GardenDesignOnline

Happenings November 2015

Selected Events Around the Country:

Thru May 1, 2016, Landscape Architecture of Oehme van Sweden, Washington DC
Exhibition, National Building Museum, 202-272-2448

Nov 2, "Before the Memorial," Bronx, NY
6:30PM Lecture, Landscape Architect Peter Walker, Scandinavia House, NY Botanical Garden, 718-817-8700
Nov 2, "Before the Memorial, LA Peter Walker, New York, NY
6:30PM, Lecture, Scandinavia House, Sponsor: NYBG, 718-817-8700
Nov 3, "Creating Atmosphere: The Power of Collaborations," Glencoe, IL
1PM, Lecture, Designer Luciano Giubbilei, Chicago Botanic Garden, 847-835-8215
Nov 4, 2nd Annual Art & Nature Symposium, New York, NY
NY Design Center, Sponsor: Hort Society of NY, 212-757-0915
Nov 4, Stonework in the Garden, Bronx, NY
10AM-2:30PM, Workshop, Designer Jan Johnsen, NYBG, 718-817-8700
Nov 5,  "Creating Atmosphere: The Power of Collaborations," New York, NY
6:30 PM, Lecture, Designer Luciano Giubbilei, NY School of Interior Design, The Garden Conservancy, 845-424-6500
Nov 5, "Digging into the Layered Landscape," North Grafton, MA
8AM-4:30 PM, Season's End Summit, Ecological Landscape Alliance, 617-436-5838
Nov 6-9, ASLA Annual Meeting & Expo, Chicago, IL

Nov 11, "Net Zero Water in the Garden," Los Altos, CA
7PM, Lecture, LA Bobby Markowitz, Christ Episcopal Church
Nov 12, "Lush Landscapes, Little Water," San Marino, CA
2:30 PM, Lecture, The Huntington, 626-405-2100
Nov 12, Landscape Lecture: Walter Hood, Boston, MA
7PM, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 617-278-5156
Nov 14, Apartment Gardener's Saturday, New York, NY
10AM-5PM, Three workshops, NYBG Midtown Center, 718-817-8700

Nov 17, "Inspiration and the Creative Process," Bronx, NY
1PM-3PM, Workshop, LAs Sheila Brady and Susan Cohen, NYBG, 718-817-8700
Nov 20, "The Planted Landscape, Concept to Choices," Glencoe, IL
9AM-4PM, Workshop, LA Gregory Pierceall, Prof. Emeritus of Purdue Univ, Chicago Botanic Garden 847-835-8215
Nov 21-22, What's Out There Weekend, Austin, TX
Tours of outstanding Austin landscapes, The Cultural Landscape Foundation, 202-483-0553

LOOKAHEAD:

Dec 3, Spotlight on Design: Oehme van Sweden, Washington DC
6:30PM, Panel Discussion, National Building Museum, 202-272-2448

Oehme van Sweden Exhibition

photos courtesy National Building Museum

It's the 25th anniversary of Bold Romantic Gardens: The New World Landscape of Oehme and Van Sweden by the late landscape architects Wolfgang Oehme and James van Sweden -- the book that defined their New American Garden style and revolutionized landscape design across the country.

An exhibition of their work opens October 17th at the National Building Museum in Washington DC and runs through May 1st, 2016 -- just the first stop of this traveling photographic show of some of their most important projects.

Oehme, van Sweden, of course, were among the first to give us the gift of using large masses of ornamental grasses and perennials in our designs ... and their influence is certainly still present today.

A must-see for any working landscape designer.

 

Books: Everything About Moss

Who knew there were so many different kinds of moss? Author Annie Martin, founder of Mountain Moss Enterprises, definitely knows the subject.  Now, in  The Magical World of Moss Gardening (Timber Press, 2015), Annie shares her expertise so that you, too, can recognize different mosses and learn how to grow and care for, and designer with them. 

As she explains in the introduction, "Throughout all seasons, my mosses have a magnetic quality that engulfs me.  Most often, I am catching a quick glimpse for an infusion of moss magic as I head out into the world in my work as a moss landscape designer and moss farmer.  What a divine way to start the day!"

The book includes all the basics on moss gardening, plus photos of gorgeous moss gardens throughout the country.  I've only visited one moss garden -- that of Norie Burnet in Richmond, Virginia, and it was a true inspiration. There's a lovely photo of it in this book, along with other notable moss gardens, including the Japanese Stroll Garden in Mill Neck, NY; the Missouri Botanical Garden's Japanese Garden, and the Portland Japanese Garden in Oregon. 

 

In the Magazines Oct 2015

Landscape Architecture October

This is the annual awards issue ... this year, 34 top landscape architecture projects are honored in various categories .... General Design, Residential Design, Research, Analysis & Planning, and Communications.  And student awards are also featured in this issue.

Not one you'll want to miss.

 

The American Gardener Sept-Oct

* Profile of Texas plantsman and explorer John Fairey
* Plants with outstanding features for fall and spring
* How to plant and care for a true organic lawn
* Profile of McCrory Gardens in South Dakota

Sunset October

*Beauty at the Beach - low maintenance design in Encinitas, CA by designer Ryan Prange. Stunning. And lots of water-wise plants.
* Low maintenance backyard in Portland OR by LA Karen Ford. 
* Tree therapy at Sunrise Springs, just outside Santa Fe. Yes, trees are therapy for the soul.

Horticulture Sept-Oct

* Using triangles in design.
* The art of intermingling in naturalistic planting design.
* Ferns for all situations

Fine Gardening December

* Unusual climbers
* Tough perennials for tough places
* Container plantings for fall

ASLA 2015 Awards - I

photos: Hocker Design Group - click to enlarge

As the awards jury put it, "Impeccably detailed everywhere."  This project by the Hocker Design Group in Dallas took the top Award of Excellence in the Residential Design Category.  It's a seven acre site in Trinidad, TX, just above Cedar Creek Lake. 

The site is heavily wooded, and the designers carefully placed a series of buildings among them to take advantage of the lake views and preserve the loblolly pines and live oaks. 

Aside from the main residence, the designers included a lovely patio with fireplace, a tennis court, a bocce court, a pavilion and a large garage barn, a permeable gravel motor court, and a long cobblestone drive.  The jury also noted that the completed design feels like it's been in place for years.  "There was nothing," they said, "that didn't need to be in this landscape."

More later on some of the other winners ... or you can visit the ASLA website here.