I am so torn, I thought this feature should be every week, then every other week, then now, I am back to thinking every week….Because I seriously just can’t wait to share with you the plan and the 3-D renderings for this super cool Garden Story project.

Katrina’s at Earth Design’s Solution:

“The garden combines functionality and contemporary elegance to create an unusual and usable space.  It is divided into three areas, each with a distinct purpose and ambiance.

The first section, adjoining the house, is dedicated to relaxation and entertainment. Directly outside the patio doors will be an area of oak decking, chosen to echoing the floor of the kitchen. This deck will be large enough to accommodate a weatherproof rattan sofa. Along the right side of this section will be an outdoor dining area.  Surfaced with Mint Fossil sandstone, this area will benefit from a substantial dining table and benches constructed from railway sleepers.”

“The second, central area of the garden is planted with low maintenance architectural plants.  Four screens of various dimensions emerge from the planting and help to obscure the rear of the space from view.  Each screen features a different material: wooden panelling, textured stone tiles, stainless steel mesh and orange Perspex.  A stainless steel water blade installed on one of the screens will give the space a contemporary feel that emulates the interior of the house.”

“To the rear of the garden the final section is home to the children’s climbing frame and a storage unit for bicycles. This section is hidden from view by a timber screen. An artificial lawn provides an extremely low maintenance and safe surface beneath the climbing frame. A low, timber framed tunnel with coloured Perspex lenses in the roof provides additional opportunity for play. Both boundaries will be softened and masked by climbing plants.  The existing row of conifers at the back of the garden are to be retained to provide a backdrop to the garden and privacy from the road beyond.”

To see previous installments of this Garden Story click here and here….in order.   Next week — We will see the construction get underway!

This might be one of my most favorite blog series’ of all time.   The Fashioned Florals collection that Joy at Oh Joy! commissioned from Liz of The Nouveau Romantics is simply wonderful.  It brings together everything I love about inspiration, art and design.   The series takes art and photography of really anything and uses it as inspiration for a floral arrangement.  This is perhaps my favorite:

The arrangement  was inspired by the painting by  Christine Soccio.

See the whole series of Fashioned Florals.

And find a few more of gems in the gallery.

I have been thinking about a little woodland patch right outside my living room window. Last year, I planted hellebores and sweet little epimediums and now I just want more. This year I will plant my spring containers with a composition similar to this cercis planting.

When the hellebores have overstayed their welcome, they will transition to that sweet garden nook where I can snip selections for early spring bouquets.

I love this gorgeous hand tied grouping of hellebore and pieris from Marigold & Mint
-Roanne

(Images: John Gruen and Marigold and Mint)

I am increasingly becoming a seed growing convert.  No, I am not rigging up crazy light contraptions in my home (in the absence of the dreamy greenhouse) but I am more frequently participating in a direct to the ground sort of experiment to get some great plants for less money than I would pay if I were to purchase grown-up potted plants.   My success rate is pretty splotchy, but when I only waste about $2.50 for a pack of seeds, I feel alot better than when I kill something that cost me twice as much.

California Poppy ‘Rosa Romantica’, Ageratum ‘Red Sea’, Cosmos ‘Rose Bonbon’,  Poppy ‘Falling in Love’ all from Select Seeds.

Enter Select Seeds.…which after a peruse this morning has me all inspired for Valentines Day.  I am scheming on some sort of seed based gifts for all my sweeties.   (I will share when the idea becomes fully formed)  but in the mean time…..checkout this fantastic collection of Rare and Heirloom seeds that I think would be so perfect for V-day.

Amaranth ‘Love-Lies-Bleeding’, Love-in-a-Puff, Primrose ‘Viennese Waltz’, and Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate

It comes down to all the charming names for me and potential for Valentine cutesy-ness. Take (for example) Love-in-a-Puff (Cardiospermum halicacabum)!  What a fantastic name!  I simply must give this to someone.

But…it’s totally new to me, have you grown this?

Sweet William ‘Newport Pink’, Chinese Forget-Me-Not ‘Chill Out’, Love-in-a-Mist ‘Hispanica Mix’, Sweet William ‘Claret’

And these pretty Dianthus; Would you agree, seeds are really the only acceptable way to give carnations on valentines day??

Perhaps the best trade show I have ever attended is Maison et Objet (which is currently underway in Paris).  There is just so many exciting new things to see there and I always wish I could make the trip.  So with much excitement I just read a round-up post over at Apartment Therapy by Ellie Tennent about the current show and some of her favorite picks.

Can we all nod our heads in agreement that these stack-able Matrioshka doll-like candle holders (that are perfectly misty/milky at the bottom) are just about amazing?   I’ll take 2….wait make that 10….

‘Bougies Russes’ candle holders designed by Stephan Lanez.

I continue with my lusty search for just the right neon sign to hang near my (hopefully completed this coming season) new deck and pergola.  So now that I have found 5 of them, I am not sure which to choose…..Artist and Designer Rory Dobner created all of these and he launched this collection at the show.  My rudimentary knowledge of the neon sign market makes me not even want to ask what it will cost me to actually own one of these charmers.

images from Apartment Therapy and Rory Dobner

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think this is a picture of a lavender garden.  I came across this image when putting together my last post about the Landschaftpark in Duisburg-Nord (which is where this was taken). Though I am not 100% sure that is what this is, as I study it, I think I see a huge variety of lavender plants, that have  different growth habits, textures, and color  and the result, when planted in strict rows, totally satisfies my stripe fetish.     (utterly appealing, don’t you agree?)

And if in fact, this isn’t all lavender, I am not sure that is at all relevant to me….because I have already been inspired to plant and grow  lavender (and other plants too) in this way.

image from josyannevanderdonk