Lecture Topics
FROM START TO FINISH
Using real life landscape projects, with Before and After photos, we will go Step-by-Step thru the actual design process. Together, we will see how Simple Solutions to common, as well as complex landscape problems, can transform a property and create a beautiful, harmonious setting for house, gardens as well as the surrounding landscape
Using real life landscape projects, with Before and After photos, we will go Step-by-Step thru the actual design process. Together, we will see how Simple Solutions to common, as well as complex landscape problems, can transform a property and create a beautiful, harmonious setting for house, gardens as well as the surrounding landscape
Creating the Cottage Style
Wonderfully informal and often idiosyncratic, cottage gardens with their plantings of old fashioned perennials, hollyhocks and roses, pinks and peonies remain forever popular, transcending gardening fads and trends. Comfortable and welcoming, cottage gardens can help make just about any house feel like home.
In this lecture, beginning with a selection of English cottage gardens from my book, we will explore the various design elements that characterize this timeless style. Then, using actualprojects, with before and after pictures, we will go step by step thru the design process to experience first hand how the cottage stylecan provide contrast and compliment to a variety of architectural styles and landscape settings, from city garden to updated Berkshire farmhouse.
In this lecture, beginning with a selection of English cottage gardens from my book, we will explore the various design elements that characterize this timeless style. Then, using actualprojects, with before and after pictures, we will go step by step thru the design process to experience first hand how the cottage stylecan provide contrast and compliment to a variety of architectural styles and landscape settings, from city garden to updated Berkshire farmhouse.
Start With the House
The house is the heart of any garden or landscape. So in this lecture that is where we will begin. The front door, back or kitchen door will be the starting point. And from there we will move out into the landscape with terraces, paths and views framed by trees, shrubs and perennials. Using houses of various architectural styles, along with before and after photos of real landscape projects, we will examine how this simple design concept can be utilized to enhance outdoor and indoor living spaces.
The Adaptable Cottage Garden
Using before and after photographs of my own design projects, we will explore the many possibilities of the cottage style. To begin, we will examine how the thoughtful selection and placement of trees, shrubs and classic cottage perennials selected for foliage and seasonal bloom can help integrate the bold lines and forms of a contemporary house with the surrounding natural landscape.
With the help of before and after photos, we will next observe how the woodland setting surrounding a large, rustic Adirondack style log cabin in Maine was transformed by a framework of walls, rustic paving and cottage style plantings.
To finish our tour, we will next visit the gardens
surrounding my two hundred year old farmhouse. Using before and after photos, we will see how the garden’s strong, symmetrical framework connects the classical architecture of the house and how cottage style plantings within a framework of thoughtfully selected flowering shrubs and trees integrates both house and garden with the surrounding woods and fields.
Since the publication of my book “English Cottage Gardening for American Gardeners” I have lectured on landscape and garden design throughout the United States and England and offered garden and design workshops at numerous venues, including LONGWOOD GARDENS and my own gardens in the Berkshires hills of western Massachusetts.Created over a period of twenty five years the gardens surrounding my two hundred year old cottage farmhouse have been featured on the PBS nationally syndicated garden show THE VICTORY GARDEN, as well as HORTICULTURE MAGAZINE.
With the help of before and after photos, we will next observe how the woodland setting surrounding a large, rustic Adirondack style log cabin in Maine was transformed by a framework of walls, rustic paving and cottage style plantings.
To finish our tour, we will next visit the gardens
surrounding my two hundred year old farmhouse. Using before and after photos, we will see how the garden’s strong, symmetrical framework connects the classical architecture of the house and how cottage style plantings within a framework of thoughtfully selected flowering shrubs and trees integrates both house and garden with the surrounding woods and fields.
Since the publication of my book “English Cottage Gardening for American Gardeners” I have lectured on landscape and garden design throughout the United States and England and offered garden and design workshops at numerous venues, including LONGWOOD GARDENS and my own gardens in the Berkshires hills of western Massachusetts.Created over a period of twenty five years the gardens surrounding my two hundred year old cottage farmhouse have been featured on the PBS nationally syndicated garden show THE VICTORY GARDEN, as well as HORTICULTURE MAGAZINE.
Lecture Appearances in the United States
* Arnold Arboretum associated with Harvard University * Boston Flower Show * Chautauqua Institute * Horticultural Society of New York * Minneapolis Art Museum ART in BLOOM * Northwest Horticultural Society * Philadelphia Flower Show * Philadelphia Horticultural Society * Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College * Tower Hill Botanic Garden * White Flower Farm Garden Clubs throughout New England |
Lecture Appearances in England
*English Cottage Garden Society *Museum of Garden History, London |