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The good garden blog is about sharing garden inspiration and ideas from historic gardens around the world and some right next door. Garden stories explore garden history, design, and the garden people behind famous and not-so-famous gardens. My garden photographs span dozens of places across 5 continents. Please join me in celebrating good garden design.
Those of you who have traveled to China know this charming tradition. Hotels provide their western guests with a business card. On one side, it explains that you are a guest of the hotel and that if you are found somewhere in the city, to please return you to the hotel. On the other side is...
Read MoreNeither the oldest nor the most beautiful, The Humble Administrator's Garden is the largest and most well-known Suzhou scholar gardens. It contains elements that make Suzhou gardens famous - idealistic scenes influenced by fine paintings, and an harmonious integration of architecture and nature - my first stop after landing in China...
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A 7 year old Ficus nerifolia. The miniature landscape painted on the container represents an ideal for the bonsai artist.
Flowering trees make wonderful bonsai. In addition to their shape, structure, and texture, here a flowering hibiscus adds a pop of color.
An over 20 year old white cedar. Note that the tree is growing on an angle as if shaped by time and the elements.
A drift of moss creates added interest – an imaginary place to sit and read a book – on this 20+ year old white cedar.
This 6 year old juniper has been trained into a traditional style of bonsai called “cascade.”
The contorted trunk of this 8 year old Fukien tea makes it special. The plant is named after the Chinese province from which it originated.
Fox Valley Bonsai Society membersarrange a selection of outdoor bonsai on tables where they can be appreciated from all sides.
“We all love trees, old trees have meaning. So what if you could grow a tree in the palm of your hand? How amazing is that! That is what bonsai is about.” The Fox Valley Bonsai Society makes the ancient art of penjing and bonsai accessible and fun...
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