Planting an herb garden brings nature and culinary exploration right to your doorstep. Creating an herb garden begins with selecting a suitable location with ample sunlight. We often will try to choose spots adjacent to a patio or just outside the kitchen door. Next, we choose a variety of herbs that thrive in your climate and suit your culinary preferences, from classic staples like basil and rosemary to more exotic options like lemongrass and Thai basil. Though some herbs, like basil, need to planted each season as they won’t survive the winter cold, others such as mint and oregano return year after year. With patience and proper care, your herb garden will flourish, offering an abundant harvest of fresh herbs to enhance your cooking and add fragrance and beauty to your garden design.
Native Plants in Garden Design
We’re often asked to create gardens which reflect the surrounding landscape. One way we achieve this is to include native shrubs and perennials in our landscape designs. Planting native species in a garden offers a a number of benefits that extend far beyond simply aesthetic appeal. Native plants, adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, require minimal maintenance once established, reducing the need for water, fertilizers, and pesticides. By fostering biodiversity, native shrubs and perennials attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds, contributing to ecosystem health and resilience and their deep root systems help prevent soil erosion and improve soil structure, promoting long-term sustainability. Additionally, incorporating native plant species in a garden design enhances the garden's connection to the environment, creating a sense of place and a greater appreciation for local ecology.
Garden Restoration
Over-grown or neglected gardens are often simply the result of a homeowners lack of time. Taming a tangled mass of crowded trees & shrubs and perennials which are lost among the weeds can be a daunting task to take on but we can help.
Restoring and giving new life to a forgotten garden or old landscape design is a labor of love and patience. A garden restoration begins with a thorough assessment of the garden's current state, carefully noting its original layout, key features, and the plantings which have endured the test of time. With this understanding, the restoration unfolds with a balance of preservation and rejuvenation. Over-grown shrubs are pruned back and weeds are removed to reveal forgotten plantings. Compost is added to the garden’s soil, enriching it with nutrients to revitalize plant life. Historical elements, such as stone pathways, patios or ornate statues, can also be restored. As each season passes and with proper care, the garden gradually transforms, blossoming into a harmonious mix of color, texture, and fragrance.
Winter Gardening
It may be cold but winter is actually a good time to work on some garden projects. Most deciduous trees and shrubs (those which lose their foliage in the fall) can be pruned in winter, when they’re dormant. One advantage of pruning deciduous trees and shrubs in winter is that their branching structure is clear so broken or problematic limbs can be easily identified and removed.
Backyard Upgrade
Just finished this small patio/lawn renovation.
Rock Gardens
We designed and planted this rock garden in Manchester, MA a few seasons ago. This garden design calls for a combination Juniper, Sedum (2 types), Ice Plant and Artemisia. It has worked out great on this rock outcropping along the coast.
Colorful Annuals
We planted these flowers back in May as a colorful addition to a bluestone patio. They’ve really taken off!
Mid-Summer Garden Vibes
Flower Garden Design, Manchester, MA