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Ingenious gardeners find vertical gardening opportunities everywhere, from layered containers of edibles grown on tiny balconies to artistically planted arbors that separate one garden room from the next. But the [...]

I can't tell you how many times I've heard, while I'm brainstorming ideas with a new garden-design client, 'No, thanks--I'm not really into the native look,' or 'I'd love a [...]

When they hear mention of 'classic' garden design, many people think of 'formal' design (which is really just a subset of design styles, as is contemporary, English, xeriscape, tropical, etc.). [...]

Much of my life has been spent in areas that were originally hardwood forest, but I didn't always embrace shade's advantages. I grew up learning how to garden in the [...]

When planning a garden, landscape designers think about the entire experience the space will provide. Through the creative use of plants, hardscaping, furniture and art, a designer helps to make [...]

As garden and landscape designer, I give my work over to the vagaries of an unknown future. When I design gardens and outdoor spaces, I consider how they will age, [...]

This article marks the debut of a new column in Horticulture: Design Perspectives. In each installment, Susan Cohan and Rebecca Sweet will offer their thoughts on specific issues and challenges [...]

ORANGE IS ONE of the most versatile colors in the garden, fitting in with just about every season. Orange signals 'spring's here!' when California poppies burst onto the scene with [...]

IT'S HARD TO enjoy your garden when the temperatures outside are soaring, but fortunately the color wheel can provide a little relief. As I've mentioned here before, colors have visual [...]

YES, IT'S TRUE that the color black is often associated with the dark arts, death and mourning-certainly not appropriate for a cheery spring garden bursting forth with life, right? Wrong! [...]

NOT AS SOMBER as maroon nor as delicate as lavender, and without the powerful punch of true purple, dusky plum offers an elegant and subtle sophistication to your garden's color [...]

GRAY'S CHAMELEON-LIKE BEHAVIOR makes it one of the most interesting colors in the garden. This color has various problem-solving abilities, but its power depends on what other colors surround it. [...]

EVERY SO OFTEN I'll meet a new client who emphatically requests that I leave all variegated plants out of his or her garden's design. Personal tastes aside, these strong reactions [...]

I CAN'T IMAGINE designing a garden without tucking at least a few varieties of ornamental grasses among the traditional flowers, shrubs and trees. For one thing, they're generally not very [...]

NOTHING RIVALS A garden bed overflowing with a heart-stopping combination of colorful flowers. Or does it? While these showgirls of the garden can certainly put on an award-winning performance, their [...]

THERE'S NO DOUBT about it--texture is a powerful tool in the garden. It creates an irresistible physical reaction among kids and adults alike. Fine textures are a favorite among gardeners, [...]

WE ALL LOVE a colorful garden, and more often than not, flowers are the source of these colors. Using flowers that blend with one another is a common way to [...]

So much more than just 'a pretty shade of pink,' color can be one of the most powerful elements in your garden. Playing many different roles, color can fix a [...]

When meeting clients for the first time, one of the most common complaints I hear from them is that their garden feels somewhat chaotic. They may not be exactly sure [...]

Groundcovers are generally thought of as low-maintenance, low-lying plants that offer a bounty of practical solutions in the garden: suppressing weeds, retaining moisture and controlling erosion. But just because something [...]

Having a garden that's magical, intriguing and full of personality is at the top of many gardeners' wish lists. To create a truly magical space you need a few tricks [...]

If flowers are considered the showgirls of the garden, then foliage must certainly be the director. Think about it--a director's function is to collaborate with a diverse creative team to [...]