Showing posts with label container gardens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label container gardens. Show all posts

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Happy First Day of Spring & Sneak Peek of Home & Garden Lifestyle Trends at Architectural Digest Home Show #ADHDS2014



Cheers to new beginnings – and to glamour in the garden.

Soon we will be lustily shoving our hands into the earth, planting, sitting outdoors, listening to the birds and the breezes whispering to us.

What will this year’s garden design trends?  What will your “garden rooms” wear?

To better answer the garden design queries – and for unparalleled inspiration to create an arcadian outdoor lifestyle, I’m off to the queen of all design shows. 
D'Apostrophe Renson design


Today marks the 13th annual Architectural Digest Home Design Show - March 20–23 at Pier 94 in New York City. #ADHDS2014

It’s press preview day – we start with “Marys & Mimosas!” then lots of sneak peaks, guided tours, and interviews with designers and makers.

The show is a platform for inspiring new ideas in the home design and luxury market.

Open to consumers and trade starting tomorrow, Saturday, visitors can expect to find innovative designs for indoors and out, including furniture, accessories, art, kitchen and bath products, carpet, stone and tile, lighting, and more.  
Kalamazoo outdoor pizza oven


The 2014 line up includes a well-balanced mix of returning exhibitors and emerging brands.  
I have my prepared schedule all ready of those designers and makers I want to see.

An equally rich seminar series complements the fresh crop of offerings. Held in the Jenn-Air Master Class Studio, the roster includes industry influencers, top tastemakers, and design-world luminaries such as Jamie Drake, Campion Platt, Mario Buatta, Alexa Hampton, Kati Curtis and Stephen Fanuka.

Show Highlights Include:

I am very keen to check this out: The reFRESH pavilion, a central place for kitchen, bath, and building products manufacturers to reveal their latest advancements. The show-within-the-show will include new products from more than 100 premier kitchen and bath brands, plus culinary demonstrations and tastings by top chefs. A curated selection of limited-edition, one-of-a-kind fine art, furnishings, photography, and lighting as well as today’s top young design talents in the MADE section, almost half of which hail from New York. 

Bosch and Thermador will be at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show to preview their newest appliances. Earlier this month, Bosch announced an entirely new kitchen line (available in April) that will set a new benchmark in kitchen design, while Thermador unveiled two new surface cooking products that feature industry-leading design: the Professional Grill (available in August) and the trimless Freedom Induction Cooktop (available in April).
Bosch

The only showcase of its kind in North America, reFRESH has become the largest collection of luxury and premium kitchen, bath, and building products from more than 100 companies.  Experience new innovations and product launches in categories such as ovens, ranges, cooktops, ventilation, bath and decorative hardware, cabinetry, countertops, stone, tile, flooring, windows and doors, and more.
A Furniture + Furnishings section showcasing a wide range of contemporary and classic furniture, lighting, carpets, decorative arts, textiles and more.


This too will also be a must-see: A new Outdoor Pavilion featuring product demonstrations and curated lounge spaces from leading brands including Sunbrella, Royal Botania, Renson, Caliber, Stuv and American Range and Pennoyer & Newman - one of my most favorite urn and container makers.

The Jenn-Air Master Class Studio—the show’s theater—featuring exclusive programming by Architectural Digest and the New York Times, including trade seminars programmed by Architectural Digest, a keynote presentation by Architectural Digest Editor in Chief Margaret Russell, and a three-day New York Times Designer Seminar Series.
The debut of the Shops at ADHDS where products from Cire Trudon, The Cooper-Hewitt Museum Shop, DwellStudios + All Modern, Christophe Pourney, The American Design Club and more are available for immediate purchase.


The launch of ASID Designer Walks – a series of tours (Friday-Sunday 11:30AM, 1:30PM, 3:30PM) led by a highly acclaimed interior designer who will share their insights, expertise, favorite finds, and tricks of the trade as they walk the show floor,
Satori Japan
An increased international presence, including exhibitors from Italy, Spain, Belgium, New Zealand, and the UK, to name a few.


