TUB: A PREDILECTION

Found online this pic has seared itself into my brain. Seared with further design. In my mind's eye there are 5 claw foot tubs under the tree. A small table, with dinner-wine, at each tub. I'm in one of the tubs & girlfriends are in the rest.

We are talking-sharing-savoring: the tree, the art, night, fireflies, fragrance, sound of bats, each other, floating, comfort, nurturing, laughter, ideas, joys, lessening of sorrows, epiphanies, being silly, gathering strength, being tender, knowing we will leave the evening enriched-changed-more completely ourselves.

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Top pic anonymous at the moment. Anyone know? Send it to me.

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Garden & Be Well, XO Tara

MOVING A POORLY SITED TREE

PSO, my term for, plant shape only, works initially. Growth displays poor planting choices. The landscape, below, was professionally designed-installed for the former owner. Royal Doulton & Exotic Bell, the new owners, must fix numerous PSO's before creating a landscape reflecting their multi-continent awareness of historic landscapes. The tree, above, if allowed to stay will engulf half the facade of the home. Where to move it?

Royal Doulton's office, above, views the front landscape. An axis to place the tree. PSO becomes focal point. I want him to enjoy the tree he is saving and have its placement be perfection.

Royal Doulton didn't know the tree he saved is a great haven for birds. Ambient sounds for his workday.

Near the frontdoor, above, a window. Peek inside, a circular stairwell. Look closely, the paint is a bit spattered. Good landscape design, Tara's way, includes everything you can see inside a house from the landscape. Touch up the spatters.

Above, stone, brick, copper, cut limestone, a lovely frontdoor, a real gas lantern, and generous size. A beautiful entry. Don't diminish beauty with something cute. The 'welcome' sign is not welcome here.

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The house already says 'welcome' in tones of elegance & intelligence.

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Styling a landscape often involves removing 'cute' gifts from a loved one. Awkward if it was from an in-law, step-child or etc... If so, keep it for about a year and then it must suddenly 'break & disappear'. Don't mention the trip to the thrift store. If you really can't get rid of a horrible landscape 'gift' plant an evergreen vine on it.
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Garden & Be Well, XO T

LANDSCAPE SWAG

Normally CUTE KILLS in a landscape. When I began designing landscapes the rules were restrictive to my novice mind. CUTE KILLS is a Tara Rule. What is cute? A flag with a pink bunny rabbit at Easter perhaps? Cute steals the eye & mind. Landscapes of intelligence & wit expand the eye & mind. How can you tell the difference? Take a picture. Is the landscape timeless? Can you tell which decade the landscape occupies? What is the correct answer? "NO". Somehow, this SWAG works. Rules followed: contrasting foliage size, contrasting foliage color, contrasting barren dry gravel 'lawn' around a center pool of water plants.

More Rules Followed: Focal point statue on axis, focal point bench on axis, enfilade created (view thru to a view), hedges create a garden room, creating sound with water feature, creating sound with feet on gravel, KISS (keep it simple Sweetie), shades of green create serenity.

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I took these pics a couple of years ago in England. They could have been taken yesterday or 1910.