Dargan Landscape Architects

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Help Us Design Dovecote’s New Garden!

The participants in our Summer Sizzle. Summer Pop! 3 day Garden Design event June 16-19 will design our new garden with us. I think Hugh and I might need some garden psychoanalysis…or at least a drink in the shade!

The front garden was installed last week in less than 2 days; so now is the time to tackle the rear.

If you’ve been watching this project unfold, now comes the juicy part.

Dovecote

Sound intriguing? Here is a sneak preview…

We have a blank canvas with 19 existing boxwoods, wooden fencing and a hedge backdrop 18’ tall. A BLANK CANVAS.

We’ll take you by the hand and show you how to analyze the space to get maximum benefit… beauty and brains.

Blank Canvas

Ever wonder how to start to design your own garden?

Help us solve pesky questions like where to hide the compost center consisting of the comfrey tea maker, the tumbler plus 4 leaf decomposers. Then there is the potting shed, the water garden, several pieces of statuary and kitchen garden. How are we going to manage water harvesting? Did I mention the 8 tile pictures of birds left over from a Southern Accents show house?

Interested? Sign up now for one of the few remaining spaces!

The pre-event design studio June 15 still has a few spaces left and will help you solve those pesky problems on your property. Available only to course participants.

So sign up now to save your seat!

 

What Do You Hunger For in Your Home Environment?

Our recent survey, elicited fascinating answers! I’ll share a few of the hundreds I received. Frankly, I’d like to give everyone who answered a big hug. :))

This is amazing information you shared and will shape my programs for years to come!

1. If you could have any improvement on your property, what are you dreaming about?
Paver patio, curb appeal, a new deck, upkeep, outdoor bar and living area, install a pool, tear out grass and put in raised flower beds in front yard, stamped cobblestones to the drive, backyard oasis, screened patio, walk path, more screening from road, self-maintaining plants, total redo of my yard, new fence, transform backyard into outdoor room, terraces in backyard, bridge over creek…there are so many dreams here that I will make some videos for you on the specific topics in the coming months.

2. What do you call your home environment when you talk to friends?
Comfortable, relaxing, porches, my garden oasis, bird haven, my garden, restful, just right, inspired, in need of tweaking, a work in progress, a collectors garden, casual, the money pit, my home, warm, serene, sanctuary, resort within a city, soothing, perfect for me, big, pretty but a lot of work, my dream garden, woodlands, fabulous, green growing vistas that are wild and wooly, woodcutters cottage…and I thought you would say : a garden, a home environment, a property, you know, generic stuff!

3. Would you like to learn ways to make your property eco-friendly? What topics:
wildlife, more plantings, water harvesting, outdoor kitchen, outdoor bar, solar energy in the garden, floral and vegetable plants for my garden, pretty perennial sweep, calm peaceful environments in an urban area, perennials for shade, bird friendly, soil amending, composting, water conserving water in TX landscape, edible landscape, love more butterflies…this topic got the most answers and I am still absorbing it!

4. How would you describe the size of your property?
Dargan Survey Results .9% balcony, 3.6% courtyard, 22.5% small garden area, 37.8% large family residence, .9% estate, other 34.2% included long narrow backyard, a large country setting, ½ ac city garden, farm-ish, a whole block in New Orleans, 5 acres, xeric+vegetables, balcony in Singapore…we are a diverse group!

5. What is your place in the 3 stages of life?
2.7 % young professional, 30.9% family in residence, 33.6% elderDargan Survey Results, 32.7% BOOMER ( other).

Well, I really put my foot into this one. I promise I will say Boomers from now on…ouch!  Here goes: I am 59 and certainly do not consider myself an ELDER (I am the same age, and agree, ouch again!), “Man, does after 55 make me an elder?, haha! I’d pick elder then!”, edging toward elderly, but not there yet!, older but thinking younger, a happy empty nester!!!, transitioning…you get the picture!

6. What is your biggest question about creating your outdoor space?
I like to hear from other professionals –synergy is a wonderful thing, design, how can I keep up with maintenance, how can we get more bang for our buck, money and time, how to make it flow better, trying to do it economically, expense, keep woodland area neat without maintenance, how to create a pleasing design, making most of little room, how to make it manageable for a novice like me, using correct materials and great looking combinations…  I am digesting this list which is sooo diverse, I hope to make a set of 3 training videos for you. Stay tuned!

 

PlaceMakers Orchard Enrolls the First Participants in New 6 Month Program!

After testing the program as virtual Sprouts in 2012, both Anne Brewer and Anna Smith enrolled in PlaceMakers The Orchard at the Charleston event!   Anne Brewer, owner of Simply Gardens in Pensacola FL, and Anna Smith, owner of Terre Verte Landscapes in Tehachapi, CA are both garden design business owners who want to further perfect their skills in the field. Each has a thriving business.

PlaceMakers Sprout-2-Grow program is a 3 month course with 6 webinars, support forum, wellspring and live Q&A. An incredible, general knowledge course, Sprouts also offers depth by providing access to 48 additional teaching videos and priority registration to Landscape Your Life™ events.

The Orchard provides critical design studio 1:1 training at two design studio retreats in addition to the key components found in the Sprout system. These talented ladies receive Mary Palmer’s laser vision on their business or personal projects. The Orchard is tailor-made to each participant’s needs by including 4 personal 1:1 hour calls to discuss projects using pinterest, skype and emails. It is only offered twice a year at our Landscape Your Life events as a 6 month program.

