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P.S. · 05-09-2005, 08:18 AM

Hi Wab:

I love gardening...first started out as a toddler picking up twigs in the yard. Here is my approach developed over the years-

First off, I believe everybody has green thumbs. But not everybody follows directions. Follow directions and the green thumb will garden.
We're DIY'ers. And have about 1 acre of our propery landscaped. I find that's the upper limit of what we can DIY, in addition to working, remodeling other properties, etc.

Do you think you have good design sense? Good color sense? Alot of it is just awareness, growing up with it, recognizing it, or innundating your senses so that you recognize it when you see it. I would consider giving yourself a couple of weeks to dive into gardening books, gardening magazines, horticulture, etc.
Find these at library/Barnes and Nobles/Home Depot/Lowes:

books on horticulture, gardening design, picture travel and garden walk travel guides for England/ Italy/ Japan/ China.
magazines like Fine Gardening, Horticulture, Town and Country, Town and Country Travel, House and Garden, British House and Garden. go through all old copies at the library.
Books on Royal Gardens in England or National Trust Gardens
I like some of Penelope Hobhouse's ideas, and she has quite a few good books.
Look at the pictures of Carolyn Rhoeme's (sp?) lush coffeebook table tomes. She has beautiful gardens.
I guess Martha Stewart also deserves mention. You could even look at brochures or websites for luxury resorts and hotels; those places will usually spend tons on maintaining beautiful gardens. This would also give you more ideas on what you like, what you would want to be able to enjoy everyday.

look at pictures of mature gardens, what you would want your garden to look like in 10 years. I personally would avoid the lower end market books and magazines, because I thinks the "bones" of those gardens are very flimsy and anemic.

This is all to get ideas. Do you like free flowing English style? Or formal? If the latter, check out Edith Wharton's book on Italian gardens. The worst thing, next to a neglected landscape, is to see one with no proportion: row of pansies along a large brick house, say.

Once you get some ideas of styles that you like, how you like a garden structured, I would spend a day tracking the pattern of sun across your property. What areas are sunny or shady and when. That will determine what plants will thrive where.

Then going back to those ideas books, what kind of trees, bushes, plants, flowers did you like?
For more ideas on this, check out catalogs and calendar pictures too. I like white flower farm, andre viette's nursery. Smith hawkin has some nice ideas.
Then I would ask around and find out which is the absolute best nursery in your area. Then talk with an experienced (at the best nursery all will usually be) gardener there who can tell you about which plants to well in your area. usually everything they'll sell will grow well. Any good nursery will offer a guarentee on their plants, though I've haven't yet ever had a plant to complain about.
If you do your own planting...I like a mix of humus, compost, soil, perlite.

05-09-2005, 08:18 AM	#12
P.S. Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 308	Hi Wab: I love gardening...first started out as a toddler picking up twigs in the yard. Here is my approach developed over the years- First off, I believe everybody has green thumbs. But not everybody follows directions. Follow directions and the green thumb will garden. We're DIY'ers. And have about 1 acre of our propery landscaped. I find that's the upper limit of what we can DIY, in addition to working, remodeling other properties, etc. Do you think you have good design sense? Good color sense? Alot of it is just awareness, growing up with it, recognizing it, or innundating your senses so that you recognize it when you see it. I would consider giving yourself a couple of weeks to dive into gardening books, gardening magazines, horticulture, etc. Find these at library/Barnes and Nobles/Home Depot/Lowes: books on horticulture, gardening design, picture travel and garden walk travel guides for England/ Italy/ Japan/ China. magazines like Fine Gardening, Horticulture, Town and Country, Town and Country Travel, House and Garden, British House and Garden. go through all old copies at the library. Books on Royal Gardens in England or National Trust Gardens I like some of Penelope Hobhouse's ideas, and she has quite a few good books. Look at the pictures of Carolyn Rhoeme's (sp?) lush coffeebook table tomes. She has beautiful gardens. I guess Martha Stewart also deserves mention. You could even look at brochures or websites for luxury resorts and hotels; those places will usually spend tons on maintaining beautiful gardens. This would also give you more ideas on what you like, what you would want to be able to enjoy everyday. look at pictures of mature gardens, what you would want your garden to look like in 10 years. I personally would avoid the lower end market books and magazines, because I thinks the "bones" of those gardens are very flimsy and anemic. This is all to get ideas. Do you like free flowing English style? Or formal? If the latter, check out Edith Wharton's book on Italian gardens. The worst thing, next to a neglected landscape, is to see one with no proportion: row of pansies along a large brick house, say. Once you get some ideas of styles that you like, how you like a garden structured, I would spend a day tracking the pattern of sun across your property. What areas are sunny or shady and when. That will determine what plants will thrive where. Then going back to those ideas books, what kind of trees, bushes, plants, flowers did you like? For more ideas on this, check out catalogs and calendar pictures too. I like white flower farm, andre viette's nursery. Smith hawkin has some nice ideas. Then I would ask around and find out which is the absolute best nursery in your area. Then talk with an experienced (at the best nursery all will usually be) gardener there who can tell you about which plants to well in your area. usually everything they'll sell will grow well. Any good nursery will offer a guarentee on their plants, though I've haven't yet ever had a plant to complain about. If you do your own planting...I like a mix of humus, compost, soil, perlite.