (also featured in the photo at top) is impervious to the effects of weather. Rated for all outdoor uses (including coastal locations), it is £35 at Garden Trading.
From Belgium-based Tekna’s Nautic collection, an LED Spreaderlight in sand-casted brass with frosted glass is available in a variety of other finishes as well. For more information and prices, visit Tekna.
Above: From Belgium-based Tekna’s Nautic collection, an LED Spreaderlight in sand-casted brass with frosted glass is available in a variety of other finishes as well. For more information and prices, visit LED Spreaderlight.
Handmade in England by Davey Lighting, a polished bronze Mast Light is £225 from Peter Reid Lighting. For US customers, a Davey Mast Light is available in three colors; $323.10 to $350.10, depending on the finish, at DWR.
Above: Handmade in England by Davey Lighting, a polished bronze Mast Light 0749 LED Polished Bronze is £225 from Peter Reid Lighting. For US customers, a Mast Light 0749 LED Polished Bronze is available in three colors; $323.10 to $350.10, depending on the finish, at DWR.
A Beamy Wall Lamp from Royal Botania exudes “typical Bauhaus chic” and is available in two finishes (zinc alloy and antique brass). For more information and prices, visit Ambiente Direct.
Above: A Beamy Wall Lamp from Royal Botania exudes “typical Bauhaus chic” and is available in two finishes (zinc alloy and antique brass). For more information and prices, visit Ambiente Direct.
A copper Retro Wall Down Light with a built-in transformer by Hunza Design is £260 at Moonlight Design.
Above: A copper Retro Wall Down Light with a built-in transformer by Hunza Design is £260 at Moonlight Design.
 Weatherproof, a ]St. Ives Funnel Light protected by a coating of hot galvanized steel is “particularly good for lighting up pathways and corridors,” notes retailer Garden Trading. It is £42.
Above: Weatherproof, a St Ives Funnel Light - Galvanised Steel protected by a coating of hot galvanized steel is “particularly good for lighting up pathways and corridors,” notes retailer Garden Trading. It is £42.
A cylinder downlight, the Black Outdoor Wall Light Accessory, is $62.85 at Progress Lighting.
Above: A cylinder downlight, the Progress Lighting Cylinder Black Outdoor Wall Light, is $62.85 at Progress Lighting.
A downlight Mast Light, available in four finishes including antique brass (shown), has a dimmable switch. For more information and prices, visit Astro Lighting.
Above: A downlight Mast Light Coastal, available in four finishes including antique brass (shown), has a dimmable switch. For more information and prices, visit Astro Lighting.
An adjustable Tube Up/Down Outdoor Wall Sconce is available in five finishes including brushed aluminum (shown); $229.50 from Lightology.
Above: An adjustable Tube Up/Down Light Outdoor Wall Sconce is available in five finishes including brushed aluminum (shown); $229.50 from Lightology.
The Scenic Outdoor Wall Lamp in a gunmetal finish is £24.50 from Sparks Electrical.
Above: The Scenic Outdoor Wall Lamp in a gunmetal finish is £24.50 from Sparks Electrical.
Are you adding outdoor lights to a deck, patio, stairwell, or other exterior space? Get ideas and inspiration from our curated guide to Outdoor Lighting 101, including design tips for Illuminated Pavers 101, Barn Lights 101, and Solar Lights. Read more:

Viewing all 5861 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images