Nurseries are full of hanging baskets at this time of year, seemingly in every color and plant combination - except the one you want, right? How often have you found the perfect basket, wrestled it onto your cart then gone trundling around the nursery yet again trying to find a perfect match? Even if you find it you then have nothing short of army maneuvers trying to get two 3′ wide, super-trailing baskets into the back of your Prius….. Sound familiar?

The solution? Plant your own! You’ll save money and get exactly the colors and plants you want. You can coordinate your plant choices with anything from the trim on your house to the cushions on the patio chairs. Choose wild, zesty colors, an elegant green and white scheme or design with just foliage. It takes a little bit of time but the results are well worth it. Here’s how I do it.

Stuff fun plants into the basket sides. This red and purple annual is called ‘Tiny Mice’. Can you see why?

Place the basket on top of an empty plant pot to raise it up to a good working height and keep it stable. If you have a ‘lazy Susan’ it helps to set this pot/basket combination on top to make turning easier.

 

The squish factor!

Decide how many tiers of plants you are going to add to the sides. This will depend upon how high the basket is; one or two tiers is typical. Add enough soil to come just underneath where you want the lowest tier of plants to be. Gently make an opening in the lining either by pushing the moss to one side or cutting a hole in the liner. Using 2” sized plants (often called basket stuffers), remove them from their pots and wrap the roots in a little cling film or plastic to make sliding them easier. Gently push the plant roots through the hole, rest them on the soil surface and remove the cling film. Repeat as desired adding more soil to reach the next level, staggering the 2” plants on each tier to vary color and texture and allow for even coverage.

Now you are ready for the top. Start with an upright plant in the center then add other trailing and mounding 4” plants around the edges. If there is room squeeze a few extra 2” plants into this layer too. You’ll probably have to squish things in a bit, moving root balls around to find space for everybody. Aim to have a good thick layer of moss at the rim and finish the soil ½” below this.

 

Water the basket gently with a fine shower setting on the hose, being sure to completely saturate the sides as well as the top until water drips freely. Remember some of these roots systems are tiny and a long way down!

For clients I try to grow these on in my unheated greenhouse for a week or two before delivering and hanging them, but if the night temperatures are above 50’ then they can be hung outside straight away.

‘Lemon Slice’ million bells and ‘Berry Luscious’ lantana make stunning partners

Maintenance

The baskets will need watering every day unless it has rained heavily, and even twice a day in high summer. Adding a drip irrigation system is the easiest way to accomplish this but otherwise use a hose to saturate sides and top thoroughly. You will be well rewarded with visits from hummingbirds and compliments from neighbors!

How many plants do I need?

For a 16” diameter, 9” deep basket;

18 x 2” plants (3 each of 6 different varieties*),

6 x 4” plants for top layer,

1 x 4” upright plant for the center.

*You will use 6 x 2” plants on each of two side tiers and the final six on the top tier.

Favorite trailers and edgers plants for sun;

Lotus vine, silver falls (Dichondra), purple bell vine (Rhodochiton), million bells (Calibrachoa), verbena, fleabane ‘Profusion’(Erigeron) , trailing geraniums, fan flower (Scaevola), sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas), lantana, bacopa, Alyssum

Favorite upright plants for sun;

Dwarf varieties of New Zealand flax (Phormium) such as Jack Spratt, upright geraniums, Zagreb tickseed (Coreopsis), Gaura

Great combo for shade; ‘Bonfire’ begonia and ‘Midnight Blue’ Torenia

Favorite trailers and edgers for part shade;

Black mondo grass, impatiens, cuphea, purple bell vine (Rhodochiton), Swedish ivy (Plectranthus ciliatus), purple heart (Setcreasea pallida), verbena, begonias, fuchsias, fan flower (Scaevola), wishbone flower (Torenia), sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas), asparagus fern, periwinkle (Vinca), ivy

Favorite upright plants for shade;

Coleus, ferns, taller Heuchera, Croton, orange hair sedge (Carex testacea), upright heliotrope

I avoid plants which need endless deadheading such as marguerite daisies (Argyranthemum) or African daisies (Osteospermum) and use million bells over trailing petunias as they perform better in our unpredictable summers. I also prefer zonal or fancy leafed geraniums rather than Martha geraniums as the latter do not give enough color.

