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Sand Hills Cherry Bitters Workshop with The Sand Hills Garden Club on Dec. 9

Who said working with a landscape architect was all dirt and hard labor? Most gardening experts have a wealth of related interests, including growing herbs, vegetables, and plants that can be used in the kitchen and medicine cabinet. Such is the case for Mary Palmer Dargan of Dargan Landscape Architects.  She will be presenting her Bitters workshop to this private group on Dec 9, but you can reap the rewards! If you want a wonderful recipe for cherry bitters, try this one by Steven Rhodes, the former food & beverage manager of the Chattooga Club in Cashiers, NC and now manager of the new ABC in Cashiers. Enjoy!

Cherry Bitters Demonstration from Mary Palmer Dargan on Vimeo.

Learn How to Make Your Own Bitters with Mary Palmer Dargan 

Bitters have a rich history, dating back as far as the 9th or 10th century, when alcohol was first distilled in Mesopotamia (now Iraq). Herbalists and healers realized the potential for preserving the curative effects of medicinal herbs and plants by creating tinctures and elixirs using an alcohol medium. While its roots are entirely medicinal, the 18th century utilized bitters in recreational alcohols as hangover prevention and then as a flavored addition to a host of cocktails.

Mary Palmer Dargan has been fascinated in the culinary aspects of gardening, which led her on an experimental journey to create healthful and tasty bitters using herbs, fruits, and flowers from her garden. 

The Sand Hill chapter is one of more than 20 active garden clubs in the state of Georgia. They are members of  The Augusta Council of Garden Clubs and a full unit of The Garden Club of America. While the members all share a love of gardening and a lifelong passion for creative landscape design, they are also committed to community education, preserving history, and the bulk of their events and showcases aim to raise money to restore historical buildings or assist other local charities and non-profit organizations. Mary Palmer’s Bitters Workshop is an example of their educational outreach.

Interested in working with a landscape architect? Contact Mary Palmer to learn more and get in on the fun.

Photo: Dargan Landscape Architects

Learn About Creating the Oasis of Your Dreams at Mary Palmer’s Rutgers University Lecture

Learn About Creating the Oasis of Your Dreams at Mary Palmer's Rutgers University Lecture
Source: Dargan.com

While aesthetics are a large part of the landscape design equation, we always make sure to emphasize the synergistic effects of well-designed outdoor spaces. Looks aren’t everything; creating the oasis of your dreams is just as much about positively impacting your health and longevity – as well as the planet’s.

Mary Palmer’s Rutgers University Lecture: Create an Oasis That Facilitates Health & Longevity

Fortunately for gardeners – both novices and experts – in the New Brunswick, New Jersey area, Mary Palmer Dargan, of Dargan Landscape Architects, is presenting a lecture titled, Timeless Landscape Design: The Top Four Secrets to Breaking the Genetic Code on your Property to Create the Oasis of Your Dreams.

When:  Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at 6 p.m.

Where: Rutgers University, Cook Student Center Meeting Room B/C

Audience members will have the opportunity to listen career landscape architect Mary Palmer as she outlines the Four Secrets to creating a landscape that aspires to your visions while simultaneously working to enhance your life as well as your local community and beyond.

Many of the topics she will be covering are pulled from her top selling book, Timeless Landscape Design. After her presentation, Mary Palmer will be available for a special book signing, creating a perfect opportunity to purchase a lifelong resource for the avid gardeners and landscapers on your gift list.

Some of the topics covered in the presentation include the four-part master plan used to create gardens and landscapes. Together, they provide visual, mental, and emotional pleasure for generations to come and include:

  1. The Approach and Arrival Sequence

  2. The Hub

  3. The Perimeter

  4. Passages to Destinations

Careful consideration of the above results in a proportional and soothing landscape, rather than a hodge-podge of parts that don’t quite integrate to comprise a whole.

