Our Fall 2014 list is rich with deep explorations and exciting discoveries. Look inside for the best whiskeys to drink, the most amazing views of bird courting, the biggest selection of recipes for fermenting vegetables, the greatest tomato varieties of all time, and much more!
Whether you live in a drought-prone region or have a stubbornly damp section in the backyard, a mini meadow — a small patch of colorful flowers grown from seed — can thrive and beautify even the mo…
Recently, a dear friend and mother of two young girls asked me whether I could think of easy things her daughters could grow themselves as an introduction to gardening. She sought low-risk, high-reward plants that wouldn’t require too much maintenance. Author Tammi Hartung writes that helping children plant an herb garden allows them to flex their independence and imagination while deepening their connection to food, self-care, and even favorite stories. Here, she offers wonderful ideas for creating an herb garden little ones will love to tend. A Children’s Herb Garden: A: Hollyhock, B: Lemon balm, C: Chamomile, D: Lavender, E: Calendula, F. Anise hyssop, G: Basil, H: Violet, I: Roman Chamomile, J: Pole Beans Herb Gardens Are for Kids, Too One of the most magical herb gardens I ever created was for my daughter when she was little. I wanted her to have a gardening space that was her domain, where she could go to play, rest, plant and take care of the herbs in that space, and pick and make things from those same herbs. In general, I wanted her to have a sense of ownership for that area in our yard. It was to be a place for her to “create” and explore nature. The broader picture was for her to have a better understanding of gardening and an appreciation for the gifts that herbs offer, whether in cooking, smelling, or simply stimulating her imagination. A Space of Their Own A children’s herb garden should be a small bit of the yard or just a few containers. A space that is too big can become overwhelming and will seem more like work than fun. A child’s herb garden fits nicely as a contiguous area around a playhouse or clubhouse, or near slides and swings. Make the framework fun! Perhaps the garden could include areas to do other activities—try adding a child-sized drawing-and-painting table, a reading bench, a crazy tree-trunk chair. Maybe set aside an area to use for drama, dress-up, or playing make-believe. Make sure any furniture and structures are child-sized and cheerful. Include special rocks or colored sands for added visual interest. Children’s herb gardens are wonderful places to learn about and explore the natural world. Put in a bamboo screen with peepholes, and a child can sit quietly and watch a bird feeder or birdbath on the other side. Herbs for this garden should include lots of shapes and colors, with wonderful smells and curious, delicious tastes. There are a number of herbs particularly attractive to children, because of their great tastes and smells and because they’re wonderful teachers of how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Lemon balm tastes fantastic, and kids will learn that lemon balm is something you pick to add to fruit salad. Chamomile flowers will be familiar to many children from the story of Peter Rabbit, and they will soon know that a tea made from the chamomile flowers picked in their garden helps them to sleep better at night. Woolly lamb’s ears are the perfect choice to hold on a skinned knee or elbow to make it “feel better.” Mix things up with fun vegetables and fruits like cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, and strawberries. Edible flowers such as pansies and dianthus add color, and can be freely nibbled on or made into fairy necklaces for playing make-believe. Plant giant sunflowers for a tepee to provide a secret hiding place. The most important aspect of this herb garden is that there be total acceptance and flexibility for the children to choose how they want to plant the garden or how they want to arrange the area. As long as nothing is dangerous and no toxic plants are allowed in the garden, adults should serve as assistants, not directors. Text and illustration excerpted from Homegrown Herbs: A Complete Guide to Growing,Using, and Enjoying More than 100 Herbs © 2011 by Tammi Hartung. Garden plan illustration by Alison Kolesar. All rights reserved.
Visiting Covent Garden in London, discover the historic covered market, magnificent architecture, quirky findings and traditional taverns.
From formal lawns to rewilded meadows and woodland retreats
Photographer Ernest Storey 1988
From the playful circular windows to the brick walls to its enclosed garden, Storey's Field Centre and Eddington Nursery illustrates how meticulous attention to detail can make all the difference for its users. Designed by London-based architecture practice
Visiting the enchanting gardens at Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Kent. Strolling amongst the vibrant blooms of the English country gardens.
SALLY STOREY, CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF JOHN CULLEN LIGHTING, IS PASSIONATE ABOUT LIGHTING AND HERE SHE SHARES WITH US A FEW VIEWS ON WHY GETTING YOUR LIGHTING DESIGN RIGHT IS SO IMPORTANT IN BOTH YOUR HOUSE AND GARDEN. How did you enter the world of lighting? I have always loved natural light filtering through trees or ref
Snooze in a hammock by the river at this gorgeous home while it potentially pays your wage
Vijayawada Garden Estate: A Tree Storey The project features a high-rise residential development for ‘pooja crafted homes’, who is seeking for and "outside of the box - design" and "a natural living experience" for the residents in all their projects.
Possibly Brutalism’s best kept secret, Pieter Mulier’s concrete villa is discreetly perched atop a 20-storey tower block, only visible from the ground thanks to a mature pine tree in its roof garden
Our May issue is out now, including our annual Hotels by Design supplement. Let our Editor Hatta Byng talk you through the highlights, from a sculptural South London house to a renovation project in Burgundy.
Image 3 of 26 from gallery of Toy Storey Residence / Wallmakers. Photograph by Syam Sreesylam
This low-tech irrigation system you can make yourself lets plants draw only the water they need. That means less wasted water (and time) and better gardening results. Above-ground tubing makes it e…
With mid-term on the way and a stretch in the evenings, I’ve been looking out for fresh things to do and see around Ireland. And I’ve been surprised at what I’ve found.
Once a baby hospital, now a beautiful blend of old and new, you won't believe the light and open spaces that lie behind this Victorian-era facade.
After a protracted ban on buildings more than seven storeys high, Paris has grand plans for a garden skyscraper. But critics have called it 'greenwashing' the skyline
After styling a nature inspired shoot for clients in June at Sunnybrook Estates in Toronto our team decided to do a SMP shoot all about nature! A soft colour palette of white, pink and green inspired us to use a garden setting for this storey book shoot. I fell in love with the fern garden and
Image 11 of 22 from gallery of Light Garden House / Mami and Associates Architects. Photograph by Kai Nakamura
Rental Villa in Umbria for 2 guests with pool
Panting roses in a mixed border is one of the easiest ways of enjoying roses in your garden. Combine shrub roses, other shrubs, perennials and annuals to create a tapestry of different colours and textures - find inspiration in our image gallery and tips and tricks for planning a rose border.
This three-storey Grade II-listed home in Bolton-by-Bowland is a breathtaking property.
Residential Architecture: The Interlace by OMA: “..long low apartment blocks stacked in hexagonal configurations..consist[ing] of 31 interconnected six-storey blocks stacked around communal g…
Мода на экологию уже длится более 45 лет благодаря международной организации Гринпис (Green peace). Но зеленые крыши домов существовали задолго до популяризации охраны окружающей среды. В Европе мо…
