Flowers become even more eye-catching when paired with contrasting blooms or low-growing, leafy plants. By blending color, form, and leaf texture, certain flower and plant combinations create stunning visual effects in the garden. Consider grouping two or more of the pairings that I suggest together—not only will it enhance the beauty of your landscape, but the increased diversity will also attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Of course, my suggested two-plant combos are just a few out of many possibilities. I hope they inspire you to create your own flower duos!

Gomphrena and ‘Helen Von Stein’ Lamb’s Ear

The velvety, oversized silver leaves of 'Helen Von Stein' Lamb’s Ear provide a gray-green foundation that makes the hot-pink tufted blooms of Gomphrena 'Truffala Pink' pop. While Gomphrena is a sun-loving annual that delivers rosy color from early summer to frost, the lamb's ear returns each year. Best of all, this pairing is highly deer-resistant.

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Astilbe and Japanese Painted Fern

In the dappled light of a part-shade garden, the feathery, soft pink plumes of the deer resistant perennial, Astilbe, brighten the scene. You can add a lovely textural contrast by planting the silvery Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum) next to the astilbe. This pairing elevates the planting. I also planted the chartreuse-yellow foliage of coral bells (Heuchera) to insert a splash of sunshine to a shady site.

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There is a quiet mystique to white shrub roses. They capture your attention without having to shout, as orange or yellow blooms so often do. Unlike their fiery red cousins, these pristine white blossoms seem to glow in the evening light, adding a serene highlight to a dusky garden.

This understated beauty is only elevated when a white shrub rose is set within a classic stone planter. The heavy, traditional vessel offers the perfect contrast to the soft, wavy petals, creating a memorable focal point that feels both romantic and sophisticated. It is a timeless statement of purity and calm.

The 'Iceberg' rose is the most popular white shrub rose. It needs a sunny location and produces an avalanche of pure white, lightly fragrant flowers from early summer to first frost. This floribunda classic is nearly thornless which may explain its popularity. It is celebrated not only for its luminous, slightly honey-scented blooms but also for its hardiness and disease resistance. Iceberg roses typically grow 3-5 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide with an upright, bushy growth habit. The ‘Iceberg’ shrub rose handles cold winters beautifully without needing winter protection, it thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.

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There is also a climbing variety. The ‘Climbing Iceberg’ is a natural mutation of the original shrub form, discovered in 1958, a few years after the shrub was introduced. It produces the exact same clusters of white flowers but throws out flexible canes that grow 12 to 15 feet tall. One note- it is not deer-resistant. You’ll need to tuck it behind a fence or rely on protective sprays.

Russell Page, The Frick Garden and Iceberg Roses

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Happiness is a butterfly. And this is why a butterfly garden should be in everyone's life. In the photo above, I planted 'Lucky White' Lantana to attract the summer butterflies....they love lantana!

To design a magnetic butterfly garden, you must have

• A sunny spot with at least six hours of direct light. This is because butterflies are cold-blooded insects, so they require a sunny place to warm their wings for active flight. Also add some sun-drenched stones for basking.

• Shallow "puddling" stations—such as a dish filled with damp sand or mud—so butterflies can safely sip essential moisture and minerals.

• A protected spot, out of the way of harsh winds, because butterflies are incredibly lightweight and their wings act as tiny sails so they easily get blown off course. Provide resilient foliage plants and dense shrubs to act as natural windbreaks. Butterfly gardens should be calm microclimates where they can effortlessly land and feed.

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Provide nectar rich plants from Spring through Fall

A butterfly garden must provide a continuous buffet of nectar-rich blooms to fuel the adult butterflies from spring through fall. Just as importantly, the garden needs to incorporate specific host plants that serve as a leafy, edible nursery for the next generation of hungry caterpillars.

Below are some suggestions for your garden. These have nectar, a butterfly’s delight.

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An outdoor step landing—especially a wide, intermediate grassed or paved stopping area—has an important function in landscape design.

A wide landing, halfway up, breaks up a long flight of outdoor steps into two manageable, inviting segments. It acts as a physical and visual "pause," giving both mind and body a moment to rest and recalibrate.

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I am giving a webinar for Gardendesign.com -

Designing with Color:

How to Shape Mood, Energy, and Harmony in the Garden

on

Thursday, May 14th at 6 PM ET

Color is the first thing we notice, and one of the most powerful tools in garden design. I will share how to use color to affect how your space feels.

