CASE STUDY• INDOOR/OUTDOOR Made of martne grade sta•nless steel Official outdoor furmture of the 2007 GARDEN DESIGN LIVEI exh1b1llon
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FEATURES 46 Once Upon a Time Twelve miles south ofTorino, Italy, Tenuta Banna revels in its past as much as it looks toward the future. The estate's gardens, restored by Paolo Pejrone, are home to roses blooming from summer into fall. BYPAULA DE LA CRuz
56 Park Life Mara Seibert's Sho~t Hills, New Jersey, home and garden became the perfect setting for her son's high school gradu· ation party last spring. The result of many years of design collaborations, the garden is much more than a backdrop. BY DONNADORIAN
64 Green Gallery A Pennsylvania garden shows the power of outdoor art to connect with nature, to seem to spring natw:ally from the earth and to draw people in deep, intuitive ways that can go beyond the experience of viewing art in a gallery or even in a home. BYBILL MARKEN
72 Bijou de Normandie After training at the Gembloux school oflandscape architec· ture in Belgium, Alexandre Thomas wenl on to transform the plot around his childhood home in Normandy into a major showcase garden called Agapanthe, after his favorite flower. BYLOUISAJONES 4 GARDEN DESIGN
MAY09
ON THE COVER Located in the Main line suburbs of Philadelphia and designed by Charlie Gale and his son, Chuck, of Gale Nurseries in Gwynedd, this garden is sited with an outstanding modern-sculpture collection. St01y on page 64. PHOTOGRAPHYBYRos CARDII w
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LIVING GREEN An existing Ron Herman landscaiPe at a res idence in Woodside, Californ ia, meets its match with a n ew meadow designed by grasses guru john Greenlee.
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LANDSCAPE Derek Fell's new book, The Gardens of Frank Lloyd Wright, sh ows how Wright's design s are right at home in the contem porary context, given his use of local materials and native plants.
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POSTAL INFORMATION Gardoo Oes;gn, Number 159 QSSN 0733-4923). Published 7 times per )"lar (January/February, March, April, May, JUly/August, September/October, Novemberll>eIWini•
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Mesl.ele Conley, 407-571·4616; mt .... - ROBS' S SPURGE Ask any gardener to name the toughest site, and the answer will be dry shade. But Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae can solve the problem. Slow to spread, it forms an evergreen groundcover 1 to 2 feet tall of deep green, lustrous leaves. Chartreuse flower heads appear in late spring and last for months. In moist, rich soil it spreads faster. Zones 5-7.
28 GARDE N DESIG N
MAY09
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A 'TASMANIAN TIGER' Discovered as a seedling of Euphorbia characias in a garden in Tasmania, this phenomenal spurge has both variegated leaves and flowers, combining blue-green with creamy w hite. Upright stems are a forest of linear leaves, forming a dense shrubby mound.ln spring through early summer, large heads of flowers hover on 2- to 3-foot stems, pale yellow and cream, with small green bow-t ie centers. Evergreen where w inters are mild. Zones 6·9. ~ 'TINYTIM'
Wit h the tongue-twisting official name of Euphorbia martini Waleutiny', it's no wonder this cushion spurge has acquired a m uch cuter appellation. Looking like a Koosh Ball, 'Tiny Tim" forms a perfect 1-foot dome of narrow blue-green leaves and a cloud of greenish-yellow bracts cupped under little red flowers. Unlike many spurges, this one continues to bloom t hroughout the season. Zones 6-8.
NATURE, NURTURE Care: Euphorbias are easy and tough, with
few problems. Some are short-lived (even so, totally worth growing) and should be divided or propagated every two to three years, either in early fall or spring. Many benefit from being cut back hard, at least by one-third, after Flowering is finished. This keeps any free-seeders from gaining the upper hand and encourages a flush of new fresh foliage. Wear gloves when handling euphorbias, and quickly wash off any milky sap that gets on your skin, as it's a strong irritant The sap also makes spurges poisonous, so be aware if you have children and pets, though rve had euphorbias and garden cats
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coexist for years without incidentperhaps the plants' skunky smell keeps them from seeming like a tasty treat. Zones: Perennial euphorbias vary in hardiness, particularly as concerns their northern edges. so check individual entries for the plants covered here. Some types are evergreen in southerly zones but are only root hardy farther north. Exposure: Euphorbias in general are sun lovers, though some will tolerate partial shade. Those with deep-purple or reddish foliage will have more-intense coloring if planted in full sun. A very few types actually prefer at least dappled shade, while others can thrive in bright sun in
the North but need part shade in t he blind1ng light of the South. Soil: One of the main benefits of growing spurges is their drought tolerance, so good drainage is key, though a few, such as E. gri(fithii 'Dixter' and E. dulcis 'Chameleon'. do prefer more moist ure t han others. Euphorbias are also not picky about soils, and most can handle sandy and average situations. For those types that tend to run and spread. fertile soils could encourage them to expand beyond their boundaries. so keeping things lean lends control. But 1f you want your E. amygda/oides var. robbiae to cover more ground faster. rich organic soil will kick things off.
If you've never considered shrubs a brilliant garden option, consider this: ColorChoice flowering shrubs are a new generation- bred and selected by expert horticulturists to give you lots of color without all the work. They bear the Proven Winners ~ seal by meeting rigorous standards for color, health, hardiness and ease of care. A colorful yard can be easy. Just look for the white Proven Winners pot at better garden centers. FLOWERING SHRUBS Visit www.provenwinners.com to learn more.
