gardenrooms

Daphne

The Daphne are beginning to bud here in Portland and this is one of my favorite evergreen shrubs. What I like about this shrub is when most things haven't yet bloomed, daphne odora makes it's appeareance and has a wonderful scent to boot. I plant them in containers by doors or in the ground close to windows and or doorways so they can scent the area as much as possbile while they're blooming. Orginally, Daphne is a native to Japan and China.  In Japan it's referred to as Jinchoge. It prefers full sun to partial shade, and you can propogate daphne in the summer from a cutting but it doesn't like being transplanted. I guess that's another reason to pot this little cherub of a shrub in a container !

image from growsonyou.

 

H.I.G.H.

I've been looking for a special occasion dress and happened upon this fabulous company by Claire Campbell. H.I.G.H.  I hope you will like her beautiful philosophy and aesthetic as much as I do. Enjoy~

 

Seed Catalogs

I've been planning a herb garden for the last few months, here's a good source for Seeds.  Annie's heirloom seeds. Use the TryAnnies coupon for 50 percent off your first order. cheers !

A California Garden for Children

While working in SF this last week, I redesigned a garden for children. It should look pretty 'sweet' once things start growing in. It was dark and densely filled with many shrubs before we began. We thinned it out and built flagstone paths for the children to walk on and planted violets for ground cover with lavender, sage and breath of heaven. At the top of the garden we put in a little playhouse with herbs and vegetables in the beds below it. At the bottom of the garden we leveled out an area and used decompsed granite (DG), making a spot for little bikes and and balls to be played on more easily. There's even a pen built for the dog with gravel (good for clean up's). Great family and great week of work in sunny California. Back in the Pacific NW now and different weather :) robynpopegardens.com Cheers !

Lemons

When life gives you lemons make lemonade.. where did that saying come from anyway ? Planting some lemons for a client and choosing lemon pots today. My favorite are Meyer Lemons, small & sweet like my adorable niece ! 1.williams sonoma 2.keep calm gallery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

thanks g for sharing your room with me while i'm in sf :)

A Colorful Backdrop

Love these images from Jardin et terrasse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Convallaria majalis

One of my favorite flowers is lily of the valley. This garden in my neighborhood has it growing everywhere in the Spring.. can't wait to see it again. Careful planting it if you have children or pets, as it's very poisonous. 

 

 

 photos by me and 19th century drawing found on wikipedia 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspiration Board

My daughter is helping with some very exciting projects this year and just put together an inspiration board for 2012. Hoping to incorporate all of these images into the year. Have a great first day back and welcome to January !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

images and photos from garden rooms.

A Relatively 'young' Garden

This 'young' public garden is known for growing roses and it's feeling of the classic romantic rose garden. It was first planted in 1750 and designed by Capability Brown. It sits in Northeast England near the border with Scotland, and is called Almwick Garden. I found these wonderful photos of Alberic Barbier, Jacqueline Dupres', Adeliane D'Orleans and Iceberg climbing roses. I love their muted colors. I've been thinking of getting some bare root roses and now is the time. 

hortmag.com kindness of Ruthie, thank you Ruthie :) roses ~ davidaustinroses.com

January

Testing out the new design minus banner. Bonne Annee !

photo by kate.