Winter is one of my favorite times of the year in the garden.  Why?  Because I’m tired!  And now that my garden has come to a screeching halt I can finally sit down and catch my breath.  But it seems no sooner than I take a load off, that I’m anxious to get back outside again.  Luckily, living on the West coast, I can usually do some sort of gardening throughout the year, even if it means strolling outside every few days to see if I can find a camellia blooming somewhere.  Even so, I start to grow weary of winter and I long for the first signs of spring.

To help you take advantage of your garden’s downtime, here are four of my favorite events that will provide endless inspiration and education so you can kickstart your garden once spring arrives.

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Lani’s Fantastic Fence

by Rebecca on January 11, 2012


Lani Freymiller has created one of the most incredible gardens I’ve ever seen (read more about it here).  Her garden is filled with countless design concepts and creative ideas. So many, in fact, that instead of writing the world’s longest post I’ve decided to write several shorter ones and post them throughout the year.

This is one of them.

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Lecia Davis’s Laguna Beach Garden

January 1, 2012

Have you ever toured a garden, when the moment you stepped through the front gate you were instantly transported to another time and place?  That was the case with Lecia Davis’s magnificent garden in Laguna Beach, California. I had the opportunity to visit this exquisite garden a few weeks ago and was completely caught off [...]

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Wordless Wednesday – The Aloes of Laguna Beach

December 28, 2011

A few weeks ago I spoke at the Laguna Beach Garden Club, and was thrilled when my host insisted we walk along the coastline before catching my flight home. The aloes were in full bloom, the sun was shining, artists were painting, hummers were humming, dolphins were swimming – in short, I was in heaven. [...]

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Book Review & Giveaway – The Heirloom Life Gardener

December 20, 2011

A few weeks ago the folks at Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company asked if I’d like to review a copy of their new book The Heirloom Life Gardener, by Jere and Emilee Gettle (227 pages, Hyperion, 2011.  List Price $29.99) I was excited to read this book because even though I’m a passionate gardener and [...]

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Garden Designers Roundtable – Designing with Deer

December 12, 2011

Sure, it’s tempting to title this post Deer-Proof Plants or something of that nature but truth be told, deer will eat just about anything when they’re hungry.  And not only that, but they’re some of the craftiest animals around when it comes to sneaking into your garden.  The second you leave your gate open, they [...]

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Lani Freymiller’s Garden – Green and Serene

December 5, 2011

As part of my ongoing series, Gardeners and their Gardens, I’d like to introduce you to a garden I visited a few months ago in southern California. I believe each garden is an expression of its creator’s soul, and that if you pay attention, you can literally feel the blood, sweat and tears that went into [...]

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Really? Anyone can be an artist?

December 1, 2011

Last month I visited the beautiful garden of Debra Lee Baldwin, and while inside her home I couldn’t help sneaking a photo of her charming desk.  It’s at this sweet little corner where she creates her stunning succulent and cactus watercolor paintings. I’m always impressed by anyone who can draw anything beyond a stick figure [...]

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