Made from the Heart

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front3All of us know what is spoken, or made from the heart, and what is theatre.  How you landscape your home, how you decide what pots, and what placement, and what flowers, or maybe no flowers-I cannot explain this any better but than to say that what I might see at your home, should convince me it is you, speaking.

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front20How a landscape convinces the viewer, how a landscape is a complete world, with its own rules and its own language, is a considerable part of its beauty. The genuine voice behind the landscape brings life to that landscape.  The life that nature empowers is formidable.  The life, and voice, of a person is equally formidable.  How interesting-that relationship.

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Rob has photographed many landscapes in Europe, in his 14 years of travel.  Some are on the verge of ruination.  Some are marked by broken pots; some pots are not even planted-they are sculptures.

europe2 Though riddled with blooming weeds, or dead patches of this or that, or blurred with centuries of moss, they are powerfully evocative, and beautiful. The history of those genuine voices evokes memories in those of us who visit those gardens-our own memories.europe

I am sure you can tell I am passionate on the subject of the importance of the voice of the individual-which is unlike every voice which came before you, or any voice which is yet to come. It’s all I have to offer my clients-my voice.front41
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front211An authentic voice-you have one, ready and waiting.  Yours is better, you might say. Maybe I only have more practice.

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Lets Start with Place

front12On the subject of annuals, you need to decide first where you might want them. Let’s start with your front door. front9

Flowers at the front door say hello, welcome.  They celebrate in whatever fashion pleases you, the entrance to your home. That makes the architecture of your entrance a key design element.  Formal homes ask for formal placement and selection of containers and plants. Very formal homes may have no flowers at the door.  They might have lidded finials, or topiary, or boxwood in containers.

front7How you announce the entrance to your home is not only about the architecture.  It’s your home, so your voice should be evident-clearly, confidently.

If you are shy and reclusive, there is a planting that says so.

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If you grew up on, and still adhere to Emily Post, say so.

front18If you are exuberant, and welcoming of friends, neighbors, new people, and your daughter’s softball team, say so. front2a

If relaxed and low key appeals to you, do so.front23

If lots and lots of everything is your style, do lots and lots.

front21If the mid-century modern, or contemporary design of your house makes certain demands that you hear, listen.

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If you are of several minds, as often happens, you are free to do differently next season.

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