Dragonfly Landscape Design

It has always been my feeling that gardens are not made but evolve over time. The evolution begins with forethought and careful planning. Once the garden has been installed, keen observation and meticulous maintenance come into play. Initially, our focus is on how everything is adjusting to the new environment and keeping the weeds down. (During the first year, most issues that occur are due to watering either too much or not enough.) As the garden matures microclimates emerge and we shift our focus to what is working and what isn’t, making adjustments based on our observations and changes to the environment. Ultimately, maintenance is the key to a successful garden design—proper mulching, weeding, watering, deadheading, pruning, and seasonal cleanup. My design goal is to create a space that nurtures the soul and quiets the mind through the beauty and peace of the garden. Beauty comes from the juxtaposition of contrasting elements, including transition, texture, color, structure, and scale. Some of my favorite results are happy accidents—attracted wildlife (hummingbirds, bees, butterflies), certain plant or color combinations, or sounds you didn’t anticipate (rustling leaves). Frederick Law Olmsted, the founder of landscape architecture, knew the garden’s affect on the mind and soul when he said, “Nature aids mindfulness.”