Comments on: Garden Designer’s Roundtable – Some rules are meant to be broken!

By: Gossip in the Garden » Blog Archive » Garden Designer’s Roundtable – Designing with Foliage

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:29:09 +0000

[...] professional landscape designers, to simultaneously write an article dedicated to the same topic (“Do Designer’s Practice what they Preach”), but each written with our own, distinctive [...]

By: Practice What They Preach? « Garden Designers Roundtable

Practice What They Preach? « Garden Designers Roundtable — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:33:06 +0000

[...] Rebecca SweetÂ Â Â Â Gossip in the Garden [...]

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:30:28 +0000

I must say, I’m so honored to hear that so many talented designers break traditional ‘rules’, too! I was half-expecting to hear comments like “you FAKE”, “you HACK” and “we’re sending this confession out to all in Los Altos who might possibly use such a crappy designer”……. thanks for ‘fessing up yourselves!

By: Germi

Germi — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:01:48 +0000

SO TRUE!!!
I had to laugh – a client came over this weekend I was CONSTANTLY saying – “oh, I’d NEVER do this in a REAL garden” …
But you know what? I DO the bad things in real gardens! I don’t think I’ll ever ‘properly’ space a plant, because to my eye, if plants aren’t touching, they look too timid, too lonely. I LOVE planting big things in the front of borders. And for me, a path, no matter how wide, needs to be encroached on; plants need to spill over the boundaries.
I think rules are very important to know – and to know when breaking them works. You also can’t break ALL of the rules in one garden.
BEAUTIFUL pics, and FAB post, as always!

By: Frances

Frances — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:55:47 +0000

Hi Rebecca, thanks for an educating but enjoyable read. Rules are meant to be broken, sometimes. We are also crammers, and that statement about a bare piece of earth, such a rarity! as a perfect planting spot is exactly how we operate too. Wide paths are nice, but skinny ones work too. You just have to turn around and speak to that visitor behind you without tripping over a rock or piece of unique junk, er art.

Frances

By: Daffodil Planter

Daffodil Planter — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:21:36 +0000

Love your garden, you old crammer you!

By: Town Mouse

Town Mouse — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:29:38 +0000

What a great post! I so agree, it’s difficult to follow all the rules. If nothing else, there are usually several individuals in a family, and it’s a balancing act to keep everyone happy. As for the spacing… I’ve never met anyone who never had to prune a bit. And a bit more….

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:01:28 +0000

Thank you all, fellow Crammers and Rule-Breakers, for letting me know I’m not alone! Rebels unite!

By: Laura Livengood Schaub (InterLeafer)

Laura Livengood Schaub (InterLeafer) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:38:24 +0000

Love it love it love it! Great post Rebecca, you could be channeling my own thought process a lot of the time. I think that one of the skills a designer learns is what rules you CAN break; like plant spacing. While I wouldn’t cram huge shrubs together, I’m not opposed to filling in between them with what I call ‘ephemerals’ plants that will last a season or two and then pop out easily when the backbone plants start coming into their own. Every garden space is different, and to be true to them you sometimes need to follow your instincts, rather than rules. Brava!

By: Jenny Peterson

Jenny Peterson — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:29:16 +0000

Woot, beautiful pics & great ideas! I like to break the “Color Rule”, as in “you shouldn’t use colors like pink and orange together in the garden.” Purple coneflower has that in one flower! YOU go right ahead and tell Mother Nature she’s wrong. I’m too chicken.

By: susan morrison (garden chick)

susan morrison (garden chick) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:45:19 +0000

I second Kat, I’m a total crammer. I did a huge job earlier this year and was so proud of myself for leaving plenty of space for all the 6 and 8 foot shrubs to grow to their true potential, with the result of course, that the client called me back 3 months later and begged me to add more plants in between. Sometimes you can’t win!

P.S. Love the idea that clients are strolling down their elegant garden paths, chattering away about their wonderful garden designer!

By: Kat

Kat — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:12:57 +0000

Oh you rule breaker you. I have the hardest time in my own yard with path size and plant spacing. Too wide a path means less planting space. Too much distance between plants means fewer varieties. Yep, I like to cram like you do.

By: Scott Hokunson

Scott Hokunson — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:53:39 +0000

Rebecca,

GHASP! Invite new clients to my yard? Not me, not yet anyway. And judging by the pics of your garden, I have a ways to go. It’s beautiful! I love the idea of displaying your selection of garden tools, and using pottery you have made with friends. Your garden truly is an extension of yourself, Well done!

Scott

By: Susan aka Miss R

Susan aka Miss R — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:23:30 +0000

Rules are certainly meant to be broken! I break #3 all the time but try to strictly adhere to #5 also. Never, ever apologize again for your garden–just say this is my garden and therefore reflects what I like…your’s will be yours and reflect you.