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Golden yellow grasses (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’) and variegated iris (Iris x robusta ‘Gerald Derby’) enhance the spring interest

I’m always looking for new ways to pair old favorites. I typically combine the heart shaped leaves of Bishop’s hat (Epimedium sp.) with lacy ferns and bold hostas for example. But a recent visit to the inspiring garden of Mitch Evans in Kirkland, WA showed me all sorts of exciting new possibilities to get me out of my design rut!

Play to ephemeral color

Enjoy the moment

Epimedium grandiflorum ’Lilafee’ has got the most beautiful purple-flushed foliage with lilac-purple flowers held daintily like dancing stars. Placing in front of Gerald Derby iris (Iris x robusta ‘Gerald Derby’) highlights the exciting purple flush of the iris foliage, most clearly visible in spring. Although both the flowers and iris foliage color are short term effects this inspired pairing shows the importance of planning for such special moments.

Consider shade loving conifers

An unexpected combination with a conifer in part shade

Who would have thought of putting a conifer and Epimedium together? My mind immediately says its not possible since generally conifers need sun and Epimedium prefers shade. This is where knowing your plants comes in – and clearly Mitch does. The golden ‘Tom Thumb’ spruce (Picea orientalis ‘Tom Thumb’) will scorch in full sun and prefers dappled light making it a perfect companion to Epimedium x Amber Queen . I love the way the sunset colored flowers dance overhead like miniature Turk’s cap lilies almost teasing the conifer. After all aren’t Epimedium usually considered groundcovers yet here it is lauding it over its cowering partner!

Smoky purple hellebores look even better with a hazy backdrop of Epimedium x Frohnleiten

Frohnleiten

Color echo and contrast

This pine-hellebore-Epimedum trio made me smile. The sunny yellow flowers of Epimedium x Frohnleiten, one of my personal favorites, always brightens a spring day. The dark, sultry flowers of the hellebore echo the deeper tones of the Epimedium foliage while the pine casts enough shade for both to thrive, adding a fresh green to the color palette as well as a softer texture.

Your challenge question!

So what would you combine this ruby leafed beauty (an  Epimedium hybrid) with?

A combination worth getting down on your hands and knees for!

What about a finely textured red leafed maple and buttery-yellow primroses?

Wherever I looked in Mitch’s garden there were carefully painted vignettes; special garden moments waiting to be discovered.

I for one will be referring to these images time and again when I need a dose of fresh design inspiration.

Ready to go shopping?

My sincere thanks to Mitch for letting me ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ in his garden

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Hosta ‘Sagae’ is one of the first to leaf out in my garden, its golden variegation a welcome splash of light in the shade garden

It’s been 3 1/2 years since we moved into our mosquito-ridden swamp. Of course we didn’t know that’s what it was when we first saw this 5 acre property in July of 2009 – that realization came as we squelched our way from house to barn and back in ankle deep water all winter, and swatted and swiped endless man-eating bugs all summer. Let’s just say it was a little disheartening.

Today we can really see that the garden is taking shape. Drainage has been tackled, mosquitoes outwitted (the deer are another story), invasive weeds got under control or eradicated and finally we have something that says we live here. Driving down our gravel road, I turn the final corner and I can’t help but smile. I’m home.

The arakawa maple is one of the first to fully leaf out. This started as a 5g plant in a container garden 6 years ago. It moved house with us and is now almost 10′ tall and wide. Love it.

Yet I hesitate to show you photos of our garden this early in the season. It’s so much nicer/better/fuller in July. But there again September it glorious. Or even October with all the fall colors. But April? The daffodils are coming to the end of their bloom time and the rhododendrons are still tightly in bud. Is there anything worth showing you?

We have an abundance of ferns in the shadier parts of the garden. Watching them slowly unfurl is surely a spring highlight?

