Lani Freymiller’s Garden – Green and Serene

by Rebecca Sweet 5 December 2011

As part of my ongoing series, Gardeners and their Gardens, I’d like to introduce you to a garden I visited a few months ago in southern California. I believe each garden is an expression of its creator’s soul, and that if you pay attention, you can literally feel the blood, sweat and tears that went into [...]

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Really? Anyone can be an artist?

by Rebecca Sweet 1 December 2011

Last month I visited the beautiful garden of Debra Lee Baldwin, and while inside her home I couldn’t help sneaking a photo of her charming desk.  It’s at this sweet little corner where she creates her stunning succulent and cactus watercolor paintings. I’m always impressed by anyone who can draw anything beyond a stick figure [...]

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Gossip in the Garden’s Great Giveaway – Gardening Gloves!

by Rebecca Sweet 30 November 2011

It’s time for another holiday giveaway, but HURRY – this contest ends December 5th! A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to review a pair of Fields & Lane gardening gloves as well as offer a contest for my readers.  And all I can say is HOLY COW, I LOVE these gloves! Gardening [...]

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Gossip in the Garden’s Great Giveaway – Dr. Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs

by Rebecca Sweet 27 November 2011

Thanksgiving has come and gone, as has the turkey, the leftovers and the relatives. Having survived Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and now Cyber Monday, it seems to me the world is in a shopping frenzy.  Everyone is in a mad race to find the perfect gift for their loved ones and it’s pure mayhem [...]

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Debra Lee Baldwin’s Succulent Garden

by Rebecca Sweet 18 November 2011

A few weeks ago I was a lucky, lucky girl and had the distinct honor of touring Debra Lee Baldwin’s own garden – and what a garden it was! Debra is known by many as the ‘Queen of Succulents’, thanks to her amazing books, Succulent Container Gardens and Designing with Succulents and the many talks and [...]

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Goodbye Lovely Leaves!

by Rebecca Sweet 11 November 2011

It’s that time of year again, when our gardens are aflutter with leaves falling (and falling and falling), blanketing our beds with brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red. Ever wonder why leaves fall? Pin it

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A low-water, high-style garden in San Diego

by Rebecca Sweet 7 November 2011

I don’t think I’ve ever been as rude to another designer as I was when I saw this garden. A few weeks ago I visited my good friend Debra Lee Baldwin who graciously introduced me to a wonderful landscape designer, Frank Mitzel of Aesthetic Design.   Frank kindly took us to see a garden that [...]

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Wordless Wednesday – Succulent People

by Rebecca Sweet 2 November 2011

Having spent a delightful morning touring the San Diego Botanical Garden last week, I must admit I was most smitten by these life-size topiaries.  Pat Hammer, Director of Operations of the Botanical Garden, created these incredible works of art, going so far as making clay masks of some of the members of the garden and [...]

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Top 10 Favorite Black Plants for Halloween

by Rebecca Sweet 29 October 2011

It’s no secret that one of my favorite colors in the garden is black.  It’s pretty hard to find plants that have  true black foliage (most are more like maroon), but here are some that come pretty close. And just in time for Halloween!     Pin it

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