Finally, after looking under every new kitchen sink or outdoor pizza oven, trying out the integrity of garden furniture and gauging the plant practicality of the new urns and containers, it will be time for refreshments!
Cocktails, happy hours, culinary demonstrations and tastings throughout the show floor.


More than 45 incredibly designed, over-the-top, and inspiring table installations at DIFFA’s DINING BY DESIGN NY

These juried galleries feature the stunning work of more than 150 artists and designers–more than half of them exhibiting for the first time. Local and emerging artisans alongside international studios are showing the newest in original art, tablescapes, ceramics, glass, fine furniture, sculpture, textiles, and lighting. Shop MADE to find work that, in many cases, is not available elsewhere.

For more show information and to get tickets to the Architectural Digest Home Show:

http://adhomedesignshow.com

Stay tuned – I’ll be reporting throughout the day on Twitter @GardenGlamour and later here and on Pinterest.

Stop and "smell" the crocus and snowdrops today! At least thrill to their drifts...





Tuesday, June 8, 2010

In The Garden


The past two days of glorious cool June weather almost makes up for the weekend’s crushing, blistering heat and tornado-like winds (the last came with a warning at least.)

Back to seasonal garden highlights.  
Here’s what I’ve been up to in the garden and you can borrow a tip if you’ve not done so already in your garden….

I sheared the ever-blooming red roses along the Arbor Rouge in order to stimulate the blossoms for a repeat display later this month. The arbor composition has Coral Bark trees as the mainstay draping languidly around the arbor’s “model-svelte” frame that is subtly sparkly at night- lit from within by solar powered soft white lights, and is fronted by red-twigged dogwoods.  It’s so vivid in the winter with the white snow striking a contrast with the red barks of trees and shrubs.
In the summer, the Lady in Red Hydrangea and Red Knock Out ever-blooming Roses makes for borders that are rich and colorful. 

It’s very romantic to walk the arbor – day or night – in any season and it concludes just as you step into the herb garden terrace area with the dramatic backdrop of the New York City skyline like a string of diamonds, just beyond the blue, blue bay.

I am hoping the blooms will be dressed out in time for a sweet engagement party at the end of this month and the Independence Day party that we host to celebrate the spectacular fireworks display the town sets off from the marina right in front of our eyes!  As an added gift this year, we are hosting my wonderful cousins, Missy and Teri and her daughter – the gorgeous, Margo. Well, all three of the girls are all pretty gorgeous, actually!

*  Yikes, as I was writing this, the bloody groundhog practically joined me for coffee here on the garden terrace!  Shoosh!  I do not find him attractive at all - and a bit too zaftig for eating plants I think...
He likes my herbs too.  But I can assure you - not on my watch...

We planted the rest of the tomatoes started from seed in the lower garden – or as we’ve come to call it the “Back Forty” or simply “The Farm.”

The Black Krim tomatoes and heirloom tomatoes I received from Hort Couture (www.hortcoutureplants.com) have done splendid from day one! 











 See the yellow blossoms popping out all over the plant. 

The Hemigraphis ‘Blackberry Waffle’ tri-colored ivy has had mixed results. 
You can see here that several of them are fantastic – dripping from the urns. But two others haven't grown at all.  I'm hopeful though. (Aren't all gardeners blessed with too much hope?!)







Quick aside as I read some of my fellow bloggers writing about other breeders and how their lack of attention to packing plants for shipment resulted in DOA plants.

Hort Couture’s test plants came to the door in top shape, being carefully wrapped and packaged. 
They also provided comprehensive background information for the test plants and their full line. 
Great attention to detail.

In what Hort Couture - who offers self-described "... High Fashion Plants" includes whimsical yet helpful plant care labels with every plant.  So glamorous...


The plant label for the ‘Blackberry Waffle“ notes
“Why: Awesome cupped purple leaves with cream and pink highlights”
I placed them with purple heliotrope and dracena and next to pink guara or Dancing Butterflies and it’s pure poetry J
“Where: Likes full to part sun & great for mixed containers.
  This all so true and it’s in a perfect environment – setting off the containers and their companion plants brilliantly.
“With:  Super with flowers of pale and hot pink and silver foliage.” 
See above – and oh, they are next to silver lyschimia too and also set off the grey of the blue stone and terrace. 
These waffles are a very glamorous addition to the ornamental herb garden.


