I have a new favorite blog to visit. The title of this post comes from the heading on her blog “Garden Porn - is that a pistil in your calyx or are you just happy to see me?”. This woman is absolutely amazing. Michelle Derviss is a landscape designer from Marin County, California and I love her work.
Lots of Landscape Ideas
She posts on a variety of topics. You’ll, of course, find lots of different kinds of gardens and landscapes highlighted (her own designs and the designs of others). The photos from her travels are stunning (see Bali photos, 2007). There are posts about some of the technical aspects of her work such as making a mosaic wall, putting in a stone wall, drainage systems and the like. She posts about environmental and health issues. Not only is there a lot to look at in her blog but there are great articles that go with the photos. Can you tell that I am enchanted?
Her photos are beautifully taken and make you wish you there. Some of the posts that caught my eye today are shown below.
Screening Outdoor Spaces
Raised bed garden with wood fence/trellis screen
This wooden fence/trellis combination provides a great and eye catching screen. Your attention is focused on the garden space and the view beyond. Here in Seattle we have a lot of small sloping lots. Seattle architects are always looking for ways to provide privacy for outdoor spaces on small lots. This photo comes from her April 13, 2009 “Raised veggie beds and Potager Gardens” post.
wood lattice screen paired with stone work
This is one of her portfolio examples from Screens & Trellises. The wood/stone work piece not only screens but shapes the space as well. The colors blend in a very harmoniously. You can imagine that entertaining in this space is anything but a chore. I adore this. Photo is from her August 8, 2008 “Design Workshop - Screens and Trellises”.
Edible Landscape in Your Outdoor Space
edible landscape
What I love about this photo (aside from that cute dog) is that you wouldn’t necessarily know that the landscape is filled with edible fruits and herbs. It’s not that I wouldn’t love to have an edible landscape, it is just that they often seem so work intensive. Several of the other landscapes she features in her July 4, 2008 “Edible Landscapes” post look as if they would require a good deal of seasonal change. That is wonderful if you have the time and/or inclination but if you don’t have the time it is clearly still possible to incorporate edibles into your landscape and have it be beautiful year round with fairly low maintenance.
Difficult site contraints can be accomodated in outdoor spaces
before site was transformed and drainage issues solved
Sites in the Seattle area often have problems that need to be overcome. These before and after photos from Dervis’ portfolio show what can be accomplished not only with a small area but one with site problems as well. This entry in her July 2, 2008 “Drainage systems, bio swales and rain retention/distribution basins” post explains the drainage issues that had to be overcome. What an incredible transformation.
after drainage issues are resolved and landscape transformed
What a great find. Check her blog and website out at your earliest convenience.
One Comment
Great blog post! I love learning about this online as gardening/landscaping are not only hobbies of mine but I actually do a little bit of work like that during the summer months as a second job. I appreciate your content in your blog and wish that you would keep up the good work