First, it's the natural context that gives a garden it's unique luster and charm. The changing play of light, the movement of wind, the falling of shadows and leaves, views that open in winter but close in summer- these ephemeral things aren't incidental elements of garden, but rather the fundemental joys that are essential to creating a space that people love to be in. Harnessing them with a gentle hand, using softscape and hardscape, is what makes a garden beautiful.

Softscape- the flowers and plantings- helps create depth and a sense of mystery, giving rise to the emotions of the space: the tranquility of tall grass suffused with light, the cock-eyed optimism of yellow hollyhocks, the stately rustling of bamboo like taffeta. Hardscape- arbors and paths, patios and walls- forms the bones of the garden, guiding you into your experience of the space, suggesting where you might want to host, relax quietly, or explore.

Harmonizing all these varied elements and uses of the garden is critical to a successful design. Hardscape and softscape, natural oasis and formal event space, wild habitat and vegetable area— these things should form a cohesive whole so that you no longer have simply a yard with a collection of things, like a check list of your needs, but a garden, with each piece seamlessly interconnected to the others.

Gardens, like the green spaces of Shakespearean plays, should imbue mystery, magic, perhaps even mayhem. They are places to cultivate a relationship with nature, to contemplate the passage of time, to laugh with friends, to be whimsical, to harvest food you've grown yourself, and to, in general, express a desire for the extraordinary in the midst of the ordinary. I strive to create gardens that capture this essence, that elegantly walk the line between utility and art.