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style OUTSIDE JOB Get fresh air all day, working in the garden STORY BY DAMARIS COLHOUN
A LIGHT ANYWHERE Made of silicone rubber, the Uto by Lagranja Design/Foscarini is flexible lighting at its best. The Uto can stand up, hang down or snake along the floor (and into your garden). $573. SUITE New York, NYC, 212-421-3300, suiteny.com
A INVISIBLE OFFICE The concept behind B-uro, from the Belgian design firm Colect , was to create a piece of office furniture t hat didn't feel Uke office furniture. B-uro's Etch A Sketch form has an abstract, decorative quality; that one might slip int o its seat to polish off some paperwork seems secondary. Made from powderlacquered MDF, it works indoors and out. $8,015. Through Glottman, Miami, 305-4383711, glottman.com. Colect, 011-32-51-4083-37, colect.be. Through ABC Carpet & Home, NYC, 212 -473-3000
>- SPACE IN A JIFFY Need to build an outdoor office in a hurry? Call kitHAUS; t heir insulated, prefabricated structures -made from aluminum, glass and ipe wood feat ure a propriet ary clamping system that allows t hem to be installed in a mat ter of days (no heavy equipment required). Allow four to six weeks for delivery. Starting at $32,450. kitHAUS K3, through Design Within Reach, 4 15-676-6648 or 800-9442233, dwr.com. More models available at kitHAUS, 415-676-6648, kithaus.com 32 GAR 0 EN 0 E SIGN
MAY 09
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Danskina's Knot rug might have a t rad itional, loomlike feel (it is hand-knotted), but the t echnology is top-notch. It's this mix of old and new that makes Knot transitional; it pairs as easily with lacquer finishes as it does with wooden ones. Woven from 100-percent polypropylene yarn, Knot is waterproof and can be hosed down for clean· ing. Also available in coral, white or silver. $93 per square foot. Karkula, NYC, 212-645-2216, karkula.com
Y DREAM OFFICE If prefabricated-building kits lie on one end of the spec· trum, Tanglewood Conservatories, a Maryland-based atelier that specializes in custom garden rooms, lies on the other. Whether it's a conservatory you're after, or a 19th-century copper dome to cap off an existing structure, Tanglewood's designs are the stuff dream offices are made of. 800·2292925, tanglewoodconservatories.com
(STYLE NOTES) "We created a series of garden meeting rooms for the California Endowment with bamboo 'walls' for privacy, and wooden benches built into the planters along with movable cafe seating and tables to create flexible seating configurations." - Samantha Harris, ASLA, senior associate, Rios Clementi Hale Studios, Los Angeles "People are working from home more. We have two lawyer cl.ients in Los Angeles who were tired of commuting, and their home-office space was too cluttered and trampled by the kids. With kitHAUS, they have a separate, self-contained space where they can lock the door. They feet they are more productive." - Tom Sandonato. designer, president and co-founder, kitHAUS, Los Angeles "The outdoor stainless-steel grill and refrigerator setup brought the kitchen outdoors. The living-room environment is now being extended into the outdoors with furniture that is soft, comfortable and upholstered, fluffy pillows included. The office is following suit." - John Erik, owner and creative director, Karkuta, NYC
A TOUGH TECHNOLOGY Panasonic's Toughbooks are not designed to be house cats. This F8 model is categorized as "business-rugged," which means it will survive being dropped or spilled upon. And, wit h its global mobile Internet. this lightweight model let s you access real-time information from j ust about anywhere. If you plan to seriously rough it, try t he Toughbook 30, which comes with a sunlight viewable screen and 40 percent more battery power. Toughbook F8, $2,600; Toughbook 30, $3,600. 888-223-1012 or 800·662·3537, panasonic.corn ~
MUSICAL CHAIRS
Made from lightweight aluminum, the stackable Ice Chair by Kasper Salta makes it easy t o move between indoor spaces and outdoor ones. Available in nine colors, the Ice Chair is also a surefire way to inject a shot of color into any environment. $787. SUITE New York, NYC, 212-421-3300, suiteny.com 34 GARDEN DESIGN
MAY 09
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swatch watch SCULPTURAL STATEMENTS Make yours with these bold, modern, green fabrics STORY BY MEGAN PADILLA• PHOTOGRAPHY BY JON WHITTLE STYLING BY CHELSEA STICKEL & JASON CHAMPION
you d0 n't have to
commission a contemporary artwork to make a statement in your modern garden room. There is a dizzying array of bold outdoor fabrics to help you set the stage. In our version (shown at left), the architectural shape ofDedon's Phoenix lounge chair (shown with the Zofa side table) and Dedon's line of bold textiles are the perfect complement to the giant timber bamboo (Bambusa o!dhamii) sculpture by David Young of D\VY landscape Architects in Sarasota, Florida. All Dedon fabrics are produced by the best mills and manufa.cturers in Italy, including Arazzo (solid fabric) and Rubelli (leaf pattern). "Fashion is made in Italy and so are our fabrics," says Nicola Rapetti, design director ofDedon Worldwide. SEE SOURCEBOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION, PAGE BB
Opposite: Go for bold with JANUS et Cie's Leaf print in Green by Dedon {456-03-075-51-00), a yarn-dyed jacquard weave available in several colorways, including Champagne and Silver. $181 per yard. Use with t he complementing solid weave. shown in Solid Green (45621-075-51-00). $92 per yard. 800-245-2687, janusetcie.com. Above f rom left: (1) The contemporary stripes in Kravet's Escher in Grass (28101-130) is part of t he indoor / outdoor Wat erworks collection of high-performance and low-maintenance fabrics. $145 per yard. To the trade. 800-645-9068, kravet.com. (2) Ka likia is woven t o mimic dyed canvas wit h a Fijian color palette. such as lush greens wit h a pop of ruby chenille. $173 per yard. 205-987-3100 or 888-868-4267, summerclassics.com. (3) Osborne & Little's Monserrat (color 02) is a reversible tropical-leaf print, abst ract in its composition. To t he trade. 877-322-7420, osborneandlittle.com. (4) Moroccan-inspired Tang ier in Parrot, by Nomi, features the same arched, curving lines found on buildings throughout t he ancient capital city. The fully reversible woven fabric creat es a built-in coordinate. To t he t rade. 831-728-4335, nomiinc.com. See additional swatches at gardendesign.com/swatchwatch MAY 09 GARDEN DESIG N
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rden gourmet LOBSTER BOIL Spring is the time for refined seafood dining STORY BY LAUREN GRYMES
For a classic garden-party menu, nothing says highstyle elegance like lobster. ln the modern outdoorkitchen realm, appliances available for lobster and other shellfish preparation are rising beyond the tried-and-true grilL 'Ober-powerful side burners and compact grills speed things up. And when the openair dinner is presented on hard-wearing furniture with stylish tableware, suddenly setting out a beautiful, succulent spread is as carefree for the hostess as slipping on her favorite little black dress.
A MAINE COURSE Dining on lobster needn't be intimidating when you've got handy tools like these from Williams-Sonoma. The Lobster Picks are $49.95 for a set of four, the Lobster Pliers are $49.95 each (only at select stores), and the Mauviel copper ~uart butter warmer is $99.95 (only at select stores). The Flipper bamboo cutting board, $49.95, was designed by chef and author Curtis Stone; flip the board in its tray (not shown) to keep your meat and veggie chopping surfaces separate. 877-812·6235, williams-sonoma.com. The woven and stain-resistant out door fabric, Coordonnee by DelGreco Textiles is from the Paule Marrot Editions collection; shown in Nuit. To the trade. 866· 485·4080, delgrecotextiles.com ~
ROOM IN THE VIEW
The best table in the house is outside the house when your party gathers around Gloster's dignified Halifax dining arrangement. Formal without being fussy, the furniture is made of finely crafted teak; the longest of the two extending tables ($5,236 for the small table and $5,880 for the large table) reaches to an impressive 126 inches. The dining chair is $868 with arms and $784 without arms. 434-575·1003, gloster.com
BARTLETT. BECAUSE EVERY TREE IS A FAMILY TREE.