What you’ll learn:

How color shapes mood and emotional response.

Ways to create harmony and energy in the garden.

Why pink is such a useful bridge color.

How green acts as the foundation of a garden palette.

Simple ways to use color more intentionally.

Perfect for gardens in any Zone and gardeners of any skill level, this is going to be a fun, inspiring session and a wonderful way to bring more color into everyday life. I hope you can join me.

Save Your Seat!

$20 USD Registration Fee

*Can’t join us at that time? All registrants will receive the recording the Monday after the webinar. You will have 30 days to watch or rewatch.

go here- https://www.gardendesign.com/webinars/

A Note from the Garden: Last March, I wrote about the beautiful resilience of Hellebores. As I walked through the garden today, I saw the first flower buds push through the leaf litter and thought I should highlight hellebore’s sturdy, deer resistant beauty once more. Whether you are looking for early flowers or a groundcover that thrives in part shade, here is a look back at why Hellebores remain the undisputed champions of the early spring border—with a few notes on a shell pink hellebore that I love

You could answer Andromeda (Pieris) - but it doesn’t really like shade. Perhaps you answered Hakonechloa (Japanese Forest Grass) but it doesn’t have flowers. Daffodils are not evergreen. Grasses, Boxwood and sedges don’t meet this criteria either....

The problem free, shade loving Hellebore x hybridus (Lenten Rose) is the answer. They are a perfect plant for a part shady garden in deer country.

The Perennial Plant Association’s Plant of the Year for 2005, Hellebores bloom from late winter to early spring, depending on hardiness zone and variety. Hellebores sport drooping, buttercup-like flowers colors of pink, mauve, white, green, burgundy, yellow, black-purple, bi-colored, speckled and more. These flowers last into the summer (!), becoming greener or darker with maturity. They are hardy from USDA Zone 5 - 9.

Hellebores like light to moderate shade, especially an area shaded by deciduous trees, and protection from summer heat. They are easy to grow.

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They make a spectacular cut flower and the best part is that you can float the blooms in a shallow bowl to display the flowers indoors. The flowers can last for several days, and floating them allows you to see the details of the blooms. This is important because hellebores - for the most part - tend to have drooping flower heads and so you can’t see the flowers well.

How to float hellebores

1. Cut off the flower stems

2. Fill a shallow bowl with water

3. Float the flowers on top

Tips for floating hellebores

• Use a wide, shallow bowl that complements the color of the flowers

• Replace the water frequently

• Gather the flowers in the morning when they are fresh

• Clip the stems close to the flower’s base

  

  Helleborus are native to Eastern Europe and Asia. They have been used in gardens for centuries. In Elizabethan times, hellebores were planted near a doorway because it was believed that they kept a home free of evil spirits and witches - maybe this is because every part of the plant is poisonous!)

Interestingly, hellebore flowers don’t have petals but have colorful, cold hardy sepals. Sepals attract early season pollinators (honey bees, wasps) and protect the plant’s reproductive parts. Unlike petals, sepals actively photosynthesize, which is why the flowers stay intact and darken through the season.

The two most commonly seen species are known as Christmas Rose (H. niger) and Lenten Rose (H. orientalis), due to the time of year they flower and their rose-like blooms. But many are simply called hybridus, due to interbreeding.

Sunshine Farm Hellebores

Barry Glick, aka Glicksterus maximus aka The Cyber-Plantsman, has devoted more than six West Virginia acres to his ‘Sunshine Selections’ of hellebores. He cultivates some 68,000 hellebores (click here) on the hills of Sunshine Farm & Gardens in Renick. You can visit him in mid winter and see for yourself! His website is a marvel - check it out.

Have I convinced you to try out hellebores yet? I use them as a low growing plant in the front of a plant bed. I like them for their dark green sturdy leaves - and the flowers are a deer resistant bonus! See below:

2026 Add-on

I especially like Hellebore ‘Flower Girl’ - It’s part of the wonderful Wedding Party® series bred by Hans Hansen, specifically selected for high “flower power” and vigorous growth. Any hellebore in that series is fantastic.

‘Flower Girl’ features double, ruffled blossoms. The color is a romantic blush-to-light pink, often described as “vanilla-white” infused with shell pink.

