GardenDesignOnline

Christmas Books III: Trees

This is a beautiful little book on the fine details of backyard trees ... a great present for anyone who wants to know how to identify (and moreover, appreciate) a tree in almost any season.  In Trees Up Close: The Beauty of Their Bark, Leaves, Flowers, and Seeds (Timber Press, 2014), Nancy Ross Hugo and photographer Robert Llewellyn take you on a trip that you'll remember forever when you're outside -- in a park, rambling down your own street, or even in a botanical garden. 

As they state in the introduction, "We want to convey that tree-viewing can be as exciting as bird-watching (perhaps even more exciting, if trees are your favorite wild beings) and that through intimate viewing, one's sense of trees as living, breathing organisms, as opposed to inanimatae objects, will be enhanced."

I can't imagine a gardener, a designer, any outdoorsy type who wouldn't want to have this book.

You don't have to live in the Midwest to find this book useful, as most of the trees that are profiled by author Scott A. Zanon will also be found in many neighborhoods throughout the Mid-Atlantic, the Northeast, and even other parts of the country. 

Landscaping with Trees in the Midwest: A Guide for Residential and Commercial Properties (Ohio University Press, 2014), focuses on 65 desirable trees, selected mainly for hardiness and ornamental characteristics.  A lot of my favorite trees are profiled in this book, among them the striped and paperbark maples; red buckeye; common pawpaw (I have two in my yard); American hornbeam, Japanese katsura; Cornelian cheery and Littleleaf linden.

Each tree gets its own page, including characteristics (fruits, flowers, leaf color, growth rate, etc), disease and insect problems, culture, and recommended cultivars.  Photos for each include habit, leaves, bark, fruits and flowers.  It's a handy reference for all those trees you'll likely be using in your designs.

  Finally, there's a very useful guide on espalier fruit trees written by Karl Pieber and Peter Modl. Espalier Fruit Trees For Wall, Hedge, and Pergola: Installation Shaping Care   (Schiffer Publishing, 2014) takes you through everything you need to know about planting, training, and pruning fruit trees into great espaliers for walls, trellises, pergolas, and yes -- even espalier-ing for hedging.   Througout the book, there are lots of photos and easy-to-follow illustrations that explain exactly how to get the result you want.  And moreover, there are a lot of espalier designs that I hadn't seen before, along with the usual fans, palmettes and the like.

 

 

 

Happenings December 2014

Selected Events Around the Country:

Exhibitions:
Thru December 7, Recapturing the Scenic Wilds, Bronx, NY
Exhibition on natural history display, Wave Hill, 718-549-3200
Thru Jan 19, Flora Illustrata: Botanical Masterworks, Bronx, NY
NY Botanical Garden Library: Prints, drawings, catalogs, notebooks, manuscripts, more.

Dec 5, Therapeutic Wellness Gardens
1PM-2PM, Webinar, Ecological Landscape Alliance 617-436-5838
Dec 8, Moss Landscape Designs
7:30-8:30PM, Webinar, Ecological Landscape Alliance, 617-436-5838
Dec 10, Designing Play & Learning Spaces
7:30-8:30PM, Webinar, Ecological Landscape Alliance, 617-436-5838
Dec 16, New Landscape Technologies, Bronx, NY
1PM-3PM, Workshop, NY Botanical Garden, 718-817-8700

HOLIDAY SHOWS:

Thru Jan 19 Holiday Train Show,  Bronx, NY
NY Botanical Garden, 718-817-8700

Nov 22-Jan 4, Gardenland Express, St. Louis, MO
Train Show, MIssouri Botanical Garden, 314-577-5100
Nov 27-Jan 4, Season's Greetings, Washington DC
US Botanic Garden, 202-225-8333
Nov 27-Jan 11, A Longwood Christmas, Kennett Square, PA
Longwood Gardens, 610-388-1000
Nov 28-Dec 28, Gardens AGlow, Sandwich, MA
Selected dates, Heritage Museum & Gardens, 508-888-3300
Nov 28-Dec 30, Las Noches de las Luminarias, Phoenix, AZ
Selected dates, Desert Botanical Garden, 480-941-1225
Nov 28-Dec 31, Holiday Lights, Largo, FL
Florida Botanical Gardens, 727-582-2100
Nov 28-Jan 4, Holly Days, Boylston, MA
"Winter Reimagined," Tower Hill Botanical Garden, 508-869-6111
Nov 28-Jan 4, Glow, Cleveland, OH
Cleveland Botanical Garden, 216-721-1600
Nov 28-Jan 4, Wonderland Express, Glencoe, IL
Chicago Botanic Garden, 847-835-5440
Nov 28-Jan 12, Gardenfest of Lights, Richmond, VA
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 804-262-9887
Nov 29-Jan 3 River of Lights, Albuquerque, NM
ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden, 505-848-7182

