Inspiration for garden design can come from many sources. Strolling through the aisles of plants at a nursery is one way but I’ve often found I tend to get too many spring blooming plants if that is my main source of inspiration. Plant catalogs are great because then you can make a plant list and make sure all seasons are addressed. Garden and home catalogs such as Smith and Hawkens gives ideas for garden décor and outdoor furniture. Gardening magazines and HGTV are other great starting points for creative ideas for a landscape. All of these are good but it’s sometimes difficult to translate a small image or a single fabulous plant into an overall design scheme. But one gold mine of inspiration stands out in my mind and that is a visit to a beautiful garden.
Public gardens are a good place to start. They usually have plants that are easy to grow and suitable for the climate. Often there is nice hardscaping. What they probably lack are spaces for living. Garden tours are great because all the gardens have been previewed and are typically outstanding examples of design and plant use. In addition to the plants, most of the gardens have wonderful hardscaping and creative use of garden ornamentation. You can see how the owners use the garden for dining or relaxing. You may have friends who are great gardeners whose gardens you can visit.
When visiting a garden, take a digital camera but do ask for permission before taking pictures. Take lots of photos of things you like. Make notes too. For example, you might note plant combinations, hardscape features, and if there’s lots of sun or shade. Some of the things I like to make notes about and/or take photos of are the use of rocks, how rooms have been created in the garden, and the use of garden décor. During SFBG’s garden tours this year I saw a flock of metal butterflies on stakes. They were perfectly charming and would be pretty year round. I decided then and there that I need to get some friends for my single (and lonesome) butterfly stake.
When getting inspiration in someone else’s garden, the goal is not to try and copy some design element. Rather it’s a tool to see examples of good design and adapt those ideas to our own space and personal taste. So make it a point to visit some gardens this summer. You’ll have fun while you’re getting inspiration.