landscape design

Davidson Horticultural Symposium’s A Sense of Place

March 4, 2016

I love collaborating in symposia! Davidson Horticultural Symposium has taken place for over 30 years bringing fantastic learning experiences to many a budding horticulturist, homeowner or landscape designer.

Fergus Garrett, Great Dixter’s chief of horticulture and garden friend, presented many beautiful ideas of layering plants. When my time came to speak, it was well after lunch, so I “revved up the engine”!

Enjoy my lectures on how to extract the very best from your property! Divided into 4 parts, each about 15 minutes, you can dip in and out of great take home material to improve your sense of place. I consider this to be my very best lecture…EVER!

Enjoy,

Mary Palmer

Garden design blab participate in videoconferencing at its best and feature your project!

November 5, 2015

Change is in the air!

No matter what season in the calendar of life, improvements to home environment, body and soul are perennials at the top of my list. Action steps can be large or small… This year at Dovecote saw raised organic gardening beds, a greenhouse and new barn lecture studio.

What is on your wish Garden design calendar to-do list this year?

https://blab.im/gardendesign-w-marypalmer-gardendesign-invitation-share-your-project

If you’ve been following my blogs, books or lectures, you know that I’m very accessible. I want to facilitate your decision-making to transform your ho-hum home environment into the oasis of your dreams.

Have a landscape design question? Ask it!

New technology, called blabbing, makes it possible to videoconference straight from your computer or iPad into my garden design salon. It’s free. You propose the topics and I will call in a stable of consultants to answer your questions! You’ll even have the opportunity to ask them a question virtually face-to-face.

I think this is very cool and will begin with a series of garden talk salon blabs in the near future… Once I master the technology, that is!

What would you like to know about?

In structuring this blab-fest of garden design salon topics, I looked at a survey from the spring and so many of you wanted to know how to design special places on your landscape, and have it all work harmoniously – like holding hands with your garden environment.

When I work with clients, The first thing we do is brainstorm the big picture with a long-range wish list of dreams and goals. This list ultimately merges with an aerial photograph or site plan showing your property so that it becomes site-specific.

I’d love to interview several of you to learn your dreams and goals. Learn how to creatively walk together through the design process. Think of yourself as a test case. You can share your dilemmas and epiphanies in the garden design blabs.

No doubt it will be improvisational to introduce you, let’s say, four to eight landscape designing homeowners and watch as your projects unfold.

.Do you have a balcony garden or a tiny town home?

.Are you a family needing play space or organic gardens?

.Are you an elder downsizing and want to make the most of your space?

You will have a buddy to design with! Teams of two will be supportive of each other. So you can brainstorm about your individual projects. A Facebook group for our garden design salon blab will share photographs of before and after… and during!

To claim your seat in this unique Garden design panel, please contact me here…

[email protected]

35 years I’ve enjoyed collaborating with clients and have this unique opportunity to share in a virtual fashion with a special group of you.

This is free and requires that you commit to seeing the project through, so you may want to make it a small project! Fit it within your budget and action plan to have completed by March 2016.

What do I need to qualify for this unique garden design blab?

https://blab.im/gardendesign-w-marypalmer-gardendesign-invitation-share-your-project

1) A garden project that is doable in four months to be completed by March 2016

2) a garden video no more then 2 1/2 minutes long that talks about what you want to accomplish and shares the area you will be working in

3) A sketch of what you want to do will be created during our blab sessions, so be able to do simple mapping and I will help you execute this sketch with simple guidelines. You do not need to be an artist! Or a doctor or engineer or horticulturist… Just a homeowner with positive forward motion and a commitment to improvement in their home environment.

4) A computer and a microphone and an Internet connection. We will test your system to ensure you have a stable seat in our blab.

5) A collaborative sense of humor and ability to work with the team.

6) willingness to share your successes and failures and the ability to take pictures of this and upload them to our Facebook page.

7) The ability to use a Facebook page to download documents such as the schedule of blabs and do your homework assignments.

Yup, I’m very excited about new technology and the ability to share landscape design from your home environment to the world of our garden designblab.

Your blab garden does not need to be a showplace, just a real place! Once it’s finished, it will touch move and inspire others to take action to create the home environment of their dreams.