Dec 6-30, Garden of Lights, Encinitas, CA
San Diego Botanic Garden, 760-436-3036

 LOOKAHEAD:

Jan 4-5, Western Trade Show, Overland Park, KS
New plants, exhibits, lectures, more 888-233-1876
Jan 8-9 Strategies for Evolving Landscapes Conference, Blue Bell, PA
26th Annual Conference, sponsor: New Directions in the American Landscape, 215-886-9740
Jan 14-16, Mid-Atlantic Trade Show (MANTS), Baltimore, MD
Baltimore Convention Center, 800-431-0066
Jan 15-16, Strategies for Evolving Landscapes Conference, New London, CT
26th Annual Conference, sponsor: New Directions in the American Landscape, 215-886-9740
Jan 23-25, Southern Gardening Symposium, Pine Mountain, GA
29th Symposium, Callaway Gardens, 706-663-5153

Gardner Museum Landscape Lectures: Tickets Avail late 2014 & they sell out fast!
Feb 12, Landscape Architect Kathryn Gustafson, Boston, MA
7PM, Lecture, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 617-278-5156
April 9, Landscape Architect Claude Cormier, Boston, MA
7PM, Lecture, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 617-278-5156

Christmas Gifts II 2014 - Design Apps

Palette
A design app for iOS, Android, iPad by Julie Moir Messervy.
I can't imagine a designer who wouldn't want to have this on their phone or tablet. I've tried this app ... it's a great tool for a "quickie" design that you can show clients ... and then refine as you like. 

You can upload a property plat and then drag landscape elements into place. There are also layers to this app, so you can try out different designs before settling on the right one.  The app is free, but for just $9.94, you can order additional tools:  these ones let you draw and measure, and there are extra palettes of shrubs, perennials, grasses, lighting, etc.  Check it out at Julie's website here.  Upload this one as a gift on the phone of your spouse, partner or friend -- for sure, it'll be one of their favorite presents this season.

 

I haven't tried the following apps, but they apparently do similar things, so you might want to give them a try as well. 

Garden Designer
This app -- for Android and iPad 2 or newer, is based on the desktop app called Garden Planner. You can fool around with this one to give you a general idea of what the garden plan would look like.  You can change the size of plants or objects, it has drag and drop features, and it's also free, so give it a try & see if you like it. 

iScape Elite
For iOS 5.0 or later and iPad.  This app was designed for professionals, and although it's free, you need an auto-renewable subscription to activate the software.  You can take a photo and then drag and drop elements into place as you like for photo-realistic images of what the new design would look like. There are monthly updates to the database; it has layers to let you adjust the design; and you can also add text to the images.  Check out more of its features here.

And happy designing in the New Year.

Landscapes: "What's Out There" Series

photo © Barrett Doherty

The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) has launched a web-based guide to Denver -- the first in a series linked to their "What Out There Weekend" tours.

It's a comprehensive guide to built landscapes -- parks, parkways, malls, public gardens, suburbs and more -- with brief descriptions of each, links to their websites, and a map that'll tell you where they're located.

Plus, there are biographical sketches of the designers involved in building these landscapes.  Can't wait to see the others.

Christmas Books II- 2014: The British Connection

You probably already have a book (or two) on Sissinghurst, but believe me, this is the one you want on your bookshelf.    Sissinghurst: Vita Sackville-West and the Creation of a Garden (St. Martin's Press, 2014) is written by Sarah Raven, who is married to Vita Sackville West's grandson, Adam Nicolson, and whose family has lived at Sissinghurst.

Raven intersperses her own observations about contemporary Sissinghurst with Vita's original garden writings dating back to the 1940's and 50's.  She creates a magnificent portrait, through time, of one of the world's most famous gardens. Raven tells the story of the garden in Vita's own words -- most of them just as relevant today as they were several decades ago.  As Sara notes, Vita gardened in the "maximalist, not minimalist, way."  And as Vita herself said, "Always exaggerate rather than stint ... masses are more effective than mingies." The book is filled with beautiful historic photos of Vita, her husband Harold Nicolson, who designed the layout, along with photos of the garden today.  It's one of the most charming garden stories you'll ever read, and it leaves you with a true understanding of how this magnificent landscape was created and why it's still relevant today. 

Sissinghurst, of course, is one of the gardens included in this lovely survey of British gardens by author George Plumptre, journalist and chief executive of Britain's National Gardens Scheme since 2010.  In The English Country House Garden (Frances Lincoln Ltd 2014), Plumptre takes a look at 25 of the most influential English country house gardens, but it's not only the most familiar ones, like Sissinghurst, Great Dixter and Hidcote.  It includes country house gardens designed by current landscape designers like Piet Oudolf, Tom Stuart-Smith and and Dan Pearson. It's a large format book, with stunning photos of these gardens today.  If you're not British, you've likely not heard of many of these landscapes, and the book is a welcome addition for anyone planning a visit to the country.  Most of these gardens are part of the National Gardens Scheme, so buy the book, check the schedule, and go to see some of the most stunning gardens open today.

