GardenDesignOnline

Design: Update on the Rectangular Pool

Of the probably hundreds of rectangular swimming pools I've seen, this is the only one where the designer -- Patrick Chassé in this case --  took special care to make sure it was something special. 

Note the perfect rock that serves as a diving board, and the colors of the plants in the containers that are woven into the garden's wider color scheme.

In the photo above, a rock is situated at the edge of the pool terrace, completing the theme around the pool.  And the rather narrow pool terrace is set off by a lovely well-kept lawn that echoes the serenity of the water itself. 

At first glance, it might seem like any other old pool.  But on close inspection, it's an inspiration to all designers ... a little creative thinking around the pool deck and plantings that celebrate color and texture make this rectangular pool a real standout. 

 

A Short Time Out

Personal business has dragged me away from my writing for a bit ...
Be back soon.

Jane

Urban Tree of the Year 2010

I'm a little late with urban tree news this year, but one of my favorites finally made the list ... of the Society of Municipal Arborists.

According to the society, the redbud was a surprise winner for urban tree of the year, just edging out the Princeton Elm, the Dawn Redwood and the Live Oak.  I do like those other trees, but there's nothing in early spring like the airy quality of a redbud in full bloom.

The society says its a favorite with the NYC Dept of Parks and Recreation, and one of their climbers and pruners, Mathew Grailich, wrote that it's gained favor recently within the Parks Department because it doesn't interfere with overhead utility lines and it will readily survive in urban tree pits. 

They're using it as a street tree in DC as well, and it's doing very well if the homeowners remember to water it.  If not limbed up, the tree can interfere with sidewalk users, so either the urban foresters need to take on that task themselves or let people know how to do it. 

I haven't seen the cultivar 'Forest Pansy' used as a street tree, but with its new growth emerging purple, it's a winner in almost any setting, and it makes a great small specimen tree.

(photo: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center)

The Warming

There is definitely something going on with the weather, the atmosphere, whatever you want to call it...

but global warming is here, whatever it's cause (our lifestyle, perhaps?).

In 20+ years that I've lived in DC, my hydrangeas have never bloomed before some time in July. 

My Annabelles, yes, but the never the macrophyllas, until this year.

It makes me sad, annoyed, worried, wondering just what's going to happen next.  I surely never thought I'd see this after a winter that was one of our coldest on record. 

That made no difference, however, in the warming trend.  Even the farmers at my local Sunday green market have told their crops this year (strawberries, peas, and everything else) are coming in earlier than they ever have before.

Is this happening all over the country?

Design: Solutions for Steppers

Clients frequently ask me what they can plant between their stepping stones to prevent weeds from taking root or simply staring at dirt in the sometimes tiny spaces between bricks, pavers, or larger landscape stones.

There are, of course, the obvious ground-hugging candidates like Mazus reptans seen here, which is covered with charming blue or white flowers in spring. 

It does spread, but it's easily kept under control by pulling out mats of it a few times a year when it creeps into unwanted places.

In this garden, the steppers were set directly into grass, and the circular motif with the stones in the center certainly adds interest to what might otherwise  be just a simple lawn.

There are dozens of plants suitable for planting between stones ... everyone knows creeping thyme, but if you do a little research you'll find other candidates for your region with unusual attributes.

And if you really don't want to bother with plants, gravel, as seen here, will keep out most of the weeds as well.

Design: Maine in DC

The little mermaid at the front of this DC residence in the Cleveland Park neighborhood just hints at the recreated New England landscape in the back yard: the homeowner wanted a garden that would remind her of Maine, where she vacations in the summer.

Landscape architects Scott Fritz and Leslie Gignoux  designed a series of ponds at the back end of the swimming pool that re-creates the sound of water that's ever-present in seaside Maine. And to the rear right, you can just catch a glimpse of the blue-roofed writer's studio.

You reach the studio by passing through and under an old weeping cherry at the far end of the pool...

And then you're at the secluded hideaway surrounded by lush plantings and waterfalls ... a perfect place for the solitude and contemplation that every writer needs.

The view back toward the house, over the cascading waterfalls. 

The pool-side "patio" that connects to the stepping stones through the generous lawn, a feature of many New England gardens...

And finally, the very old Japanese katsura tree, the ideal secret playroom for children. 

This was one of several gardens on a recent DC Garden Conservancy Tour.

  

In the Magazines June-Aug 2010

Sunset June 2010

• Outdoor art & whimsy by L.A. artist & landscape designer Andy Cao. 
• Double your living space by going outdoors: design by Elysian Landscapes of Los Angeles.
• Low-water landscape inspired by rooftops: design by Lauren Schneider. 
• Check out Sunset's nifty hose wrap made from cordage spools
• And the outdoor shower that connects to any old garden hose.

Fine Gardening Aug 2010

• 10 drought-tolerant shrubs
• The fine art of garden focal points
• Small space solutions for a lush and varied garden: "leave no space unplanted." (And the author is not kidding).
• New coneflowers
• More plants picks.

This Old House June 2010

• 25 ways to create an outdoor dining space without breaking the bank, and some pretty good ideas at that.:
• A very nice canopy for a dining table made from bamboo poles and a dropcloth. (no kidding).
• A garden wall enclosure made from a ready-built arbor with side wings.
• A "tiled" area rug under the outdoor dining table
• A weather-resistant outdoor floor lamp
• And, a novice gardener finds out the hard way how to design a lovely garden. (My advice: save time and hire a garden designer).

Exhibitions: Romantic Gardens

Romantic Gardens: Nature, Art and Landscape Design 

Major exhibitions on landscape design are far too rare ... so don't miss this important show at New York's Morgan Library & Museum.

Drawn from the museum's own collections, as well as from public and private holdings, the exhibition features prints, drawings, manuscripts, books, and engravings by the leading proponents of the Romantic Movement in Europe and the United States, featuring "natural" landscapes that were dominant in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. 

The museum's director, William M. Griswold, said the landscapes represented in the show "are extraordinary in every respect; they are novel, beautiful, and often breathtaking in scale." He added that one can follow design trends "from their beginnings in the private estates of the European aristocracy to the great city parks of America, where Central Park is perhaps the best example."