PRU NI NG . FERTILIZATION . PEST & DISEASE MANAGEME NT . R.EMOVA L PLEASE CALL 877 BARTLETT 877 .227 .8538 OR VISIT BARTLETT. COM
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- Cover large urns with removable round glass or stone tops. The urns can act as garden sculpture and t hen double as tabletops du ring a party. The bigger the urns, the better. > Hang lanterns and candle-lit chandeliers from t he trees and set candles on the tabletops. Lighting is everything.
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Left: Entertaining terrace at one side of the house offers views of the garden and sculpture - but never more than one piece at a time. Left, below: Ellsworth Kelly's stainless-steel sculpture, resting on gray gravel at the front entry, sets the tone for modern pieces inside the main garden. Opposite: A terrace off the master bedroom overlooks a stone-edged rill bubbling down a slope and flanked by ferns and other shade-lovers.
eople don't ask to touch the Lichtenstein hanging on your wall. But in this leafy-green Pennsylvania garden, they ask if they can walk on the outdoor art. Such is the magnetism of the sculpture collection's natural forms and materials that garden visitors are drawn to the pieces as they might be to a sun-sparkled stream or shaggy-barked patriarchal tree. Visitors amble along, but are req uested not to walk on, a shimmering slate homage to the nearby Schuylkill River- family dogs, deer and foxes are not shy about stepping on it. People stroH with awe through the massive steel panels of a piece by Richard Serra. Children sometimes sit on the stone bases of a trio of striking stainless-steel figures, and birds fly through and around them. The garden shows the power of outdoor art to connect with nature, to seem to spring naturally from the earth and draw people in deep, intuitive ways that can go beyond the experience of viewing art in a gallery or in a home. The garden is in the historic Main Line suburbs west of Philadelphia, developed in the 19th century by the Pennsylvania Railroad that ran through the area. Tt's a region of rolHng hills, creeks and, at one time, many meadows near the Schuylkill River. The tradition includes gracious homes on large properties with big trees and lawns and formal style. The 1940 classic movie The Philadelphia Story took place there. Nearby, the elegant and eclectic Chanticleer, once an estate and now a public garden, shows the area's horticultural potential and design legacy. The owners of this garden bought the property in 1990. They renovated the origirlalt88os house and called irl Charlie Gale and his son, Chuck, of Gale Nurseries in nearby Gwynedd, to redesign and rebuild the garden for today. The Gales created a walled forecourt in front, cleared u nhealthy trees, replaced antiquated plantings, developed an exquisite entry to the bacl< garden, added terraces, redid the swimming pool, created a rill and shade garden, and overall provided an organization that made the garden much more usable for enjoyment and entertaining. 66
(A later purchase of an adjacent property added a meadow and ancient apple orchard.) Most of the property remained in natural meadows and woodland a perfect backdrop for what was to come. The turning point came when the owners began incorporating art into the restored home. They started out looking for "English sporting art," which may have complemented the style of the original home, but discovered that their tastes ran more to the contemporary. They went with contemporary throughout the home - and, soon after that, outdoors as well. With four major works now in place, the piece that "defines the main vista of our property," according to the owners, is called SchuyLkill River Line by Richard Long. Long has described many of his site-specific pieces as "a1t made by wal1king," and walking is what he did to start here. The owners invited him to their home in 2001 and tumed over the assignment to him. It was a somewhat "scary process," they say, respectfully entrusting the artist to "do whatever you think." Long strolled the property, and after he got to know it, traced an outline a few feet from the back terrace and down the lawn for 435 feet. Gale Nurselies dug a 4-foot trench 4 inches deep and covered it with a loose-gravel mix. Long went to work, and on two summer days, with temperatures topping 90 degrees, put in place by hand 13 tons of red slate slabs from Granville, New York. The work replicates the natural course and lyrical spirit of the meandering river. As Long says in one ofhis dictums, "Sculpture could now be about place as well as material and form." If the river flows silently, the Richard Serra piece Vice-Versa is anything but. The owners call it "imposing": two somewhat parallel panels of Cor-ten steel, t6 feet tall, 40 feet long - large enough to make watching sunlight on it a special experience. The owners say Serra had never seen his full piece installed in the open (though he'd seen it inside a gallery in Chelsea) and liked the way it "breathed" in the garden. The Conversation, by Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa, is a grouping of three figures made of a mash-up of random stainless-steel letters of the alphabet. They're faceless since, as the artist says, "No person is ever finished. " The owners asked Plensa to investigate the property, and he selected a spot apart from the other sculptures, with a simple grassy knoll to set off the figures, resting
Opposite: Sculptor Richard Long's river of red slate, embedded in the sloping lawn, resembles the natural course of the nearby Schuylkill River. Right, top: A gate leads to the back garden through a hedge of Thuja plicata. In the foreground, a curvy barberry hedge matches the geometric spirit of contemporary sculpture; it is precisely pruned to display an open groove down its center. Right: More garden geometry appears around the simple rectangular pool, with formally arranged sitting areas.
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Left: Living sculpture is a leaning apple t ree, near a venerable orchard. Left, be· low: The rill ends downslope in a circular pond designed with the curving bench in mind. Opposite: Light plays off Richard Serra's monumental piece, 16 feet tall by 40 feet long, creating everchanging colors and patterns.
