Hardscape - Fine Gardening

  • formal garden courtyard with fountain and small seating area
    Design

    Terri’s New Garden Project

    Today’s photos are from Terri Bennink. We were not able to really work on the front and side yard, as there was a giant sweetgum tree (Liquidambar styraciflua, Zones 5–9)…

  • balance hardscape and plants
    Design

    Tour a Garden That Perfectly Balances Hardscape and Plants

    Margherita Fabrizio and her husband, Andy Jordan, live in a beautiful historic 1918 home in the heart of downtown Ithaca, New York. When they purchased their property in 2009, they…

  • garden hardscape
    Design

    A Terraced, Urban Garden That Balances Hardscape and Softscape

    Plants emerging in the earliest days of spring never cease to amaze me, even though I’ve been gardening for 40 years. In Zone 5 in central New York State, spring…

  • whimsical elf house built on a tree stump with blue door and trim
    Design

    Creative Recycling in a Woodland Garden

    My name is Paul Brothe, and I live and garden in Newburgh, New York. (See a previous visit to this garden.) In 2020, I cleared an overgrown part of my…

  • small purple flowers in front of a view of the garden
    Design

    Serene Garden in Germany

    Today we’re off to Germany visiting a beautiful landscape, with photos taken and shared with us by Michael Frick of a landscape created by Michael's father, Werner Frick Winhöring. It…

  • several container plantings in a garden
    Design

    Six Ways to Improve Your Garden With Containers

    If there were a gardening equivalent to the cooking adage “Salt makes everything better,” it would likely be “Pots make everything pop.” Many of us spend precious time and energy…

  • modern garden design
    Design

    Modern Garden Design Ideas

    As gardeners, we love, trust, and believe in plants—often to a fault. We don’t easily relinquish funds or space for hardscape. The thrill of buying and finding a spot for…

  • Design

    Natural Stone and Ground Covers Are a Great Combination

    A hardscape is always in season, and Jerry Fritz has created versions of his signature living patio for many happy clients over the years. The concept is deceptively simple: large…

  • Collection

    Create Garden Rooms That Draw You In

    When designing a garden, I like to include at least one outdoor room that will tempt my clients to spend more time outside. A strong connection between indoor and outdoor…

  • Design

    How to Create a Relaxed Kitchen Garden Retreat

    Our kitchen garden has evolved over the years into a homegrown three-room space with a vegetable garden, two dining areas, and a firepit. Set apart from the house, it feels…