Fall containers and dry hands

It's that time again.....Fall containers! Summer plantings are tiring, time to enjoy a renewal and the rich colors of Autumn. Here are a few we planted for our clients

 Once again, it is all about the foliage. A good variety of shapes and colors add punch to any composition.
Plants; millet, rudbeckia, purple cabbage, orange celosia, cinnamon curls heuchera, yet to bloom mums, ornamental grass and faux red berries. The heuchera is a perennial. I love it for the foliage  impact and plant it in the ground before it freezes

 CABBAGE! Add Heuchera 'caramel' and angel vine. See the tufts of brown twiggy matter. This combination provides non-stop color while not dependent upon blooms, even staying fresh through November

 Giant Bor Kale.......Wowza!

 Mixed with more Heuchera 'caramel', ornamental grasses and pansies.

 A surround of small Heuchera 'Caramel' and every other plant, small purple cabbage, ringing yellow mums

Feathers, purple cabbage, celosia and pansies

 You will notice repetion in the plantings, it's what I ordered this year for color and texture. Some of the same with the addition of bittersweet vines and a few purple petunias

 That twisty brown twiggy bit is more angel vine. I chose this spot because I was seeing too much kale stem...stuck it in here and there for interest. A cardinal rule; never leave the stems showing, personally makes me crazy. Yep, does not take much!

 More of the same with artifical ornamental grass "feathers"

 All bittersweet, 20 bundles!

As the mini pumpkins arrive from the farmer they will be tucked in around the base of the cabbage

I did not do this but enjoyed it's creativity. A hydrangea paniculata, Black Pearl ornamental pepper and the yellow foliage of Dicentra (bleeding Heart)

Love blue in the garden? How about navy blue!? Took a couple of blue photographs in my garden. This is Carrion Berry vine. 

Blue Hydrangea and Black and Blue Salvia which in person is cobalt blue

Having a blog has it's perks and this one arrived in the mail after a day of planting containers. With bone dry hands, I cracked open the package to find this product. Amlactin Ultra  which claims to soften severe, dry, areas by exfoliation and boosting regeneration of new cells. Being a sucker for miracle products, I thought, well if this isn't the best test! After a day in the garden, my hands are toast for two days. The next morning, viola, baby soft hands.The manufacturer sent this product for my review and I gladly give it 5 stars!

Well, I am off to catch a plane.....outta here!

Debra

A garden surprise

Little 'gifts' arrive in the most unexpected way.

Today a potential client came into the shop, seeking interior help on the new home she just bought. When she pulled it up on Zillow, I was thrilled to say, "That is one of our landscapes!"

How rewarding to see a landscape not only at maturity but perfectly tended

Having chatted many times about the importance of matching the landscape to the architecture of your home, this image perfectly defines that thought process. My inspiration? The front door. See the Georgian styled scrolls? That was projected onto the ground with the sinuous boxwood lines

 Ahhhh, the rear garden is where her primary interest lied. The garden mirrored our clients personality; a touch formal and very feminine

 There are many details to absorb here....... awning, metal work on a blank wall, appropriately sized lanterns, and much more not discernable in this image. One of my favorite design elements is to mix hardscape materials, in this instance Old street bricks and limestone pavers, used as an area rug under the table and chairs.
Not visible were a pair of enormous, heavy, Victorian chandeliers stripped of their chains, sitting upright in a low bed of groundcover.

It's so important that your views are relevant from many vantage points, indoors and out.

Ever grateful for the opportunities, my soul is full.

Debra