Well hello, August! Can you believe that in less than 2 months we'll officially welcome Autumn? In the meantime, how about some midsummer garden inspiration: Learn how to start an herb garden, get some design advice for small spaces, see stunning summer containers, and sign up to take a quick (virtual) trip to France (no passport required). Check it all out below! Herb gardens can be both practical and beautiful, and most herbs can be grown indoors or out. It's a great time to get your herb garden going, as many herbs grow better in late summer to early fall. Why? Because the soil is still warm, the sun isn't quite as intense, and air temperatures have dropped a few degrees. Learn how to start your own indoor or outdoor herb garden. PLUS: Get started with these 15 easy-to-grow herbs—perfect for beginning gardeners (and chefs)! Simplicity & Structure in a Small Garden See how the founders of Mosaic Gardens transformed their small, narrow, sloped lot into a beautiful garden. Along the way, they learned that they were able to pay attention to details that wouldn't have been possible on a larger scale. Follow their 5 big ideas for small spaces for success in your own small garden. Photo by Marion Brenner. (Don't forget that small-garden ideas can also be applied to smaller spaces within a larger landscape!) Tour the Gardens of Versailles for FREE Experience the sights and sounds of the spectacular Gardens of Versailles—no passport required! On August 14, at 9:00AM PST, a local guide will take you on a LIVE-streamed tour where you'll see the grand canal, the Orangery (pictured), secret groves, and more. You'll be able to interact with the guide—as well as other "travelers"—and ask questions via a live chat feed. The 30-minute tour is free, but if you enjoy it, there will be an option at the end to send a tip to your guide. The tour requires a reservation and has limited availability, so register now—you do not want to miss this! If your containers are ready for a summer spruce up, here are 5 unique combinations designed to bring out the best of each plant. We've even included planting diagrams and care instructions for each one to help you along the way. Photos by Jason Ingram. Illustrations by Josh Endres. Garden Crafts for Kids Hi, it's Justine here again, with activities for the budding gardeners in your life. My kids have been really into making things lately—whether it's a birthday card or a bouquet they've picked from our garden. With "making" on the brain, I've rounded up some garden-related crafts for kids. Some can be completed using materials from the garden (like this garden loom, photo by Lunch Lady Magazine) while others are crafts you can display in the garden. Have fun! If you joined the container challenge last week, I'd love to hear your feedback. Let me know what you thought by replying to this newsletter. Also, if you've put what you learned to the test, we'd love to see your new container creations! Tag us in your pictures on Instagram with the hashtag #gdcontainergarden or drop a photo in an email to me! (linda@gardendesign.com) Happy Gardening! Did you enjoy this newsletter? Forward it to a friend Not currently receiving this weekly newsletter? Subscribe here! No images? Click here for a web version of this email. |