My Garden Design Process {and why I love iceberg roses}

Over the last decade of gardening in Southern California, 

I've been slowly learning how to choose plants I like 

and design a garden that can grow and develop over years.

{disease resistant}

My first step is getting inspired~magazines, gardening books, 

and the beautiful yards I walk past in my neighborhood offer plenty of ideas. 

I've realized that it's important to narrow my focus~

identify the style I gravitate toward the most (for me it's French/English country-ish), 

limit my color palette (whites, pinks, blues, and purples with plenty of different shades of green), 

and make sure to repeat the same plants throughout the landscape.

 {consistent, full flowering all season long}

What I don't tend to do anymore is go to the gardening section of Lowe's or Home Depot, 

or to a nursery and just pick plants that look great. 

I've found that impulse buying doesn't pay off for me in the garden.

{prolific beautiful creamy white blooms}

If I think a particular plant will work in my garden 

I keep my eyes open for it in people's yards or in the landscaping in my area. 

You may think I'm crazy, but I then kind of stalk the plant ~ watching how it looks in different seasons, if it gets leggy or too dry and burnt in our SoCal summer. I research the growing habits and then, 

if I'm still interested, I bide my time until I can find an affordable (usually tiny) version to purchase.

{dramatic and classic in the landscape}

So, for me gardening ~ even garden design ~ is a long term process, 

and the fun is in the process of creation over time, 

watching the plants grow into the vision I have for them, 

and always making adjustments, 

enjoying the seasonal transformations, 

being willing to tear things out, cut things back, 

and try something new.

 {complements any decor}