When Southern Living last year described the work of J. Mark White, ASLA, president of GardenWise,  Inc. as ”stellar”, we knew we had to learn more about this omnipresent  landscape architect and his design  work that shows the essential role  architecture can play in organizing the garden landscape.   White’s  gardens are rich in color and texture, and flow into the surrounding landscape, which makes him a  gifted landscape designer, and our March 2010 profile.      

You’re often quoted in landscape trend stories.  How often do you follow trends yourself?

I  hope to be ahead of garden design trends, but the key is how to apply a trend into designs that will work best for my clients.  A goal that I will continue to strive for whenever possible is creating sustainable green eco-friendly designs that utilize existing site materials, including the use of local materials and native plants.

Where do you turn for inspiration?

I read many periodicals for design ideas that I can apply to current or future projects.  I also always pay attention to design elements, whether in my own home, a friend’s home. or when traveling.  A long walk through a previously unseen area or undiscovered neighborhood can bring an unexpected dose of inspiration.  A great example is when I was traveling through Savannah, GA and stayed at ‘The Mansion’ on Forsyth Park in the Savannah historic district.  In the hotel’s rear court yard there is a pool that functions as a water feature with a 10-12’ glass mosaic water wall.  The water flows down the tile and spills into the swimming pool. I recently used a scaled down version of this mosaic tiled water feature for a Washington, D.C.- Roof deck garden.  The wall is lighted underwater from the pool basin below as  it picks-up the splashing of the water, which gives a magical twinkling light effect.

You include “green” elements in your design work, what is a first eco-friendly step you recommend to a client?  

A good first step is to maintain all viable trees, in particular the mature large shade trees.  Another step I recommend to my clients is to include recycled and local materials in a garden installation. By using recycled items such as concrete and old brick or stone, and using local supplies, we help support local artists and quarries, which can bring down costs while helping the local economy.

What are the advantages to working with an architect/builder from the beginning of a project?

Working with an architect from the beginning of a home project gives me the opportunity to better integrate the landscape with the home.  I can emphasize the home’s architectural elements, and highlight key views by locating a garden focal point, such as a simple bench, a garden structure, or a grove of trees.  We are also able to improve the physical connection to the garden by suggesting the addition of a door or a change in deck steps direction to promote easier access from the home to the outdoor garden spaces. One of my favorite architect/builders to work with in the D.C.-area, which has many hidden historic neighborhoods, is Morris-Day.  They build homes that are respectful of their historic context, while meeting the demands of a modern family.  Rob Morris and his team also understand the importance of blending a beautiful home and landscape.

What types of projects do you most enjoy, why?

I enjoy the challenges of site constraints – whether it’s a smaller site, a site with very steep topography, or a very shaded site that forces me to be more creative with the design solutions.  Some of my favorite design work has been created for unique spaces that others may consider “difficult”.  

Photo credit: Lydia Cutter 

Jayne Saunders is a frequent contributor to the homesandgardens blog and can be reached at jaynebsaunders@gmail.com

GardenWise, Inc. – www.gardenwiseinc.com  202-543-3422 or 703-243-5982

It’s easy to fall in love with ‘Thalia’, so it’s no wonder this outstanding heirloom from 1916 is still popular today. Graced by lovely pure-white flowers and a sensuous fragrance, ‘Thalia’ reliably comes back year after year. Plus, even the hungriest deer and rabbits pass it by in search of tastier treats. In addition, it’s a great cut flower.

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Add interest to pergolas, walls, and other structures with this award-winning climbing rose. ‘America’ features strongly scented coral-pink blooms all summer long. It is disease resistant, so you can count on it to look good at the end of the season.

Basil is a great addition to any sunny bed or container. Most varieties grow about 18 inches tall, but some reach 3 feet. Add lively color to your landscape by choosing selections that have purple or bronze foliage.

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Add beauty and curb appeal to your front yard with a sidewalk garden. Check out these ideas that’ll work even in the smallest of spaces.Some of the best gardens use layering — where you combine layers of plants that grow at different heights.

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Make a hypertufa container that’s perfect for rock gardening, alpine plants, or a birdbath. Form weathered-looking stone containers from hypertufa, a blend of cement, peat moss, and sand. It’s easy, fun, and satisfying.

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We love yarrow because it’s beautiful and tough. In fact, this is one of the most maintenance-free perennials you can grow: It resists heat, drought, deer, and rabbits. It’s also a blooming  machine, producing flat-topped clusters of yellow, orange, red, pink, or white flowers throughout the summer.

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From salads and side dishes to stews and cakes, check out Carrot Ribbon Salad with thinly peeled carrots, fresh peas, , and green onions in honey vinaigrette to create an easy and good-for-you salad.

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Add an eye-catching splash of orange to your beds, borders, and containers with Can-Can Orange calibrachoa. Offering lots of bold tangerine flowers marked with dark red-orange veins, it’s sure to be a garden showstopper.

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Make it Soothing with Water

There’s something about water that’s serene and peaceful. Be sure to add it to your patio. Enhance those relaxing moments with a patio-size water garden. Find one with a small recirculating pump so you can enjoy the sound of water trickling over stones or through a bamboo spout.

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