In addition to general decorative guidelines, the Hort Couture team puts care icons on the plant label so you can see at a glance where to site the plant, how tall and wide it gets, how much water and fertilizer and what zone. 


If only all relationships came with such care tips!










We keep eating the incredible, sweet, crisp peas – cooked or in salads -- remarkably, this also helps to keep them around longer.  
Talk about a win/win!  
Same is true for the lettuces and the arugula (although that’s almost all gone – too hot – plus we enjoyed eating it and sharing almost too much.)



My hollyhocks have re-bloomed from their original early spring fashion display in front of the Compost Cabana.
I will stake up shortly to help these top models sustain their glamorous posture.

  


And of course, all the beds got a “Basic Black” top dressing of shredded mulch. 
Can never have too much of that little black outfit!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Sweet Seeds of Success!


What could be better than being surprised with a Godmother gift on Mother’s Day from my adorable five-year old godchild and niece?
Discovering the delightfully happy gift bag held a charming selection of seeds to attract hummingbirds!  

How thoughtful – and appropriate….

Kudos to Erin and Tara and Donna for selecting such a perfect gift!

And the people at BloemBox (http://www.bloembox.com) should win one of those MacArthur Genius Awards! 
They have designed an irresistible expression of plant love. 
I hope this idea spreads like wildflowers and soon zillions of people will be gifting glamorous seeds to one another J

Look at how sweet this is! 



The preppy green, high-gloss round package looks like a teeny hatbox. 
It’s topped off by double dip of pink hydrangea.  And a pink grosgrain bow. 
And if that wasn’t enough – like a fashionable ticket holder at Ascot racetrack’s Ladies Day – there is a feathered hummingbird perched on top, caught in mid flight.

Opening this tiny treasure I discover several layers of white, cotton-soft “ribbons” coiled around the bottom of the box dotted with – what is this? 
I turn them around a bit and then I get it – the seeds are imbedded in the thin cotton ribbons – each seed discretely placed in its own window bed. 
Wow!  I had to marvel at the care went into this. 
Each seed is like a piece of jewelry on display. 

There is also a little card explaining what plants the seeds will be, along with care instructions. 
A gift card says: "Happiness held is a seed. Happiness shared is the flower"
And the garden art BloemBox offers includes garden poetry in homage to the plant inside. Mine read:

A flash of harmless lightning,
A mist of rainbow dyes,
The burnished sunbeams brightening
From flower to flower he flies.
— John Banister Tabb

I will hate to part with my precious seeds – to take them from their High Society digs.  
On the other hand, we can all enjoy the beauty of my plants:
Pink Annual Phlox, Phlox drummondii, Lemon Mint, Monarda citriodora and Scarlet Sage, Salvia coccinea, as pretty plants – complete with flowers to attract those fascinating and charming hummingbirds! 
That will be another garden story. Stay tuned.

Oh, and my mother received a similar seed box as part of her Mother’s Day gifts.  
Hers was topped with a butterfly and seeds to lure that pretty pollinator.

How glamorous!

Saturday, April 3, 2010

A Glamorous and Exuberant Book on Gardens and Floral Design



“Garden Bouquets and Beyond”
Creating Wreaths, Garlands, And More In Every Garden Season

 

Garden Bouquets and Beyond: Creating Wreaths, Garlands, and More in Every Garden Season

Suzy Bales’ latest book is exhibit A in the case to be made why coffee table books need to be renamed. 


True, the book’s gorgeous, jaw-dropping color images hypnotically capture your imagination and render you motionless. 
You are under its charmed spell. 
So there you sit – presumably with that cup of coffee at your “coffee table” -- not wanting to turn the page, but like a good dream, you are led to the next unexpected adventure.

On the other hand, “Garden Bouquets and Beyond” is a How -To book – a veritable pocket book of seasonal design tips and ideas and care instructions you can use every day. 
You’ll look at your garden in a whole new way, too. 

