a garden maker's notes

This contemporary (post modern?) style home had a serious grading and drainage issues and people and car circulation problems.  The problems were solved by a fieldstone retaining wall, the parking court with path and edging, a meandering curve path to front door, and the arch that framed the entry and repeated the arch design of [...]

Seems like it’s been raining for days, and it has.  But the cloud cover brightened a bit late this morning so I could snap this photo. I thought I’d share the view that lightens my mood and greets me each day. Recently the vine clematis ‘Sweet Autumn’  began its’ white flowering, the daphne continues to [...]

copyright 2010 Maria von Brincken  The 60 degree weather yesterday was wonderful. In many years, a January or February thaw would be a great time to cut back large ornamental grasses. Not this year! The garden’s still buried under now snow mounds high above my head.  This photo of the early blooming clematis ‘grandiflora’ helps me remember [...]

Posting this now on Saturday of the Columbus Day weekend.  Even though  the clematis flowers were pummeled in last week’s much needed rain, I enjoyed this view for weeks. Below is what I wrote but didn’t have time to post as September-October is very busy for landscape designers. I’m inspired each morning when I see [...]

The recent tropical deluge pummeled the flowers from the clematis shown in this photo.  I’ve been enjoying its white starry mass’ contribution to the fall garden for weeks now. But the dark pink-red  ”Knock- Out’ rose and the pink sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ continue with the additional of the changing leaves of the oakleaf hydrangea now turning carmine. You [...]

The laceleaf maple leaves are turning a lovely crimson. Makes a nice contrast with the starry white clematis ‘Sweet Autumn’ climbing the fence and deck post.  The gold and blue hostas and purple ligularia may be a bit scruffy from the dry summer but still carry form and color to contrast to the also white flowered blooming [...]

Birdsong, streaming sunlight, happy plants greet me most mornings. For most of May, the white climbing clematis vine (is it alba or grandiflora?) treats me to its lovely floral display. With or without flowers, the vines connect my deck to my garden and the woodland view beyond. Below deck, it’s wonderful as well.  I enjoy it from my office and the lower patio. [...]

The display garden I call the “blue door garden” I saw at the Hampton Court Flower Show in London. I love the door color, but even more its invitation to enter into a wild space.  I wonder where the path would take me. The vision calls up images of the “Secret Garden”.  You remember the movie where the [...]