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Freeland Tanner ’s roots run deep in this 1 - acre property nestled in Napa Valley , where generations of his phratry have walked the land . As you wander through the garden beneath the loom trees planted by his mother and grandfather decades ago , you’re able to almost take heed the whispers of the past mingle with the vibrant Energy Department of today . But it was n’t until 1987 , when Freeland and his wife , Sabrina , began building their first household here , that the garden unfold into the paradise it is now .
Freeland and Sabrina ’s garden is a feast for the senses , with a Brobdingnagian array of plants absolutely placed to highlight their best qualities . This garden is a industrial plant collector ’s dreaming , satiate with edibles , succulents , tropicals , old stalwarts with new and cut - bound varieties , perennial , bulbs , and oddment you ’ve only read about ! And sprinkled throughout are Freeland ’s unbelievable artwork and structures , coming together to create an experience like none other .
Although Freeland and Sabrina are observe landscape painting designers , this is their personal garden , where their hearts and imaginations freely cast . In this garden , they experiment with unexpected plant pairings , reimaginetraditional designing principles , and create sinful , deeply personal artistic social organisation that are out - of - this - earth yet experience perfectly at home . And because this garden is so precious to them , they tend to it with their own hand ( no team of gardener here ! ) , rain buckets their sexual love and creativeness into every square inch .
Having had the pleasure of claver this garden many times over the years , in every season , I ’d wish to share some of the magic that makes it so peculiar and how you might work a touch of that trance into your own garden .
1. HAVE FUN WITH COLOR
Specific colors , like chartreuse and purple , weave throughout the garden , create a mother wit of persistence and a unifying flow among the dissimilar blank space . These " color echoes " roleplay like a ribbon , seamlessly tying together the clear-cut garden beds and still any potential visual clutter . However , overexploitation of repeat can lead to predictability and sameness in the garden .
The soft groovy tones ofBerberis‘Orange Rocket’,Geum‘Tangerine Dream ’ , and ‘ Lady of Shalott ’ roses attractively harmonize with one another , make a tender and inviting color pallet . Together , they form a visually cohesive grouping that draw the eye and adds a sense of continuity to the garden bed . This compounding of colors and textures adds depth and richness , form the garden feel both active and serene .
To keep the garden from appear predictable , Sabrina , with her peachy optic for people of colour , adds unexpected dad of contrasting and complementary colors , bringing moments of delightful surprisal . A perfect example is Cluck ’s Garden , named after their beloved hen whose wimp coop was in this area . tad of terra - cotta , soft orangeness , and pale peach predominate and make a warm and invite palette .
2. CELEBRATE THE ‘SOUL’ OF YOUR GARDEN
In this part of the garden , Freeland lovingly built what he calls ‘ Sabrina ’s Temple’—a secret place to call her own , filled with her favourite cherished heirlooms and garden treasure . Whimsy burst in this garden , as seen in Freeland ’s extensive assemblage of antique sprinkler repurposed into unique garden art , adding a playful touch to the landscape painting .
In addition to being a skilled garden intriguer , Freeland is an effected creative person , creating some of the most breathtaking garden fine art and structures I ’ve ever seen . When showcasing his art and structures , Freeland relies on Sabrina ’s help to finesse the final placement within the garden . This is another way they add their personal touch , breathing life into the blank space and giving the garden its individual . While not everyone can craft artwork for their garden , incorporating personal touches makes a garden truly unique and memorable . Why not use your garden to exhibit personal collections , commemorate a special misstep , or honor a sleep with one ? With thoughtful consolidation , art and plants transform a garden into a powerful mirror image of who you are .
3. MIXING EDIBLES AND ORNAMENTALS
In this edible bed , violent orach ( Atriplex hortensis ) , which has a taste and texture like to spinach , and frilly parsley make a lush , textured backdrop for the vibrant zinnias that interlard among them . The zinnias , with their warm shades of burgundy and orange , agree with the rich colors of the orach leaves , creating a bed that ’s both productive and picturesque .
Growing victuals is another of Sabrina ’s passions , whether she starts from seeds or young works . When selecting which edibles to originate , she looks for more than just fantastic sense of taste ; she seeks out mixture with unique leafage grain , color , or frame that can seamlessly immingle into the existing garden beds . herbaceous plant and vegetables happily intermix with cosmetic , non - edible plant , adding a creative gadget to traditional horticulture ( seeAiming for Aesthetic Edibles ) . This approach maximizes space while adding layer of pastime and complexness to the garden ’s design . It ’s a fantastic idea , specially for those without elbow room for a consecrate veggie garden . Mixing edibles and ornamentals in a single planting layer countenance you to create a visually arresting garden with the added benefit of provide tonic , homegrown produce . This combination of beauty and practicality is perfect for those who want their gardens to be as productive as they are beautiful .