The flowers are large (about 2.5 to 3 inches) and nod slightly on sturdy stems. Because they are double-flowered, they have a lush, rose-like appearance that looks stunning against their dark, leathery green foliage. Zones 4–9

It thrives in part-to-full shade, making it an ideal understory plant for deciduous trees.

Thank You to my dear subscribers - I love to share all with you. And feel free to ask me questions! Check out my website for landscape design too. That is what I do when I am not writing my substack.

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The visionary Barcelona architect of the early 20th century, Antonio Gaudí, studied the spirals and curves of nature and utilized them in all his projects. Gaudi, unlike other architects of his time, did not rely on rigid, rectilinear shapes. His work in Parque Güell, a municipal park on the outskirts of Barcelona, is an example of “architecture mimicking life.” When he designed the park between 1900 and 1914, he translated the laws of physics and biology into stone.

Here, he incorporated twisting paths, imaginative colonnades and naturally formed staircases into a steep hillside.

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The Wave as Structural Logic - One of the finest examples of the organic architecture championed by Gaudí is the Washerwoman’s Portico at Parque Guell. The portico takes the form of a large wave supported by sloping columns. The columns are leaning to support the weight of the road above while hugging the steep hillside.

Many columns in the park use a double-twist design (helicoids), which Gaudí felt represented the growth patterns of trees and the movement of water.

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The dreaded Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), for which we spend tremendous amounts of weed killer money to eradicate, has been prized over the years for its medicinal and nutritious properties.

In fact, dandelion roots, flowers and “dandelion greens” (leaves) are all edible!

Dandelions are a rich source of vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc.

Dandelion roots can be roasted as a coffee-substitute.

Dandelion flowers can be made into a wine.

Young dandelion leaves can be boiled as you would spinach.

Dandelion greens Harvesting young greens (the leaves) is the most popular way to eat Dandelions. They can be boiled, as you would spinach. The best time to harvest the greens is in early spring, before the flowers appear, when they are the tenderest and least bitter.

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Boiling them or stir frying them will further reduce their bitterness. The French even have a well-known soup called creme de pissenlits (cream of dandelion soup), which is easy to make.

I have always thought it made sense that, at the end of winter, when our ancestors were probably hungry and vitamin deficient, that Nature would see to it that they had a great source of vitamins proliferating all around them! No one had to seed them or turn over the soil...the Dandelions appeared just for the picking!

Just make sure to avoid harvesting dandelion leaves or roots near roads, since road salt and/or toxins may be present. Likewise, you obviously shouldn't harvest from a lawn where herbicides have been used.

And today we spend so much money and poison just to make them go away....we call them noxious weeds. Something is wrong here.

Medicinal Uses of Dandelion Root and Leaves

In traditional medicine, dandelion roots and leaves have been used as a liver tonic for centuries. We now know why it works. Scientists recently identified a specific compound, Taraxasterol, which protects the liver from toxins like alcohol and even over-the-counter painkillers.

And if you struggle with gout, Dandelion Root Extract (DRE) might help, offering a natural way to keep joint pain at bay.

Researchers in 2025 and 2026 are finding that Dandelion Root Extract (DRE) helps with Blood Sugar Balance, Natural Weight Support, and acts as a prebiotic, feeding the “good” bacteria (Bifidobacterium) in your gut.

The most exciting—and sensitive—area of study is that researchers found that dandelion compounds can zero in on specific proteins found in lung and colon cancer cells. Real clinical trials found (notably at the University of Windsor) good results.

When the dandelions start to bloom - I hope you look at them with new eyes. BTW, a great novel by a great writer, Ray Bradbury, is called Dandelion Wine.

Thank you being a dear and valued subscriber to Gardentopia!

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Frederick Law Olmsted, the ‘father of American landscape architecture’, famously transformed 19th-century urban environments into sylvan parks. Central to his philosophy was the technique of “hide and reveal,” where he utilized winding paths and dense “screens” of vegetation to create depth and interest rather than a static view.

IT WORKS LIKE THIS - As you walk through a secluded, leafy corridor, the destination remains obscured, leading you on. A glimpse of a strategically placed “visual breadcrumb”—like a rock outcrop or a dramatic weeping tree—draws you forward before being tucked away out of sight behind a bend.

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I am always looking for the perfect shrub rose with deep red flowers for my clients in Zone 5 and 6. They have to be winter hardy. I am so happy to say that Easy Elegance® ‘Super Hero’ Shrub Rose fits the bill!

