Deborah Silver is an accomplished and experienced landscape and garden designer whose firm first opened its doors in 1986.
purple and lavender
Dressing a fountain for winter
finished arrangement
Francesca del Re terra cotta pot ready for winter
winter white
blanket of noble and silver fir
collection of winter pots
lead egg cup
curly copper willow and oregonia
red bud pussy willow, mixed greens, fan willow, and purple eucalyptus
The Avenue diner in Royal Oak
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 © 2024 · Deborah Silver & Co. · Detroit Garden Works
Stunning as always, thank you for being so generous and sharing your talents with all of us.
Your container designs are the most classic and stunning that I have ever seen! Thank you so much for sharing your pictures and tips for assembling.
Dear Paula, thanks for your kind letter. How I assemble containers is the result of many years of practice. There is no reason not to pass that along. As for the aesthetic decisions, every gardener has to make that call for themselves. Deborah
Who would have thought that winter pot decorating would have me so spellbound? Each post brings more wonders to behold. Thank you.
Dear Michaele, thanks for your letter. Anything related to nature and the season is spellbinding for me too. Deborah
i too thank you for your generosity in sharing deborah. you are a wealth, talent and class, bravo to you!
question if i may; do you add a layer of protection over the fountain under the greens?
many thanks
debra
Debra, many thanks for your kind letter-I truly appreciate it. This fountain is actually concrete with integral color. So water in it will not hurt. That said, this pot is so large, that we have mounted the floral foam on an exterior plywood base that is a little larger than the diameter of the pot. I doubt any water or snow gets in the pot over the winter. Best, Deborah
I do not comment often but I wanted to say I do appreciate your posts. I have been enjoying your containers.
Dear Janis, I welcome your comment. Hearing from people who read is a pleasure. Thanks, Deborah
As always, you do such beautiful work! Question on p.o. cedar, do you find that it browns out the quickest and any suggestions to prevent this? I also remember catching a post long ago where you mentioned using a spray type paint/stain to keep certain greens in color. What do you use? The Port Orford cedar drapes so beautifully but I don’t have the best of luck with it.
Thanks for any advice
Mary, I rarely use cedar, as it browns so quickly. Spraying it with wiltpruf will help conserve the moisture. Craft stores carry floral paint in spray cans, if you need to add color. I use a olive/basil color, so it doesn’t look “too” green. Good luck! Deborah
Thank you Yoda! 🙂 You are the best!
Love this blog and all of your information and pictures. If any of the pots are fiberglass, do you have an issue with them freezing and cracking during the winter. jeanne
Dear Jeanne, I have no experience with fiberglass pots. I do know that elevating any pot off of a hard surface such that the pot can drain helps to prevent cracking. Pots that crack have water trapped in them. When water freezes, it expands. Thanks for writing, Deborah