Garden Design No. 32 - Architectural Salvage in the Garden

Admiration to the one who looks at a former spire of a cathedral church, takes it apart and rebuilds it in a garden. What a way to take architectural salvage that is patina-colored with moss-covered crevices but filled with history and memory and stand it proud in its next home. 

Whether the architectural salvage used in the garden is from a church or not it all inspires an environmental quiet reverence to its visitor. The origin of this salvage could be unknown and still the regard for its story subtly asked for appreciation.

The hooves of the horses and the paths they took that caused the shoes on the sphere to be worn down can tell your story if you want. Horse back riding on the paths you took. The wagon wheel that now acts as a window in the ivy covered stone wall may have been found in an abandoned field with a history unknown. Create one of your own. After all, the garden is a place for reflection to nourish our soul - so what trip did you take carting a wagon or not, that is the nearest to your heart?

Whose porch the fretwork and columns came from are yours to discover. The weathered and chipped paint on the columns that held up that porch probably had a wooden plank floor to match. What stories were told on that porch with an iced tea in hand regardless if it was a sunny or a stormy day?

Where did the pieces come from that created the rusty poppy flower pods? And what earth did the salvaged shovels move that created the giant pine cones? These histories are yours to discover.

The discarded architectural concrete that was salvaged and placed in the garden by the fern to be covered in moss - where did they come from? And what stone mason carved the details into them?

What story does the de-spoked wagon wheel turned water feature have? 

One thing they both have in common is a place in history that is preserved by someone who knew it wasn't time to close the book, their story isn't over yet.

You don't have to know the history of architectural salvage you use in your garden. You are the honorary owner of this piece in history, its guardian. The chime of the skeleton and clock keys bids you ado with a tone of appreciation, giving it to you with its harmonious song conducted by the breeze in the garden. Welcome to your sanctuary! Drink it in with all five senses.

Be inspired!

Sources: Remove and Replace, Terrain, Etsy, Old World Garden, Carolyne Roehm, Three Dogs in a Garden, Heir and Space, Pinterest

Garden Design No. 31 - What Does A Painter, A Gardener, and A Leadership Book Have in Common?

 

British Artist, Cedric Morris (1889-1982) was the only person of his generation to achieve national stature as both a painter and a plantsman says the Garden Museum in London. And Sarah Price did him proud at this year's Chelsea Flower Show with her Painterly Garden display. 

This garden's design inspired by Morris' paintings, his love for bearded iris, he cultivated over 90 new irises - is dear to my heart. My Mom loved her garden row of bearded irises that was planted between our vegetable garden and our row of clothes line. She called them flag iris and the internet goes back and forth about the difference between the two designations. So we will just call them irises.

What I did learn about the iris flower is that it is said to symbolize power, with the three parts representing wisdom, faith, and courage. That definitely defines my Mom - wise, faithful, and courageous. 

I can only imagine what standing in Sarah Price's painterly garden, inspired by Morris must have felt like. The photographs of this garden alone, have me awestruck. I've never experienced the reverse story of a live object mimicking a painting, only a painting inspired by a live object. I'm grateful for the experience of the photographs and the story behind this garden design that in itself inspires me. 

So what does a painter, a gardener, and a leadership book have in common? One of the books I am currently reading is "The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership."  Commitment #2 - Learning Through Curiosity, challenges the reader to be "present now - totally available to the moment and to what the moment brings."

At first, I dove into this commitment with the thought of looking for every "live" moment and making sure I was present in that moment. But this strange collision of my love of flowers and paintings, curiosity in what was new at the flower show this year, and my latest unrelated read -  presented a new meaning to what a moment is exactly. 

Here's what I found, that when one is learning to align their interests with their purpose and growth,  more and more moments become aha moments I think because we are looking for them with expectation and our soul is craving them.

When an artist/botanist, a garden designer, a memory of my Mom, and a leadership book all collide, it's a beautiful moment.  Curiosity is a funny thing.

Sources: 2023 Chelsea Flower Show, Garden Museum of London, Gardenista, Pinterest, The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership

Garden Design No. 30 - Chinese Chippendale in the Garden & The Psychology of Shapes

 

We need to be living our lives with more meaningful observation. One such area is in the choices we make for our home and garden.  When the choice has a story the choice becomes more meaningful. We chose it not because it was just the latest trend or because it was a pretty piece. We also chose it because it means something. It has a story to tell.

And even if we keep the story it is telling a secret just for us, that's alright. Especially in our garden. 

Think of the saying, "ancient Chinese secret" or the soul nourishing moments you have experienced in your gardens. And now let me share a theory about the psychology of shapes and Chinese Chippendale in the garden. 

If we study just a bit the shapes found in the Chippendale design we notice the circle, the square, the triangle and both vertical and horizontal lines. This after we take in the breathtaking overall design. And perhaps even the shadows the overall design casts on a sunny day.

But the true satisfaction of noticing these shapes is understanding the meaning of each one. Here are the meanings according to the psychology of shapes.

Circle: the circle shape signifies harmony, the sense of calm, love.

Square: the square shape elicits stability and balance.

Triangle: the triangle shape conveys strength and energy.

Vertical Line: the vertical line communicates tranquility.

Horizontal Line: the horizontal line gives a sense of moving through time.

Just like flowers have meaning and history. So does the Chippendale design. Incorporating these meanings into our gardens brings life to our souls. Soul nourishing calm, harmony, balance, strength, tranquility and movement. And when I say gardens - I mean even those potted gardens on a lovely quaint porch. Meaning can come in small packages like a Chippendale planter.

