Gordon Hayward

photo by Matthew Benson

For most of us, who struggle every day to better define our gardens, the art and practice of garden design can sometimes seem very arcane and beyond our reach.  And, as you read more and more books on the subject, you get the feeling that many garden designers are content to allow us to continue to suffer under this delusion. One who isn't, is Gordon Hayward.  It's very clear that his single professional mission in life, in his practice with his clients, in the books that he writes, and in the lectures that he gives, is to impart knowledge, not stand guard over it.  Education is the golden thread that runs through all of his work.

Two Dying Bystanders

image of these Louisiana Live Oaks courtesy of Louisianabooknews.com

Last week, the two worlds of horticulture and sports collided in an unusual way when an idiot from Alabama admitted that he tried to kill a couple of venerable, ancient trees because, in his little sporting world, things weren't quite going his way.

The Gallery

From: Brettell, Richard. French Impressionists. Chicago: The Art Institute of Chicago and New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1987, p. 83. 

Since the early 1870s, Claude Monet had made multiple compositions of the same subject; a group of paintings representing the Saint-Lazare railroad station in Paris was exhibited at the Impressionist exhibition of 1877. However, there is little evidence that he intentionally worked in series until the years 1889-90.

From The Garden Bookshelf

Private Gardens of Connecticut
by Jane Garmey, photographs by John M. Hall
The Monacelli Press $65 ISBN 978-1-58093-241-7


There is no argument that Connecticut is fertile ground for great gardens.  Both the topography of the land and the variation in climate (three hardiness zones are represented here), have given rise to a large number of superb gardens, from the shoreline along Long Island Sound, to the hills and valleys in the northwest corner of the state.  Much of the landscape is still rural and even the largest cities in Connecticut are relatively small.  It's no secret that a large part of Connecticut's rural character has remained that way because so much of the state is within easy commuting distance of New York City.  Over the years, Connecticut has been the place for New Yorker's to establish their bedroom communities and country retreats. And with them came some magnificent gardens.

The Featured Plant- Malus sargentii 'Tina'

Here at Juniper Hill, one of the surest signs that Spring is on its way is when the robins invade the Tina Sargent crabapples (Malus sargentii 'Tina').  We haven't seen the robins yet this year, but we're waiting.

The Featured Garden-Chanticleer

Put This Garden On Your List of Places to Visit This Summer

About two years ago, I was heading to Longwood Gardens, in Pennsylvania, and a gardening friend said to me..."make sure you stop by Chanticleer, I think you'll love it"  I had heard of Chanticleer but, for one reason or another, it never made my "must visit" list of public gardens.  Not long after that, at a North Hill Symposium, I heard Joe Eck say that he thought Chanticleer was one of the finest gardens in the East.  So, now I was curious.  I soon made arrangements to meet my two daughters there in late July and we spent a wonderful afternoon touring this spectacular pleasure garden.

Out Now