Hello Lisa.

Welcome back to another edition of THE PENCIL CASE! As always, each issue focuses on a theme to encourage a fresh look at garden design and graphics. This week let's learn about some general GARDEN DESIGN CONCEPTS to help you start building a solid foundation for creating outdoor spaces.♥︎ 

SOME KEY CONCEPTS IN GARDEN DESIGN

With spring just around the corner for many of us, this feels like the perfect time to step back and look at the bigger picture of garden design. Understanding the overall framework can bring more meaning to the detailed choices you make. Below are some key concepts to help guide you on this beautiful design journey:

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Spatial Design vs. Planting Design. Understanding the difference between spatial design and planting design is a great start to building your garden design knowledge. Create your outdoor spaces, then wrap them beautifully with plants. Read this to learn more.

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Garden Rooms. Landscape design is about creating outdoor spaces, so how can we think about the three dimensional shape of our space and make it into a room? What is the intended use of that space and how can you define it with the three garden planes: floors, walls and ceilings? Read this to learn more and/or attend my free Garden Room Masterclass later this month (March 2025).

Garden Room Function. Determining the use (or function) of your outdoor room helps ensure that the design meets your practical needs, plus allows you to create a physical space to accommodate those needs. Whether it's for entertaining guests, relaxing, dining, gardening, or exercising, each activity requires specific features and layout considerations. Read this to learn more.

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The Four Facets of Planting Design. Once you define the purpose and size of your garden room, then it's time to start incorporating plants! There are many things to consider as we narrow in on our final plant list. Will they thrive on our shady site, will they serve as the perfect wall to define our garden room, will they glow with the most beautiful colors, and will they attract our favorite butterflies? Read this to learn more about the four facets.

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There are so many important design ideas to consider, but take this as a start and continue to enjoy adding to your knowledge one beautiful concept at a time.

LET'S DO THIS! 

Later this month (March 2025) we are offering a free GARDEN ROOM MASTERCLASS if you'd like to dive deeper into this important design concept. If you are planning to join our design membership the masterclass above provides a solid understanding of outdoor spaces before jumping in.

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Speaking of our design membership, it also opens for enrollment at the end of this month if you'd like to join our waiting list: The Garden Design Collective.

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Would you like to learn a quick design tip every morning as you enjoy your cup of coffee? We've pulled together 100 for you in our 10x10 GARDEN DESIGN TIPS series for only $10.

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If you know someone that needs design inspiration, please feel free to share this newsletter. Anyone can subscribe right here. I also keep a VAULT of past issues in this secret location.

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Happy designing, 

Lisa 

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PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP

Thank you to Mandy Orgler for designing the lovely graphics in all these newsletters.