 |
|
Make your garden a unique expression of your personal style.
|
How Does Your Garden Grow?Gardens come in all shapes, sizes and styles, from simple rectangular flowerbeds to sprawling areas overflowing with greenery. Like our homes, our clothing, or our vehicles, gardens can be a way of expressing ourselves or showcasing our style. With a little thought and planning, anyone can create a garden that’s a perfect match for his or her personality.
Greg Georgakalis is a gardening expert. The owner of several Massachusetts garden centers, including Goldstar Nurseries, which caters to landscapers and developers, Georgakalis has a true passion for plants, flowers and gardening. He offers the following advice for those wishing to design a unique and beautiful garden:
- Visualize. A good first step in designing your garden is to just take the time visualize the sorts of things you like. Imagine that you’re painting a picture with the colors of plants and flowers, and get some pleasing mental images in your head.
- Get ideas. Another good plan is to start looking at other gardens for ideas. Check out some books or magazines that showcase garden photography or design and start figuring out what really appeals to you, or what might look good given the land you have to work with.
- Purpose and uses. Spend some time thinking about what you want to use your garden for. Do you want a tranquil sitting spot, or do you want to create a pretty border for a lawn or play area? Do you want a cutting garden so you can always have fresh cut flowers for the house, or would you prefer a vegetable garden for cooking? To properly match form with function, you should know your garden’s purpose before you start designing it.
- Express yourself. According to Georgakalis, the single most important thing to remember is that your garden should say something about you. Everyone’s garden should be her own, so don’t be afraid to just do what you like. If you like the look of pink flowers side by side with purple, then go for it. It’s your garden, so design it the way you want to, and enjoy doing it.
For more information on gardening, visit a nursery in your area or check out the following organizations and websites:
American Horticultural Society
7931 East Boulevard Drive Alexandria VA 22308
800-777-7931, www.ahs.org
Gardenweb
www.gardenweb.com
Garden Forever
www.gardenforever.com
House and Garden Design
www.houseandgardendesign.com
Landscape Direct
www.landscapedirect.com
| 
)
