Deborah Silver is an accomplished and experienced landscape and garden designer whose firm first opened its doors in 1986.
spring boxes featuring lavender around a fountain
blue eucalyptus
porch planted for spring
fresh cut pussy willow
at the front door
window box
pussy willow and pansies
oval urn
spring pot
mixed cool wave trailing pansies
purple and white
yellow pansies and yellow/violet bicolor violas
blues and purples
blue and lemon pansies, with cream yellow alyssum
vintage crate with lavender and blue violas
pussy willow and ocean pansies
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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
Your work is such an inspiration! Thank you for sharing. May I ask, how long would you expect “pussy willow and pansies” to last before replanting?
Dear CJ, I have seen them go into early July. Sometimes the pussy willow roots, and leafs out.The determining factor is usually high heat, although newer pansy varieties are remarkably heat resistant. best, Deborah
Nice, oh so very nice Deborah. Seeing these projects tells me “spring is here”.
I love your work! Thank you for sharing! Do you assemble the centerpiece of eucalyptus and willows before you head out to install and under plant?
Dear Jane, sometimes are centerpieces are constructed, and sometimes they are stuck one piece at a time. It depends. The 6 foot tall centerpieces are usually constructed in the shop. best, Deborah
Always inspirational- or just fun to look at the color combinations. Thanks Deborah
I picked up one of your beautiful spring planters at the Open House. Placed it on the patio on view from my office window. Love, love, love.
Lovely work! Happy Easter.
Hi Deborah, What are your thoughts about adding curly willow branches to the pussy willow branches in the center of the planter?
thanks,
Lisa
Dear Lisa, why not? best, Deborah
Hi Deborah,
I absolutely love your work and had the chance to see your shop last fall when traveling in Michigan. Fabulous place! I’ve got two long narrow window boxes which I’d like to plant with spring pansies. One is in the first floor and the other on the second. I’d also like to give them some height so they can be seen from a distance. Not sure willow branches will do the trick. Any other ideas? Thanks.
Dear Margaret, pussy willow can be seen from a distance, especially if you use a lot. Other spring things for height: 1 gal upright rosemary, potted ranunculus, lavender, forsythia, lemon cypress, or yellow twig dogwood stems. Of course I don’t know the size of your boxes, or where you garden, but just shopping a nursery or farmer’s market might provide some ideas. best, Deborah
I love everything…especially the yellow pansies in the V pot.