That was the challenge I set myself as I grabbed my camera and thick jacket this afternoon. To find something that was happening in the garden right now that you might enjoy with me.

My purple ghost maple was a bargain find! Love the emerging foliage and berry-like flowers

In fact taking the time to stroll rather than rush, and making the effort to look rather than glance revealed a myriad of fresh new growth throughout the garden. Maple trees are unfurling their pleated leaves, ferns are stretching their impossibly tight coils. Fresh fuzzy growth on conifers promises an extra few inches this year. Hostas are pushing up their purple pointed buds and opening wide to reveal glorious foliage in shades of blue, green and gold (assuming the slugs don’t get in there first in  which case I’ll have not-so-pretty lacy foliage).

My rescued ‘Frank’ Austrian pine is doing well in his new home.

Of course there are plenty of things in bloom too – bugleweed (Ajuga repens), bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis), lungwort (Pulmonaria) and fragrant viburnum are just a few examples. But today was about seeking out hope; the promise of an abundant garden. Looking for things  in the garden which are just emerging – their time in the spotlight still to come.

Welcome to my garden.

As the garden awakens from its winter hibernation, so our garden dreams are also slowly coming to life.

Our garden is finally emerging.

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A beauty or a beast? A star or a supporter? You decide.

Considered invasive in many parts of the country Mexican feather grass (Stipa tenuissima syn. Nasella tenuissima) is merely ‘friendly’ in Seattle area gardens. Certainly it self seeds, but it does so politely creating serendipitous plant partnerships that I wish I could claim as my design!

I consider it an invaluable asset to my own garden as it fills many roles.

Four season interest.

Being evergreen this offers winter interest, when many of my other favorite grasses have tucked themselves under a blanket of compost. Whether planted as a drift with other grasses or as a simple monoculture, there is no denying that this wispy grass adds softness to the stark landscape during the colder months of the year.

Oscar worthy as supporting actor

Sometimes bolder plant forms need an ethereal background to showcase their strength. I love the way Mexican feather grass offers a hazy curtain behind my ‘Ascot Rainbow’ spurge (Euphorbia). It keeps the focus on the star with its gauzy texture allowing light to filter through.

Nominee for best actor

With so many great plants in this border (right and at top of post) how can a humble grass be taken seriously as a lead player? By virtue of it being at the very front where it creates a picture frame which in itself is a work of art. Just look how beautifully it sets the scene on this early spring day, enhancing the warm tones of the emerging spirea foliage foliage while leading the eye to the cinnamon colored peeling bark of a young paperbark maple (Acer griseum) in the middle ground and drifts of daffodils beyond.

Perfect for pathways

Grasses are wonderful for edging pathways, delicately brushing bare ankles and toes as though walking through a meadow. None are gentler than this grass and its billowing form blurs the boundary between garden border and flagstone pathway with ease.

Wildlife refuge

Tucked away behind the waving strands of grass, a flock of birds jumped and jived around this little fountain for over half an hour! Safe from view (mostly!), they played their game unhindered. I am sure the seeds would be of interest later in the year also.

Extreme contrasts

Want the ultimate plant to contrast with the grass texture and form? What about this prickly pear? You can’t get much more extreme than this!

Cultural information

USDA hardiness; 6-10

Size; 2′ tall and wide as a loose fountain

Light; full sun or light shade

Water; average to dry.

So what is this grass to you? The ultimate invasive thug to be avoided at all costs? If so I’d love to know what you have found as a great substitute?

Or has this chameleon  found a spot in your garden?

Friend or foe? You decide.

For another great design using this grass enjoy this combination featured in my new book Fine Foliage

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There are tulips – and there are Tulips. As I strolled around the magnificent Filoli Garden in San Francisco last week there was no doubt that these were TULIPS.

For the most part these had been planted in simple, terracotta colored pots so that the flamboyant flowers could be brought out for display when each variety reached its peak.  Both the tulips and I reveled in the warm spring sunshine – life seemed to slow down.