Of course, a critical component of breaking your own landscapes “genetic code” is to use healthy landscape and gardening techniques that replenish and nourish the soil, water, and air that will keep the code healthy for decades to come.

To learn more about Mary Palmer’s Rutgers University Lecture, contact Dargan Landscape Architects or Katja Patchowsky at [email protected].

 

Why Create a Pollinator Garden in YOUR Home Environment ?

36Pollinators in Peril

The iconic monarch butterfly, whose numbers have plummeted 90% in the last 2 decades, is pending listing approval as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act(ESA). The Garden Club of America sent a resolution letter this week to Dan Ashe, Director of The Fish and Wildlife Service in support of the pending petition.

 Why would you want to help this beautiful butterfly? Why help any pollinator ( bat, bees, butterfly, bird)? Pollinators serve an important purpose in sustaining biodiversity. In recent years, their survival has been compromised by climate change, habitat loss, pesticides, disease, and spread of invasive species.

 You can help! By providing a plot of milkweed, the adult monarch will have a place to lay its eggs. These leaves provide the only food for the monarch caterpillar. The monarch’s dependence on milkweed is being threatened by genetically-engineered crops and pesticides that eradicate milkweed and thereby imperil monarchs and other pollinators.

There are many resources available from the Garden Club of America.

 If you live in Atlanta,  The Greater Atlanta Pollinator Partnership [GAPP] spearheaded by Georgia Highlands College (GHC), the Atlanta Botanical Gardens (ABG), and USDA Forest Service.  The goal of the partnership is to develop pollinator-friendly habitat within a 25-mile radius of downtown Atlanta, 1.2 million acres.  Individuals can register their gardens as part of the partnership at this website.

Landscape Design Inspiration from Near and Far

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.  

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Palácio de Fronteira
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

 

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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.  

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Source: Villagamberaia.com

 

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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. 

The Perimeter: Extending Your Living Spaces to the Outdoors

Lately, we’ve been discussing the points of our four-part landscape master plan. These points include the approach and arrival sequence, the hub, the perimeter and passages to destinations. Today, we will focus on the perimeter. 

In her book “Timeless Landscape Design,” Mary Palmer offers this definition of the perimeter: “The perimeter consists of the outdoor spaces immediately adjacent to the house and within easy reach of interior rooms.” For example, the patio or deck off your kitchen or dining room is part of the perimeter of your landscape. However, the perimeter can be accessed from the living room, spa, basement and other rooms as well.

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Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo featured in Timeless Landscape Design

These perimeter areas invite you into the landscape, but without wandering too far. The perimeter is an extension of your home and should be customized to suit your lifestyle. Its purpose is convenient enjoyment of your landscape. Perimeter areas may be connected by adjoining pathways where one outdoor space flows into the next, or they may be completely contained as separate rooms within themselves. 

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Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo featured in Timeless Landscape Design

How do you go about building up the perimeter? Since it’s an extension of your home, consider using similar building materials your home is constructed of to create a seamless visual flow. A simple grass lawn with a few large paver stones may be all you need to create a perimeter space that blends easily with the rest of your home. However, most homeowners benefit from the additional living space provided by the perimeter. Ideas for these types of spaces include the creation of paved terraces, swimming pools, gardens featuring outdoor fireplaces or fire pits, loggias, arbors, dining pavilions, kitchen and herb gardens and raised flower beds.

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Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Uses of perimeter spaces are as numerous as indoor spaces. They may be used for dining, reading, napping, sunning, cooking, swimming, playing, working alfresco, entertaining on a large or small scale and gardening, just to name a few. Functional pieces such as arbors, grills, pools, tables, swings, etc., in different combinations and in different settings work together to define the uses of the space. 

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Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo featured in Timeless Landscape Design

The perimeter is just one part of what makes up a gorgeous and thoughtfully designed landscape. Contact Dargan Landscape Architects for help designing a four-part landscape master plan that fits your lifestyle. For additional information, purchase a copy of “Timeless Landscape Design” today.