planting design
inspiration
nature
As a designer my inspiration is rooted in natural landscapes. My artistic ambitions lie in creating stylized versions of nature with the use of a selective yet diverse plant palette consisting primarily of flowers and ornamental grasses.
The term "planting design" suggests that I am plant focused and seek to use herbaceous perennial plants in artistic combinations. I am part of a modern gardening movement whose founding members have coined the term "contemporary naturalistic" to describe the style of their work and use of ornamental plants.
herbaceous perennials
artistic medium
Plant combinations, as determined by a plant palette, are focused on the inherent structure of plants, working to combine different shapes and textures to create an aesthetically and intellectually stimulating design that goes beyond the superficiality of color.
Nature is in a state of constant and dynamic change from season to season. Herbaceous perennial plants that reflect this change while remaining beautiful are said to have a "long season of interest", and importance is placed on utilizing this diversity so that plantings are attractive from spring into winter, with the last remaining seed heads persisting until the following spring.
Priority is given to wild flowers and closely related cultivars that retain a more natural look, are robust in their growth, and are low maintenance, all of which are essential to the aesthetic of the design. Flowering succession is most often staged with a small show in the spring, increasing into mid-summer with a climatic show late summer into fall.
soil preparation
low-maintenance
Soil preparation is an all-important beginning toward a healthy, beautiful, and low-maintenance garden. Amendments such as peat moss and compost are used in generous amounts relinquishing the need for any further soil preparation in the future. Maintenance is reduced and the establishment and maturation of the new planting is rapid with nothing to impede its growth.
Often it is best to prepare the soil in the fall in preparation for a spring planting. This allows the soil to mellow and clods to break down through freezing and thawing over the winter. The following spring the soil is rototilled once more and the plants are installed when the weather is most to their advantage. The likely hood of acquiring the needed stock for a design is also greater if an order is placed ahead of time and then fulfilled during the main season of propagation.
stylized environments
involvement
The placement of plants within a design is highly intermingled, allowing for beautiful and intriguing combinations to be built-up, with the spontaneous and holistic feel of a natural environment. This type of planting is best displayed in a non-traditional border layout. This means greater depth of planting area away from the house in a non-linear fashion (open border), similar and distinct areas of planting in eyeshot of each other, and a balance tipped more in favor of garden then lawn, which is used more extensively for access and pathway.
Careful attention is given to the inherited environment so that the design embraces not only the ecology of place but also the intuitive sense of place. Ultimately, the goal is to immerse the individual in this stylized version of nature. As a result, while coming and going with the daily routine of modern life, one might be inclined to stop and look and slow down for a moment, to relish the beauty, emotion, and intrigue of plants and nature.