Pots were clustered together on steps, in doorways and used to flank pathways. Every garden had its own color scheme which the tulip displays highlighted.

Where tulips were planted in the ground they were corralled by manicured boxwood hedges, vibrant under the dappled canopy of the flowering cherry trees.

But this is a grand estate garden with a team of 14 full time horticulturalists, numerous student interns and more than 100 volunteers. What can the typical home gardener take away from this?

I see my lesson as being abundance.  Rather than planting just a few tulips in my mixed containers I like the idea of filling simple pots with just one tulip variety, and waiting to display them until they are in full bloom. Perhaps a succession of colors in different pots? Maybe I can just plant them in black nursery pots and slip these inside my decorative pots when the moment is right?

The other thing I learned? It’s OK to sit once in a while and simply enjoy them.

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The past couple of weeks have been a true whirlwind since my book FINE FOLIAGE, co-authored with Christina Salwitz was launched at the 2013 Northwest Flower and Garden Show, Seattle.

My first talk at the show – a demonstration style seminar called ‘Spotlight on Foliage’ was standing room only and by the end of that afternoon the University Bookstore had sold out of our book. Thankfully Christina and I had ordered plenty for ourselves so were able to loan them enough to get them through the rest of the show. Tough problem to have, right?!

Since then the books have been selling nationwide (and thanks to my Mum also in England) with great reviews on both sides of The Pond! Both Christina and I have received lovely emails from total strangers who have purchased Fine Foliage and wanted to say how much they are enjoying it and to thank us for the inspiration we have given them.

So what’s so special about it? Here’s what others are saying;

“Fine Foliage is a visual treat that will inspire you with dazzling combinations for containers and gardens. Karen Chapman and Christina Salwitz explain why each combination works – bringing artistic design within easy reach of all gardeners. A great user-friendly resource.”

–Debra Prinzing, author of The 50 Mile Bouquet and Slow Flowers

Garden lovers, you now have the secret for creating the landscapes of your dreams – the ones you see in magazines and wonder “how do those designers DO THAT?”. Christina Salwitz and Karen Chapman show you how to look beyond the flowers and introduce you to the real stars of the horticultural world – LEAVES! Foliage is more than that green stuff around the flowers, it is what divides a good garden from an incredible one, and now you have a guide for how to use its power!

-Ivette Soler, Garden designer and author of “The Edible Front Yard“

“The photos in this book are both breathtaking and inspiring…” Barb S., Seattle

“I highly recommend this book for all gardeners and garden lovers…” Suzanne K., Redmond

Read our Amazon reviews

As winter transitions to spring we seem to naturally gravitate to the local nurseries and garden centers, filling our carts with all that is fragrant and flowery. Yet a few weeks from now those impulse buys won’t look quite so impressive if you haven’t paid careful attention to using foliage as the backbone of your combinations.

The solution? Take a copy of Fine Foliage to the nursery with you – it will fit nicely into your purse (UK translation = handbag). Being a high quality hardback it will withstand the rigors of many such trips! Use it as a springboard for new ideas, ask the nursery staff to help you find your favorites or use it as a reference against which to test those flowers you are drawn to!

For example the gorgeous purple and deep red pasque flowers (Pulsatilla sp.) that are in bloom right now would look so pretty with a tricolor sage. Or maybe add a froth of lemon thyme to those dwarf daffodils? Back that up with some blue grasses and a dwarf golden conifer and you have the makings of a great container!

ENTER TO WIN A FREE COPY!

What do I win?
One signed copy of Fine Foliage
Where?
On our blog www.fine-foliage.com 
When?
Right now!! Drawing will take place at midnight Saturday March 16th PST and the book mailed out first thing Monday.
What do I do to enter?
Head over to www.fine-foliage.com and follow the link to sign up for our blog. It’s that easy! Everyone that is registered will be entered into a random drawing. The winner will be notified by email within 24 hours and the winners name will also be posted on the blog itself.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER shariwick165@gmail.com! You have seen sent an email – please let us have your mailing address and Fine Foliage will be on its way!