on stone bases. The owners can view them from their home office, and with their lightness and see-through quality and the natural poses of their convers· ing, they add a note of serenity and, in the winter, magic, their bases covered with snow and sunlight gleaming off them. If you've ever struggled with hanging pictures on a wail, you can imagine what placing sculptures in a garden is like. The owners, working with Chuck Gale, wanted to avoid a "carnival look," with a midway of sculptures to view. Each is displayed in its own area, any two of them separated by a wall of ever· greens (mainly Leyland cypress). While viewing one piece, at most you get just a glimpse of another. To view aU, you stroll from one to the next, like moving from one room in a gallery to the next. You take in each for what it is -the individual piece and its setting reinforcing one another. The rest of the garden, as su bstantial and lovely as it is, also revolves around sculpture and is designed to highlight, not compete with it. Plantings are delib· erately understated, with few flowers to distract from the art. One exception is a flourish of annuals in an old fountain surround brought onto the property and filled with lacy purple Verbena bonariensis and the heirloom Verbena 'Homestead Purple' - a rich combination that blooms all season. An entertaining terrace, sized to fit tents for parties, was sited with viewing art in mind. By moving around on the terrace, guests can view the Long and Serra pieces. The sculptures seem to invite guests into the garden for a closer look. The low-key pool area offers open views of the garden. Matching terraces at either end hold identical sets offurniture similarly arranged. The main planting consists of the long-blooming, low-maintenance 'Carefree Wonder' shrub rose. A smaller terrace off a master-bedroom suite overlooks a 1ill built with local stone, flowing down to a pond and bench at the bottom of the slope. The flanking shade garden relies on texture and greenery, not flowers, for interest: red buds and white flowering dogwoods with an understory ofcolumbines, Siberian iris, ferns and Lamium. The overall effect is much like the sculpture collection: minimal and clear in form, sturdy and natural in material, deep in the emotions inspired. I" SEE SOURCEBOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION, PAGE BB 70
hen I grow up, I want to be a garden!" Alexandre Thomas, the little boy who said that some 40 years ago is now a star of the French garden world. After training at the Gembloux landscape architecture school in Belgium, he went on to transform the plot around his childhood home in Normandy into a major showcase garden, called Les Jardins Agapanthe (Agapanthus), after a favorite Aower. It resembles its maker: original, elegant, full of subtle charm, meticulously presented but never "uptight," and above all, bubbling over with enthusiasm. Alexandre's mother, Joseline, supported his dream all the way, taking him when he was still a toddler on her rounds to all the local antiques dealers. Today he collects both rare plants and exquisite garden furnishings, which enhance Agapantbe at every turn. Mum helps weed and discretely runs the tea shop. Work on Agapanthe began in 1985, when a Hat surface of about half an acre was bulldozed into contrasting levels - here a sunken field of
lavender, there a mounded bank planting of shrubs such as Mahonia, punc· tuated by delphiniums and Iris germanica. By zooo, the garden planted with about 2,ooo species was composed of three main parts: the Garden of Intimacy (or shady garden), with hellebores, hydrangea and 'White Triumphator' tulips; the sunny Garden of Light, the most open space, suddenly unveiled and planted with dumps of Helichrysum italicum, white 'Iceberg' roses, penstemons and Allium 'Giobemaster'; and finally the Mediterranean gar· den, laid out on stone-wall terraces around an olive tree. By then, the total area covered was more than an acre and seems even larger thanks to a care· fully designed sequence of artfully arranged scenes involving cross-views, corners and clearings suddenly opening into long perspectives. Each picture is richly textured and softly colored, with flowers in blue, pink and white dominating, and punctuated with interesting antiques- urns, vases, gates, fountains, pergolas, benches, tables and chairs. Pathways also vary in tex· ture and tone and are rarely straight, since curves provide both shelter from wind and cold, and screens for dramatic unveilings. The word "scenography" (creating stage scenes) has entered French garden vocabulary in recent years, and Alexandre is both a pioneer and a master of this art. As he says: "Agapanthe is a multifaceted garden contain· ing various secret comers, which multiply the play of light between flowers and leaves. The repetition of evergreens such as yews, bamboos, box and Ceanothus is a thematic thread, leading you from one ambience to another while highlighting the salient features," such as the lavender field or a beau· tiful fountain. About 500 plants of Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa' maintain structure when flowers are sparse, and Alexandre daringly plants the boxwood ·with bamboos and palm trees, a mix that works because of his excellent eye for scale and the garden's immaculate maintenance. "We play around quite a bit with our dippers!" he says. Open spaces are generally paved, but there is no lawn. Alexandre finds it boring and is horrified by the monotony of mowing. He hated the idea that visitors might come when it was not cut! Even without lawn, this garden is 76
the epitome of the Anglo-Norman style, with its emphasis on carefully composed, deliberately photogenic and mainly floral pictures orchestrated for seasonal change, alternating intimate corners along curving paths and long perspectives. It is a garden with chapters and stories to tell and, in spite of the mazelike effect, visitors are carefully guided and directed. To supply the many fountains, a well was drilled, though for irrigation purposes, water is not a problem in this rainy climate. What then of Agapanthe's Mediterranean garden - established long before the current fashion for drought-tolerant landscapes? For Alexandre, it is not a response to climate change nor even an exotic dream, but a chance to experiment with colors and textures in dry-stone walls. gravel, gray foliage, fragrance, ochre-tinged terracing and terra·cotta pots. Although be has favorite species such as hydrangeas, Alexandre cannot say how many genera he has planted. He does not collect for the sake of collecting but chooses his specimens either for their looks or because they are little-known species that catch his fancy, like a pair of giant weeping spruce trees. Always attentive to visitor comfort and expectations, he removed collections of prickly or spiky plants, as his paths are narrow and plantings dense. French garden expert Georges Leveque considers that Agapanthe offers visitors a whole course in gardening, citing Alexandre's approach to bulb planting as an example. Bulbs such as snowdrops and alliums are planted almost touching, with thousands of new ones added yearly. The result is a cloud ofbloom with flowers of all sizes intermingled, adding a poetic charm of variation and unpredictability to an otherwise controlled environment. In buying his antiques, Alexandre deliberately rejects anything evocative of "chateau style," not just to avoid seeming pretentious. Chateau style also implies design symmetry, formal coherence and ties with tradition not appropriate for Agapanthe, where the mood is vivacious and intimate,
almost impressionistic. Buildings here are incidents scattered along the paths, never central or dominating the design. Like plants and objects, they are fragments reassembled by a master magician. Alexandre asks that all elements be nwrquant, or memorable, and that they "compel the eye." Thus he creates a vision ofstrong character unfettered by site memory or utilitarian constraints. Maintaining its "irreproachable" condition takes constant upkeep, involving mainly the leaf blower and the clippers, and meticulous attention to detail (including keeping all pots and vases "permanently in flower"). He takes on extra staff when necessary. The result is an entirely personal wonderland, a world unto its own, a grand show. Agapanthe Two, across the road, is now in the making, adding another two-thirds of an acre of higher, more-open ground. Since the new space affords good views of Agapanthe One, Alexandre links both with one strong shared axis. He is simplifying some of the labyrinthine qualities of the earlier plantings so they will show more clearly from the new garden. Part of his style is to invent as he goes: After a week of antiquing to find a garden gate for the new space, he came up with not one but two, as well as a gothic well and baptismal font! Only when he had decided how to place these could he continue with the plantings (as Alexandre says, "In Agapanthe, decor is paramount"). The plants include many already adult trees, such as 14 umbrella pines (Sciadopitys verticillata), 25 feet tall, placed around a sunken garden of ferns and Phormium. In Agapanthe Two, more open and sunlit, he will also allow stronger colors, not only the pastels of Agapanthe One. Alexandre works first to please himself: "After all, I live here; I don't want anything here I don't like." The brilliant success of Agapanthe brings him clients and outside work that in turn allows him to continue perfecting his own garden. He welcomes visitors (about 6,ooo a year) but prefers groups of serious gardeners, whose responses often guide his plant choices. What he likes best is when visitors tell him that his garden is never the same, pointing out that it is constanlly evolving- much like its owner, who in very real ways has realized his childhood ambition to "become a garden." , SEE SOURCEBOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION, PAGE 88
BO
landscape GARDENS OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT Another look at Fallingwater, Taliesin and Taliesin West STORY BY BILL MARKEN • PHOTOGRAPHY BY DEREK FELL
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT DIED 50 YEARS AGO THIS SPRING, and he still seems alive and kicking- and chastising and prosely· tizing - influencing designers and artists all around the world and fascinating just about everybody with his professional and personal history. Two recent works of fiction are based on his stormy marital and extramarital life. A new book by writer/photographer Derek Fell, The Gardens of Frank Lloyd Wright (Frances Lincoln Publishers), makes a case for Wright as "the greatest landscape architect who ever lived," comparing him to past giants such as England's Lancelot "Capability" Brown and Brazil's Roberto Burle Marx. The large-format, lavishly printed, full-color book is a perfect match of writer and subject. Fell has been photographing and Wlit· ing about gardens since the 196os, has authored more than 100 gardening books and calendars, and regularly contlibutes articles and photographs to magazines, including Garden Design. Among his noteworthy publications are books on gardens of great artists, including Cezanne, Monet and Van Gogh. As Fell relates it, he and his agent were talking: "What artist should we do next?" But no artist-garden combination quite fit the larger-than-life mold of the painters - until Cornelia Brierly brought Fell the idea for a wor· thy successor. 82 GARDEN DESIGN
MAY09
Above Left: In the woods around his classic Fallingwater, Wright placed a quiet plunge pool that contrasts with splashing waterfalls on one side of the house. A favorite Wright touch: adding native plants of the region, in this case white flowering dogwood (Comus florida) and redbud (Cercis canadensis) blooming at the same time. Above Right: In the Midwest farm country of Taliesin, Wright designed a courtyard with a stone walkway and a perennial island bed stuffed with tall pink phlox, red beebalm (Monarda didyma) and low blue salvia.