My dream is coming true to have PlaceMakers work together to “Heal the Earth, One Garden at a Time” with techniques they will share with their clients!

This video is of almost ALL our event students undertaking the courtyard garden at 8 Church Street, Charleston, SC :  The Cabell House Bed and Breakfast, owned by Mrs. Randy Cabell. Vavavoommm!

 

Mapping Mrs. Whaley’s Iconic Landscape

58 Church Street in Charleston, SC (otherwise know as Mrs. Whaley’s Garden), was designed by Loutrell Briggs in the mid- twentieth century as the garden for a family. Today it is loved and occupied by the same family who was raised there!  Marty Whaley Cornwell ( Mrs. Charles) and her family are using the garden much like she did as a child.

Our “Create YOUR Outdoor Room, Courtyard and Retreat” participants had an innovative field session as they learned how to map a special place…by PACING. A pace is approximately 5′ and is a quick way to measure gardens and general field work. A survey form a licensed surveyor is recommended for detailed construction drawings or zoning submissions…but a paced landscape is generally good enough for schematic drawings.

58 Church Street

 

Building a Show Garden : Hope Springs Eternal!

Well I am so grateful for assistance in building this exhibit. It is only 10 x 10 and considered to be a pocket garden, but geeeeez, is it persnickety! Of course, we will be adding things up to the last minute…everyone  does! We have plants coming from Goodness Grows, Cut Flower Wholesale, Steve Miller’s Kingsville Boxwood edging, Pike and Saul’s color, our Highcote, Jenks Farmer’s crinums, Atlanta Water Gardens…and the woods!

Show Garden

Pat Boak is helping with invaluable installation of show perimeter boards, installation of mulch, backdrop and more. Thx pal! The following list is just something I found useful for keeping it all straight…

Dargan Plant List and Supplies

Bulbs
Muscari sp grape hyacinth (Cut Flower: bulbs in pots)
Narcissus  – Daffodils (HH-H&MP harvest & pot up)
Crinum americanum (Jenks Farmer- loose bulbs in basket w/ trowel and labels, booklet)- Crinum lily

Vines
Gelsemium sempervirens (maybe)- Carolina Jessamine
Clematis armandii (Saul’s)- Evergreen Clematis or Armand’s Clematis

Ground Covers
Native moss(HH- MP harvest fresh if possible- is sheet moss allowed?)
Ophiopogon japonicus (GG or Sauls, Pike?)- Mondo Grass

Shrubs
Spiraea prunifolia (Goodness Grows, force in Lynn C’s sunroom)- Bridalwreath
Camellia japonica sp (Pikes or Habersham)
Edgeworthia chrysantha (maybe- GG)- Oriental Paper Bush
Aspidistra elatior variegata ( maybe-PIke)- Cast Iron Plant
Fatsia japonica ( maybe-Pike)- Japanese Aralia

Edging Material
Buxus sempervirens ‘Kingsville’ Boxwoods (HH-MP/H or Steve Miller)
Buxus sempervirens variegata  Variegated Boxwoods (HH-MP/H)
Buxus sempervirens Boxwoods (Steve Miller-need to be rounded nicely)

Ephemeral Color
Lobeila erinus – trailing blue lobelia (50 4″ Pike)
Viola sp blue mixed colors (Pike)
Delphinium sp (Pike)
scabiosa (Pike & Sauls)
Pansies (yellow,orange, white gallons-Sauls)
Ornamental kale (Pike or Sauls)

Small Pond Plants
Iris pseudoacorus variegata ( Atl Water Gardens)- Variegated Yellow Flag Iris
Fuzzy stuff on surface?

Cut Trees for Background
May we use top of cedar trees like PHS does??- yes

5 senses:

Color
(see plants above)

Sound
Windchime
Small bubble in pond

Texture
Stepping stones in moss, ophiopogon with muscari mixed with blue lobelia
Need something like fatsia or aspidistra
Maybe ornamental kale

Fragrance
Clematis armandii
Other plants above

Taste
Violas
Maybe ornamental kale

Site Appurtenances
Weathered backdrop fencing painted a watery blue green ( leave natural?) 3 sides partial
Pond Gold fish? (MP maybe)
Stepping stones ( PAT BOAK)
Half moon step stone stabilized on cobble base ( PAT BOAK)
3″ interior raised border of granite cobbles ( PAT BOAK)
Board perimeter 12″ tall painted gray sim to cobble ( PAT BOAK)
One band of cobble of ground outside board adds 6″ perimeter around exhibit (PAT BOAK)
Lichen side chair (here)
Beautiful antique urn (here)
Small pond basin with moss around it (here)
A good book, coffee cup on side table or on stone to side (how to display?- on large stone?)
Mulch for interior of exhibit
Natural leaves (HH-H/MP)
Candle light torcheres (no wiring) , candlesticks, globes (or one atmospheric one on treillage)

Electrical  (Show committee)  one duplex outlet only
Pump (very small for fountain)
Outlet  computer

Display Boards
Black board (Curt/Andrew to do)
Plant list (Lynn & MP)
Handouts/cards (MP)
Books (Eagle EYE supplement)
Music stand for display of materials
Chair/stool?? (2)
Storage container for our stuff…hide it where?
Plant labels (clothes pins and wire, hand printed-Lynn)
Book drawing materials, 3 books and jar for names!