During the pandemic, we had to learn how to work without being onsite. With the help of Google Earth and county records, we were able to continue designing gardens from Los Angeles. What began as helping friends across the country create safe, socially distanced outdoor spaces soon spread by word of mouth—and turned into projects in other states. Since then, we’ve designed gardens in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, Wisconsin, California, and Washington.
Before the pandemic, we accepted projects outside of California, but always traveled in person. We were surprised at how well online design worked. In fact, one of the biggest benefits has been spending more time talking with clients about their needs and dreams. That extra time and attention has led to stronger projects—and meaningful connections.
Here are a few of the project we have created using this new fangled technology.
A plan for plant relocation.A new color scheme diagram.A preliminary plan in MemphisA courtyard for Condos in TennesseeA preliminary plan for a project in MississippiA diagram illustrating the photos we need.
Over the years we have designed and installed dozens of gardens. As I look back on them, a few things pop out to me that helps identify what we do best. The first thing is organization. It is perhaps our greatest skill and I think the most important part of designing a garden. Designing the orientation of a garden is essential to how well it flows. It’s also crucial to know how the sun moves through your property at different times of the year. For instance, if the garden is geared for summer activities, we’ll want to have plenty of sun, but also an escape from the sun. Using a strategically placed tree will provide some shade, but also if a deciduous tree is used, we have winter sun and warmth. This will extend the outdoor season by a month or two in warm climates, and by a few weeks in cooler areas. This is planning—solving multiple issues with one solution. The garden will be vastly different in the Summer and Winter. Not only are temperatures different but the sunshine is polar-opposite. Organizing plants is another key issue. Some plants like winter sun and summer shade, these are typically the plants that boom in the Spring. Understanding the space and what goes in it and where is key to garden organization.
So, why is organizing a space important? It is the one thing no one can identify, but can feel. It’s that notable feeling of being somewhere special…. We’ve all been in a place that just feels right, that is a sign that someone has thought about how you as a guest would feel while in that very space. A well organized space determines if a space is usable or just something to look at. A space needs to feel right to keep people coming back. That feeling starts with an organized space.
There are plenty of people who create landscapes for people, few of us create gardens. A garden is a place that has serenity because it is designed especially for those who live there and their guests. The gardens we create are comforting and comfortable spaces built on organization. We’ve discussed organizing the space as a whole, looking further we organize individual spaces within the property at large. We think of the garden as an extension to the indoor living spaces. In most cases we divide the future garden into outdoor rooms based on what our clients enjoy doing while outdoors and the relationship with the indoor rooms. For example, an outdoor dinning room should be associated with the Kitchen. For the outdoor dinning room to be successful, it must have easy access to the place the food is prepared. With the proper location, we can begin to create a room that feels like an outdoor home and is functionally easy to use. After the area is selected we start by finding the table that will be the center piece. We could use an an existing table, or buy another one. We also think about how you and your guests will move about the space considering what defines the room. Having a table that fits like a glove is key. In addition we use plants and/or simple structures to complete the scene. Lighting is also important as it brings the space alive at night.
If a client calls us, they are typically looking for a unique garden. We use thoughtfully selected plants; plus decorative arts to define these spaces. There are so many options for a garden, it’s all about listening to our clients then organizing their wishes so it works best. Creating a collection of furnishings and decorative arts says more about the owner than a suite of furniture especially as we start with what the owner has already. Suites of furniture tend to work better in ultra-modern spaces. We like to incorporate something vintage in modern spaces. It gives the space resonance—it gives life to the space. Starting with what is available and incorporating that into a space will always have a resonance for the owner and their guests. Selecting hand made pieces tend to have a quality that manufactured pieces don’t have. We find many of our pieces at Flea Markets. When pieces are made by a craftsperson, they anchor their own spirit in the piece. This is the resonance I am talking about. When there is a collection of pieces we rely on that resonance to create a unified spirit-filled living space with character. We think there is magic created when the garden comes together using pieces that have been selected by their spirit instead of a manufactured look.