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The name is kind of perfect - it’s a low-maintenance, “own-root” shrub that delivers maximum impact with minimal effort. From late May through September, this plant pumps out a continuous show of brilliant crimson color.

The best feature is its 2-3” hybrid tea-shaped blooms that appear in clusters against a backdrop of satiny, dark green foliage. Their classic shape and sturdy stems make them the perfect “cut flower” too. Whether it’s growing in a plant bed or sitting in a vase on your kitchen table, this rose always delivers.

Beyond its good looks, the Super Hero shrub rose is known for its durability. It is Northern hardy (Zones 4-7) and exceptionally disease-resistant. It grows into a neat, compact shape about 3-5 feet tall and stays within bounds, making it a reliable part of a border or foundation plantings.

This rose thrives in full sun with moist, well-drained soil.

Thank you for being a dear valued subscriber to Gardentopia.

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Saturday I am giving my 2 hour Powerpoint class on Planting Design for the New York Botanical Garden. It was a hit last spring so they asked me to do it again. I revised and enhanced what I did (practice makes perfect) and am ready to share Planting Design Tips once again.

Planting Design is an art that co-creates with Nature. To be successful, you must know a little horticulture, some basics of ecology and a bunch of artful design principles. This class looks at planting design and suggests great plant duos that work well together. It highlights shape, texture and color and the idea of ‘mix and match’.

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I will use 2 Powerpoint Presentations to illustrate design basics and specific plant combinations. It is meant to be inspiring and informative. Plants are illustrated and named. Native and deer resistant plants are noted. A Plant List (in the order of appearance) is provided.

Part One – Three Criteria

· The three Criteria – Shape, Texture, Color

· Different Plant Shapes and How to Use them in a Design

· Texture – Identify the Various Textures and Uses for Textural Combinations

Discussion and Questions Throughout the Talk

Part Two –Color

The last Criteria – Color is the First Thing You See

• Dusky and Dark Plants and How they Contribute to a Planting

• Blues and Purples, Silver, and More Discussed in relation to Planting Design

• Much More

Discussion and Questions Throughout the Talk

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If you are interested in this class, enroll through NYBG - GO HERE

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If you have a top of wall that needs softening, let me introduce you to a landscape design solution: Cutleaf Stephanandra (Stephanandra incisa ‘Crispa’).

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Now before I go on - there is one caveat to this plant - it is considered a potential invasive species in some North American regions. The Morton Arboretum identifies it as a non-native shrub that can be problematic. So keep it well pruned and well managed as we have done in these photos. It requires yearly pruning to keep it in bounds.

I have found that the best plants aren’t always the ones with the flashiest flowers. Sometimes, you want plants with texture and fall color who can also do the “heavy lifting.” That is Stephananda incisa ‘Crispa’. Here is why I am writing about it.

• It grows in a beautiful, mounded habit with arching branches that look like delicate ferns. It softens the top edge of a stone wall and creates a ‘waterfall’ effect.

• No serious insect or disease problems.

• Its branches “layer” (root where they touch the soil), creating a living mat that holds the earth in place. Can create a thicket.

• While nothing is 100% deer-proof, deer generally walk past this one. Plus, it tolerates partial shade and drought, once established.

• In the fall, that fine-textured green foliage turns a lovely, warm reddish-orange. A real eye catcher!

Required: The Spring Refresh

Cutleaf Stephanandra is low-maintenance, but it does need a hard rejuvenation prune every few years in late winter or late spring after it flowers. . Cut it back to about 12-18 inches, and it will flush out with fresh, vibrant green growth that looks great all summer long. It grows 1-3 ft. tall. You can prune the tips throughout the year as you wish. Be vigilant.

Stephanandra incisa 'Crispa' is a useful choice. It offers a graceful, cascading habit without the aggressive spreading typical of the invasive species. Just make sure to prune it yearly to keep it in its place as we have done here.

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Directed by Hal Ashby and adapted from Jerzy Kosiński’s novella, this film is a masterclass in deadpan satire. Peter Sellers plays Chance, an innocent gardener who has spent his entire life secluded behind the walls of a Washington, D.C. estate.

With a mind as simple as a child’s—the role is a forerunner to Forrest Gump—Chance knows only two things: gardening and TV. He is reclusive and illiterate and has lived and worked on this property his entire life.

When his benefactor, the Old Man, dies at the beginning of the film, Chance, the gardener, is thrust out of his sheltered bubble onto the streets of the capital. Through a series of hilarious, accidental encounters, he doesn’t just survive; he thrives.

