Sometimes the garden isn’t just about what we grow, but how it makes us feel. Japanese gardens are masters of this balance, using water, stone, and plants to create calm, intentional spaces for every season. This week we’re taking inspiration from that timeless style, sharing ideas for fall color and pest control, and looking ahead to next week’s webinar with Karen Chapman on using foliage and focal points to bring stronger design to every corner of your garden.
Japanese gardens are known for their calm beauty, where every plant plays a part in creating balance and serenity. From azaleas bursting with spring color and graceful cherry trees to resilient junipers and the lush foliage of hostas and nandina, these classic choices bring timeless character to any garden. Curious which plants make the list and what they symbolize?
The lasting appeal of Japanese gardens comes from timeless design principles of balance, simplicity, and harmony. Whether you dream of a peaceful courtyard or a winding stroll garden, these ideas can help you bring a touch of Japanese serenity to your own space.
Garden accents to help you bring these ideas to life.
NEW WEBINAR!
Foliage & Focal Points:
Ideas for Gardens & Budgets of All Sizes
with Karen Chapman
Thursday, September 18 @ 6PM EDT*
Join us for our next webinar, where garden designer Karen Chapman will share how to use focal points and foliage to create gardens that shine in every season.
You’ll learn how to:
✅ Design with focal points in key areas
✅ Use containers, art, and structures as anchors
✅ Choose foliage that elevates your design
✅ Incorporate deer-resistant plants with style
Whether you’re refreshing a bed or rethinking a larger space, these strategies will help you make confident, creative choices for any garden.
Why let your garden fade in fall? With the right mix of plants, you can keep things lively with fresh blooms, fiery foliage, and graceful textures well into the season. These 5 types of plants are especially good at carrying the show into autumn. See which ones will bring the biggest impact to your fall garden. Photo by: Proven Winners.
We may be ready for crisp fall evenings, but so are slugs and snails. Cooler, wetter weather is prime time for these slimy pests to chew holes through hostas, veggies, and ripening fruit. The good news? There are eco-friendly ways to stop them in their tracks.
Put These Solutions to Work
Little Henry® sweetspire (Itea virginica) delivers fiery fall color, with extra perks for pollinators. This compact shrub shines in early summer with fragrant white blooms, then surprises again in autumn when its green foliage blazes orange and red. It’s low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and thrives in everything from full sun to full shade—even damp soils—making it a true four-season workhorse for the garden.
I’m really looking forward to Karen’s webinar next week. I’ve got a few spots in my garden that just aren’t working, and honestly, my focal point game could use some help. I'm sure she'll have just the answers & advice I'll need to level up! Hope you'll join us! (Click here for more info & to register!)
Happy Gardening!
—Linda
3 Things I Used in My Garden This Week
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