4. CARVING OUT INTIMATE SPACES
An spindle construct by Freeland is the pure financial support for a richness of fragrant climbing roses , their fragrance fill up the air . This serene spot is best enjoyed by sitting on the nearby workbench , where you may fully appreciate the beauty and aroma of the roses cascading overhead , make a peaceful and inviting retreat within the garden .
Intimate spaces are thoughtfully come in throughout the Tanner garden , offer a variety of cosy spots for relaxation and contemplation . These spaces range from magical outside structures with a bench just for two , to a discreetly positioned summerhouse , or even something as simple as two chairs pucker away in a quiet corner . For the Tanners , it ’s essential to have these air pocket of tranquillity where one can pause , even for a moment , and full engulf themselves in the garden ’s beauty . This approach serve as a worthful lesson for all gardener , irrespective of the size of it of their garden . By incorporate such intimate spaces , you add together astuteness and eccentric to the garden and a sense of whodunit and breakthrough . Creating these particular berth enhances the garden experience , making it a more personal and piquant space .
5. BE BOLD WITH FOLIAGE
This vibrant combination of foliage showcases a deep tapestry of colour , including maroon , blue , yellow green , variegated radiation pattern , and plush green . The colors are further raise by contrasting shapes and grain — long and slight leaves , outsize and rounded one , and heavyset , wavy foliage next to smoother varieties . Together , these elements create a gorgeous display that beguile the centre , proving that a garden can be dynamic and captivating without a single flower in prime .
Freeland once say , “ Creating a tapestry from texture , shape , and material body — THIS is what ride the garden for me . ” This philosophy is unmistakable throughout the garden , where one arresting combination follows another , skillfully contrasting the semblance and textures of leaf and their sizes ( seeDesigning with Foliage Over efflorescence ) . In even the narrowest beds , Freeland uses oversized and bluff foliation , which creates the illusion of a orotund space . In contrast , the overuse of flora with small leafage in a limited space can actually make an area find even more confined . Freeland masterfully compound contrast human body , textures , and colors , resulting in garden bed that keep their beauty far longer than those filled alone with flowers .
6. THE IMPORTANCE OF PATHWAYS
Flanked by oversized phormiums , the narrow , winding path feels intimate and enclosed , heightening wonder about what dwell ahead . Along the way , unique pieces of Freeland ’s art are strategically placed , tot an constituent of surprise and machination to the journeying . The track create a sense of adventure and discovery that makes the garden experience palpate like a personal journey into the unknown .
When visiting the Tanner ’s garden , it becomes clear that exploring the entire space is a journeying that start at the garden gate , leading onto a pebble pathway that quietly crunches underfoot . The gently winding way take you through a serial publication of distinguishable , unique area , each with its own surprises waitress around every recess . As Freeland says , " A garden should be a series of events that unfold as you walk through the pathways . Otherwise , the centre get commonplace if you see too much of one matter at once . " There is no rushing down a straight path from point A to point in time B ; rather , the garden bid you to take a easy saunter , offering ample time to suck the knockout and surprises , with occasional glimpse of what consist beyond .
Learn garden pathways .
7. FOCUS ON TRANSITIONAL MOMENTS
A unsubdivided yet refined green trellis stands at the end of the way , serve as a graceful passage into a new garden elbow room beyond . Adorned with climbing vines , it suggest at the surprise before . The treillage distinguish the entry to a different distance and creates a sense of expectancy , drawing visitors through its heart-to-heart arch . Framing the view out front offers a glimpse of the other side , enhance the sense of journey and discovery within the garden .
Transitions bet a all-important role in the Tanner ’s garden , enhance the experience of moving from one garden room to another . As mentioned above , the mildly winding pathway lead visitors seamlessly through the garden , but for Freeland , it ’s also important to clearly mark the transmutation between different spaces . Each nerve tract ’s beginning and finish sign to the visitor that they are forget one sphere and entering another . These transitions can take various forms , such as structures build by Freeland that act as gateway or thresholds . A transition can also be as simple as strategically place a few bold , structural plants to create a ocular cue , subtly guiding the visitant and set them for the next garden experience . These transitional elements provide a clear sensation of movement and progression and contribute to the garden ’s overall story , making each unexampled surface area feel like a fresh chapter in a write up .
