We were very excited that four of the homes we had landscaped were featured on this years garden tour. Kudos to the ladies who worked so hard to put the tour together, especially in this extreme heat.
Treasure found!
Last spring I was fortunate enough to win this botanical print from Thornton's Temple of Flora at an antique print auction. While removing the dust jacket on back I discovered the previous owner had been Janet Murrow, wife of Edward R. Murrow. The amazing thing is that the print originated in London and the Murrows had both been in London during WWII. While there Janet received the Kings Medal for Freedom for her service to that nation.
Backyard Revival
A beautiful tudor style home that needed a backyard refurbish. The following are some of the pictures from the beginning of the project till the end. The work entailed design and construction of the arbor, green space, perennial beds, brick courtyard and sidewalk.
Got Our Nola Fix!
Great music, beautiful gardens and wonderful food...
Preservation Hall Band
Ursuline Convent
Welcome Spring!
This print from my collection of Temple of Flora is of the Roman goddess Flora dispensing her favours on the earth, spring is here let's get our hands dirty.
Armillary
I recently installed this armillary from London designer David Harber. The limestone pedestal is from Haddonstone.
New T-shirt design
Word play, Pergola
A pergola, is a garden feature forming a shaded walkway, or sitting area of vertical posts or pillars that usually support cross-beams often on which vines are trained. The origin of the word is latin pergula, referring to a projecting eave.
Word play, Parterre
A parterre is a formal garden constructed on a level surface, consisting of planting beds, typically in symmetrical patterns, separated and connected by pathways.
Boxwood love!
When I first started designing I had this habit of using every unique and new plant that had just been introduced to the market, this led to a few disappointing outcomes. Now my designs use certain plants that always do well growing in many different locations and soil types. A very important thing to remember that our midwest winters last 4-5 months. Deciduous plants are quite dismal so evergreens are very important. The use of holly, yews, and of course my favorite, boxwood.
Temple of Flora
Almost everyone has heard the term Temple of Flora, but do you know where the name came from? It was a British botanical publication printed in London in 1799 by Dr. Robert Thornton. They were possibly the finest publication of botanical prints ever produced. Picturing large beautiful plants usually with a folly or a Greek ruins in the background. So I named my blog after my passion of collecting Temple of Flora antique prints. On occasion I will go over some of the prints I collect, from Thornton to Volckamer to Redoute. But mainly my blog will be about exterior design projects.
The Pontic Rhododendron