Finally, British Gardens in Time: The Greatest Garden Makers from Capability Brown to Christopher Lloyd (Frances Lincoln Ltd 2014) takes a long look at the history of four of Britain's most iconic gardens: Stowe, Buddulph Grange, Nymans and Great Dixter, and the designers who created them.  As noted in a foreword by Chris Beardshaw, gardens not only give us a view of the "nuances of personality" of the creator, but they also give us a view of cultural and artistic trends, political and philosophical ideas, and they often represent the social structure of the times and hierarchical class systems.  The book is a fascinating portrait of the gardens' creators,  their passion for particular plants, and the way in which contemporary history influenced their designs.  It's illustrated beautifully with contemporary photos, along with historic photos and drawings. It's a book that will definitely deepen your understanding of the history of British gardening. And FYI, the book is based on a BBC series of the same name -- probably available on DVD.

New Plants 2015 - III

Some great new plants (as usual) from Monrovia for 2015:

Tiny Tower® Arborvitae
(Thuja x 'MonRig')

This is a sport of 'Green Giant' arborvitae, but it grows slowly and has a very upright habit, with foliage that's tighter than the parent plant.  At only 10 to 20 feet tall, it's notably shorter than 'Green Giant', and at only four to five feet wide, it's a perfect plant for narrow spaces.  It can even be grown in a container.  It takes full sun, Zones 5-9.  A great addition to the evergreen palette.

Ember Waves™ Western Arborvitae
(Thuja plicata x stansihii 'MonPin')

Another evergreen winner, this tree has bright gold foliage that matures to chartreuse, and in winter, it turns deep gold with orange tips.  If you want a striking plant, this may be the one.  It's also disease free and deer-resistant, and can be sheared.  It's also derived from 'Green Giant'.  It reaches 25 feet tall by eight feet wide.  Full sun, Zones 5-8.

Crimson Kisses™ Weigela
(Weigela 'Slingco 1')

The old problem with weigela is that they do their thing in spring and then become a rather "meh" plant.  But not this one, which is a compact re-blooming version.  It has dark red flowers with a white eye and blooms from mid spring throughout summer.  How about that?  It only gets three feet high and wide, perfect for a low border or even a container.  Zones 5-9, but Monrovia says early trials have exhibited hardiness to Zone 4.  So those of you who live in cold climates might want to give it a try.

Christmas Books I - The "Big" New Books of the Season

If there's a special person in your life who's particularly interested in gardening, garden history, botanical drawing, or the future of gardening, you might want to consider one of these two books as a Christmas present.  Both are packed with big ideas.

Edited by Susan Fraser and Vanessa Bezemer Sellers, Flora Illustrata: Great Works from the LuEsther T. Mertz Library of The New York Botanical Garden (New York Botanical Garden and Yale University Press, 2014), this book represents the highlights of more than one million catalogued items and 11 million documents in the garden's renowned collections. Eleven chapters written by a group of international experts explore the vast materials in the library, from European and Medieval and Renaissance Herbals to New World Flora, Early American Horticultural Traditions, American Landscape Theory, and much, much more.

In the preface to the book, the editors note that among the recurring themes throughout the book are the "widespread exchange of botanical and horticultural knowledge ... improved identification and representation of plants ... and the key role of artists, both men and women, in the advancement of botany."

You could spend hours in the library and not see a fraction of what's represented in this book. There are sumptuous illustrations and essays throughout that you'll want to return to again and again. It is, quite simply, a book you'll treasure forever.

An exhibition of some of garden's botanical masterworks is on display at the library from November 15th until January 19, 2015.

From climate change to urban community and roof gardens to reclamation projects and new public parks, things are rapidly changing in the world of landscapes.  In Landscapes of Change: Innovative Designs for Reinvented Sites (Timber Press, 2014) landscape architect Roxi Thoren explores 25 ground-breaking projects from around the world that represent the latest in design strategies.

Much contemporary landscape architecture is focused on pressing social and environmental issues.  In the introduction to the book, Thoren notes that "urban populations have demanded new forms of open space and new connections to natural amenities," and that "undeniable changes in global weather patterns have led to an increased demand for landscapes that are resilient in the face of storms, flooding, or drought."

In each case study, Thoren explores how the design is generated from pre-conditions on the site.  The projects range from the Marco Polo Airport Car Park in Tessara, Italy to Essent Roofgardens in the Netherlands, Teardrop Park in New York City, and Beacon Food Forest in Seattle, Washington.

