There are so many ways to shape how a garden feels, from choosing plants with purpose to noticing the color, texture, and sensory details that make a space come alive. There’s plenty here to spark fresh ideas, along with a meaningful seasonal tradition and a beautiful garden in bloom.
Planting Ideas For Your Garden
Choosing plants with purpose can change how your whole garden looks and feels, from structure and flow to seasonal interest, texture, and pollinator support. In this article, Jan Johnsen shares thoughtful ideas to help you make more intentional plant choices and create a garden that feels cohesive, inviting, and alive.
As a bonus, you can join Jan live on May 14th for a deeper dive into how color shapes mood, energy, and harmony in the garden. See more info below!
Webinar
Designing with Color:
How to Shape Mood, Energy, and Harmony in the Garden
with Jan Johnsen
Thursday, May 14th at 6 PM Eastern*
Color is the first thing we notice, and one of the most powerful tools in garden design. This is going to be a fun, inspiring session and a wonderful way to bring more color into everyday life. Perfect for gardens in any Zone and gardeners of any skill level. Watch a short video from Jan about the webinar here.
What you’ll learn:
- How color shapes mood and emotional response.
- Ways to create harmony and energy in the garden.
- Why pink is such a useful bridge color.
- How green acts as the foundation of a garden palette.
- Simple ways to use color more intentionally.
$20 USD Registration Fee
*Can't join us at that time? All registrants will receive the recording the Monday after the webinar. You will have 30 days to watch or rewatch.
“It will never rain roses: when we want to have more roses we must plant more trees.” — George Eliot, novelist
Cultivate a New Tradition This Mother’s Day
Summer bulbs, such as lilies and dahlias, offer a chance for you to extend the Mother’s Day experience. A gift of bulbs in May promises beautiful blooms to enjoy with your mom for years to come. Family time is what she really wants. Make planting a garden with Mom and the kids or grandchildren a new spring tradition. Just add love!
Engaging Your Senses in the Garden
Sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound are all part of what makes a garden such a rich experience. Get ideas for designing a sensory garden that appeals to all five senses, with thoughtful tips for plant choices and placement.
Can you guess where these grape hyacinths, violas, forget-me-nots, and donkey tail spurge are blooming right now? Here's a hint, it's in a Ruin Garden. Photo by Lisa Roper.
Watercolors
Lately I’ve been having fun turning some of my garden photos into watercolor-style images.
The process is simple:
Take a photo in the garden
Open ChatGPT
Drop the photo into the chat
Type “watercolor”
In seconds the image transforms into something that feels almost like a painting.
There’s something about watercolor - softer edges, blended colors, a little impressionistic - that seems perfect for gardens.
Are you a fan of watercolor style?
-Jim Peterson
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