Sheesh - I've got bench envy, footstool envy, light envy, stone wall envy...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ But more than anything, I'm mentally trying to reverse engineer and recreate my own version of this beautifully chic bench that was posted by @mathilde.bulteau ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ She says it was designed by #andreeputman for the @capcmusee in Bordeaux.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Reverse-engineering (and the natural variation that comes out of the process) is one of my favorite design tools for garden making.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What is reverse engineering?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It's a process that enables a designer (you) to move from a finished product (created by someone else) through the process of creating that product.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It isn't copying though and it never should be. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In fact, in garden design specifically - it is near impossible to copy. Sites are different, climates are different, materials are different... nature is different - there are too many variables. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you see a landscape you love - reverse engineer it to better understand the design.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Questions like Why? When? Where? and How? are often more interesting to understand a project or place as Who? or What?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Use reverse engineering to reproduce elements that are undocumented. Like, for example, researching/id-ing plants from a photo - AND recognizing that it is unlikely that you'll be able to grow all the exact same things. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It's better to understand what it is (color, shape, texture, context... etc.) that is making the design work and then using those characteristics to find and make a good substitution for your garden. That's the best part about reverse engineering - understanding rather than copying. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you're unsure about how design thinking works and you want to learn more about how to make your garden better, comment or DM me with your Q's.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ image @franckjean_deugene 
There are so many things I love about Caitlin Atkinson and Jennifer Jewell's recent collaboration... (@caitlinatkinson_photography & @cultivating_place) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I love seeing women shine in the garden media world - especially women who consistently use their exceptional talents to help others shine too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And it was high time someone put a stake in the ground for the style and types of gardens that suit the American West (and not just California ... I mean, I love CA, but you have to admit, that state can be a lit-tle bit of a camera hog 🙄😉). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Under the Western Skies is a book full of Genus Loci (the spirit of a place) inspiration for any garden maker who lives amongst the mountain ranges (Rockies, Cascades, Sierras). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Or it is just a wonderful reminder of what makes these gardens and the land they live in so endearing. Personally, I'm flipping through it whenever I feel a need to reconnect with my roots.** ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ **That naturalistic meadow style landscape with the cottonwood trees and the mountains in the distance conjures warm memories of driving to (both) grandma's house when I was a kid. 🥰 (swipe to see) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I picked these images from the book because each inspired so many design ideas that I love for my own garden (even though I don't live in CO anymore...) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ what inspiring ideas are grabbing your attention? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ P.S. that concrete water feature needs to happen in my garden...🤔 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #gardening101 #perennialgarden #gardeninspo #gardenview #jardin #gardenlover #gardenbeauty #naturalisticplantinginspiration #gardendelights #landscapegardener #plantingdesigner #gardenplants #gardendiary #gardenstyle #gardenersworld #trädgård #havedesign #gardenstyling #plantering #trädgårdsinspiration #hageinspirasjon #trädgårdsinspo #haveinspiration #gardenstagram #westernunitedstates #onlyincoloradousa #findmeoutside 
I am sure you've been enjoying all the spring bulbs that have been coloring our landscapes lately. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The daffodils, tulips and alliums are always my favorites at this time of year. I especially love them alongside bright purple azaleas that dominate gardens all along the east coast this time of year. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The most famous of the spring bulbs - daffodils - will often naturalize - which can help to make a naturalistic landscape. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What's the difference between naturalized bulbs and the naturalistic gardens you can create with them? Read on - I'll explain, and if you want more tips - make sure to visit the full article on the blog. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Tell me - do you love Naturalistic garden style? or do you prefer a different type of garden? What is your garden style? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #gardenlover #jardin #gardenview #gardeninspo #gardening101 #lilyflower #lily #gardeninginspiration #gardenflowers #springflowers #beautifulblooms #plantingdesign #springgardening #plantingdesigntips #plantingdesigner #plantingdesigns #plantingdesignplans #bulbgarden #springbulbs #bulbs #flowerbulbs #floweringbulbs #daffodilsofinstagram #plantingdesignideas Sponsored by @flowerbulbsdotcom 
Happy Mom's Day!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When I was first married, I thought I'd never become a mom. It just wasn't what I wanted out of life and it wasn't an adventure I was interested to take. My desire to travel, learn, invent, create, and do heroic things seemed totally at odds with motherhood. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I moved to England in 2000 and my daughter was born in 2002. In those two years, everything changed.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I changed my career (from tech to design). I made adventure a habit (weekend trips were a monthly priority and we travelled widely). I dove deep into my new career - exploring the rich history & skill around me, building show gardens and a new business. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And my outlook on motherhood evolved.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I credit my expat years with a renaissance of Rochelle. And I'll always reference England when I need to remind myself that change is good (sometimes, really good). Also, curvy unpredictable paths and steep staircases are just as effective (and more intriguing) as well planned and more comfortable routes.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This garden caught my eye on the feed of the ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ @theenglishgardenmagazine⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ But when I learned it was taken at the American Museum in Bath, I had to smile.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Not only is it filled with some of my favorite plants (catmint, allium, grasses) but it reminds me that there are always different perspectives. (Intrigued that I could learn about American history and culture from a British POV 🤨).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I don't know where I'm going with this ramble - so I'm not going to be able to pull these thoughts together into a tidy message or cohesive thought.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I hope you enjoy your day, your adventures, your family. I hope you can change when you need to and you can embrace whatever crazy path you are on and find the beauty in it.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Design: Oehme, Van Sweden⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Gardener: Andrew Cannell⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📷 Rebecca Bernstein 
I love the transformation that Marcella (@marcellahawley) was able to create by her own design for a new front garden. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I mean seriously - was there even a house under there? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And now, it is an explosion of seasonal color and enticing texture and she has certainly solved the problem of how exactly do you get to the front door? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Swipe to see how she achieved it and learn some of her best garden design tips. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Check out her beautiful feed for more details of her garden makeover. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #gardenmakeover #perennialgarden #frontgardenmakeover #frontyard #gardensofinstagram #springbulbs #plantingdesign #beforeandaftergarden #gardenprojects #beforeandafter #gardendesigninspiration #gardendesigntips #gardendesigns #gardendesignideas #gardenofinstagram #gardendesign #instagarden #gardenstyle #gardeninspiration #springgarden #springinthegarden #slope #slopegarden #hillsidegarden #beforeandaftergardendesign #springgardening #gardening101