At A Glance: Brown
Posted on: September 29, 2013 7 Comments
Deborah Silver is an accomplished and experienced landscape and garden designer whose firm first opened its doors in 1986.
Deborah Silver is a landscape and garden designer whose firm, Deborah Silver and Co Inc, opened its doors in 1986. She opened Detroit Garden Works, a retail store devoted to fine and unusual garden ornament and specialty plants, in 1996. In 2004, she opened the Branch studio, a subsidiary of the landscape company which designs and manufactures garden ornament in a variety of media. Though her formal education is in English literature and biology, she worked as a fine artist in watercolor and pastel from 1972-1983. A job in a nursery, to help support herself as an artist in the early 80’s evolved into a career in landscape and garden design. Her landscape design and installation projects combine a thorough knowledge of horticulture with an artist’s eye for design. Her three companies provide a wide range of products and services to the serious gardener. She has been writing this journal style blog since April of 2009.
Copyright © 2025 · Deborah Silver & Co. · Detroit Garden Works
It is often said a picture is worth a thousand words.
I’ve just returned from my local nursery, laden with bags of potting soil I can barely lift, a few boxwoods, and a sprinkling of seasonal color. I am bone weary. So I sat to drink some water and decided not to plant today. Then I looked at the photos on your site and they seemed to say, “Get out there and plant when you’ve rested. Your small corner of the earth has great expectations and great possibility.” As always, thanks for the encouragement.
Terry, thanks so much for this letter. Love the letter-and the story! Thanks, Deborah
Love these!
Although I live in the South, our gardens are worn out now too and there is something off about looking at pink impatiens and geraniums in October – LOL- and it is still too warm for pansies and snapdragons. I am going to try some of the ideas you’ve shared and see what I can find. Could you share how you made that beautiful base of magnolia leaves?
Dear Jen, I made a dry floral foam form that sits on top of the pot. I wanted the leaves to be 16-18″ larger than the pot, so I sized the form accordingly. If the magnolia branches are 8″ long, then I made the form 10″ bigger than the pot on every side. If you can’t find floral foam in big sheets, you can buy bricks, and glue them together. The form has a hole in the middle for the centerpiece. I bought cut magnolia branches and stuffed the form-starting at the bottom. Hope this helps, Deborah
I just discovered your journal style garden blog a couple of weeks ago and I am LOVING all the info and the accompanying pictures. I’ve enjoyed it so much I immediately started reading the monthly archives to get caught up on all of your past posts but then decided what great reading it will be in the winter months. Thanks for taking the time and effort to share your thoughts and expertise with all of us gardening folks!
Lynn
Dear Lynn, I am pleased you are reading! I like gardeners. Thanks, Deborah
Great pictures. I love brown. Great comments from your blogees. Thank you for being you.
Pat