In her 90s when she spoke with Fell, Brierly had joined Wright's fellowship in the 1930s. She became a landscape architect, and spent her life working on Wright's projects and legacies - even living most of the time at his famous homes at Taliesin and Taliesin West. Brierly opened the gates to Wright gardens and garden lore all across the country. As Fell had done with the artists in his previous books, he tried to "get inside Wright's head." He went to Scotland to study the work of architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a major influence on Wright, and to New Zealand for an exhibit on William Morris, of the British Arts and Crafts Movement and another inspiration. In the Yucatan, he explored the Mayan qualities that appear in Wright's gardens as well as his buildings.
AI.ABAMA Preasts Petals & Pottery (Fairhope) PI-t 251-928-6073 The Green Hoose Retail Nursery & landscaping (loxley) PI-t ?.51-964-5644
Plaisirs du Jardin (Port Jervis) PH: 845-85&6::00
wwwlhl>g~cJ 'V'Sei)'CO'Tl
www.rnttlear.....rdlarps.corn
CAUFORNIA Artefact Design & Salvage, Inc (Sonoma) PH: /07 -933-{)660
WindmiU Farm Mari(et (Springboro) PH' 937-885-3965
www.artefactdesignsa:vage.com Big Red Sun (Venice)
PENNSYlVANIA Athena Garden (Delmont) PI-t 724-468-{)063
PH. 512-48D-0688- wv.w.bgredsun com Burkard Nurseries, Inc. (Pasadena) PH: 5?.6-796-4355 'MNW.wrkartlnurser·es com Gardenology (Encinitas) PH: 76G-753-5500- www.garden-ology.com lntn'l Garden & Floral Design Center (EI Segundo) PH: 31D-515- latest how-to gardening tips atul tojind a retailer visit.
EndlessSummerBiooms.com / GD
sourcebook FRESH (p. 15) WAY HOT
CAfv!PANULA fv!ED/Ufvl CHAMPION SERIES Soquel Nursery Growers (to the trade! 800· 552-0802 or 831·475-3533 soquelnursery.com
DAHLIA 'BODACIOUS' Swan Island Dahlias 800-410-6540, dahlias.com
Van Bourgondien 800-622-9997, dutchbulbs.com
ERYNGIUfvl PLANUfvl BLUE GUTTER' B & T World Seeds b-and-t -world-seeds.com
Digging Dog Nursery 707-937-1130, diggingdog.com
Garden Crossings 516-875-6355, gardencrossings.com
Great Garden Plants 877-447-4759, greatgardenplants.com
GLADIOLUS 'MON AMOUR' American Meadows 877-309-7333, americanmeadows.com
BIJOU DE NORMANDIE, P. 72
Brent and Becky' s Bulbs 877-661-2852, brentandbeckysbulbs.com
Garden Crossings
SWATCH WATCH (p. 36)
615-875-6355, gardencrossings.com
FURNITURE
888-266-4370, anniesannuals.com
Great Garden Plants
Burpee
877-447-4769, greatgardenplants.com
Oedon w it h exclusive distribution by JANUS et Cie Phoenix Lounge Chair, as shown. $3,135 Zofa Round Side Table, $674 800-245-2687, janusetcie.com
HEUANTHUS ANNUUS 'JADE' Annie' s Annuals & Perennials
800-888-1447, burpee.com
Jackson & Perkins
Territorial Seed Company
800-292-4769. jacksonandperkins.com
800-525-0856, t erritorial seed.com
Joy Creek Nursery 503-543-74 74, joycreek.com
ORNAMENTAL KALE CRANE SERIES Germania Seed Company
Lazy S' s Farm Nursery lazyssfarm.com
800-380-4721, germaniaseed.com
Gurney's Seed & Nursery Co. Park Seed Company
(wholesale only) 510-255-0100 or 877-325-7584 northcreeknurseries.com
Plant Delights Nursery
800-213-0076, parkseed.com
919-772-4794, plantdelights.com
TS Flowers & Things 755-554-9045, t sflowers.com
Skagit Gardens
PLANT PALETTE (p. 24)
(t o the t rade) 360-424-61 44 or 800-334-1719 skagitgardens.com
EUPHORBIA$ Bluestone Perennials
Sunny Border Nurseries
800-852-5243, bluestoneperennials.com
Digging Dog Nursery
Ron Herman Ron Herman landscape Architect San Leandro, CA 51Q-352-4920, rherman.com
PARK LIFE (p. 56)
Wayside Gardens
Dutch Gardens
White Flower Farm 800-503-9624. whit eflowerfarm.com
09
Greenlee Nursery Chino.CA 909-393-6544 , greenleenursery.com
GARDEN DESIGNER Richard Hartlage
800-213-0379, waysidegardens.com
88&-821-0448, dutchgardens.com
LIVING GREEN (p. 42) GARDEN DESIGNERS John Greenlee
[plant locator on website) sunnyborder.com
707-937-1130, diggingdog.com
~lAY
Sarasota, FL, 941-355-5530 dwylandscapearchitects.com
North Creek Nurseries
gurneys.com
88 G AR 0 EN 0 E SIGN
LOCATION DESIGNER David W. Young DWY Land scape Architects
Washington Stat e 253-284-0254, ahbl.com
FLORAL AND EVENT DESIGNER Jerry Rose Maplewood, NJ 973-762· 1085, jerryrose.com
EXTERIOR DECORATOR John Danzer at Munder-Skiles New York, NY 212-717·0150, munder-skiles.com
NURSERY Ken Selody of Attock Farm Somerset, NJ 732-356-3373, atlockfarm.com
GREEN GALLERY (p. 64) GARDEN DESIGNER Chuck Gale Gwynedd, PA 215-699-4717,
[email protected] BIJOU DE NORMANDIE (p. 72} GARDEN DESIGNER Alexandre Thomas
[email protected] jardins-agapant he.fr
ADVE RTIS ER DIRECTORY
FREE Product Info Lea rn more about t he product s & services featured in GARDEN DESIGN. Simply fill out t he at tached card an d return it to us. We'll handle th e rest ! For faster service, fax to ll-free t o 888-847-6035 or visit www.gardendesign.com/readerservice. ART ACCENTS/ANTIQUES 900
1.