Be mindful of these meanings when designing your garden gate, or fence, or gazebo, or bench. Make sure you remember the simplicity of life when introducing them into your garden. After all, these meanings are not heard or felt in the loudest moments of our lives, but when we stop, pause and listen in silence.

I wish you calm, harmony, strength, tranquility, and movement. Be inspired!

Resources: Content in the Cottage, Southern Living, Houzz, Elle Decor, Hull Millwork, Shelley Johnson Design, Garden Sheds, Inc., Chelsea and Meade, Pinterest

Garden Design No. 29 - Outdoor Privacy

Privacy is a funny thing. It's our desire to be free from being observed by other people. Yet we crave the need to see outward. Block the inward glances into our arena, but allow us to have the transparency to peek outward. It is our need for human connection and hunger of our curiosity, within our discretion.

In this blogpost I'm exploring the cocooning of outdoor privacy and how it cradles us in comfort. A well thought out design of privacy in our outdoor living spaces is important. Keep mindfulness of architecture at the forefront. Adding privacy outdoors is more than just a fence. A fence locks us in, confines us, creates limitations. 

Consider that the application of outdoor privacy is not always necessary in the entire landscape. It is not to create a fortress; rather a serene haven for us alone. The height of the structure, spacing between the frame that provides the privacy, and even the coloration of the barrier all are important design elements.

Watch that the angles and symmetry of the outdoor privacy structure are harmonious with your landscape design. Our pride will want us to allow the world a sneak peek into our world, our joy of the garden - our haven. Suffocation is not privacy. The warmth of the sun, movement of our plantings from the breeze, and music of the rain are all still welcome. 

Although I love pleasant surprises, I love a plan as well. Plan for the beauty of the shadows that will be cast into your outdoor privacy from the sun and moon light. Plan for the view you still have from inside your outdoor privacy because you were attentive to the height and placement of the structure.

Add furnishings for comfort and continuity. Add plantings in well curated pottery. Add accessories with a careful hand.

An oxymoron it may be, but let's call it transparent outdoor privacy. Allow your outdoor privacy to still say welcome...by invitation only. The lucidity can be stunning. 

Outdoor privacy can create outdoor "rooms" that offer up spaces to entertain with intimacy, converse with openness, or party like it's 1999. Use a light hand as to not build too many outdoor "rooms". For the yearn for outdoors is not to close us back in; it is to feel free and breathe deep.

Don't forget the five elements of Zen environments - void, earth, water, fire, and air. These are important for your outdoor privacy. Other elements I highly recommend are texture and placement.

Now here comes my design snobbery. Please step away from the lattice and do not even go near anything plastic as materials for your outdoor privacy.  Keep it natural, organic. Your style interpretation is a must so vintage upcycle if that is your passion and a compliment to your landscape. Modern if that is your fancy. Clarity of expression is top priority. Be certain it is done right and made to last.

Wishes for time well spent in your outdoor privacy. For glorious sunsets and moonlit dancing!

Sources: Gardenista, Pinterest, Iotagarden, Omglifestyle, Homezideas, Vignette Design Blog

Garden Design No. 28 - Modern Container Garden

The phrase "bring the outdoors in" has been used in the interior design world almost to overexposure. I'm inspired to bring the inside out from a modern interior. The organic geometry of a modern interior can bring a breath of fresh air into our gardens. So let's take a look at modern container gardening.

Even if your interior is not modern why not give it a try for something different in this year's garden design? 

Modern container gardening is form over flower. This doesn't mean you won't be enjoying color in your planters. The coloration of modern outdoor plants, and even those houseplants you only bring out in warmer temperatures offer an array of light and dark. Some almost an iridescence and shimmer, compliments of the warm sun's rays.

Grasses are perfect for the modern container gardens. Taller grasses can provide an living hedge and add movement to your gardens. Another advantage of the movement of ornamental grasses in the modern container garden is the sound they bring. Close your eyes, relax and listen, there's nothing like it.

Many recommended plants for the modern container garden are low upkeep. Plants such as horsetail grass, agave, any variety of succulents, mondo grass, evergold sedge green, inkberry and mosses to name a few.

The clarity of the color palette will raise your awareness of the form of each plant. Something often missing when using a multitude of flowering plants in containers. Don't get me wrong I love the traditional flowering garden containers, however rethinking your garden from one year to another can be a delightful surprise.

Sculpture is a must with modern container gardening. I'm partial to forms like round stone orbs in varying sizes clustered with the modern container garden. Or an artful planter and rustic,simplistic pottery.

Repetitive plantings in matching containers keeps the modern container garden polished. Think sculptural, cubism, surrealism. Whether your interior is modern or not, give modern container gardening a try this year in your garden. Even if you decide just a little modern is enough, consider doing it only in the front or back gardens. Transitional design isn't reserved for the interior of our home.

The container selection is an integral part of the modern container gardening. It should be a contrast or compliment to your home's exterior color palette. The plants inside those containers will be striking in matte black containers or warm and inviting in a earthen container.

 

You'll find that some of your favorite outdoor plants can easily be incorporated into modern container gardening. Just keep in mind form and sculpture. Whether single plantings or cluster plantings in one pot remember less is more in modern design. 

A modern garden focuses on sophistication and leans on the simplicity of Asian garden design. It is uncluttered and uses organic, matted, stone and wood to compliment the plantings. Minimalist themes are the secret to modern container gardening.

May your journey with modern container gardening be your new zen!

Sources: Garden Design, Restoration Hardware, The Spruce, Pinterest, Growing Light, Better Homes & Gardens, HGTV, Gardener's Path, Terrazo