xmlns:fb='http://ogp.me/ns/fb#' Karen Wagner garden & design: May 2012

Tuesday 22 May 2012

conservatory dreaming

I have always wanted a glasshouse conservatory and am now inspired even more from books I have been pouring through.  I am helping a client design a conservatory and it does make one a little green.  It makes perfect sense of course in our climate to capture the winter sun and live inside out with the garden over summer.  I am happy to see that more and more people are catching on to the idea.  I haven't found a way to attach one to our house yet...maybe I will have to move so I can have one.....











Wednesday 16 May 2012

gardens for thoughtful pause

I am constantly looking at pictures and books for ideas and inspiration and there are just so many ideas, concepts and ways of doing something flashing around the world for us to look at.  It's  wonderful to have so many bits of inspiration.  
There is a school of thought that you should never look at what is in the magazines and what everyone else is doing but concentrate on your own ability and mindset....I find being able to look at lots of alternative ideas that I would never have thougth of a great way to stimulate ideas for oneself.  Artists and desingers get ideas from so many sources, I think it helps to be stimulated to create.  All these wonderful pictures of gardens, homes and buldings I find are my storehouse of ideas that I can come back to again and again.  I know they are sitting there keeping all the ideas safely stored away until I need them.

Here are a few slightly different ideas and gardens...but non the less fabulous and it's nice to see gardens coming along and being showcased that aren't of all the same genre but still beautiful and interesting.













Wednesday 2 May 2012

new at KWGD...books

The cooler weather means I am less inclined to venture out and about....just like everyone else I am getting ready to hunker down.  
Although I don't have much choice most of the time at the moment other than to brave the weather...I'm madly designing and building gardens  which means I'm not scribbling away at my desk, I'm on-site nearly every day at the moment.  Its lots of fun and I'm feeling inspired.  I'll post some photos soon of projects we have underway at the moment.
Here's some new books to keep you busy.  Just in time for mothers day...can never go wrong with a great book.
Some lovely garden books, but some equally wonderful foody and inspiring lifestyle books.  I seem to have a bit of a french theme going....completely by accident I might add.  I was in France about this time last year, so maybe my subconscious is hankering...

I would love a hideaway work shed studio in the midst of the garden...this will definitely inspire you.


This French Bistro book makes me want to hop on a plane to Paris right now and try out all these wonderful authentic lively Bistros.  Can someone do a french bistro in Hobart please ...I need to be able to have a citrone presse at the end of a busy morning or day!


 Beth Chatto is one of the most inspiring plants women in the garden industry.  Her gardens are a revelation and great for thinking in terms of dry climate gardening.


I have been following Jane Webster for a while....ever since I came across her newsletters. She and her family took the plunge and bought a castle (yes a real castle) in the depths of France and then started an a cooking school  and  french experience homestay castle accomodation.
I definitely want to go there one day.....and every one has this dream don't they or some version of it....  this will inspire you.


Lovely journals and garden design books....great winter reading for planning what you are going to do come spring.


All the books you could need to keep you busy on cold nights through winter...



happy reading...always one of my favourite occupations.
See you in store soon

thanks for all the facebook likes too.