Suzy introduces you to the idea to view the garden as a treasure-trove of unlimited cutting garden gathering opportunities. 

“Why stop at the blooms when there is foliage?” She posits.  Or bird baths to fill with spring blossoms or a “posy topping a gift-wrapped package.” (Source: afloral.com)

The creations are all the more exciting because Suzy helps us, the reader, discover plants and blooms commonly found in most gardens, including honeysuckle, blueberry, witch hazel, sage, allium, yarrow, hosta (as a table cloth ^:^), ivy, nandina, seedpods, ornamental grasses. swamp maple, dogwood, viburnum, and azalea blossoms.  Betcha’ never thought of these candidates for glamorous floral arrangements!
 
What Suzy designs with floral foam confirms her reign as Eden’s sorceress. 
Her creativity sparkles with suggestions that range from wet and dry wreaths to candelabra confections and joyful runners and Anais Nin headbands, eye candy garlands, and mock topiaries – she literally “paints with nature’s palette” to borrow a heading from the book.

There are tips on color, texture, proportion, balance. 
Then she throws it all to the wind and claims “there are no rules.” And in the same breath, admonishes us to have fun! 



Then there are the words – the text!  This is a book, after all J

Who couldn’t love chapter titles such as “Naked Ladies,”  “Belting Out The Blues,” “Dahlia Daze” “Berry Madness” and “Get the Joint A-Jumpin?”
So much of the book reads like a best girlfriend’s diary she lets you peek at. 
She refers to the morning glory’s flowers as a “perpetual wink.”  
Amassing flowers for a vase she says is akin to a “group hug.”  

These cute as a button, down-home sparklers reflect the conversational style and wit Suzy “gifts” to the reader.
You just know she’s a dame you want to share a cocktail with.  Over an irresistible and eye-catching arrangement that is…

But for all the charm, the book offers a very serious, well-researched series of conditioning flower guidelines, an entire section devoted to how long a cut flower’s Vase Life is, seasonal favorites “at a glance,” and tips on water quality and extending blooms.  There is a source page too. (www.michaels.com, www.save-on-crafts.com, www.potterybarn.com)

And it seems every other page has an easy to understand highlight box explaining things we were too self conscious about asking, including “bugs,” debunking myths or old wives tales. 

Buy this exuberant book for its fun and charm. 
Refer to it and use it for its garden and floral design inspiration and expertise. 

I love the book jacket blurbs from some of my favorite garden journalists.  They say it best.  Here’s what Valerie Easton wrote:  “We’ve learned that fresh, local organic food is best, so why are we still buying hothouse flowers, shipped halfway around the world for our home?” (Why indeed?)  … “Only Suzy could transform pachysandra into a showpiece of a wreath?”
Mario Bosquez, host of “Living Today” on Martha Stewart Living Radio, says “Suzy Bales always strikes the right note in making gardening and arranging accessible and educational, and, most of all, the ultimate in all things fabulous and floral.”


And be sure to check out how to dress up the ice “bucket” for a magnum of champagne. How glamorous!

















The Horticultural Society of New York (www.hsny.org) hosted author Suzy Bales’ launch of  “Garden Bouquets and Beyond” as part of their Important Books and Author’s Series.  Suzy’s has authored 14 books.

The evening was a fundraiser held at the swanky Sherry-Netherland Hotel in New York City.
Friends and supporters mingled.









Cocktails and hors d’ouevres passed while Suzy autographed her book. 





Me and Suzy:








The lecture was the main event, with an introduction by the Hort Society’s executive director, Sara Hobel, who also noted that the evening’s fundraising would go to help support HSNY’s varied programs including the Rikers Island program.


With great humor and self-effacing wit, Suzy led us through the research, writing, and production of her delightful new book, accompanied by seductive images from the book.  The oohs and ahhs from the guests confirmed the designs' drama and appeal. 





The lecture was followed by a robust Q&A.