From the Garden to the White House

He is mistaken for “Chauncey Gardiner,” a sophisticated man of mystery. Soon, he is rubbing elbows with the political elite and the President himself.

His encounters with highly placed people are very funny. They are charmed by his simplicity and honesty. They think 'Chauncy Gardiner' is a wise and profound man who uses metaphors of the garden to answer deep and thorny questions, when, of course, gardening is all he knows.

He quickly rises to public prominence and becomes a media sensation. The film exposes a society deeply in need of simple truths amidst its manipulations and self-serving follies.

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____________________________________________________________________________
He only knows gardening and so his answers are from the garden:
President “Bobby”: Mr. Gardner, do you agree with Ben, or do you think that we can stimulate growth through temporary incentives?

[Long pause]

Chance the Gardener: As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden.

President “Bobby”: In the garden.

Chance the Gardener: Yes. In the garden, growth has it seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again.

President “Bobby”: Spring and summer.

Chance the Gardener: Yes.

President “Bobby”: Then fall and winter.

Chance the Gardener: Yes.

Benjamin Rand: I think what our insightful young friend is saying is that we welcome the inevitable seasons of nature, but we’re upset by the seasons of our economy.

Chance the Gardener: Yes! There will be growth in the spring!

Benjamin Rand: Hmm!

Chance the Gardener: Hmm!

President “Bobby”: Hm. Well, Mr. Gardner, I must admit that is one of the most refreshing and optimistic statements I’ve heard in a very, very long time.

[Benjamin Rand applauds]

President “Bobby”: I admire your good, solid sense. That’s precisely what we lack on Capitol Hill.

Watch this:

We all know this is true but how many of us can put it into practice?

Gardening - as Chance would tell us - helps us do that.

The Gardener Philosopher is something to be.

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Thank you for being my dear valued subscriber - as Joni Mitchell says, "We are stardust, we are golden, And we've got to get ourselves back to the garden"

This is the time of year when I start to get very reflective. The snow has piled up outside my window, and I hibernate just like a bear. But I don’t get depressed. I actually revel in this quiet time. And I’m sure many of you feel the same way.

I think about things that I normally don’t dwell upon. Odds and ends and pieces of things. I think about time a lot. I know that might seem strange but it does make sense. Time seems to go slower when it is cold and gray outside.

One of my favorite time tidbits is the traditional Japanese way of keeping time.

Their calendar divides the year into 24 distinct periods, each lasting roughly two weeks. This system presents a year as a living, breathing narrative rather than a set of 12 months.

Instead of just “February,” you might find yourself in the 2 week period known as Risshun (approximately February 4 – February 18) which is known as the “Beginning of Spring.” This is when the calendar officially flips from winter to spring. While to us it feels like winter, the Japanese calendar recognizes the subtle, internal shift of the earth that is happening right now in their part of the world.

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But what is even more fascinating is that their traditional calendar is further broken down into 72 micro seasons! While we have twelve months and four weeks in a month. They have twenty-four distinct periods, each lasting roughly two weeks and these periods are further split into micro seasons that change every five days.

So for example, the “Beginning of Spring” is broken down into February 4–8: “The East Wind Melts the Ice” (Harukaze kōri o toku). This is the moment the plum blossoms begin to unfurl. Their fragrance is said to be carried by that first “east wind” that softens the frozen landscape.

Soon it will be followed by Mid-March (March 11–15) called "Peach Trees First Smile" (Momo hajimete saku) micro-season. It marks a shift from the resilient, cold-weather beauty of the plum to the softer, more exuberant arrival of true spring. It’s a lovely way to think of time—first the plums announce the end of winter, and then the peaches literally smile at the sun.

Other 5 day time periods have similar poetic names like “Bush Warblers Start Singing” or “Rotten Grass Becomes Fireflies.” It’s a beautiful way of viewing time, reminding everyone that, if you blink, you might miss the precise five-day window when the “earth is damp and the air is humid” or “the first iris blooms”.

This sensitivity to seasonality in Japan remains today. You can experience it in wagashi (traditional sweets) that change with each bloom. And in Japanese restaurants, particularly those top-tier restaurants serving Kaiseki (traditional multi-course meals) the menu shifts every two weeks to mirror the 24 terms. For example, during Risshun, you might find some tiny, bitter sprouts or buds of Fuki-no-to, a deliberate signal that spring is awakening under the soil. The bud is the famous "herald of spring" —a Petasites bud (Petasites japonicus).

