Journal

A Visit to Maine

One of the nicest things about being a garden designer and horticulturist is that I can do research for my work every time I step outside the door. I tend to mentally redesign every property that I see, and assess the health of all the plants on it. So when I get to take a trip to a truly inspiring landscape like the coast of Maine, it is a real treat, and provides ample material for me to analyze (and enjoy!).

 

Sweetgum Horticulture | Landscape Designer | Honeysuckle on arborSometimes less is more in landscape design: blue sea and sky, green grass, two fragrant honeysuckle vines clambering up a rustic arbor, and a simple stone bench to admire the whole scene. Nothing else needed!

 

 

Sweetgum Horticulture | Landscape Designer | BoardwalkI love how the strong horizontal lines of the boardwalk contrast with the strong vertical lines of the trees. A path like this draws you forward to discover what is waiting at the other end, and can be used in home gardens to create a sense of anticipation.

 

Sweetgum Horticululture | Landscape Designer | Turtlehead and Goldenrod I often look to nature for the best plant combinations: here I came across native goldenrod and turtlehead growing in the woods. They would make nice companions in a lightly shaded garden too.

 

Sweetgum Horticulture | Landscape Designer | Rosa rugosa and JuniperThe red rose hips of Rosa rugosa and the rugged blue foliage of juniper look stunning together on the beach. They would also be a good choice for planting in a sunny roadside bed that gets a lot of salt in the winter.

 

Our native bayberry is at home on the beach, but its aromatic foliage makes a sweet addition to any sunny garden, and its nutritious blue berries feed the birds.

Sweetgum Horticulture | Landscape Design | Bayberry

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Happy seedlings! Just about ready to bring to the greenhouse to harden off for planting next week.
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Excited about my new kitchen garden beds from @tsmannlumber! The garden is all cleaned up and ready for a fresh layer of compost on the beds and wood chips in the pathways.
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Sweetgum Horticulture is serving clients in the Metro West communities of Boston, MA, including Wellesley, Weston, Newton, Needham, Natick, Wayland, Lincoln, Dover, Sherborn, Sudbury, and Framingham.

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