THE MODERN MINT BLOG
The Perfect Garden
The perfect garden (or even worse, the perfect lawn!) is almost a badge of honour, something to be achieved and …
Mess
“What people somehow forgot to mention when we were children was that we need to make messes in order to find out who we are and why we are here.” Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird This is the best advice we can give to anyone starting there first garden – don’t worry if it is a mess. It is so easy, when you move into a new house and suddenly have all this space to deal with (space that doesn’t stand still and let you catch up with it!) to begin planning for beautiful lawns, lots of roses, or a …
Japanese Gardens
Always fascinated by Japanese Gardens, Modern Mint took a trip last Autumn to Japan to finally experience them face to face. The absolute highlight was our trip to Ryoan-ji. A client of ours had been there previously and felt the same way as us about it – the most beautiful place. Because it has so few plants (although, looking at the picture above, we can see plenty of greenery!) it could be called a minimalist garden… but as an experience goes, it feels complex and completely maximalist when you’re there. The Philosophers Walk is not a Japanese garden, but it does …
A Minimalist Gardener
How would a minimalist gardener think? A few weeks ago we wrote about ‘the minimalist garden’ – and this got us thinking not so much about the features a minimalist garden has, but about how minimalism can be applied to the way we garden. What then would a minimalist gardener do? 1) Have more of what you value If you love lawns then sweep away the flowerbeds that clutter up your precious gardening time and go, tend your lawn. If you love topiary – in whatever form or style – then start adding plants that love to be clipped. Ask the question (and answer it …