Where Did Summer Go?
Crocosmia takes center stage in a summer border on Greenwood Lake.
Reflections on the Season…
The Dog Days of Summer have officially given way to early autumn. We are now fully pivoting into fall: installing new gardens, seasonal clean-ups and plantings, adding spring bulbs, pruning, then preparing beds for winter.
In this email, I feature two special garden projects I had the privilege of designing this year. The first is a complete renovation and design for a private home on Greenwood Lake (Orange County): a lake-front backyard (built to entertain— both guests and pollinators!) and a high-impact front entrance area. The second is a Brooklyn backyard planting design for the South Slope. And finally, I offer a top ten list of some favorite online garden suppliers. I hope these offer inspirations for your own gardening this fall!
Greenwood Lake, NY
A new lakefront garden design on Greenwood Lake. Built to entertain. All of the gorgeous stonework and hardscaping was installed by Nick DePietro of E. DePietro and Son Construction Company.
Before renovation.
The long border created for pollinators and diversified bloom times. Shout out to E.P. Jansen Nurseries (especially for the gorgeous Serviceberry).
The welcoming front garden…
… and a long front border that moves from sun-loving plants…
… to shade-lovers.
Propagating masses of lavender for rock gardens has been a new obsession this year…
… as well as harvesting from my back deck herb garden.
South Slope, Brooklyn
Below are my top 10 obsessions this spring!
A fresh installation for a formal backyard garden design in South Slope, Brooklyn.
Favorite Online Gardening Resources:
Here’s a list of 10 of my Go-To’s for all things Gardening.
1. Campo de’ Fiori
If you are looking for high-quality, classical, and hand-crafted garden accents, Campo de' Fiori ("field of flowers" in Italian) is unmatched. From their signature aged moss terracottas to hand-cast stone, hand-wrought iron, and mouth-blown glass, every piece brings immediate patina and quiet authority to a garden.
2. Niwaki
A true indulgence for the serious gardener. Niwaki crafts some of the finest Japanese pruners, tripod ladders, and garden tools on the market. I indulge in a new piece for my toolkit each season—their Hori-Hori (soil & weed) knife with a serrated edge is an absolute essential.
3. Prairie Moon Nursery
My go-to resource for native seed blends, plugs, and ecological restoration plantings. Whether designing a full community pollinator garden or adding native biodiversity to a residential border, their quality and commitment to native genetics are second to none.
4. Hudson Seed Company
Local, regional, and deeply committed to heirloom varieties. Hudson Valley Seed Co. offers exceptional organic flower, herb, and vegetable seeds. Plus, their art-pack packaging makes them a joy to plant or gift, and they support artists too!
"A seed is more than meets the eye:
it is a time capsule telling tales of the plants,
crops, and people that came before us."
— Hudson Valley Seed Co.
5. H. Potter Terraria
Architectural, elegant, and timeless. H. Potter produces stunning steel garden trellises, glass terrariums, and heavy-gauge window boxes. They add structural focal points that bridge interior design with outdoor living.
6. Hughes Water Gardens
While I always prioritize local nurseries, specialty water features require dedicated experts. Out of Oregon, Hughes Water Gardens delivers incredible aquatic plants and fountain supplies with meticulous care in packaging and shipping.
7. David Austin Roses
The gold standard for romantic, fragrant English roses. Their shrub and climbing varieties bring unmatched flower form, disease resistance, and multi-season performance to formal and informal borders alike.
8. Drip Depot
Efficient hydration is the backbone of any healthy garden. Drip Depot is my primary source for precision drip irrigation components, fittings, and customized micro-watering setups that keep plantings thriving through summer droughts.
"The passing of time through the hands of a gardener, who becomes a steward to the land... bringing our experiences to what might be the largest and most diverse art and fashion show there is: the garden." — from Gardenheir Founders' Statement
Some Final Notes on Pruning
A thoughtful pruning routine preserves long-term garden health and structure, but timing and proportion are key. Follow the 1/3 Rule: never remove more than a third of a plant's mass in one season.
Prune in Fall:
New-Wood Summer Bloomers: Lightly cut back Panicle & Smooth Hydrangeas ('Limelight', 'Annabelle') to tidy spent blooms and prevent snow breakage.
The 3 D’s: Remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches on deciduous trees and shrubs once leaves drop.
Wait Until Spring / Late Winter:
Spring Bloomers: Hold off on Lilacs, Forsythias, and Azaleas so you don't cut off next year's flower buds.
Evergreens: Avoid pruning Boxwoods or Hollies in autumn to protect new growth from winter burn.
Fungal-Prone Perennials: Cut Peonies and Phlox down to ground level and discard (don't compost) to prevent disease recurrence.
A large Japanese maple, before and after summer pruning. Prune Japanese maples in late summer to shape them without inducing excessive sap bleeding, or in late winter while dormant to perform major structural cuts.
Three large Rhododendron, with their canopies “lifted” in spring. Prune rhododendrons immediately after they finish blooming in late spring or early summer to avoid cutting off next year's flower buds.
Have a project in mind or a question about your fall garden? Reach out directly at tom@raincarver.com.
* Please feel free to forward this along to anyone you think might appreciate or benefit from this content or would like to receive seasonal updates and tips.
Happy gardening!
— Tom
TOM PEARSON
Principal Landscape Designer & Horticulturalist