For basic garden design instruction that you can really get your teeth into my books: https://dargan.com/garden-design-programs-books/

timeless landscape design

lifelong landscape design

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

GardenDesign w/MaryPalmer blab.im

Landscape Design Inspiration from Near and Far

April 15, 2014

One of the best parts of planning a new landscape design is digging through photos of gardens from all over the world – or even visiting them – to find the perfect blend of elements and styles for your property. Of course, with an array of timeless landscape design features, historic gardens are some of the best sources for garden inspiration. In continuation of our series on historic sources of landscape design inspiration, today we’ll take a look at the Palácio de Fronteira, Villa Gamberaia and the Gardens of Historic Charleston.

Palácio de Fronteira
Along with the palace, the grand formal gardens at the Palácio de Fronteira were created in the 17th century for the first Marquess of Fronteira, whose descendant – the current Marquess – still resides there today. The gardens of the Palácio de Fronteira have been called “stunning,” not just for their classic formal layout and design. The utilization of azulejos – colorful blue tiles – by Portuguese garden designers in place of masonry, makes a wonderful backdrop and juxtaposition of color. When viewed up close, the azulejos tiles depict scenes of battles, hunts and religious images.

Atlanta GA landscape architects — Palácio de Fronteira
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

landscape architects in Atlanta GA — Source: Golisbon.com

Villa Gamberaia
Because of excellent design and form, the gardens of the Villa Gamberaia are not only enjoyed by gardening enthusiasts, but they’re also officially studied by gardening professionals. Begun in the 17th century with the building of the Villa, each owner over the centuries has made additions to the gardens and – remarkably – improved upon the design. With manicured yew hedges, statuary, multi-level walkways and staircases, water features and garden rooms, the gardens at the Villa Gamberaia are very near to perfection in the Italian style.

Cashiers NC landscape architects — Source: Villagamberaia.com

landscape architects in Buckhead GA — Villa Gamberaia
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

The Gardens of Historic Charleston
Unlike the previous two garden settings, the gardens of Charleston, South Carolina, are directly adjacent to private homes located in the center of Historic Charleston. Existing behind high walls, in the shadow of two- and three-story homes, these “shade gardens” make use of bright azaleas and hydrangeas in spring and colorful shade loving annuals in summer and fall. Charleston’s gardens are notable for their small size, as well as their balanced scale and proportion to hedges, plants and statuary. Common elements are brick walls, walkways, plus iron gates and fountains.

Charleston SC landscape architects — Garden Designed by Loutrell Briggs
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Which historic gardens do you look to for landscape design inspiration? Share with us in a comment below.

Are you ready to incorporate design inspiration from a historic garden into a master plan or tune up for your landscape? Contact Dargan Landscape Architects for a consultation. Hugh and Mary Palmer Dargan and the rest of our team are ready to speak with you and share how we can help plan your new garden oasis.

Gorgeous Garden Design Inspiration from Italy & France

March 30, 2014

The stately gardens of England have inspired many people worldwide with their regal beauty. Not to be outdone, France and Italy have their own awe-inspiring contenders that spark our creativity. Let’s take a look at a few estates that solidify their gardens’ status as paradigms of masterful landscaping.

The French Formal Garden
Surrounding the Château Vaux le Vicomte in the Ille-de-France region lies the French Formal Garden. These gardens win us over from the start with their inviting approach and arrival sequence. The grand entrance marks the direction visitors should venture, providing a straight line forward with linear tree formations and ornamental flower beds. The gardens boast decadent water features and walkways, highlighting the cohesive way designer Andre Le Notre combined manmade elements with the existing landscape. Although these grounds cover miles of property, Mary Palmer Dargan reminds us in her book “Timeless Landscape Design,” that Notre’s signature designs can be scaled down and incorporated into your own space.

Cashiers landscape architects — The French Formal Garden at Château Vaux le Vicomte
Source: Facebook.com/chateauvlv

landscape architects Mary Palmer and Hugh Dargan — The French Formal Garden at Château Vaux le Vicomte
Source: Facebook.com/chateauvlv

The Gardens of Villandry
Nestled in the French Loire Valley, the Château de Villandry is an impressive sight with its 20th-century garden. The most famous feature is its unique jardin potager, or beds of plants containing delightfully unexpected pairings of flowers and vegetables. The gardens also contain geometrical shapes of formal parterres. Designer Jean Le Breton used the Gardens of Villandry to transition the medieval fortress to a Renaissance château through bright flora and lowered walls that allow a scenic view.

