Seasonal bouquets from the garden—sometimes foliage, sometimes flowers, often with seedheads left on. I also love framing views so that the landscape itself feels like art on the other side of the glass, especially when it’s softly lit at night.

Gardening or design trend that needs to go:

The reflex to shear everything—shrubs, hedges, even trees—into identical balls and lollipops. It’s a one-and-done approach that erases individuality, when good pruning should honor a plant’s natural form and focus on its health, not its geometry. The same goes for “standard form” lilacs, willows, and hydrangeas—just, why?

Favorite gardening hack:

Mosquitoes are huge fans of mine, so I’m always searching for clever ways to keep them at bay. I’ve used BT in water features for years, but a post on the “mosquito bucket of doom” taught me to create a small BT–treated water trap that draws mosquitoes away from the garden. It’s delightfully unexpected magic—and the rest of the garden feels immediately more enjoyable.

Every garden needs a…

Water moment. Even a small basin or birdbath can invite bees, birds, frogs, and other visitors. It’s a simple way to give back, and it changes the whole mood of a space.

Favorite hardscaping material:

Exposed aggregate concrete. It has texture, durability, and a quiet honesty that pairs beautifully with plants. It celebrates rocks—which I love—and patinas beautifully over time.

Tool you can’t live without:

My Lic Shovel—it cuts through clay and stone without complaint and makes digging almost satisfying. Solid steel, it’s been my trusted spade for years; I oil it a few times a season and sharpen it when it dulls. And my Hasegawa tripod ladder: lightweight, stable, and indispensable for pruning the hard-to-reach places.

Go-to gardening outfit:

It depends on the season and the task, but usually a jumpsuit or denim overalls layered over a shirt, with Blundstones and a hat. I keep arms and legs covered—for sun protection and because gardens have a way of leaving their mark if I don’t.

Favorite nursery, plant shop, or seed company:

On the East Coast, Isisima changed the way I felt about mail ordering plants. Buying sight unseen isn’t something I usually do, but Taylor and Ed’s care, generosity, and the trial imagery they share made it feel easy and trustworthy. Out here in Washington, I’m excited to begin ordering from Far Reachesand I’ve already found a local favorite in Valley Nursery in Poulsbo, with its thoughtful selection and warm, generous staff.

On your wishlist:

Plasticana Gardana hemp clogs. Their soft amber color comes from the natural sugars in hemp, and they feel perfect for our PNW rainy season.

Not-to-be-missed public garden/park/botanical garden:

Chanticleeralways. It’s a garden where the designers and gardeners are one and the same, and you feel their artistry and care in every corner. The containers alone are worth the trip. And closer to home, the Elisabeth C. Miller Garden in Seattle—a treasure of layered plantings and rare finds. I even signed up for a class just to see it; the waitlist runs until fall of next year.

The REAL reason you garden:

Because I’m a sensitive person—sensorially, emotionally, in every sense—and gardens give me both refuge and connection. It’s meditation, therapy, and a way to give back at the same time. I learn best by doing, so tending plants teaches me how they want to grow, where they thrive, and how resilient they can be. It’s endlessly evolving, and I can lose myself for hours in that rhythm.

Thanks so much, Ashley! (You can follow her on Instagram @Lloyd_landwright.)

For our full archive of Quick Takes, head here.

(Visited 164 times, 164 visits today)