Check out author Suzy Bales’ web site for a calendar listing of her upcoming national lecture and book signing schedule, including the New York Botanical Garden (www.nybg.org), April 15th, Shepard Pratt Conference Center in Baltimore, The Hampton Garden Club, and The Cosmopolitan Club, NYC, November 15th.  (we love your namesake cocktail, the Cosmo!)

  

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Spring Fever

Spring Fever


Now it starts to get really good. 

It wasn’t that long ago that the spring catalogs arrived -- not Saks, silly -- rather the seed and garden catalogs with their seductive photo spreads and promises of color and style.










Up next in the spring fashion show were the newly arrived spring seed packets.  So classic and artistic looking:














 Got the soil test kit from Rutgers at the Garden State Flower Show.
                                                           












First we sowed the spring peas – right after St. Patrick’s Day, followed by the arugula seeds.

Indoors: started the Beefsteak & Heirloom tomatoes, along with the Thai peppers and basil and chile peppers, including Thai and Pequin.

Back outside, the shallots – Picasso Dutch and Yellow Moon Dutch bulbs were planted. 
For the second year, we ordered the shallots and potatoes from The Maine Potato Lady in Guilford ME.  (http://tinyurl.com/yf6dzb7)

The potatoes arrived via UPS and are “backstage” in the garage, acclimating, getting ready for their red carpet moment.

We ordered the superstars Kennebec (sold out), Chieftain and Cortland. 

In the meantime, tools were sharpened and prepped.

Ornamental grasses were cut.

The Back Forty Edible Garden was prepped



Laid in manure, peat and lots and lots of homemade Compost! We composted all winter. No problem.


And today is pure, unadulterated joy!  The warm sunshine and clear sky is “The promise of spring. “

Off to the nurseries to see those happy blooms nodding, “pick me, pick me.”
Those little “show offs” will dazzle the spring container compositions I’ll design today.

Enjoy!  





Friday, March 12, 2010

Sex on the Roof at Gramercy Park Hotel


From the moment you turn the corner and experience the undulating boxwood garden border fronting the entire block of the Gramercy Park Hotel (www.gramercyhotel.com) you are transported.



I was reminded of the opening scenes of “The English Patient” where the screen is filled with sensuous, undulating, curving landscapes.  Never mind that the movie focus was of sand dunes. 
To my mind’s eye, the elegant spare landscape of that cinemascope was the artistic twin to this Gramercy Park Hotel urban landscape.  (Planted in just 12 inches of soil I learned later.)

And this was just foreplay! The real piece de resistance is the roof top landscaped garden.

With heightened anticipation, I entered the lobby of the hotel not for the first time.
But with a different purpose. 
I was meeting Lynn Torgerson (www.lynntorgersongardens.com), the garden designer for the hotel’s front border garden and its roof top terrace garden. 

At a recent MetroHort event, Lynn invited me to visit the garden.  I love this hotel and had wanted to see the celebrated roof top garden for some time but the stars were never aligned. 

Gramercy Park is Ian Schrager’s luxury Hotel in New York City’s Union Square area. The art collection that adorns the colossal walls is sensuous and commanding. The room lobby and bar look like a castle, albeit a glamorous sexy one – with sparkling chandeliers, bold red carpets, sumptuous velvet furniture and heavy drapes, cavernous fireplaces and sweet, sultry scented candles seemingly everywhere.

I had graciously accepted Lynn’s kind offer, saying spring wasn’t toooo far away.
Not pausing, Lynn said, “Come anytime.”  Sensing a slight faux pas or egads, a missed trick on my part, I squinted a follow up.  “What do you mean, anytime?” 
She reiterated. “Anytime.”
Hmmm. Now I’ve got to ask.  “I thought it was a rooftop garden?”   With great patience she nods. “It is.”  Pause.  “But it’s all enclosed in the winter – so anytime you want to come, it’s good.” 
Winning the lottery can’t feel as good. J

I think seeing a garden like this in winter makes it even more special than if I experience it when everything around is green too. 
So now this all gets even better than I had hoped. 
Come on – when all is cold and grey to others (I like the city in winter, thank you very much) but I am privy to a warm garden with iconic views of Gotham—be still my beating heart!