I hope you enjoyed this rumination on a snowy day. And thank you for being a valued subscriber to Gardentopia.

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There once was a Dormouse who lived in a bed

Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red)

And all the day long he’d a wonderful view

Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue)

Doctor came hurrying round, and he said:

”Tut-tut, I am sorry to find you in bed.

Just say ‘Ninety-nine’, while I look at your chest...

Don’t you find that chrysanthemums answer the best?”

The Dormouse looked round at the view and replied

(When he’d said “Ninety-nine”) that he’d tried and he’d tried,

And much the most answering things that he knew

Were geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).

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The Doctor stood frowning and shaking his head,

And he took up his shiny silk hat as he said:

”What the patient requires is a change,” and he went

To see some chrysanthemum people in Kent.

The Dormouse lay there,
and he gazed at the view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue),
And he knew there was nothing he wanted instead
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).

The Doctor came back and, to show what he meant,

He had brought some chrysanthemum cuttings from Kent.”

Now these,” he remarked, “give a much better view

Than geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).”

They took out their spades and they dug up the bed

Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red),

And they planted chrysanthemums (yellow and white).”

And now,” said the Doctor, “we’ll soon have you right.”
The Dormouse looked out, and he said with a sigh:

”I suppose all these people know better than I.

It was silly, perhaps, but I did like the view

Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).”

The Doctor came round and examined his chest,

And ordered him Nourishment, Tonics, and Rest.”

How very effective,” he said, as he shook

The thermometer, “all these chrysanthemums look!”

The Dormouse turned over to shut out the sight

Of the endless chrysanthemums (yellow and white).”

How lovely,” he thought, “to be back in a bed

Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).”

The Doctor said, “Tut! It’s another attack!”

And ordered him Milk and Massage-of-the-back,

And Freedom-from-worry and Drives-in-a-car,

And murmured, “How sweet your chrysanthemums are!”

The Dormouse lay there with his paws to his eyes,

And imagined himself such a pleasant surprise:

”I’ll pretend the chrysanthemums turn to a bed

Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red)!”

The Doctor next morning was rubbing his hands,

And saying, “There’s nobody quite understands

These cases as I do! The cure has begun!

How fresh the chrysanthemums look in the sun!”

The Dormouse lay happy, his eyes were so tight

He could see no chrysanthemums, yellow or white.

And all that he felt at the back of his head

Were delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).

And that is the reason (Aunt Emily said)

If a Dormouse gets in a chrysanthemum bed,

You will find (so Aunt Emily says) that he lies

Fast asleep on his front with his paws to his eyes.

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What are some of the most “friendly” trees?

Research has shown that certain trees positively affect human stress levels, mood, heart rate, and brain waves through chemicals they release (phytoncides). Now I also believe the electromagnetic frequencies that trees emit affect us but I will discuss that at another time if you want me to. I will just put it out there.

What trees (in the temperate regions, not tropical) are calming or make us more alert? Here are the top choices people naturally feel drawn to:

Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria)

Let’s start with the best studied trees. Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria) and Hinoki Cypress are lauded for their effect on human well being by the Japanese. They are the basis of Shinrin-yoku or the practice known as forest bathing.

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These evergreens release phytoncides like α‐pinene & limonene. These scents are proven to reduce cortisol, lower blood pressure, and improve immunity. They create a calm brainwave state which results in deep relaxation and lowered anxiety.

So what does all that mean? The trees - through their scent - calm us down.

The Japanese have lots of studies to prove that walking amidst these scented evergreens help people relax and heal. It is a proven psychological therapy. These trees are our allies, soothing and comforting us and all we have to do is breathe in deeply.

GARDEN DESIGN TIP:

Plant Cryptomeria japonica ‘Black Dragon’ and breathe in deeply!

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Their lavish ‘paradise’ gardens, walled in and inward looking, featured a network of linear water channels - in a quadrant layout - and lush plantings that provided a verdant retreat from their harsh desert surroundings. These gardens were sheltered havens where shade, cool running water, sweet fruits and scented, colorful flowers could be privately enjoyed. Indeed, the word ‘paradise’ comes from the Persian word, ‘pairi-daeza,’ meaning “enclosed space.”

