As a garden designer during the winter in the Northeast, I have more time to contemplate things as we are not busy with the rush of the growing season. Time spent planting, picking up materials, coordinating crews, meeting with clients, and working from sun up until sun down can now be used to work on drawings, get the shop ready for full-time use come spring, catch up on paperwork, go to industry conferences, and catch up on some reading. I appreciate the much-needed downtime as it allows me to understand things from new perspectives –  literally and figuratively. There’s more time spent looking out my window at my own garden or going for walks in the woods and mountain biking on some of the great trails in our area.  It’s usually during one of these excursions that fresh ideas pop up and new perspectives come more into focus.  

This time of year, the winter landscape is largely bare of its foliage, except for the brave. During this time, the winter landscape is mostly stripped of its foliage, leaving only resilient evergreen plants like mountain laurels, pines, hemlocks, Christmas ferns, wintergreen, mosses, and American hollies. This allows the structural elements of the landscape—such as stones, tree trunks, and branches—as well as other natural and man-made features to be prominently displayed. In winter, these enduring structural elements are exposed without the softening effect of lush foliage that usually colors and enhances them.

There may be tufts of tawny grasses and perennials weathering the winter landscape. Still, without the (dare I say distracting) flowers and the verdant colors of the foliage, it’s a great time to read the landscape for simple clues, all of which inform my designs and springtime plans. This dormant season site analysis provides unobstructed views of the site lines, contours, bed edges, pathways, spatial orientation between garden elements, and even the bane of many landscapes – the wretched thorny or otherwise invasive plants junking up the native woodlands and property line edges. Everything is now clearly visible, helping me reimagine the landscape. This is a crucial part of the design process that requires me to be attentive and take careful mental notes. 

Site Analysis:

The existing vegetation gives me clues as to the types of soils, light, and moisture available on the site, informing my planting palette, rather than forcing my preconceived notions of what I’d want to see planted.

After my mental notes have been taken and the notepad is filled with observations, it’s time to put the existing conditions of the site on a plan view (Birds Eye) drawing. Keeping in mind all of the above conditions along with the underground utilities, overhead wires, potential tree hazards, future expansion or changes to the footprint of the house, or plans for a new patio or pool structure, the site plan evolves.  

Client Input/Scope of Project:

The next step I take is to define the intent and use of the space before I can create a design. In a typical client engagement, this process usually occurs during the first few meetings. Knowing the intent of the space and the general look they want can be as easy as them saying, “I’d like a whole lot less lawn and a relatively maintenance-free native planting with year-round interest for the pollinators and a gathering space such as a patio and a possible fire pit.”  Hearing this, my heart gladdens me, and I think to myself, “This is what I wish each customer would say!” With this new information, I now have ample details to guide the design phase, including the types of plants the client prefers, how they intend to use the space, and other future projects that may be integrated into the plan. Without this input, I would be designing blindly and risking the chance of not meeting the client’s objectives.

Refining the Scope: Set Expectations

At times, the client’s expectations are not in line with the realities of the site condition. If a native meadow filled with loads of bright flowers is desired but the home is situated on a dark wooded lot, it is just not possible to achieve those results as most meadow plants require at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day.  In this case, I might suggest instead a woodland garden with varying understory shrubs and trees along with an herbaceous ground cover that could provide similar ecological functions as a meadow with a diversity of plants, and giving nectar and food sources along with year-round interest. 

Becoming the Viewer:

One of the main objectives of my design approach is to imagine the views of the garden spaces from the primary vistas with the idea of drawing the viewer into the space. This can be achieved by framing a view with a grouping of trees, drawing the eye down a sinuous path toward a visual destination/focal point in the background, or all of the above! At times, a sense of mystery is what’s needed to entice the viewer to explore what lies just around the corner. My objective is to keep the viewer’s experience in mind and continually invite them to explore the garden, encountering pleasant visual surprises along the way.

Long-term Success:

Unlike many other art forms, garden design is unique because the end product is forever evolving. Looking into the future and planning for the next 10, 20, or 50 years (or beyond) of growth of a plant community is vital for maintenance purposes and long-term scale relating to the surrounding landscape and structures. Designing landscapes using plants requires a solid understanding of horticulture to ensure that the plants are placed in locations where they will thrive and have enough space to mature. At the same time, creating visually appealing spaces that spark interest and encourage exploration involves the artistic aspects of horticulture. Surely, with a blending of these elements, your backyard will provide enjoyment from every angle, in all seasons by every visitor for years to come.                                                                                                                                                    

Let us help you bring your dream landscape idea to life.

Reach out at 203-270-7771 or email dan@holmesfinegardens.com.

 

The Perennial Plant Association (PPA) has named clustered mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) its 2025 Perennial Plant of the Year, and it’s easy to see why! This native beauty is a garden superstar, offering stunning looks, low-maintenance care, and incredible benefits for pollinators.

Features & Benefits of Clustered Mountain Mint

• Attractive Silvery Bracts
  The plant’s silvery, shimmering bracts and delicate pink-to-lavender flowers add elegance to any garden.
  
• Pollinator Magnet
  Bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects flock to its nectar-rich blooms, making it a vital addition to pollinator-friendly gardens.
  