Birth of Venus.
CONSERVATORIES/STRUCTURES 901
8. Oak Leaf Conservatories.
Bespoke hardwood Conservatories, Orangeries and Garden Rooms by Oak Leaf Conservatories are developed with classic proportions, empathy with existing architecture and attention to detailing.
Contemporary cast stone sculptures for home, office, and garden. 2. David Harber. David
Harber's hand-crafted and personalized sundials, sculptures and water features have worked their magic on fine homes and gardens around the world. 3. Haddonstone USA. Cast stone, architectural cast stone and cast stone garden ornaments including balustrading, columns, porticos, door surrounds, steps... 4. Kenneth Lynch & Sons. An
Industry leader in providing site furnishings including statuary and fountains in cast stone, lead and bronze, weathervanes, sundials, park benches. 5. Millstones.com Millstones
and Syrup Kettles. Authentic, Genuine, Old. 100 plus inventory in range of sizes for 20" to 60" in diameter. 6.
Stone Forest. Functional
sculpture for the garden and bath, hand-crafted in stone, copper and bronze. 7.
Tuscan Imports Inc. Importer of handmade Italian terracotta and lightweight poly planters.
DECKING/PAVERS/TILE 902
9.
Belgard. Belgard® Hardscapes - distinctive pavers for unique patio, walkway, driveway and retaining wall designs.
10. Hanover Architectural Products. Manufacturers
of concrete unit pavers for architectural commercial and residential on-grade and roof applications. 11. Oldcastle. Old castle is
leading the way in new architectural landscaping products. Innovational. Progressive. Natural. Creative. Inspired. HOME FURNISHINGS 904
12. Brown Jordan. Since 1945,
Brown Jordan has been the premier source for luxury leisure furniture. 13. Charleston Gardens. Features
an extensive collection of classic furnishings and accents for the garden; provides secure online shopping.
14. JANUSetCie. Weoffer the
best in lifestyle furnishings, each piece a superior example of design and craftsmanship. The best furniture to sun in, dine on, or look at. 15. Kingsl.ey-Bate. Solid teak,
stain!tess steel and woven elegant outdoor furniture. 16. SummerClassics. A
manufacturer of fine garden furnishings that was founded on the principle of truly classic design. 17. WestnninsterTeak. Luxury
Outdoor Living in Timeless Design. Rated "Best Overall" Quality by The Wall Street Journal. LANDSCAPE DESIGN 90S
18. ZEN Associates, Inc. Award-
winning design and build firm provicling comprehensive landscape architecture, interior design, construction, and maintenance for residE!ntial and commercial properties worldwide. OUTDOOR ICITCHEN/ BBQ 906
19. Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet.
Every thing you need for the ult imate outdoor kitchen, including grills, refrigeration, cabinets and pizza ovens..
PLANT & GARDEN PRODUCTS 907
20. Bartlett Tree Expert. For all
your tree and shrub care needs, call the experts. 21. Endless Summer® Collection.
These remarkable hydrangeas will make your garden come alive with lasting color that blooms all summer long. Blooms on both new and old growth every year. Look for the blue pots at agarden center near you. 22. Gardener's Confidence® Collection. The Gardener's Confidence® Collection... Welcome to a garden you can count on.® New for 2009, the Heaven Scent(TM) Gardenia. 23. Proven Winners® ColorChoice®. Proven
WinnersColorChoice introduces the first true dwarf buddliea, Lo & Behold Blue Chip. POOL/SPA/ WATERFEATURE908
24. Cover-Pools. Thanks to
Cover-Pools automatic safety pool cover, this pool has reduced the risk of drowning and saves up to 70% on heat, chemicals, water, and operating costs.
Bamboo Fencer, Inc. Transform your back yard or garden into a calming oasis. Think bamboo! The ultimate "green" fence material. The Bamboo Good Neighbor Fence (made in USA), offers the best overall value in strength, durability, versatility and privacy. Visit us at our website for more information. 888·381·3892 www.bamboofencer.com
Duracraft Planters Over 15 years of manufacturing fiberglass planters has shaped a product that combines design wit h ultimate du· rability. Our finishes are a gel-coat and unlike paint won't flake, peel or fade and contain genuine metal. All-weather const ruction and commercial-grade material ensures years of enjoyment. Classic, cont emporary and custom designs available.
Night Blossom Rachel Tribble's color infused paintings are a reflection of color, shape, and movement in nature. Her work is sought after by private collectors, Fortune 500 corporations and fine retailers throughout the United States. Limited Edition Prints, Tiles, Outdoor Canvas Prints, Original Paintings and Commissions ..--. available. 772· 692·4323 www.racheltribble.com
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80o-790·8709 www.myduracraft.com
Average Joe's Pergola Depot Quality, affordable, customizable, easy t o assemble, do it yourself pergola kits with 100% free shipping. Proudly crafted in the USA. Look for us on an upcoming episode of "Groundbreakers" on HGTV. Garden Design customers take $100 off any pergola wit h t his coupon code: Gardendesignl OO 877-JOE-0002 www.pergoladepot.com
New Brookland Birdhouse Large-Scale Precast Concrete Pavers
Handmade in t he USA, New Brookland Birdhouses and Feeders are uniquely built of stone and wood that will last in all types of weather. All of our birdhouses and feeders are fully functional. Most birdhouses and feeders come with an easy to install and easy to move stand.
Create an elegant look with large-scale precast concrete pavers from Stepstone, Inc. With 20 sizes to choose from, Stepstone pavers are a perf ect fit for h ardscape or roof deck installations. Complete design specifications which can be downloaded in PDF or CAD formats. Call for color and finish samples.
803-337·6690 www.newbrooklandbirdhouse.com
800·572·9029 www.stepstoneinc.com
TO ADVERTISE CALL 407.571.4541
•
TEPSTONE.
l :vc.
Walpole Woodworkers®
Trellis Structures
High style. Low maintenance. No liner. Crafted in advanced cellular vinyl, an attractive wood alternative our window boxes are offered in many styles and sizes. Call for a free Selections catalog or see more t han 300 outdoor product s on our website!