Atlanta landscape architects — The Gardens of Villandry
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Charleston landscape architects — The Kitchen Garden at the Château de Villandry
Source: Chateauvillandry.fr

The Villa Lante Gardens
Located in Bagnaia in the Lazio region of Italy, Villa Lante‘s gardens are a shining beacon of the Mannerist period, when proportion play and geometric patterns were king. The gardens display terracing, echoing the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and its symbolic descension is drawn from Ovid’s Metamorphosis. With its Water Chain cascade, geometrical parterres and iconic grotto, it’s clear that the completed space required the work of a skilled group of artisans and bishops over several years.

landscape architect Hugh Dargan — Source: Beniculturali.it

landscape architect Mary Palmer Dargan — Source: Gardenvisit.com

How are you inspired by these historic gardens? Tell us about your plans for incorporating some of these French and Italian designs from antiquity into your own outdoor haven in a comment below.

If you would like to speak to a landscape architect about creating a master plan or a tune-up for your property inspired by the historic gardens and landscapes of England, France, Italy or elsewhere, contact Dargan Landscape Architects in Atlanta. Our team, led by Hugh and Mary Palmer Dargan, will be happy to schedule a time to speak with you about your property and how we can help turn it into the oasis you’ve been dreaming of.

Create a Cozy Courtyard with Bistro Tables

March 26, 2014

Who hasn’t envisioned bringing the romance of a sidewalk cafe in Paris to their own backyard? All you need is a bistro table, chairs and a courtyard, terrace or side garden to recreate the scene. Add a cup of coffee, springtime breezes and blooming flowers, and you have the makings of the perfect little retreat within your landscape.

We like placing little retreats such as these in our landscape design projects because they expand our client’s outdoor living spaces and offer a perch for admiring the yard and perhaps enjoying a quick breakfast or drinks with friends. Bistro sets are great for this purpose because they are smaller, making them easy to incorporate into an otherwise empty corner, creating a cozy, intimate spot for conversations.

Take a look at a few of the ways we have incorporated bistro sets into past projects:

A large courtyard is broken up into smaller seating areas, including bistro tables and chairs to suit any occasion, from a quick coffee break to happy hour with friends. The simplicity of the furniture keeps the focus on the surrounding landscape and highlights the beautiful paver patio underfoot.

What could have been a forgotten outdoor space is now a destination in the landscape thanks to the seating area created in this side garden using a chaise lounge and a bistro table and chairs. The pathway leading to the seating area emphasizes the seating arrangement, as does the paver patio that serves as a foundation. What’s more, the table is right outside an entrance into the home, giving owners easy access to the lush hideaway.

landscape architects in Western North Carolina — Dargan Landscape Architects

If you don’t have a courtyard on your property, you can still incorporate a bistro-style setting into a smaller space. Notice that this small terrace, measuring six feet by six feet, is all that’s needed for creating a cozy outdoor dining area for two. The terrace is floored with crab orchard stone in pink hues and a black wrought iron fence is complemented by a black wrought iron bistro set topped with pink cushions, offering a stunning seating for two.

A gorgeous brick patio and side garden are the perfect location in this cozy courtyard for a bistro table and chairs in high-contrast white. The seating provides a place for visitors to enjoy the greenery, as well as an afternoon tea and chat.

Are you ready to update your landscape with a beautiful courtyard, terrace or patio? Contact Dargan Landscape Architects to schedule a consultation. We would love to help you achieve the outdoor environment you’ve always wanted. We can help you find the look that best suits your property, right down to the furniture! For many years we’ve been designing custom seating elements. These custom solutions ensure you get the perfect piece, created with your space, style and other considerations in mind. In addition, our Talbot and Walden line of outdoor furniture is available from Kenneth Lynch & Sons in Connecticut.

landscape design

Change is in the air!

What is on your wish Garden design calendar to-do list this year?

What do I need to qualify for this unique garden design blab?

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