PERSONAL NATURE

For a designer, the first step toward creating a garden is meeting the client and seeing the garden space. I’ve learned to tread lightly when commenting on various plants I encounter in this initial meeting. I’m trying to avoid conversations that go like this:

Designer:

Well, I do think this spot is far too shady for the eastern redcedar. We should probably remove it.

Client:

My mother gave that to my husband and me when we moved in together.

Designer:

Typically, I don’t plant 24 inches away from a house. It’s a bit too big for this space.