Plants are also an integral part of a garden. There is no such thing as a “no maintenance” garden, though with proper selection plants are much less maintenance. For instance, a common mistake is buying a small plant that grows too big for the space. If there is a 3’ wide space, there is no reason to plant that matures at 4’ wide(unless a manicured hedge is required). This creates a space that requires maintenance. There is also the amount of sun at any given time of the year that must be considered. This is perhaps the most important part of a planting design because a plant that requires sun will not grow in the shade… and vice versa. Knowing plants and where they belong comes naturally to us. We have been hired for larger projects just for that reason alone. One other important factor are the soils. We typically look first at any existing large trees in a space to determine what the soil is like. There are two extremes in soils—acid or alkaline and there is middle ground, too. For instance, if you have Pine trees living in your garden your soil is Acid. Large trees tend to terraform the soil around them. So we’d want to plant acid loving plants because plants that prefer a sweeter (alkaline) soil will not grow well. These are the keys to minimal garden maintenance. This is a complicated process, but these factors determine if you have a lush gorgeous garden or one that is a constant struggle to keep beautiful.
All these components are what make our gardens special places. We do our best to imagine how a space will work and bring these components into the design. Every one of our garden designs is different and I am so proud of that. If you decide to call on us for help, then I know you want something functional, stylish, and exceptional.
Huntington Rose Garden Photo by Michael A Rodriguez
The Rose industry has two primary goals
= Greenhouse Roses are cultivated for the Florist industry. They have long stems, long buds, a longer vase life, and can be productive in the Winter.
Indah Bulan Trellis (Climber Rosa Banksiae)
= Garden Roses are cultivated for a bush habitat to display roses, shapely flowers from bud to open, fragrance and good finish, fast to repeat bloom, and they tend to be disease resistant.
Have you ever wondered why florist roses have no smell (other than refrigerant)? In order to produce roses that can survive being shipped across the globe and to have a longer vase life, the fragrance has been bred out of these roses.
~ -Roses were first cultivated in China over 2,000 years ago. Many of the oldest roses were lost, but found in a cemetery in Bermuda. This saved these ancient roses.
~ – Roses were exported to the world via the tea traders, hence the name Tea Rose. That name has nothing to do with afternoon tea.
~ – The best time to smell a rose is early in the morning or early evening. More fragrance is noticed when flowers freshly open. It is also a good idea to have a clean nose.
~ – Did you know men and women smell roses differently? It is a genetic difference between the sexes. Other factors are the time of day, the location of the rose, and your current state of mind.
~ – Roses would all look white without Ultraviolet Rays.
~ – Roses need lots of sun, and well drained soil. If your soil is compacted use Gypsum to organically aerate your soil. Just sprinkle it over your mulch and water it in.
~ – Did you know, Strawberry , Raspberry , Blackberry plants are Roses? (Not Blueberry plants though). Pyracantha is also a rose.
~ – Rose hips contain a high amount of Vitamin C. Make tea with yours!
~ – It takes 10 years to produce a Rose variety. Roses are patented (10 years only).
~- There are several types of roses, these terms are used in the United States and are not an official classification.
+Climbers — these produce long canes that can be tied to an architectural structure.
+Floribundas — produce a cluster of blooms. Introduced in 1941
+ Grandifloras — produce large clusters of flowers on an elongated stem. (There is not much difference between a Florabunda and a Grandiflora)
+ Ground Covers — produce horizontal branches that hug the ground. Introduced 1971
+ Hybrid Teas — produce one large flower on an elongated stem. These are often tall roses.
+ Miniatures — produce small flowers and small leaves, but not always a small sized plant. Some can have clusters. Introduced n 1935
+ Polyanthus — produce small clusters on a rounded compact plant. Introduced in 1875
+ Shrubs — These tend to be used in gardens in mass for design. They tend to be disease resistant.
“Ketchup & Mustard”
I would like to thank Tom Carruth, Master Rosarian at The Huntington Library and Gardens for educating me and preparing me for leading tours at the Huntington.
