| These could be heading to YOUR garden! |
So what have you been up to recently? My life has been one extended shopping spree at my favorite nurseries! If there's a down side it's just that I can't find room for all the plants I want as well as yours - my poor little car is busting at the seams as it is!
If you want to join in the party email me today and let's get you ready for the summer parties. Flip flops optional.
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A NEW BOOK IS BORN!
I am thrilled to be able to share the great news that I will have my very first book published next February! The 'working' title (publisher-speak for "we haven't decided yet") is
'FOLIAGE COMBINATIONS'
which won't come as any surprise to those of you who know me well.
I am co-authoring the book with my good friend and fellow designer Christina Salwitz (aka Personal Garden Coach). The award winning photographer Ashley DeLatour of One Thousand Words photography will be the primary photographer.
There will be lots of mouth watering, inspirational ideas for your containers and gardens and most importantly we will explain why each design works which we hope gives you the confidence to take our ideas and expand on them.
St. Lynn's Press will be publishing this as a hardback book in time for the Northwest Flower & Garden Show February 2013.
Stay tuned for news on promotional seminars, cover release photos and pre-order options on Amazon. Woo-hoo! (Who needs sleep?)
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SEATTLE TROPICS
There are procrastinators and there are those who are just forgetful - which ever you are I can still help you to make your patio party central. The GOOD news is that you have left it long enough for the weather now to be warm enough for me to include the tropical favorites such as crotons, bromeliads and Bougainvillea. By July I'll be nestled nicely under my sun umbrella thank you - so TODAY is the day to talk plants!
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NEW FAVORITES?
In the spirit of 'research' I am always looking for new plants to grow and new combinations to try.
| Begonia 'Million kisses - Elegance |
Today I went out of my way to visit a funky little (wholesale) nursery of exotic plants in Seattle (there's an oxymoron if ever there was one). I came across a great succulent called Kalanchoa 'Copper spoons', and promptly bought "a few".
Thought I'd try out some sunset themed color pairings with Begonia 'Million kisses - Elegance' (A British introduction - of course...) and a scrumptious coleus (MUCH nicer than this link suggests called Spitfire. Want more flowers? Well I also picked up an African daisy (Osteospernum) called 'Sunny Sheila' which sounds rather Australian for an African daisy. Anyway it is a sort of smokey coppery russet shade. Might add a little extra white 'something' to stop it being too sombre and repeat the begonia color.
So 'sunset colors' are IN (but if you read my blog you'd know that anyway) and I'm working hard to interpret that 'le jardinet' style.
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GARDEN ADVENTURES FOR ALL
Garden Adventures - for thumbs of all colors, is a lighthearted, information packed blog for all gardeners and garden lovers. Laugh while you learn, pick up new ideas and be inspired by others is the theme as I cover everything from container design to slug patrol.
The most popular post last month was
Remember my 'old' adventures at www.karensgardenadventures.com has now moved to www.lejardinetdesigns.com/blog. Same fun but easier to find.
Sign up below to receive the blog posts by email.
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FOLLOW LE JARDINET ON FACEBOOK
Take a moment to sit back, enjoy photographs, see what has been happening in my own garden plus get links to the latest garden products: all in bite sized chunks. Always fresh - take a look!
P.S. You don't need a Facebook account to view a business Facebook page.
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LE JARDINET ON PINTEREST
Enjoy garden photographs on my virtual pin boards - visit Pinterest! You don't need an account to enjoy the boards, just a cup of tea will do as you sit back and get new ideas for containers ombinations and garden designs, pathways and art work. I add new images daily, both my own and others whose work inspires me. Hope you enjoy them - tell me which are your favorites boards.
If my new book intrigues you be sure to follow my Focus on Foliage board!
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JUNE GARDEN TOURS IN GREATER SEATTLE
You can be sure I'll be out and about scouting for additional photography opportunites for our book! Here are a few of my favorites.
June 16th, 10-4 The Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park 10th Annual Garden Tour. Tour 5 beautiful gardens in the city of Lake Forest Park. Artists & musicians will work & perform at each garden. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your gardening questions. Details
June 23rd, 10-3, 4th Annual Ballard Edible Garden Tour. Creative uses of parking strips, containers, raised beds, bee houses, chicken coops, fruit trees, berries & more. Meet the gardeners & ask questions. Details
June 23rd, 10-4 Whidbey Island 17th Annual Garden Tour. Tour 4 beautiful residential gardens that combine the best of nature with the creativity of their owners. Details.
June 23rd-24th, 10-5 Vashon Island 22nd Annual Garden Tour.Explore 5 eclectic gardens offering divergent approaches & different topography, live music, art, seminars & more. Details
MANY more great events listed at http://depts.washington.edu/hortlib/calendar/tours.php
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SHARE THE NEWS
Love these newsletters? Want to tell your friends about some of the fun events or share some of my design ideas? Either click or use the social media links at the top of the page to send via Facebook, Twitter and the like. Encourage friends and family to sign up so they don't miss out on special offers, plant news and local garden events!
Want more? My newsletters are now archived on my website so you can look up seasonal tips and photographs from previous editions.
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'Gardens are a form of autobiography" - Sydney Eddison
Who does your garden say you are?
Karen Chapman CPH
Le Jardinet
425 765 3574
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PLANT SPOTLIGHT
| 'Cherry star' million bells |
Million bells (Calibrachoa) are a fabulous low maintenance option to petunias. No dead heading, no sticky mess if it rains and aphids aren't an issue. Last year I was invited to test CHERRY STAR, developed by Proven Winners. Fabulous! Bloomed it's socks off all summer, laughed at the rain and never looked washed out. The really good news is that they are now available at the nurseries!
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PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
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Imagination goes here
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