Inspiring Garden Design: Revealing Lessons in the Snow

These past three weeks have been a flurry (excuse the pun) of one snowfall after another, each seemingly more beautiful than the last. This is why I love being in… Read More

Inspiring Garden Design: An Exquisite English-style Creation

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“The owner’s first mixed border was developed in the pergola garden with the ornamental Bradford pear hedge as a backdrop. Her favorite colors–pink, fuchsia, lavender, and blue–can be seen in… Read More

Inspiring Garden Design: A New Orleans Courtyard Garden

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Traveling (and gathering with friends) are the two pleasures that I miss the most in these challenging times. No wonder I find myself reminiscing daily about “this garden” or “that… Read More

Inspiring Garden Design: Chic-ing Up Parterre’s Solarium

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Each winter plays out a bit differently at Parterre…some years I may be traveling, or immersed in a “master class,” or working diligently on a new project. For winter 2021,… Read More

Travels with the Parterre Bench

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Since travel plans have been so curtailed this past year, I’m now going to treat us to some mini “armchair trips,” with the focus on my favorite topic — gardens… Read More

Enjoy your cozy Thanksgiving!

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I wanted to take the opportunity at this wonderful time of the year, especially with so many challenges besieging us, to offer some “words of wisdom” that carry such truth in their simplicity.

A Newport Autumn at Parterre

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With our wonky weather this past month–snow on October 30th, an earthquake 8 days later–fall as we knew it last year has almost been nonexistent. So I was thrilled to… Read More

Gardens of the North Shore of Chicago

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For you garden lovers like me, I’m betting that a gorgeous, exceptional new book on our favorite topic is cause for celebration! Just published, Gardens of the North Shore of… Read More

An Impromptu Evening in September

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This summer unofficially closed with a rare “balmy” night that prompted me to embrace the spirit of the last few months — finding a creative way to breach the stifling… Read More

A Closing Act on the Summer Season

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Like so many silver linings in this Covid summer, the ‘Limelight’ hydrangeas are proving themselves the stars of my September season. Blooming a bit later this year than usual, perhaps… Read More