Gardening Blog

Farrand started a business in New York City out of her mother’s home. Over her career, she designed over 200 gardens for private estates, including those of John D. Rockefeller,  Mrs. Henry Cabot Lodge and even the White House, where she worked for Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson. Her public commissions included The New York Botanic Gardens as well as some of the country’s most prestigious private universities and colleges. Her well-known campus work began with a commission from Princeton in 1913, and led to eventual projects for Yale, Harvard, Oberlin College, and the University of Chicago. The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania recently restored and rededicated the gardens designed by Farrand.

Among the existing examples of her work are the terraced garden rooms of Dumbarton Oaks, the carriage roads of Acadia National Park, the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden, the old campus at Princeton University, Harkness Memorial State Park and The New York Botanic Garden. Now the headquarters of the Beatrix Farrand Society, Garland Farm is presently restoring her gardens as well as establishing an educational center with a library and archives.

In 1899, the American Society of Landscape Architects was established with Farrand being the only female among its eleven original members. She was instrumental in the concept of vertical gardening and selecting plants that would provide interest during the school terms at the colleges and universities. She was famous for her advocacy of native landscapes and using plans to fit the grounds, not the other way around. Her commitment to horticulture and to her profession inspired others to follow in her footsteps.

Dumbarton Oaks

Do you dread spending your free time mowing a lawn that never seems to grow as green or weed-free as you’d like it to?

Hardy Rock Garden

Add architectural interest with beautiful boulders and colorful river rock! Careful placement of native shrubs will provide food and habitat for songbirds and beneficial pollinators, while pockets of hardy perennials and succulents draw the eye and add interesting color and texture. Add a few ornamental edible plants like blueberries, kale, bronze fennel, and Swiss chard to make the best use of space. Careful selection and proper installation will ensure that the beauty grows, and the maintenance is minimized!

Go Wild with Wildflowers!

Planting a beneficial wildflower meadow, even one as small as 20 square feet, will have a tremendous impact on our native wildlife, providing food and shelter for precious pollinators including bees, birds, and butterflies. Replacing any portion of lawn with a biologically diverse wildflower meadow will help draw beneficial insects, control pests like mosquitos and white flies, and contribute to a healthier, balanced ecosystem.

Did you know that spending time outdoors observing nature contributes to improved wellness?

A new wildflower garden can positively benefit your family and neighbors! The visual appeal of colorful blooms and seedheads, the beautiful variety of pollinators and birds that will be attracted to the new habitat, the pleasing fragrances, and the delight of birdsong will surely bring added joy.

Call today to get started!

Whether you prefer a wildflower meadow or a hardy rock garden, our friendly and professional landscaping team can’t wait to help you replace the lawn with an environmentally friendly alternative. We will help with a personalized design, professional installation, and post-installation guidance and clear instruction to ensure the success of your new garden.

Although the plants in your winter garden are dormant, their tiny biological clocks are ticking, which means there is a lot of action happening underground!

Winter Services

Hard pruning, debris cleanup, and garden bed prep with soil enhancements are a few of the services we offer during the winter months. Our professional and courteous landscaping and maintenance crews are well trained to ensure that your landscape has a healthy growing season, and that your property always looks its best.

Want to start an herb and vegetable garden this year? Let us help you put together a plan for custom raised beds that will maximize your unique space! We can even help you choose which varieties will work best and produce the greatest yield.

Winter is also a great time to start making plans for your summer patio and firepit, outdoor kitchen, or other hardscaping addition. Let our experienced and ICPI-certified design team help you plan the backyard of your dreams!

Ponds, fountains, waterfalls, koi gardens… These types of waterscapes are living works of art that add a peaceful and Zen-like ambiance to your landscape while also helping our native wildlife.

1. Water features serve as a rest stop for many species of birds and other pollinators, providing an opportunity to drink, bathe, and cool off in the heat of summer. The addition of a water feature may even entice some birds to stay – and nest – providing hours of visual enjoyment and functional appeal as they snack on pesky insects like flies, gnats, and mosquitoes. The most beneficial types of waterscapes for pollinators are reflecting pools, fountains, ponds with waterfall features, and water gardens. A koi garden is another great way to reduce insects from invading the backyard!
2. Waterscapes create a relaxing and soothing place to unwind. We like to think of them as a peaceful getaway within the overall landscape. The sound of flowing water from a fountain, waterfall, or small stream can help to ease your mind after a stressful day, or provide a backdrop for enjoying a cup of tea or indulging in healing yoga and meditation practice.
3. A water feature can help transform an outdoor space into the perfect destination for entertaining family, neighbors, and friends. Imagine enjoying a romantic brunch with your sweetheart while the soothing and refreshing sounds of a fountain splash in the background. Or – picture your grandchildren gathered around the water garden, observing goldfish, tadpoles and dragonflies together on a balmy summer day. A thoughtfully planned waterscape can provide a lifetime of enjoyment and serve as a learning tool that provides many teachable moments.

Fresh cut trees and greens add a festive touch to the holidays. With proper care, you can enjoy them all season.

Cut Trees

• Make a fresh cut at the base of the tree and get it into water within one hour to prevent the sap from sealing, preventing the tree from taking up water.
• Keep plenty of water in the tree stand. Your tree may use a gallon or more water a day and the stand may need to be refilled more than once.
• Adding Prolong to the water will assist in the uptake of water and will help the tree retain its needles longer.
• Place the tree away from heat vents and other heat sources.
• Help prevent electric fires by inspecting all cords and unplugging your tree when you are not home.

Fresh Greens

• Soak overnight or up to 24 hours and keep in a cool location, like the garage, until you are ready to decorate.
• Keep away from heat vents and other heat sources. Temporarily remove greens from the mantle when the fireplace is in use.
• Avoid placing wreaths and greenery between the main door and storm door. The heat and sun will accelerate drying out.
• Daily misting will assist in moisture retention.
• You may spray greens with an anti-desiccant such as Wilt-Pruf, which acts as a protective coating to prevent moisture loss. Always use outside and dry thoroughly before re-hanging them. Avoid using on junipers and berries as the product will cause them to turn black.

This year, we were able to donate 491 pounds of cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, squash and melons to area food banks [nearly double the 249 pounds we donated last year] using plants selected from Himmel’s in consultation with Himmel’s staff.