Beautiful photographs illustrate each project, along with numerous plans that detail how it was constructed. 

This is an important survey of contemporary landscape architecture and its ability to meet environemental and urban challenges that are taking place all over the world. 

Christmas Gifts I - 2014

If you haven't been to the High Line yet, you surely want all your friends to think you have.

The best way to do that, of course, is to purchase a gift from their shop & give it away ... or wear it yourself.

There are some great choices from the High Line online gift shop.

click on images to enlarge

Switch Grass Tee

Wow, I love the design of this women's tee, showcasing one of the many native plants you'll find on the High Line.  The image by US botanical artist George Olson.  It's 100 percent linen, manufactured by J. Crew.  And 100 percent of the net proceeds go for maintenance of the park.  Pretty good deal.

High Line Hooded Sweatshirt.

For him, a sweatshirt for cool season walks featuring the High Line Logo.  Guys, as well as women, surely want their friends to know where they hang out.  Eighty percent cotton, machine washable.  Probably fine for women, too.

High Line Tote

A coated-canvas tote with an interior pocket, big enough for most anything you want, 14.5" high, 16.5" wide, 5.5"deep.  Message on the tote reads "Dreams Come True on the High Line."  Designed by Diane von Furstenberg, who was actively involved in bringing the High Line to fruition. And if you can't fit into one of her dresses, this might do.

Grass Pen 

Silicone pens look like leaves of grass, and they also sway like grass when you use them.  A whimsical gift for the gardener who likes to keep notes on what didn't survive in the garden last year.

Check out the gift shop for other items -- a railroad train whistle, posters and books, jewelry, apparel, kid stuff & more.  

In the Magazines - Nov 2014

Landscape Architecture November 2014
* Article by yours truly on an award-winning garden on Mt. Desert Island, Maine by LA Matthew Cunningham
* Other 2014 ASLA Award Winners
*Detroit renaissance: a landscape-driven plan
* Oaks: a private IL arboretum

Magazine available by subscription, at Barnes & Noble, independent & university bookstores.

Sunset November 2014
* Sunset Idea House 2014: CA Modern
Mod landscape by Masterpeace Gardens
* Award-winning landscape solution for a steep hillside by Colin Miller of Envision Landscape Studio.
*Ginkgo 'Chi Chi' -- Just four feet tall, perfect for a large-ish container.

Horticulture November 2014

* New plant introductions for 2015
*Plants with fuzzy flowers
*Plants for crevices
*Designing with brown plants

 

 

Better Homes & Gardens Nov 2014
*Strategies for a small-space garden: a narrow city lot big enough for a family. Design by Doug Hoerr of Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects.
* Plants: outdoors to indoors for winter.
* Herb-centered, long-lasting  T-day centerpiece

 

Gold Medal Plants 2015

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has announced its Gold Medal plant winners for 2015.

Fernleaf Full Moon Maple
(Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium')

This particular Japanese maple is a dwarf tree, just 8 to 10 feet tall, with delicate fern-like leaves that turn a brilliant red color in autumn.  It has a mounded, multi-stemmed habit, which also makes it attractive for winter interest when the leaves drop in fall.  It's also relatively disease-free, a common characteristic of Gold Medal plants. It prefers dappled sun in the afternoon.  Use this plant in the garden as a focal point or even as a medium-height screening hedge.

Weeping Alaska Cedar
(Xanthocyparis (syn Chamaecyparis) nootkatensis 'Pendula')

It's annoying to have to keep up with all the botanical name changes, BUT ... this is a wonderful tree, one of my favorites as well.  It's native to Canada and the NW United States, but is also used often on the US East Coast.  Only 12 feet wide, it's great for narrow spaces, but it does get 20 to 35 feet tall, so use it wisely.  It takes full sun or part shade and likes rain and high humidity.   A great garden specimen.

Leatherleaf Mahonia
(Mahonia japonica)

If you want a great shade shrub, this should definitely be on your list.  Not everyone likes it because of its somewhat coarse texture, but it has significant advantages: large, evergreen, bluish green leaves, and great sprays of yellow, fragrant flowers in spring, followed by brilliant blue berries in fall.  And deer resistant.  What more could you ask for?
Five to seven feet tall, 10 wide -- plant a few of them together for impact.

Major Wheeler Trumpet Honeysuckle
(Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler')

If you're going to plant a honeysuckle, plant a native one, like this one, which is not invasive like the Japanese honeysuckles.  This one is drought tolerant and also takes dry soils, and it's also deer resistant.  It produces red flowers throughout the growing season and will bring on hummingbirds and butterflies.  It blooms on new and old wood, so you can more or less prune it as you like to fit the space where you plant it.