What I love about garden design could not fill up the rest of this page , much less a book . I ’m an impulsive plant life shopper ; my garden is more like a closet stuff with outfits I do n’t remember buying and will never get into . Some things make , some things do n’t , but trust me : it is all chance .
But Genevieve Schmidt ofNorth Coast Gardeningis not only a garden house decorator , but a blogger and an avid reader . She ’s designed many beautiful garden around town , and she ’s always been squeamish enough to chance something polite to say about my altogether random , haphazard garden . WhenVanessa Gardner Nagel’sbook arrived , Gen and I ride down to talk about it . Here ’s her take onUNDERSTANDING GARDEN DESIGN :
Amy : So this script is written more for you than it is for me . It ’s really aim at garden designers or even masses with garden design inhalation . What did you think ?
Gen : Well , I learned a band . It ’s probably best suited to aspiring or new landscape intriguer , or someone like me who is ego - taught or comes from a horticultural rather than architectural background . But it ’s not a textbook – she has a ironical mother wit of humor that is n’t obvious until you drop some time with the book , and she was n’t afraid to give away her best tricks .
Amy : Oh , that ’s a in force affair . So give those whoremaster off to me – what did you pick up on that was most useful ?
Gen : Okay . For instance , I love her stress on take up scenery and how borrowing a view and integrate it into your landscape can give it a sense of belonging to the metre and spot .
Amy : So you ’re talking about making your garden match what ’s around it – the neighbour ’s trees , the spate off in the distance , stuff like that ?
Gen : Right . She really gets passionate about throw the landscape suit you and your surroundings , and I agree entirely . It ’s one of the element that can take a design that ’s attractive and functional , and give it that extra boost to become deeply meaningful .
Amy : Yeah , I can guarantee you most gardeners do n’t think about that . What else ?
Gen : Another of my best-loved bit was her section on plant . She goes through the thrillers , spillers , filler scrap for pots , which we may have see before , but is a utile matter to note , then goes on with a bewitching subdivision on using plants as punctuation mark within the garden . I entail , who the infernal region thinks to equate hellebore to semicolon ? I love this !
Amy : Punctuation . I do like that . A little grammar in the garden .
Gen : incisively . I also like her discussions on the psychology of quad , like not wanting to have our back to any place where people are get in or walk –
Amy : Now , see , that ’s something I would never think of –
Gen : I know . And here ’s another thing : she ’s one of the few designers who makes a distinction between a fine landscape painting maintenance help that is restricted to do lifelike pruning and skilled tutelage , and lawn services that often prefer to fleece plants into meatball .
Amy : Mow and coke . Ugh .
Gen : Yeah . I liked that she cautioned designers to keep the sustainment in mind while designing , AND have the money budget to pay for a more skilled service if you ’re not run low to like for it yourself . She reminds house decorator not to ask lawn people to do something outside of what they are skilled at . It seems obvious , but many designers seem to think alimony company are all the same ( and all stupefied , rather than that we all have differing specialties – really , I ’d do a unspeakable job at mop lawns ) .
Amy : And I guess that ’s something for the individual charter the designer to be aware of , too – verify the garden is designed so that whoever is going to take tending of it can really do that . So would you recommend the Word of God more to your clients , or to other designers , or both ?
Gen : It ’s not strictly a business book , is it ? She does n’t talk about the business aspects of becoming a architect , or make much note between how a professional designer might tackle something or how a homeowner might take on something . It ’s not about the business of landscape painting purpose , but it ’s definitely about the summons and the concepts involved in creating a serious-minded , personalized design .
Amy : And it ’s not just a Koran of characterization – I intend , there are a lot of ideas here , and some concepts you really want to think about .
Gen : on the button . She structure it so householder who are very passionate about creating a landscape for themselves could benefit , but it ’s not about quick , well - implemented photos or task idea . If you want what this Holy Scripture has to offer , you should be willing to take it seriously and give it the fourth dimension and respectfulness it deserves .
Amy : Which is middling much true of a garden . Or you could just go out and buy a bunch of plant on whim and cram them into any lilliputian topographic point you may find .
Gen : Well , you’re able to do that –
Amy : I know ! I hump . I ca n’t help myself .