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It is not surprising that, water, a treasured commodity in an arid land, was the central focus of the walled Persian gardens. Their traditional quadrangular plan, known as ‘Chahar Bagh,’ or Four Gardens consisted of four raised water channels, aligning with the four cardinal directions, flowing out from a central fountain. The origin of this layout harks back to the garden of the ancient Persian gardener-king, Cyrus, who was known as the “King of the Four Quarters.”

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Sunlight and moonlight are the true arbiters of a garden. Their unwavering journey across the sky creates a “rich tinting of time” on our landscapes—an ever-changing display of light intensity and hue.

For those of us who are attuned to these celestial shifts, we can find ourselves under the spell of the sky’s mercurial moods. We respond to the weight of deep blue shadows, bask in pearlescent moonlight, and are awe-struck by a shimmering sunset.

Natural light influences our spirits beyond measure, even if we do not acknowledge it. For example, the sun brightens and we are suddenly uplifted; the moon waxes fully and we become curiously giddy, almost ‘moonstruck’. This close kinship between natural light and the rise and fall of our emotions can guide the design of a garden, or at least, our plant choices.

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Dancing with Light

You can play with the variability of sunlight and moonlight, using their subtle shifts to completely transform a garden scene.

To start, look at your garden throughout the day and notice the remarkable way sunlight creates “concealments and revealments.” In other words how it plays “hide and seek”. Grab your phone and snap a few photos every so often. These photos will document how natural light floods certain corners while leaving others in deep, velvety voids.

Seeing your garden through a lens helps you spot where the light is most bright and where the shadows loiter. Think of natural light as a talented dancer, moving through the scene gracefully.

A Lesson from the Master

Frederick Law Olmsted, (1822-1903), the visionary pioneer of American landscape design, was captivated by these atmospheric shifts. Long before he was designing Central Park, he was the superintendent of Yosemite, where he became a student of how light interacts with raw nature. In 1865, he captured the magic of the California light:

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‘Too little tea’ is a Japanese expression that refers to a person too busy to stop and smell the roses.

January, where I live, is a time to slow down and drink some tea. So, the Japanese phrase, ‘too little tea’, makes a lot of sense. I often must tell myself to ‘slow down’ and the act of making and drinking tea is a practical way to do that.

One of my favorite books is The Book of Tea by Kakuzo Okakura. This classic book was originally written in 1906 to be read aloud by the author at Isabella Stewart Gardner’s famous salon in Boston. It is an eloquent treatise look at culture and politics through the Japanese mind of tea. Okakura Kakuzo (1862-1913) devoted his life to art, Zen, and the preservation of Japanese art and culture. He worked as an ambassador, teacher, writer, and, at the time of his death, as the Curator of Chinese and Japanese Art at the Boston Museum.

One of the passages I enjoy the most is about lingering in ‘the foolishness of things’. You may say that having a passion for gardens falls into that category. And if it does, I say, keep on lingering!

Here is an excerpt from ‘The Book of Tea’:

The heaven of modern humanity is indeed shattered in the Cyclopean struggle for wealth and power.

The world is groping in the shadow of egotism and vulgarity. Knowledge is bought through a bad conscience, benevolence practiced for the sake of utility.

The East and the West, like two dragons tossed in a sea of ferment, in vain strive to regain the jewel of life. We need a Niuka again to repair the grand devastation; we await the great Avatar.

Meanwhile, let us have a sip of tea.

The afternoon glow is brightening the bamboos, the fountains are bubbling with delight, the sighing of the pines is heard in our kettle.

Let us dream of evanescence, and linger in the beautiful foolishness of things.

Kakuzo Okakura

I hope you enjoy my January ruminations.

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The sweep of a curve lends a gracious air to a landscape. It inserts an unhurried quality to any outdoor setting. Graceful arcs elevate a garden and your eye cannot help but follow them around. If you think about it, we love curves because they reflect the forms we see in nature: flower petals, pine cones, leaves, and seashells. This similarity allegedly prompted the 18th century English landscape designer, Capability Brown, to refer to curves in the landscape as the “sinuous line of Grace”.

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You can invite people to explore your garden by laying out a plant bed, wall or walkway in a strong, curving line. A curve with a single radius creates the cleanest and strongest visual impact. Caution: Stay away from curvy wiggles because they dilute the captivating ‘follow me’ effect.

How to Lay Out a Curve in the Landscape

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