• Aromatic Foliage
  Crush the leaves, and you’ll enjoy a refreshing minty scent—perfect for sensory gardens or just a fragrant touch in your yard.
  
• Low-Maintenance & Versatile
  Thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts to a variety of soil types, from moist to well-drained. It’s a hardy, drought-tolerant plant once established.
  
• Natural Weed Suppressor
  Its dense, spreading habit makes it an excellent ground cover, helping to keep weeds at bay while adding lush greenery.
  
• Supports Biodiversity
  By planting Pycnanthemum muticum, you’re creating a haven for pollinators and contributing to a healthier ecosystem.
  

Why Plant Clustered Mountain Mint?

This perennial is more than just a pretty face—it’s a garden workhorse that combines beauty, function, and ecological value. Whether you’re looking to attract pollinators, reduce garden maintenance, or simply add a unique native plant to your landscape, clustered mountain mint is a perfect choice.

Ask us about this native beauty – we’re happy to source it for you.

Reach out: 203-270-3331 or email dan@holmesfinegardens.com.

As you step into this backyard meadow in Newtown, CT, your stress melts away as you become immersed in a symphony of sights and sounds. The tall, swaying grasses create a soft rustling, while bursts of wildflowers add vibrant pops of color at every turn. Butterflies and bees dance around you, drawn to the abundance of nectar-rich blooms. The air feels fresher, infused with the earthy scent of native plants. It’s a peaceful, immersive experience—a landscape that feels alive, wild, and beautifully untamed, inviting you to slow down and connect with nature in its purest form.

Let the visuals speak for themselves as we explore a flourishing native landscape.

It’s important to note that this meadow is approximately five years old. Before we started, this backyard space was a mix of out-of-control invasive plants and pesky brambles. Ready to transform your landscape with a thriving native meadow? Winter is the perfect time to begin!

Call us: 203-270-3331.

Photos by: Neasa Ann Photography.

For many, searching for misplaced keys or phones is the extent of their explorations. However, botanists, like Molly Parren and Grace Glynn, dive into fields and riverbanks in pursuit of elusive plants. This poetic life was exemplified when Vermont announced the rediscovery of false mermaid-weed, thought to be locally extinct.

The discovery began on May 7 when Parren, a turtle biologist, spotted rare wild meadow garlic and sent a photo to Glynn, Vermont’s state botanist. Glynn, however, noticed another plant in the photo: Floerkea proserpinacoides, or false mermaid-weed, not seen in Vermont for over a century.

Excitedly, Glynn and her colleague Matt Charpentier, who had long sought this plant, celebrated the find. Glynn rushed to confirm the presence of the plant and found a dense carpet of it.

Rediscoveries like this are common in botany, where experts constantly seek and document rare plants to protect them. Glynn, relying on reports from enthusiasts, maintains a list of rare species, continually updated based on field findings.

The false mermaid-weed’s reappearance might be linked to recent flooding, which possibly created a more hospitable habitat. To preserve this rare species, Glynn will send seeds to a Massachusetts seed bank.

The rediscovery of false mermaid-weed is a beacon of hope amid environmental challenges, reflecting the perseverance and dedication of botanists.

Read the full article here.

 

Let’s dive in! 

If you lean toward the new and different, consider the Summerina series of echibeckias, a recently developed cross between coneflowers (Echinacea) and gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia). This newcomer was also showy enough to win a couple of awards in 2023 and is touted as being the most interesting plant in the world for the big flowers, fast growth, long bloom time, disease-resistance, and flower colors that offer bursts of rich browns, oranges, and yellows. The plants have the habit and central flower cones of coneflowers but the warm colors of gloriosa daisies. Echibeckia prefer full sun and overwinter best in a protected microclimate, such as along a heated house wall.

Artemisia ‘Silver Lining’

Here’s another new deer and rabbit-resistant plant where the foliage is the starring trait. Artemisia ‘Silver Lining’ has frilly silver leaves and a compact, no-flop growth habit. This low, mounding plant with cut-edged silver leaves is a hybrid of a native species (Artemisia ludoviciana) that brings that plant’s leaf color and cold-hardiness but not its spreading runners (which can make the straight species overly aggressive in a perennial garden). This newcomer doesn’t flop apart as many artemisias do, and it makes a good foliage “spiller” in pots and a filler in a sunny landscape bed. Plants grow about 16 inches and tolerate drought and poor soil.

Switchgrass ‘Red Flame’

Another native species that deer usually don’t bother is red switchgrass. ‘Red Flame’ plants grow about three-and-a-half feet tall, including the purplish-red flower plumes that form in late summer. The blades start out blue/green and then turn wine-red as the stems age to a wheat color creating a great contrast just in time for the fall season. Plants grow about three-and-a-half feet tall, including the purplish-red flower plumes that form in late summer. ‘Red Plume’ grows best in full sun and tolerates a range of soil and moisture conditions.

Eupatorium Little-Pye

This trouble-free, native that’s a veritable pollinator magnet is Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium), but its original form grows a hefty five to six feet tall. That’s too big for a lot of home gardens. Eupatorium Little-Pye is a compact new native topping out at approximately 14 inches tall and wide. Plants flower purplish-pink (peaking in July), do well in full sun to light shade and are hardly ever bothered by animals, including deer. Like all Joe Pye, this one is also tolerant of wet soils.