Garden Design’s Ecology of Style is Filled With Awe-Inspiring Ideas

FrontCover_Speing2016_-lowResGarden Design’s new emphasis on providing practical, enlightening ideas than are implementable in small or large gardens, from the East to West coast, is unlike any other garden magazine’s format. The Ecology of Style article in the summer 2016 issue is a fantastic example. Master designer and landscape architect, Edmund Hollander, shares his brilliant ideas including “When designing your garden, create a three-way marriage: something that will grow well on the site, that will look good with your house, and that will fulfill the needs of your family.”
Hollander and his firm partner, Maryanne Connelly, started Hollander Design in New York City 25 years ago. The firm now has 80 projects underway all over the world. Five of these projects, located in Manhattan and the Hamptons, are spotlighted in the article. Included are 20 thought-provoking, inspirational design concepts. So many ‘Wow I never thought of that’ ideas! The three that really resonated with me are:
300Garden_Design_5_A_Torenia_Grape_O_Licious

1) ‘Erase the boundary fence’. If you have a small landscape that is surrounded by a fence, paint it a dark green or charcoal so it visibly recedes, making a small area feel larger. (photo right – there is a dark fence that you can hardly see surrounding this courtyard)

2) ‘Consider lighting’. If you are home in the evening more than in the day, then incorporate aesthetic-pleasing, subtle outdoor lighting. In my case, I rarely thought about landscape lighting as part of my design strategy, but the ‘lightbulb’ went on when I read this advice! The garden lighting doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive, but it can make a huge difference in one’s level of enjoyment – viewing from indoors or out.
400Page141_Trees_as_Pergoal

3) ‘Plant your architecture’. Instead of building a pergola or arbor to create shade over an entertainment area, consider planting deciduous trees where you would have placed posts. The tree canopies will act as natural ‘shade umbrellas’, providing relief from summer heat but will valuable sunshine in the winter months.

To learn more about this article and Garden Design, a one-of-a-kind, ad-free, premier quarterly ‘bookazine’ featuring beautiful garden photographs; plant picks; design idea; outdoor living furnishings and much, much more, click here. To receive one free issue with your subscription (a $12.95 value), click here.