Didn’t win? Never mind;

Signed copies can be ordered here using credit card or PayPal

Also available at bookstores, nurseries and online.

Share the love of gardening with your friends and family. Fine Foliage would make a beautiful gift for any occasion; new home, birthday, anniversary….and Mother’s Day is just around the corner on May 12th.

Both Christina and I are also available to give presentations at your garden clubs, nurseries or other event to celebrate Fine Foliage . You will find us listed on the Great Garden Speakers website; read reviews of our previous talks and get more details of what we offer.

Do tell me which is your favorite combination from the book and share your own ideas for great foliage.

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As delicious as a summer dessert ‘ Sugar Berry’ is a sweet treat for any garden

In the gardener’s world there are two mortal enemies – deer and disease.  Or at least they are mine – if I ignore my parsnip-munching voles, Amazon-sized mosquitoes and steroidal slugs.

When my show stopping Heuchera (coral bells) were cut down in their prime by rust, a fungal infection, it was almost enough to make me hang up my trowel. Rust causes nasty raised, purple bumps on the undersides of the leaves which spreads rapidly and can quickly destroy the plant. Although not seen in drier parts of the country it is a major problem here in the Pacific Northwest.

Rust can be detected by raised pustules on the undersides of the leaves and sunken areas above. Photo credit; Maryna Sedani, PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook

Having tossed far too many of these pricey treasures into the yard waste (NEVER compost diseased plants) I asked Dan Heims, president of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.  for some ideas on what I could do to save those that I have and ask about the new disease resistant hybrids his nursery is breeding.

As a breeding company, Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc. is the leading innovator for new Heuchera and Heucherella introductions. It can take seven years of breeding and another three of testing to have a breakthrough but that dedication is what ensures that their plants are strong and healthy.

Mahogany in its summer glory

So what exactly is rust and what can we do to prevent it?

It is a fungal disease that usually travels on the plant itself or is airborne. In our soggy Seattle climate we provide the perfect conditions for it to thrive so the key to control is managing the environment.

Dan’s tips for healthy Heuchera

1. Water in the early morning so foliage can dry
2. Use drip irrigation rather than overhead sprinklers
3. Space plants so as to allow for good air circulation
4. Do not plant new Heuchera where diseased ones have been grown
5. Remove diseased Heuchera immediately and dispose of in the yard waste (do not compost)
6. The organic fungicide ‘Serenade’ may help prevent rust. (My personal experience has been that if you cut a mildly infected plant down hard and spray every two weeks (or as allowed on the label) until it is fully re-grown you have a reasonable chance of success; I may have been too hasty in disposing of a few).

Paris – as elegant as its name

Why are some Heuchera more susceptible than others?

The key word here is genetics or “it’s all the parents fault”. Now I did ask Dan to elaborate and share which species he was focusing on as showing the most promising disease resistant traits. His answer?

“I could tell you, but I’d have to kill you…Nothing personal…   ”

Great.

What he was able to tell me was that the breeders noticed that the lighter colored Heuchera were particularly susceptible, so they were selecting for thicker leaves. They were also committed to evaluating potential introductions under multiple conditions over many years and anything that showed signs of rust was eliminated. In other words he wasn’t giving much away but that’s OK, especially when you read about some of  these success stories.

Breeder’s top 5 (or 6, or 10)

Spellbound lives up to my expectations with truly captivating foliage year round. Photo and design credit; Le jardinet

Spellbound – you’ve heard me salivate over this beauty before. Shimmery shades of purple and silver on impossibly oversized leaves. Mine looks as magical now as it did in fall and has made a loose mound approx. 18” across. Fabulous in my orange container!

Blondie – this one is on my wish list for sure. Part of the ‘Little Cutie’ series, Blondie is just 8” wide but is a flowering powerhouse pushing out oodles of creamy-yellow spikes. Foliage color is in the caramel family. A good choice for containers

Sugar Berry – from hot raspberry to deepest blackberry, this one is positively delicious. Also part of the Little Cutie series this tops out at 6” tall and 10” wide with short, fat spikes of white flowers

Fireworks – ruffled bronze foliage on a mid-sized plant with plenty of soft colored flowers

Blondie – makes me think of a gingersnap cookie!