We agree to a scheduled date. Follow up will happen. But we have a plan.

Carpe diem!

The day of the planned tour, I am inspired to email Roberta, the unparalleled floral designer for Danny Meyers’s restaurant empire.  Danny’s latest restaurant is the Tuscan inspired Maialino


which is seemingly part of the Gramercy Hotel and in fact, occupies the space next door and yet is still attached. (Don’t ask – just go!)

More serendipity as Roberta has agreed that -- with relatively no notice – she can do it!

I met Roberta when we were photographing Chef Michael Anthony at Gramercy Tavern restaurant – another shining star in Danny Meyers’ restaurant portfolio. 
I was there because of a photo shoot for my book about master chefs and their gardens.
My photographer, Jennifer Calais Smith (www.jennifercalais.com) and food stylist, Patty White (www.pattywhitefoodstylist.com) were working with me to photograph Chef Michael’s amazing culinary art. 
At the same time, I couldn’t help be drawn to the floral design compositions that Roberta was divining and arranging. 
I had to include her in the book!  Chef Michael agreed as did my editor, Kari. 

When you visit any of Danny Meyers’s restaurants, please let me know how much you love Roberta’s amazing interior garden designs.
She is an artist.

So the evening of the first rooftop garden tour, I was looking forward to great interior garden design AND great exterior garden design.

And to seeing and having networked two amazing plant women.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I was meeting a former colleague and friend, Joanne Trout, who was treating me to a birthday dinner at Maialino restaurant.  Maialino is Myers’ latest culinary tour de force. Maria, my garden design client and Italian language linguist told me maialino means “little pig.”  How cute!

It just doesn’t get any better  :) 

Maialino is located just to the downtown side of the hotel. As a guest, you’d think they are part of the same establishment. 
Roberta took us on a quick tour of the restaurant. We could better appreciate its simple, elegant yet casual environment – punctuated by Roberta’s floral designs.










Private dining room and Roberta's floral creations

Cuccina:










Well, we were drinking our Prosecco and Roberta and Lynn were having such a good time getting to know one another  --- and I was enjoying it all. 


Yet, as a garden sprite, I knew we had to get to that roof.  There wasn’t much winter daylight left…
A tad late, we hop in the special elevator transporting us up 16 floors to the Hotel Rooftop Bar – a Private Club and Garden.  Only members are admitted to this level so I’m feeling very VIP.



Like a Broadway stage whose curtains rise to reveal a carefully crafted other world of make-believe, the elevator doors opened to reveal a magical garden in the sky.
The anticipation matches the reality. 





This garden is a fantasy. A dream. 





It was dusk.  The sky was pink. The nearby skyscrapers loomed as architectural sentinels.  All this drama was mere backdrop for the garden at Gramercy Park Hotel. 


There, the entire length of the garden sparkled with tiny white lights on the ceiling, peeking through the green overhead and on the shrubs and trees in containers bordering the garden walls.




As we walked, I was awestruck.  My head was like a scope – turning upwards – left and right – all the while listening to Lynn describe the design work and maintenance that is integral to this unique garden. 

I defy anyone, of any age, to not be rendered speechless by this garden. 
It has the magic of Disney, of countless movies of Manhattan, and is a gardener’s dream world.  We gardeners can appreciate the design and work that goes into a living room such as this.  

For everyone else, the garden embraces you in a very intimate way and stimulates the senses.  This is especially so on a winter day simply because it’s a paradox.  But Lynn has made this impossibility just so natural.

The garden wraps around three sides of the building. In the warmer weather, the hotel has the option to open up part of the glass roof, or all or provide an awning to cover part of the garden in the sky to block the sun with the use of the retractable roof. 



When I was the Director of Communications at a major NYC botanic garden, I had recommended Lynn to New York Magazine as the ideal candidate to redesign NYC’s marriage bureau.  She nailed it: http://tinyurl.com/yjsdh9s

Sexy too, no?

