1. How to think Design

2. List needs & wants Uses, Activities? Vegetables, Flowers, Potting bench? “Low Maintenance”? Formal or Freeform? Patio Gatherings? Start with paper & draw Lines & Circles

3. Sun and wind greatly influence the workability of functions Good design considers what the sun and wind do at different times of the day and year.

4. Live with your ideas for a while Your brain will sort ideas, options, toss out designs that will not work Coming to quick conclusions about your yard can lead to choices that don't work in the long term

5. Good garden design has a focal point or series of focal points Maybe a sculpture or a stunning plant, a tree, or a series of shrubs What might draw your eye & move it through the landscape?

6. They give a pulled-together look Tricky principle in landscape design Involve variations in size, shape, & color: e.g., tall plants against a building or fence, and paths that lead people through the space Repeat some elements for cohesion: a certain plant, a common color, a shape But don't be monotonous: add an element that's different & will stand out

7. Go slow & enjoy the process Start with a small flowerbed. Work on it for an hour or two, when have the time Worry less about filing everything up right away Allow time to see how things develop. Plants grow and things fill in. People forget that

8. (Step 6, continued) Do it in pieces so you are happy with the final results Quick thought & implementation can lead to shortcuts, not allow for a change of mind, disappointment With time, you may change your mind about something: a particular plant or theme. Rip out and do over

9. Design, garden books Websites Talk w/ nursery people about plants that work/don’t work Don’t let landscaper do all your thinking

10. Following are included to help stimulate design ideas in Solera Settings are not important but the design elements demonstrated are: e.g., shapes, lines, themes, focal points, mixes of plants and other architectural elements There are many suitable plants beyond succulents!