Trellis Structures designs and manufac tures innovative custom solutions for pergolas, arbors, treUises and gates. A full complement of garden structures, made of the highest quality western red cedar, is also available in our catalog. Trellis Structures is known for it's exquisite, finely detailed products. Shown here: Large pergola with 10 inch paneled posts.
800-343-6948 walpolewoodworkers.com/window12
800.649-6920 www.trellisstructures.com
[email protected] Schreiner's Iris Gardens
LatticeStix Gates
Our family has been growing and breeding award-winning Iris since 1925. These hardy easy-to-grow perennials are available in a wide variety of colors and sizes. Find gardening inspirat ion in our new full-color Mini-catalog ... order now or visit us on-line. Located at 3625 Quinaby Road NE, Dept 7 4, Salem, OR, 97303.
Nothing is quite as captivating as the light and views filtered through the intriguing geomet ry of LatticeStix' patterned lattice. LatticeStix gates are available in six window options and two lattice profiles to help you gain control of light and privacy. Our gates are built in the craftsman tradition with all wood-joined western red cedar. Visit our website f or our full tine of lattice panels and products. Lattice Reinvented.
800.525-2367 Ext. 74 www.schreinersgardens.com
888-528-7849 www.latticestix.com
Tuscan Imports Lightweight Poly Planters
Tuscan Imports Handmade Italian Terracotta
Tuscan Imports now offers a new line of lightweight poly planters to complement their handmade terracotta line. Exhibiting an incredibly realistic appearance, these Italian-made planters are not only beautif ul. but t hey are also easy to handle and extremely durable. Visit our website t o see our complete line of "The Best Italy has to Offer".
Tuscan Imports is America's leading source for handmade Italian terracotta from lmpruneta and Siena. Known for their extensive inventory and excellent customer service, Tuscan Imports is t he right choice for your residential or commercial projects. Carrying a huge selection of classical pieces, contemporary items. and many exclusive designs, they are the one to call when looking for ..The Best Italy has to Offer".
843-667-9101 www.tuscanimports.com
[email protected] TUSCAN
1M PORTS
843-667-9101 www.tuscanimports.com
[email protected] TO ADVERTISE CALL 407.571.4541
TUSCAN IMPORTS
Moss Acres The tranquil beauty of Moss... now a reality in your garden. We ship four varieties of live moss. Moss has fast become an increasingly desirable and low-maintenance alternative to grass lawns and conventional shade gardening. With Moss Acres, growing moss has never been easier! 866-GET·MOSS www.mossacres.com
Protect & Beautify with Outdoor Lighting Affordable, custom outdoor lighting to enhance home security and safety. Eco-friendly low voltage syst ems illuminate with soft, warm glows of golden light . Call for your Free Preview and see your home t emporarily lit at dusk or visit our website for more information.
Millstone Flush Mounted in Motor Court in Plymouth , Massachusetts Home This 48-inch set stone was from Emmanuel Milling Company in Swainsboro. Georgia. Note how well the granite cobbles work against the asphalt in this motor court. We have over 113 millstones in stock including twenty recent additions from Haleburg, Alabama. Visit our website and start with the "gallery" link t o see what other clever designers have done, and then go to the "catalog'' link. The Haleburg millstones are all under the "42-45 inches" link. and there are 4 pages of them, complete with pictures, dimensions and history.
80()-447·1112 www.outdoorlight s.com
404-310-64 90 www.millstones.com
Enjoy One Now Vixen Hill has developed an extraordfnary selection of pre-engineered cedar products, incuding gazebos. Modular gazebos, screened garden houses, shutters and porch systems designed for simple one-day installation. Order factory direct. Installation available. Design your own gazebo online using our interactive website. 800-423-2766 www.vixenhill.com
A Career in Garden Design Leading British garden designers, Moira Farnham and Robin Templar Williams, bring their award-winning, intensive, part-time Diploma Course in Garden Design t o t he US (Massachusetts), commencing August 2009. Join us for our 'Taster Day', May 29th. 513-867-0437 www.gardendesignschool .com
Neuton® Battery-Powered Lawn Mowers No gas! No oil! Neuton® Bat tery-Powered Mowers give you a beautiful, clean cut just like gas mowers do, but without aU the hassle. They run clean and quiet, and st art instant ly wit h a gentle squeeze of t he handlebar. So why cont inue to deal wit h messy, noisy, hard-to-start lawn mowers? Discover the joy of a battery-powered mower today: it's easier on you and the environment. Contact us toll-free for a FREE DVD and catalog with complete details. 888·213·1329 www.neutonmowers.com
T O AD VE R T IS E C AL L 4 07.5 71.4 5 4 1
Tuscan Garden Works Changing ordinary to extraordinary. GAZEBOS, ARCHES, BRIDGES, OUTDOOR FURNITURE, SWINGS, WINDOW TREATMENTS Authent ic Old World custom designs to your specifications, using forging ovens, etc. All iron is powder coated, requiring minimal maintenance. Visit our website to view our catalog.
800-698·0535 www.tuscangardenworks.com
New Plant Explorations From Dan Hinkley John Scheepers Beauty from Bulbs
ISBN: 978-0-88192-918-8, $39.95
Bring the special beauty of bulbs to your family's garden from over BOO of the best fall-plant ing Dutch flower bulbs and herbacious peonies at the best prices. Contact us for our free 88-page color catalog. For larger quantities, contact Van Engelen (860-567-8734 or www.vanengeten.com), and for gourmet vegetable, herb and flower seeds, contact Kitchen Garden Seeds (860-567-6086 or www.kitchengardenseeds.com). Ad code: GD22.
"To sense what a good plant is- to recognize it in the wild and then confirm it in his own garden- is the essence of Hinkley's work:' - from The New York Times Magazine
860-567-0838
For more information, please visit our website.
customerservice@johnscheeper s.com www.johnscheepers.com
John cheepers
www. timberpress.com
Rainwater Collection Our Rainbox system filters and stores rainwater for irrigating gardens, fitting ponds, and washing automobiles. Rectangular 75 gallon tanks, made of super-thick sunlight-stable plastic, interconnect for high-volume storage. We also offer larger systems, both above and below ground, capable o f recycling all of the rainwater from a home or commercial building.
800-477-7724 www.conservationtechnology.com
[email protected] "Everything But The Water" Pond biz is a family operated business dedicated to providing the very best pond and water garden products at competitive prices. For all your needs, check out our huge selection of pumps, fitters and aquatic plants at our website or Southern California retail store.
Building t he finest quality cust om greenhouses since 1985. Designs based on individual growing needs. Our customers and these beautiful structures get the attention that they deserve. At Claytonhill Greenhouse we're building growing environment s for plants t hat are for people too.