Mahogany – this promises to be a good alternative to my beloved ‘Peach Flambé’ which succumbed to both deer AND disease last year! The foliage looks like burnished copper-colored leather and transitions through shades of red and orange as the season progresses. I’d love to see this with some bright lime green

Paris – another one that is high on my wish list, I love the silver veining on this green foliage and those hot pink flowers are just plain FUN. A mid-sized, compact plant at 14” wide.

Other favorites; Obsidian, Sugar Plum, Root Beer, Ebony and Ivory.

All are hardy in zones 4-9, evergreen and do best if allowed to dry slightly between watering. Hummingbirds love them!

Where can we buy them?

They are widely available at both  nurseries and online retailers; Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc. has provided these links to help you find your favorites.

Deep chocolaty tones of Mahogany

What can we look forward to in the future?

Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc. is breeding some fabulous new Heucherella (foamy bells) which are rust resistant (yes you did read that correctly; all Heucherella are rust resistant for reasons which they undoubtedly know but will once again put my life in jeopardy if I ask) as well as continuing their Heuchera breeding program selecting plants which are healthy, have great foliage color and are vigorous.

They also have an exciting collection of heat-tolerant Heuchera , seeking out those with H. villosa in their parentage (apparently I was allowed to know that tidbit without death threats). Look for those with Southern sounding names as a clue e.g. Midnight Bayou, Southern Comfort and Georgia Peach.

And finally…

Be sure to check out their website at www.terranovanurseries.com to get more tips and ideas as well as to drool over their luscious photographs.

And of course you are invited to ‘like’ their Facebook page

In the absence of a LOVE button, like will have to do.

My sincere thanks to Dan Heims (aka Mr. Heuchera) and the Terra Nova Breeding Team for finding time to answer my barrage of questions. Dan refers to himself as the ‘man on the road’  – I mainly see him at airports.

All photos courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc. except where noted

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The columnar habit of this Japanese plum yew (front right) does not obstruct entry into this small courtyard.

Narrow side gardens are the reality for many suburban homes but die hard gardeners don’t need to sacrifice height and beauty just because their footprint is small. Look for trees, shrubs  and perennials that have a columnar shape without growing too wide. Even in larger gardens there is a need for ‘punctuation’ points and these skinny but interesting conifers might be just the answer (and the perfect excuse to visit the nursery).

‘The huggable ‘Wissel’s Saguaro’ false cypress doesn’t block a path

‘Wissel’s Saguaro’ false cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Wissel’s Saguaro’) is a conifer with attitude! Blue-green ‘arms’ beg for a hug and it certainly deserves a little extra love for the way it adds structure, height, color and living sculpture to the narrowest of spaces. Enjoy a young plant in a container for a few years before transplanting it to a well-drained spot in the garden. In full sun it will grow~ 8′  in 10 years with an ultimate height of 18-20′ but just 2′ wide. Hardy in zones 6-8

‘Blue Arrow’ juniper. Photo credit; Monrovia

‘Blue Arrow’ juniper (Juniperus virginiana ‘Blue Arrow’).  The dusky blue shade of this juniper makes it a colorful, evergreen addition to any garden – perfect for narrow screens or as garden accents. Use it where you’d love an Italian cypress but don’t have the climate. It grows to 12-15’ tall and 2’wide (although truthfully I’ve seen specimens a little wider than 3’). Deer resistant  and drought tolerant once established, this is hardy in zones 4-9.

