Comments on: Garden design for the clueless http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/garden-design-for-the-clueless/ Making a little time grow a long way Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:11:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The StopWatch Gardener http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/garden-design-for-the-clueless/comment-page-1/#comment-154 The StopWatch Gardener Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:40:13 +0000 http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/?p=261#comment-154 One more thing Susan - Allan has just told me he's recently updated a top 12 list of his most highly recommended books on flower gardening...and in addition to Tony Lord's, you'll find some other great titles. If you go here http://allanbecker-gardenguru.squarespace.com/ and look in the right hand margin you can see Allan's list. One more thing Susan – Allan has just told me he’s recently updated a top 12 list of his most highly recommended books on flower gardening…and in addition to Tony Lord’s, you’ll find some other great titles. If you go here http://allanbecker-gardenguru.squarespace.com/ and look in the right hand margin you can see Allan’s list.

]]> By: The StopWatch Gardener http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/garden-design-for-the-clueless/comment-page-1/#comment-153 The StopWatch Gardener Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:50:06 +0000 http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/?p=261#comment-153 Thanks Susan for your comments! Allan Becker has recommended “Best Borders” by Tony Lord and I also really value that book. It has excellent photographs and some good ideas on plant combinations. Not sure if it is available in Germany, but probably you could get it. One of the most disappointing things I ever bought on plant combinations was a magazine in America, dedicated to this very subject. The ideas were awful and the combinations very lacklustre! Thanks Susan for your comments! Allan Becker has recommended “Best Borders” by Tony Lord and I also really value that book. It has excellent photographs and some good ideas on plant combinations. Not sure if it is available in Germany, but probably you could get it.

One of the most disappointing things I ever bought on plant combinations was a magazine in America, dedicated to this very subject. The ideas were awful and the combinations very lacklustre!

]]> By: Susan Bertkau http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/garden-design-for-the-clueless/comment-page-1/#comment-152 Susan Bertkau Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:13:29 +0000 http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/?p=261#comment-152 Although I am a Landscape Architect I don't know as much about plants and designing with them as I would like to. Neither in Germany nor here are enough plant related subjects during studies to get the hang of it. Now I am trying to expand my knowledge whereever I can - visiting botanical gardens and taking pictures of plants and plant combinations that work well and are labelled. I agree - I too wish there was a book showing well working combinations with plant names and design principles. One book I have come across is 'Take two Plants' but unfortunately it has a very limited palette... Still might be worth a look. Great blog :-) Although I am a Landscape Architect I don’t know as much about plants and designing with them as I would like to. Neither in Germany nor here are enough plant related subjects during studies to get the hang of it. Now I am trying to expand my knowledge whereever I can – visiting botanical gardens and taking pictures of plants and plant combinations that work well and are labelled.
I agree – I too wish there was a book showing well working combinations with plant names and design principles. One book I have come across is ‘Take two Plants’ but unfortunately it has a very limited palette… Still might be worth a look.

Great blog :-)

]]> By: Allan Becker http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/garden-design-for-the-clueless/comment-page-1/#comment-118 Allan Becker Sun, 10 Jan 2010 02:56:14 +0000 http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/?p=261#comment-118 My inspiration for flowerbed design comes from the book titled "Best Borders" by Tony Lord. My inspiration for flowerbed design comes from the book titled “Best Borders” by Tony Lord.

]]> By: The StopWatch Gardener http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/garden-design-for-the-clueless/comment-page-1/#comment-68 The StopWatch Gardener Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:13:37 +0000 http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/?p=261#comment-68 Lisa G. -- it's funny you should mention that, because yesterday I was wondering what the results would look like if I dedicated a small part of the garden to a design "recipe" from one of my books. It might be a good experiment, but I'm not too sure it would feel satisfying. I think I'd rather struggle to implement the design principles myself rather than do a paint-by-number job. Lisa G. — it’s funny you should mention that, because yesterday I was wondering what the results would look like if I dedicated a small part of the garden to a design “recipe” from one of my books. It might be a good experiment, but I’m not too sure it would feel satisfying. I think I’d rather struggle to implement the design principles myself rather than do a paint-by-number job.

]]> By: LisaG http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/garden-design-for-the-clueless/comment-page-1/#comment-65 LisaG Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:04:17 +0000 http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/?p=261#comment-65 I used to "design" my garden layouts on grid paper and plant accordingly. I had tidy spaces of color and size, leaf contrast etc. It looked like a "designed" garden. My approach now is more artistic. Plant what I love mixed together and plunk in more as it grows. Plants are wonderfully forgiving (most) and can be moved if needed. I find now that my garden is more an expression of me and less an expression of someone else's ideals. I used to “design” my garden layouts on grid paper and plant accordingly. I had tidy spaces of color and size, leaf contrast etc. It looked like a “designed” garden. My approach now is more artistic. Plant what I love mixed together and plunk in more as it grows. Plants are wonderfully forgiving (most) and can be moved if needed. I find now that my garden is more an expression of me and less an expression of someone else’s ideals.

