A formal garden, or parterre, consists of symmetrical, planted beds connected by gravel paths. A French invention, the formal garden has gone in and out of style for more than 400 years. Certainly this type of garden is not very modern even though it may be as exquisitely geometric as a minimalist design. A formal garden requires historical skills to create, establish and … [Read more...]
Living Wall Summer Garden
Changes blend hedge walls and topiaries in the garden at Holker Hall, a stately English home. One day I hope to find a tour that will permit me to more fully explore my passion for gardens with hedge walls topiaries. The idea of imposing geometric forms on and hedges and trees is at both fascinating and mysterious though perhaps only because it is so far outside my own … [Read more...]
Outdoor Living Walls
Architectural hedges -- living walls -- are something I long for in my garden. Even confirmed non-gardeners like myself can have dream gardens. Mine has living walls -- architectural hedges though it’s highly unlikely I shall ever have them. Imagine the skill it takes to sculpt hedges into walls and then to maintain them without even a naughty branch escaping. Surely it … [Read more...]
All Green Gardens
Some crave neutral interiors and want color in the garden. I like the reverse -- all green gardens. At this time of the year – the first official day of summer – my focus naturally turns to gardens. Even though I’ve freely admitted in the past that I Hate Gardening and I’m tragically allergic to mosquito bites, I’m an ardent admirer of beautiful outdoor spaces. For a long … [Read more...]