‘Empire’ false cypress has a subtle yellow variegation

‘Empire’ false cypress,  (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Empire’). A dwarf, columnar  conifer with a subtle yellow variegation; a beauty in containers or rock gardens. Typical height is just 4’ tall and 18” wide. Prefers full sun and is hardy in zones 4-9

‘Snow White’ Port Orchard cedar has white spring growth which matures to blue green (Left on photo)

 ‘Snow White’ Port Orchard cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Snow White’) has a natural teardrop shape with soft blue-green foliage which still retains a whisper of the creamy white spring growth in fall! This species is particularly susceptible to root rot and the fungus Phytophthora  if not in well-drained soil so look for those grafted onto disease resistant root stock e.g. Monrovia’s Guardian series. ‘Snow White’ grows to 6’ tall and 18” wide in 10 years, loves full sun and is hardy in zones 6-9

DeGroot’s Spire arborvitae. Photo credit; Longfellow Garden Center

‘DeGroot’s Spire’ arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘DeGroot’s Spire) is an improvement on the typical arborvitae of the ‘landscaper’s special’ variety. The rich dark green foliage takes on a purple cast in winter and has nicely twisted foliage which will tolerate light shearing making it a good hedging plant. It copes with wet soils, will grow in part shade or full sun and grows slowly to 20’ tall and 4’ wide. Cold hardy to zone 3 and happy to zone 8.

Columnar Scotch pine adds a columnar focal point in a small garden

Columnar Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris ‘Fastigiata’) is a narrow form of the beautifully soft and fluffy Scotch pine. The twisted blue green needles make a beautiful backdrop for shades of silver or purple leaved plants. This is hardy in zones  3-7 (possibly zone 2) where it will grow 25-30’ tall but just 6-8’ wide (the species is 25-30’ wide). Part or full sun.

Japanese plum yew looks fabulous in a container

Columnar Japanese plum yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Fastigiata’) is one of the few conifers which thrives in part or even full shade. Its dark blue-green needles are longer that yew (Taxus sp.). I use it in shady containers where it slowly grows to about 4’ tall and 18” wide. In the landscape it is more likely to be 6’ tall and up to 4’ wide.. Hardy in zones 6-9

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A beautiful stacked stone wall defines the garden and incorporates a water feature while allowing views of the land beyond.

We tend to think of garden walls and fences as utilitarian – simply a means of defining a space, marking a property boundary or holding back soil. Yet they can be so much more than that.

Making the most of a small space

I had the opportunity to visit this Seattle area garden in 2007 and its exceptional design has kept me returning to this image for inspiration time and again. Small spaces are challenging to design not least of all because we often need them to serve several different functions – dining, sitting, edible gardening, children’s play space  etc. Trying to include all these elements and allowing each space to have  its own personality while maintaining an overall cohesive look is not easy.

A narrow gas fireplace is cleverly incorporated into the wall design. The clean geometric style is perfect in this space.

Here the talented designer has created two distinct patios separated by an adventurous  pathway which crosses a shallow water feature. In addition, the patio in the foreground has its own unique fireplace. What holds all these elements together and gives this small garden such a wonderful feel of openness?

A short stacked stone wall runs the entire length of this garden but is intersected by rusted metal panels which form the framework for both the fire and water features. The repetition of these materials, together with the change in wall height where metal is used creates an interesting visual journey from one end of the garden to the other.

Creative screening

These unusual panels were part of a drought tolerant garden at the Denver Botanic Garden.

Mention the word screening and images of 8’ fences, groves of bamboo or rows of columnar evergreens usually comes to mind, but such dense screening isn’t always necessary or desirable. Such a uniform treatment can make the garden seem confined rather than cozy, especially if it is on the small side.

This series of stone panels (or are they cleverly crafted stucco??) at the Denver Botanic Garden caught my eye recently. They are set some distance apart yet give a clear sense of definition while at least partially obscuring what lies beyond. These panels are softened with herbaceous plantings, their tan seed heads casting interesting winter silhouettes.

I loved the way these tan seed heads looked against the screens

This type of peek-a-boo design could be also achieved wood or metal. The panels could be solid or feature cutaway designs. Each section can be placed side by side, set at an angle, or be staggered  forward and backward by a foot or so. The important thing is to establish a rhythm and a degree of transparency.  By providing somewhere for the eye to stop in the ‘mid ground’ we prevent it from automatically focusing on the background, and sometimes that is all that is needed.