Here at the Gramercy Park Hotel, Lynn’s brilliant work is not only on display in the design, but in the ongoing maintenance.  As you can image, it’s not in the least bit easy to keep up a good garden considering the inhospitable conditions.  There is the weather to consider of course and on a roof top terrace, weather can be extreme.  In addition, because it’s club, guests often “see” the plants as backdrop and don’t always treat them with great care, resulting in glasses in the pots or broken branches…

Her team is there two times a week – at a minimum.
“I want perfection,” Lynn said, not surprisingly.  They over-service their clients here – as elsewhere  -- because they love their work and have a passion for the plants.



The garden was launched in 2006.  Lynn and her team designed the container garden to adhere to owner Ian Schrager’s fondness for Italian gardens. The miracle on the roof is that with a series of containers, fruit trees, fragrant vines, including jasmine, ficus plants, palms, dracenas, ferns of all kinds and overhead silk leaves, Lynn captured the look and feel of the beauty of Rome or Tuscany.  “I wanted a lot of citrus plants to really get the feel of an Italian garden,” Lynn explained.



She was also able to use a lot of red color - prized by owner Schrager – even down to a red furniture composition.



Keen gardeners will want to know how all this green beauty is achieved and maintained – on a budget. 
Lynn chose containers that are lightweight; some of the seemingly hundreds of planters are fiberglass and zinc.  

The quality is terrific – the pots look like terracotta or the real deal, there is no doubt.
Lynn noted she sourced most of the containers from Evan Peters & Co., direct importers of garden pottery and are located in Long Island City http://tinyurl.com/ykym96o




Lynn had to establish a formal watering system and so installed a drip design for the containers.  In addition, the team supplements the irrigation systems and does hand watering too.

In terms of pest control, they employ an integrated pest management (IPM) approach because it’s the smart way to do it and also, this is a dining area.

Even though there can be lots of wind in the summer, Lynn has positioned pots of plants all along the windowsills – in fact, she changes them out with the seasons—usually every six months.  She loves the kalanchoes for their red color (a nod to the client) and for their water-wise needs.

Under extraordinary conditions, Lynn has employed a variety of plants, containers, and elegant garden design to create a sustainable, intoxicating garden. 





This is a seductive, mysterious world that Lynn has created – from traditional ladybugs and green plants, to the urbane, sophisticated “Lady Bugs" ^:^ and their escorts = quintessential New Yorkers and urbane tourists enjoying nature, seen poised throughout the garden terrace’s stylized conversation compositions – or as Schrager describes it, “lobby socializing.”

This chandelier is the size of the room it adorns and is breathtaking. 
                                                  Roberta (left) and I are dazzled by the light!

Because our first garden tour was abbreviated due to diminishing daylight, I asked Lynn if we could come back.  I also wanted to share the garden tour with EunYoung Sebazco, Duchess Designs’ lead horticulturist and extraordinary garden designer and Randall’s Island park manager. Lynn agreed. 
The garden is just as exhilarating in the daylight.  



The perfect finish on the second garden tour a week or so later was to enjoy the glamorous garden – with an herbal cocktail. 






I had the Ginger Fig:  vodka with muddled ginger root, fig jam and fresh orange juice.  Lynn & EunYoung enjoyed the Rose & Lychee Martini: Hendricks gin (which if you don’t know is made with roses – member of the cucumber family), rose syrup, fresh muddles blackberries and a touch of coconut.



Aren’t plants the best?  We can sit among them enjoying their beauty and fragrance and drink a plant-filled ambrosia.

A heavenly experience. Especially being that much closer to the clouds…

Oh, and when I wanted to add Lynn’s web site to this blog post, I Googled her business and guess what? 
The Google pin indicated Lynn Torgerson’s garden design business – and curiously, made it appear for the entire world like it is located directly at the Museum of Sex!  Coincidence?  With all the sensual garden design I saw at Gramercy Park Hotel, I don’t think so.


 Lynn - oh so elegant with fabulous garden footwear!



Gramercy Park Hotel
2 Lexington Avenue, NYC 10010
212-920-3300

Check out the visual images slide show – next best thing to being there.

Maialino, a Roman Trattoria at Gramercy Park
2 Lexington Avenue, NYC 10010
212-777-2410