Introducing Our New Designer

Hand-drawn garden design
A recent hand-drawn favorite.

 

Darylynn joined Dan’s design team last season after moving here from Manhattan where she recently traded fashion for flowers. She comes to Holmes Fine Gardens with a background in designing shoes and accessories. Designing gardens is a natural transition she’s just as passionate about.

As they say…once a creative, always a creative.

Her newest accessory? Nature!

 

Enjoy this fun Q&A to get to know a little bit

about Darylynn

 

What’s one interesting fact about you that we wouldn’t learn from your resume alone? That my favorite movies are from the 1920s to 1940s and that I will stop whatever I’m doing if a Fred Astaire movie is on.

 

If you were a flower, what kind of flower would you be and why? The Calla Lily because it symbolizes gratitude.

 

If you had a choice between two superpowers, being invisible or flying, which would you choose and why? Flying because birds seem to be having a blast!

 

Last thing you read? The second edition of “Feel Free” magazine, founded by interior designer Leanne Ford.

 

What part of the day is your favorite & why? The crack of dawn to catch the sunrise. It’s a magical occurrence you can count on daily – pure beauty.

 

Favorite garden style? I am obsessed with topiary and meadows – British and French-style gardens are a big source of inspiration.

 

When you’re not working at HFG where can we find you? Hiking with my two loves, my husband Joseph and my fox terrier Fonzie.

 

Something, not many people know about you?” I collect bugs. The star of my collection is a dragonfly.

 

Finish this sentence, “I find garden design” … I find garden design fascinating.

 

What part of the garden design process do you enjoy most? I enjoy the whole process but if I had to pick just one aspect, it would be sketching the actual garden because that’s the moment the design starts to come to life.

 

Are you a country mouse or a city mouse? A city mouse masquerading as a country mouse.

 

Do you have a landscape architect muse? Yes, Geoffrey Jellicoe – he had a long-distinguished career. #LifeGoals

A Focal Point For All Seasons

Basic fire pit ring in place.

Basic firepit ring in place and ready for planting.

As part of the front yard renovation of this beautiful property in Newtown, the homeowners wanted to creatively hide the top of their well cover while adding interest and color. The house itself is perched high up on their land with a pastoral view that draws the eye right down to the top of the well, a bullseye of sorts, that needed a creative boost.

Firepit ring in place and ready for planting.

With a diameter of 60″ it initially proved challenging to find a container to plant in that would cover the well cap in its entirety. After searching local garden centers, getting creative with local artisans, and searching in-depth on Google, it was a firepit ring insert that turned out to be a cost-friendly option that worked well and just made sense.

Freshly planted container garden.

A unique array of plant material provides textural blooms with seasonal staying power.Once purchased and in place with the right foundation and soil mixture, we set out to a few local garden centers to search for a mix of perennials, annuals, and succulents that combined color, texture, and ease of maintenance along with the sun factor (full sun!). We also wanted to create an ever-changing, mini landscape that would produce new blooms and color variations with the seasons just like a full-scale landscape design.

In the end, it came together beautifully.

Finished container garden.

 

Planted container garden.

A bullseye worth admiring! From both the street and the house. 

“We knew we had a pretty rock well that could be an interesting focal point in the front yard but didn’t have the expertise to execute a plan. Dan’s team created a garden that continuously blooms, bringing varied interest and beauty throughout all seasons. We also recently renovated the exterior of our home and wanted a layered landscape that would both welcome visitors and create peaceful spaces.”

~ Homeowner, Jessyca