Multi-purpose and multi-level

This wall design was my inspiration for this entire post! My friend and author Debra Prinzing has discussed it in her latest article for Houzz; Ornament Your Garden The Artful Way.  

Form, function and artistic expression are equally represented in this imaginative retaining wall. The wall itself spans the entire length of the garden, but instead of feeling like a barrier it is a focal point. Blending warm ipe wood, smooth stucco and rough stone creates an exciting textural tapestry. By overlapping rectangular panels and well-proportioned pillars the design becomes a three dimensional sculpture and allows for the incorporation of a seating bench and fire pit.

A cutaway area reveals the garden beyond it but the two walls remain connected by a section of low profile stone. This was a key design decision as without that stone ledge the appearance would have been of two separate walls and the expansiveness of the design lost.

This wall marks a transition from the cultivated lawn close to the house and the wilder plantings beyond, yet maintains a sense of continuum from one side of the garden to the other. The well placed bowl and sphere are perfect points of ornamentation both in scale and understated style.

More ideas

Before you erect another fence or plant another row of arborvitae take some time to consider how you can make the most out of the space. Maybe build an arbor into one section of a wooden fence? Or raised beds with deep capstones for seating which project from a stone wall? Perhaps at least staggering the placement of trees? Rather than just using one material what about combining two? Or using color to add punch to some areas?

I’d love to see how you solve this design dilemma. Do email me photos of your projects and share your inspiration!

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I had the opportunity to visit the Denver Botanic Gardens last week. As I pulled on thermals, several layers of fleece and my thickest socks I began to doubt my sanity! Temperatures were well below zero and I was the only person outside; other visitors were safely ensconced in the tropical steaminess of the orchid house or sipping hot coffee in the café. I wasn’t even too sure what to expect. I mean who has a garden that looks good in January? Certainly in our home gardens we can usually point proudly to a few berried bushes, interesting bark plus maybe a grass or two but the expectation is much greater for a large public garden.

Yet I was not disappointed.

My first stop was the Monet pool.  Studded with dozens of water lilies in summer I had no idea what to expect in these arctic temperatures. The lake was iced cover disguised with a soft layer of snow yet the fountains were breathtaking. As the water continued to bubble up it had formed rippling ice sculptures, each like a miniature glacier, especially with their surreal mint julep glow.

Japanese gardens are known for their restraint and year round beauty. Expertly pruned Japanese maples revealed their intricate branching structure now freed of their delicate foliage. These combined with assorted conifers, again lovingly pruned into open cloud formations and large granite boulders give the impression that this garden would look just as full in high summer as it did that day. Wooden bridges traversed the frozen streams while stone statuary adorned the lakeside. Presiding over it all was an enormous birch tree whose pristine white bark reflected the snow in this monochromatic winter garden.

Perhaps though I was most entranced by the undulating layers of grasses I found throughout the gardens. Crushed gravel pathways were lined by massed plantings of Mexican feather grass (Stipa tenuissima), with color interest added by russet sedges (Carex species). Their billowing shapes softened the low stone walls and added a sense of intimacy, since it was not possible to see beyond them except for tantalizing glimpses. (See top photo)

Giant silver grass (Miscanthus) towered overhead, the bleached foliage rustling dramatically in the slightest breeze. Ice crystals added diamond like sparkle to their feathery plumes. Standing alone, backed by a wall or juxtaposed with the bare, twisted branches of sumac (Rhus ) these were the most dramatic elements of the winter garden to my eyes and were worth my frozen fingers as I moved the tripod yet again trying to capture the perfect shot.

Grasses also played a central role in smaller vignettes and I was particularly struck by a cactus seemingly corralled by Mexican feather grass in one of the drought tolerant gardens. A friend called this combination ‘Ambush’ which perfectly describes how these soft grasses have surrounded the wicked spiny paddles of the prickly pear. No escape!

Was it worth the visit? Absolutely. I came away inspired to continue to develop my own winter vignettes and also to take the time to walk around my garden even on cold days. Certainly I look forward to spring but there is so much to appreciate at this time of year also.

Have you designed for winter?

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