Field Trip--Chester and Far Hills

I really do what I say I do.

Find Gardens to visit on Open Days

Even though I design gardens and landscapes every day for a living, I still love to discover other people's gardens. Today, despite the gloomy forecast, I'm going to take advantage of the Garden Conservancy's Open Days in Morris and Somerset counties. I never know what discovery I'll make or if I'll even like the gardens I visit...usually there's some tidbit that I find interesting or worthy of a quick sketch or photo, but sometimes the gardens are absolutely breathtaking.

The remnants of an Ellen Biddle Shipman garden in Lamington from a previous year's visit

Books

I love books. Since I first learned how, I have been a voracious reader.

For me, books have been gateways to the larger world. They have been a source of inspiration, information and escape. I like them as objects as well. I am always fascinated by the mystery between the covers, the tactile discovery of turning a page to see what's next. I have spent hours of my life in libraries and everywhere I've ever lived, both here and abroad, I've had a library card.

I am no longer an indiscriminate book buyer. At several points in my life I had more books than anything else. I am fortunate to have The Chatham Bookseller, a great used bookstore , in the next town over that has three shelves of books on gardens and landscape design and many more on interiors, graphic design, fine art and just about any other subject I might want to explore. With their greatly reduced prices penciled in on the flyleaf, I've bought more than a few books here.

My design library isn't big since I don't have the room for the hundreds of books I would have if I did. It is carefully edited and often culled when new additions need to find a home on the overstuffed shelves. Some of my favorites are out of print, some are new, some are eye candy coffee table books, some are serious reference books. I'm going to share some of my favorites over the next few weeks.

Inspriation and Influence--1st Dibs

I really like 1st Dibs. I don't visit it every day, or even every week, but when I do it sucks me in and when I'm done I've spent more time than I had planned.

1st Dibs is a huge on-line marketplace for antiques and mid-century modern furniture and accessories--Portobello Road or the Paris Flea Market on steroids. 1st Dibs also has a beautifully designed and edited section on people, places and ideas. There are great garden elements to be found--bought or used as inspiration.

The profiles in Style Compass or books in Required Reading get me every time.

Yak, Yak, Yak--My Big Mouth!

Here's a podcast I recorded about my experience as a landscape designer who blogs. The others on the podcast are Rochelle Greayer of Studio G and Chris Heiler of Landscape Leadership. Click here. Listen and enjoy.

Old School Recording Device

By the way...I haven't posted video since that day.

My Garden State--Jockey Hollow

The footpath to the Cross Estate Gardens in Jockey Hollow

This lovely garden is about 20 minutes from my studio on the way here and there. It is on National Park Service land and is maintained by a staff of dedicated volunteers. I stop there often. There are other elements not shown here, a walled formal garden with two beautiful terra cotta urns and a view east over the foothills and a three story fieldstone water tower. Perhaps another time or visit for yourself...

Spring in the wildflower garden at the Cross Estate Gardens

Massed ferns at the base of a Metaseqoia glyptostroboides

The Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) allee before it blooms next month