Dinner in the Garden

I saw this photo today and just starting daydreaming about a lovely dinner in the garden...minus the heat and mosquitoes.

Image via Tumblr

Chaos vs. Control

Why is the garden such a dynamic place?  Because there is a constant tugging between chaos and control.  The garden pulls towards the chaotic, while we strive to gain control.  This challenge somehow drives us to dive in deeper and deeper.

Photo courtesy of Jonas Peterson Photography

Darn it, we want to badly overpower it...pulling unwanted plants, shearing shrubs into balls, sweeping lawnmowers over grass.  The garden just keeps pushing back.  Maybe we all just love a good fight.

Photo courtesy of made by katrina

The Topiary Part

How did I arrive at the title of this blog? I wanted words that described my garden ideal. The "topiary" part refers to my passion for garden history and formal design.


Photo courtesy of Obsession with Jello

A co-worker recently said to me...why do people always want to see a formal garden with clipped hedges, topiary and perfectly groomed paths? Frankly, it's because they never get to see that. How many of you have a knot garden in your backyard? Think about the energy that goes into a garden like this. Yes, it's time consuming, but think of the personal connection you develop with that type of landscape (you either hate it or love it), but in the end we're all intrigued with it.



Just so you know, this blog is not just about formal gardens...it's really about how we manipulate our outdoor environment to make it our own. What's up with the "tiramisu" part? That's in the next post.

The Personality of a Garden

I have an infatuation with gardens.
The more formal the better. With people...the most intriguing.


Photo by Jonas Peterson

Beauty and function should go hand in hand. Why have a beautiful garden unless you actually use it? Interestingly, many stylistic garden images are devoid of people. I understand why...it is easier to capture a pristine space without the clutter of humans bounding about. These are lovely photos, but they lack energy and emotion.

I hope to show you the energy of a garden by the people in it...laughing, loving, eating, playing, and creating. This is how a garden exhibits personality.