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Landscape designers pinpoint garden trends

May 19, 2009  By Danny Sinopoli The Globe and Mail


May 19, 2009 – Toronto garden designer Meredyth Hilton says recession-conscious clients are looking for "simple, strong design shapes" and "long-lasting plants" that won't seem dated next year.

The Saturday edition of The Globe and Mail featured a story that highlighted the design trends in the world of gardening.

Toronto garden designer Meredyth Hilton of Artistic Gardens, Inc. told writer Danny Sinopoli that fewer people are seeking out reflecting pools, giant boulders and outdoor rooms. Instead, recession-conscious
clients are looking for "simple, strong design shapes" and
"long-lasting plants" that won't seem dated next year.

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Kent Ford of Toronto-based Kent Ford Design Group says that baby boomers are still renovating both inside and out and are leaning towards clean, architectural style spaces. Other sources in the article found that interest in eco-friendly gardening is growing and more people are requesting gardens with lower water requirements and year-round interest. Consumers are looking to perennials for long-term value.

Here's a look at what garden trends are "in" and "out" according to the Globe and Mail:

Gardening "ins"  Gardening "outs"
– strong architectural design, rectangular
courtyards, circular patches of grass,
classic checkerboard patterns
– garden rooms
– eco-friendly options like green roofs, water-wise designs, recycled fixtures,
vintage furnishings and accents
– pricy elements like boulders, stone bridges, reflecting pools
– ornamental grasses and shrubs, small trees, flowers that provide all season bloom – monochromatic paintings
– unique colour combinations like lime green with blue or burgundy – gardens filled with only annuals that need to be replaced each year

For the full story, check out the article on the Globe and Mail website.


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