Plant addicts, such as myself, often get carried away in pursuit of the ‘next great plant’ and are easily distracted by shiny objects ~ “look at that stunningly gorgeous plant over there!” Any of you who have accompanied me on a wholesale plant shopping trip know this to be true.

It is particularly challenging now, in February, when the mailbox and inbox are jammed full of gardening and plant catalogs with tempting offers and discounted prices urging us to ‘BUY TODAY WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!’ And after last year’s spike in demand for plants and subsequent shortages, it’s so tempting to just buy now and figure out where to plant later, right?

So, how do we balance our eternal desire for ‘always more plants!’ with the need for a cohesive, balanced garden design? Certainly, there is a fair amount of trial and error and moving things about until they find ‘just the right spot’. No shame in this, at all! For me, garden chaos is always just a plant away. But setting your intention to create layers of color, texture, form and shape will help you get it right the first time.

combine these elements for vignettes of lush layers

Achieving a balanced design involves plant combinations that check all the boxes for form, shape, texture and color for the sun/shade conditions of the space. And for color, we are talking about foliage as well as bloom. To effectively organize our options, it can be helpful to focus on just one section of the garden and then categorize the possibilities for a cohesive garden design. Over time, my garden has evolved into a series of vignettes that thrive in their specific micro-climate and that blend seamlessly into each other, relying on strong relationships of form, shape, texture and color. To illustrate, this vignette from my deep shade garden contains almost all of the following features important for a balanced, layered design:

• understory trees

• shrubs

• ornamental trees

• evergreens and conifers

• perennials

• grasses

• groundcovers

• annuals

• upright

• weeping

• conical

• broad-leaf

• thread-leaf

• variegated

• mat-forming

• man-made feature

The black and white image above utilizes a trick that is useful to identify strengths and weaknesses in the design. The shades of black and white reveal how the weeping Japanese maple contributes form and texture. The fine green moss mat and ground covers are clearly discernible from the surrounding perennials of a similar green with broader foliage. The vertical elements of the sugar maple and bird house accentuate the height of the understory while the evergreens provide a visual ‘backstop’ to keep our attention focused on the garden in the foreground. The moss path and triangulation of trees draw the eye back to the bird fountain. Variegated foliage helps to lighten the shade.

Now, when you are out shopping, think about how a particular plant will contribute to the form, shape, color and texture combinations in your own garden. And be open to man-made objects (bird houses, fountains, statuary, arches etc.) that can contribute that perfect focal point and enhancement to your garden vignette. If possible, take photos of your space with your mobile device for reference while out plant shopping. For me, it’s this process that is the most fun and the one that yields the best results. It’s OK to take your time and be willing to make adjustments on the fly.

february book recommendations:

My family laughed when ‘Teaming with Microbes’ arrived at the house many years back. ‘Mom is so weird!’, they said. Guilty as charged. But I can say that this one book has changed the way I garden. As I explained in the January edition of ‘Garden Talk’, it all begins with the soil. We all know that our gut needs ‘good bacteria’ to flourish. It’s the same with the soil. The authors teach us in a very interesting way what to do, and what NOT to do for optimal soil health that will support the soil food web and result in healthy, thriving gardens. Trust me, this is a real page turner!

If you are planning a new garden or want to redesign a garden, you can’t find a better book for inspiration and guidance than ‘The Layered Garden’ by David Culp. I was lucky to visit his private garden known as ‘Brandywine Cottage’ a few summers ago and it is stunning. David’s easy-going nature, naturalistic style and willingness to make mistakes along the way to succession bloom is liberating. I encourage you to add this beautiful and instructive book to your collection!

client project focus ~ layered shady berm:

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of helping good friends transform the back corner of their property. We set out to build a raised berm of trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials to define the property line and to create privacy. This project is a perfect illustration of layering with form, shape and texture before addressing color and bloom. See before and after pictures from 2017 to 2020 as we gradually added layers of interest to this gorgeous shady border. This garden proves that you indeed can create exceptional gardens in partial shade.
Click here to view this project!

february’s small business focus ~ meet my good friend, bonnie

A long-time friend, Bonnie Evans, has recently launched her new business, helping individuals and caregivers manage serious illness and navigate end of life issues. Bonnie draws upon her many years as a Nurse Practitioner working in Palliative Care and Hospice settings to provide non-medical support to help guide, educate and comfort clients and their families as they navigate issues around illness, death and dying. Her vision is to create the expectation that there is continued growth, connection and beauty until our last breath.

As a gardening enthusiast, Bonnie has always been drawn to the beauty of the iris. So, she incorporated it visually into her website, and explains that in Greek mythology, the Goddess Iris was a messenger to the gods and was thought to use the rainbow as a bridge between heaven and earth.

On multiple occasions, Bonnie has helped our family navigate the unfamiliar terrain of life-threatening illness, and I can’t stress enough the comfort we experienced as a result of her caring and expertise. If you or someone you know is currently struggling with serious illness and needs a gentle, guiding hand, please share her website so they can learn more: Bonnie Evans ~ End of Life Doula.

reader contributions:

In the January edition of ‘Garden Talk’ I asked readers to please share photos from their gardens. Here’s a contribution from John K. of Hudson, NH.

‘Our gardens combine pots and raised beds; annuals, perennials and vegetables; shade gardens and gardens in full sun; tomatoes protected in our greenhouse and cuttings in cold frames. Just as nature is diverse, so are our gardens.’

I look forward to seeing John’s garden in person this summer. Please email pics of your own gardens at barb@thebiglittlegarden.com

In the March edition of ‘Garden Talk’ I will share my method of creating color boards on Pinterest as I begin to design a new garden. I will also share progress of my indoor seed starting for microgreens, herbs, cosmos and other pollinator plants that will find a home in my garden (and perhaps yours!) in the coming months.

So, keep sending those pics of your gardens, and thanks for reading!

Oh, and be sure to follow my new Facebook page @forthebees where I will focus on best plants for our native bees. Here, you will also find announcements for upcoming plant and seed swaps as well as wholesale buying opportunities for best plants for pollinators!

~Barb