877·766-3249
817·516·0045
www.pondbiz.com
[email protected] [email protected] www.claytonhill.com
Claytonhill Greenhouse
TO ADVERTISE CAll 407.57 1. 4541
Archie's Island Furniture Premium out door benches, Adirondack furniture and dining sets made with environmentally harvested Malaysian mahogany known as Merpau. All our furniture is finished with highest quality marine enamel paints and is available is 28 stand-out colors. Cust om commemorative plaques for all occasions. cau for details and a brochure. 800-486-1183 www.archiesisland.com
Maine Millstones Add a real sense of history to your landscape. Perfect for fountains, patios, tables, pathways, doorsteps and focal point s. These granit e millstones are available in sizes from 16 inches t o 6 feet and are delivered directly to you. Check out our Website for other great garden art.
GelPro®Anti-Fatigue Floor Mats As seen on HGTV, Food Network and Fine Uving, GelPro"' Mats are filled with a soft gel that makes standing on hard flooring comfort able. Available in designer colors, exotic textures and multiple sizes. Great for any cook, especially those wit h back pain or arthritis. Order today online or by phone. 866-GEL-MATS (435-6287) www.gelpro.com
207-633·6091 www.mainemillstones.com
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Sturdi-built Greenhouse Mfg We've been making beautiful Redwood and Glass greenhouse kits in Portland Oregon for over 50 years. Each is customized with features and equipment to meet your unique gardening needs. Our greenhouses are shipped all over the U.S. Many greenhouse phot os. information, and color catalog on web site, or callus. 800-334-4115 www.sturdi-built.com sturdi@sturdi·built.com
Witherspoon Rose Culture Witherspoon Rose Culture offers a carefully selected choice of premium rose bushes. Choose roses for hardiness, disease resistance, delicious fragrance, breathtaking beauty and novelty colors. Experienced in se!Ung roses and caring for outstanding gardens since 1951, we are the experts. 800-643-0315 www.witherspoonrose.com
Santa Rosa Garden Santa Rosa Gardens is a family-owned mail-order nursery located along the beaut iful Gulf Coast of Florida. We specialize in Ornamental Grasses, but also provide a wide range of Perennial Plants, Ferns, Host as, Daylilies, Flowering Bulbs, Tropical Palms, Aquatic Plant s, Gardening Tools and Gardening Essentials, as well as Gifts for Gardeners. We invite you to browse our online catalog and sign up to receive our mont hly gardener's newsletter. 866-681-0856 www.santarosagardens.com
[email protected] T O ADVERTISE CA LL 40 7.571.45 41
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Archadeck Custom Outdoor Living Spaces Love the home you're ln. Start living out doors - wit h custom out door living spaces f rom Archadeck. We're proud to be the world's favorite deck and outdoor structures builder for nearly t hree decades. Decks • Screened Porches • Outdoor Living Rooms • Sunrooms • Pergolas Call for your Free Design Consultation
888-0UR DECK www.archadeck.com
e 2009 Archadeck
Foxgloves Protect ion perfected! Just in time for our Tenth Anniversary! Presenting the excit ing NEW FOXGLOVES GAUNTLET! Comfort, dexterity and superb performance define this Gauntlet. Perfect for all those thorny and abrasive garden tasks. Come to our website to see all the NEW FOXGLOVES!
Summerwood Products From garden sheds and pool cabanas, to cabins, garages and gazebos, you're sure to find something that works, all delivered to your door in an easy to assemble pre-fabricated or pre-cut kit. Give our Custom Design Center a whirl and create your own design choosing from our wide selection of options, complete with detailed quot e. Ask us about our exciting, new modern designs, including the Dune and Verana collection! 80Q-663-5042 Ext. 64 www.summerwood.com/ gd
[email protected] 888·322-4450 www.foxglovesgardengloves.com
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Carruth Studio
ASG Glass Tumbled Landscaping Nuggets
American Sculptor, George Carrut h, has cast his original carvings in stone, enabling t housands of people t o enjoy his work. Choose from plaques, statuary, birdfeeders, thermometers, & more! New additions to popular collections & best sellers perfect for your home or garden are featured in the FREE 2009 Spring/ Summer catalog, now available. Because George's signature piece, The Garden Smile, is 20 Years Old each one will be hand signed by George carruth. Made in t he USA and gift boxed.
100% recycled glass tumbled landscaping nugget s are a vibrant and colorf ul accent to any garden design. Made with US-sourced recycled glass, our array of colors add vibrance and panache to groundcover, water features, and fire pits. Mule h replacement wit h a weed barrier is our most popular maint enancefree application. Try our Caribbean Mix of light blue hues or our Sunshine Mix of oranges, reds, and yellows. We sell direct. Volume discounts are available. Samples are available.
800·225· 1178 www.carruthstudio.com
[email protected] 877-294-4222 www.asgglass.com
[email protected] TO ADVERTISE CAll 407.57 1. 4541
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Preacher and Practicer of Eco-Friendly Design
Left: West of Los Angeles, Topanga Canyon. Below: Sasha Tarnapolsky of Dry Design. Bottom: At the Smith garden, designed in collaboration by Pamela Burton and Dry Design, a built-in outdoor seating area is ensconced in bamboo.
SASHA TARNOPOLSKY IS GETTING GREAT wireless service in her portable housing kit. If only the canopy over the outdoor shower wasn't leaking. The co-founder of Dry Design, the award-winning landscape-design firm in Los Angeles, has handled projects ranging from a lodge inside a 1 ,ooo-acre section of an African wildlife reserve to the cozy Smith garden in southern California. But today she's in Topanga Canyon , relaxing in a Sweetwater tent cabin and supervising construction on her future home, an eco-friendly structure outfitted with solar panels and rainwater cachement. "You could say we're pimping out our house with sustainability," she says gleefully.- S HAWN C. BEAN
Q: According to Dry Design's vision statement, one ofyour missions is to "challenge conventional notions ofdesign." Can you elaborate? A: Were challenging design that doesn't consider context. There are a lot ofbad buildings out there that don't relate to the sunoundings or to us as human beings. Q: You completed the Smith residence garden in 200s. What themes or ideas were central to that design? A: Our goal was to enrich the outdoor space with more than just plants. We designed everything: the outdoor fireplace, the furniture, even the cushions. But the centerpiece is the berm meadow. We planted native sedges, spring wildflowers and summer bulbs so each season the garden would take on new life. Q: Your current living situation underscores your dedication to sustainability. Can you teU me about it? A: last year my husband and l bought this post-andbeam home in Topanga. We quickly realized this was going to be an extensive renovation, and it would take a long time. So last June, we bought two 120-square-foot tent cabins and set them up right here on the property. We use an outdoor shower over an old claw-foot tub. It's been great, and the kids love it. Although my daughter Annie has started asking, "Mommy, when will the house be done?" Q: Does the property offer some great landscape-design opportunities? A: Absolutely. There are slopes where I'm planting wildlife-attracting plants to bring out the mountain bluebirds and butterflies. I also want owl-roosting areas and bat boxes. I'm so excited to get life rolling here. 96 GARDEN DESIGN
MAY09
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