]]> By: The StopWatch Gardener http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/garden-design-for-the-clueless/comment-page-1/#comment-63 The StopWatch Gardener Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:55:02 +0000 http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/?p=261#comment-63 Thanks for that Liisa -- dunno about you, but the language of design at first meant nothing to me and in fact felt alienating...including direction and flow, as you mention. It's only with several seasons of thinking about it and reading about garden design that I start to see what they mean and can appreciate the meaning behind these words. I can really recommend that German book I mentioned. Very short, great pics, clear explanations. Good luck with your garden & hope you see fab things next spring! Thanks for that Liisa — dunno about you, but the language of design at first meant nothing to me and in fact felt alienating…including direction and flow, as you mention. It’s only with several seasons of thinking about it and reading about garden design that I start to see what they mean and can appreciate the meaning behind these words. I can really recommend that German book I mentioned. Very short, great pics, clear explanations. Good luck with your garden & hope you see fab things next spring!

]]> By: Liisa http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/garden-design-for-the-clueless/comment-page-1/#comment-62 Liisa Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:53:44 +0000 http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/?p=261#comment-62 SG- "...inspiring garden photography where the plants are all identified, and clear, contextual explanations of design principles". You took the words right out of my mouth. I am a beginner myself, and I learned the hard way when it comes to planting in groups of 3, 5, or 7. I fell in love with so many plants, that my garden became a patch of "onesies" and totally lacked in direction or flow. I have found the concept of design principles to be difficult when it comes to making my own garden. I believe I have a better grasp on the subject, but we'll see come next spring, when I edit yet again. SG-
“…inspiring garden photography where the plants are all identified, and clear, contextual explanations of design principles”. You took the words right out of my mouth. I am a beginner myself, and I learned the hard way when it comes to planting in groups of 3, 5, or 7. I fell in love with so many plants, that my garden became a patch of “onesies” and totally lacked in direction or flow. I have found the concept of design principles to be difficult when it comes to making my own garden. I believe I have a better grasp on the subject, but we’ll see come next spring, when I edit yet again.

]]> By: The StopWatch Gardener http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/garden-design-for-the-clueless/comment-page-1/#comment-59 The StopWatch Gardener Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:59:43 +0000 http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/?p=261#comment-59 Deborah, Sylvana -- excellent advice thank you. I'm finding myself more and more deeply in love with my astrantia, but not too sure how to propagate it, since it doesn't set usable seed. Not sure if I should go for division or root cuttings? I've never succeeded with the latter. Les -- I would love to see your garden! I guess I was trying to make the point in the post that it's a limited palette that works rather than what's on the palate. Yours sounds a lot more lively than mine but beautiful. I really struggled with the point you make about structure. The border I've shown in this picture has no permanent structure in it, and things I have tried there look wrong. Do you use evergreens, or built structures? Thanks again for posting those camellia pictures on your blog, very inspiring. Cat, Louise -- thank you for the visit and comments! Deborah, Sylvana — excellent advice thank you. I’m finding myself more and more deeply in love with my astrantia, but not too sure how to propagate it, since it doesn’t set usable seed. Not sure if I should go for division or root cuttings? I’ve never succeeded with the latter.

Les — I would love to see your garden! I guess I was trying to make the point in the post that it’s a limited palette that works rather than what’s on the palate. Yours sounds a lot more lively than mine but beautiful. I really struggled with the point you make about structure. The border I’ve shown in this picture has no permanent structure in it, and things I have tried there look wrong. Do you use evergreens, or built structures? Thanks again for posting those camellia pictures on your blog, very inspiring.

Cat, Louise — thank you for the visit and comments!

]]> By: Les http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/garden-design-for-the-clueless/comment-page-1/#comment-58 Les Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:08:54 +0000 http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/?p=261#comment-58 I agree with you on the color palette, but I like to have lots of orange, purples, chartreuse and burgundy. I know that may not be to everyone's taste, but I like bold and vibrant. My most important design tip would be to have lots of structure, especially where the gardener tends to put in a lot of differing plants. I would like to thank you for stopping by my blog. Have a great day! I agree with you on the color palette, but I like to have lots of orange, purples, chartreuse and burgundy. I know that may not be to everyone’s taste, but I like bold and vibrant. My most important design tip would be to have lots of structure, especially where the gardener tends to put in a lot of differing plants.

I would like to thank you for stopping by my blog. Have a great day!

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