PASSION REVOULSION TOLERANCE

I decided not to wait until I was an old fart to sling my opinions on the masses. When our grandmas lets lose with a stiff opinion, or a crusty command...we endure, because they have earned those opinions, right?

So I have decided to be say what I think now...I'll save my elder years for reflection and gentle understanding thoughts.I was trained as an artist and I've been designing gardens for the last ten years and I have gathered a few opinions, that I must admit are constantly changing but are rooted in the principles of great quality and thoughtful design. I'm passionate about well designed gardens of all types including sixteenth century Italian gardens and high concept gardens equally, like Martha Schwartz's ideas.

To start I'm really tired of TV- makeover in a weekend show when any one with half a brain will tell that even the tiniest garden deserves time for thought process and a good design. It usually takes some careful hard elements with finishes well thought through to support the design and of course a studied selection of plants to start and room (at least in our mind) for changes and evolution of the space over the years.

Browse threw my list of some of the most dreadful hate it /items and ideas.......seems to grow with my age. Here is a sampling

Red Mulch (Ugly fake dyed junk, just say no!!)
Alberta Spruce in pots.....
Island beds.....fake kidney shapes
Tree in the middle of circular drives
Fake anything
Fake concrete pavers meant to look like bricks or stone
Pressed concrete mean to look like....what ever!
Weeping trees set on the corner of suburb..homes
Plastic white picket fences
Vinyl windows
Vinyl siding
Vinyl anything
Prefab sheds with awful roof pitches and weird doll house proportions
Fiberglass above ground spas
Above ground pools
Pressure treated decks
Plastic garden edging
Jungle Gyms not completely screened from view of all of us
The term "Cute or Fun in the garden"
Wheelbarrows made into planters

If you insist on installing any of these items, why not do us all a favor and also plant a 10' evergreen hedge around the entire property. After all you are not the only one that has to look at it.