Boxwood Parterre, Hydrangea standard 'Pink Diamond' Rhododendron in full bloom enclosing the Breakfast Porch European Hornbeam hedges on stilts (aerial hedges) (underplanted with Midnight May Sage, French Lavender) enclose a parterre garden with a fountain as a focal point. garden tunnel, allee, Lamium 'Anne Greenway' Tonnelle, Blanche Sandman Honeysuckle, Walker's Low Catmint, Flagstone Path Merrick Art Gallery, Victorian Garden - needlepoint - embroidery garden Merrick Art Gallery, wedding venue Spring tulip garden - Potager - Williamsburg Garden French Villa Garden, European Columnar hornbeams, wisteria standards, cast iron urn barberry, boxwood,'Dragon Lady' hollies, hydrangeas Cottage Garden Cottage Garden - Irises, Poppies, Rozeanne Geraniums, Wargrave Pink Geraniums, Peegee Hydrangeas Formal Garden - Korean Boxwood, Hicksii Yew Formal Garden: Catmint - Knock-out Roses, Allium 'Globemaster', Violas in Cast Iron Urn Formal garden, cast iron urn, boxwood Loose cottage Garden Celtic Knot,'Green Velvet' boxwood, 'Crimson Pygmy' barberry, and 'Rheingold' Arborvitae, 'limelight' hydrangeas Knot garden in the snow Peonies Spilling over a Waterford Vase, on a Banded Mahogany Hall Table with Marble Top. The wallpaper is a documentary damask print by Brunschwig & Fils (that inspired the planting of these peonies in the cutting garden) Home Our Philosophy Design and Installation Fee Structure Gardens Shop Proper Contact Home Our Philosophy Design and Installation Fee Structure Gardens Shop Proper Contact Site by Abbey Email Karen Atkins
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Proper Gardens, Colonial Garden, Cast Iron Urns, Arbor, Cannonball Gate Closure, Cottage Garden, Knock-out Roses, Boxwood
Our Philosophy

The gardens immediately surrounding a house should be considered as important as any other room within the home. These outdoor rooms should be consistent with the architecture in both period and feel, ultimately coordinating with the key interior details, such as wallpaper and paint colorways. Read more


Our Philosophy

New "Fairy Gardenmother" Seasonal Adornment Service!
Let us spoil you by adorning your entryways, doors, windowboxes, urns, and other containers. The arrival of Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter is reason enough to celebrate! Click here for details – see bottom of page.


We're Now Offering Remote/Long-Distance Garden Design Service!
Do you love the idea of having a Proper Garden designed for you, but live too far away to enjoy the full experience? Well you're in luck – we now offer our garden design services completely off-site when we aren't digging here in Pennsylvania! That's during the sizzling summer months of July and August, and then when we're blanketed in snow November through February. More details coming soon to our site – contact us now if you're interested!


June 14, 2009 | Western Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Garden Tour
We are grateful to our client, Linda Spencer (a very busy owner of two dance studios) for taking time to ready herself for so many visitors! Proceeds benefit the Botanic Garden of Western Pennsylvania. For more details, visit: www.botanicgardenwpa.org


April 2009 | Courtyard Potager - Franklin Park, PA
Sue and Paul Solinksi are first on the schedule for 2009, with plans for a courtyard potager. It will be stunning. Please check our Gardens section later this year for photos.


February 27 - March 8, 2009 | Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show
We will be at our regular booth, #777, hoping to meet you in person! For more information, visit: www.pghhome.com


December 2008 | Trip to England
We took a trip, just before Christmas, to England, and met with the Historic Gardens Foundation. We were all inspired to find new ways to save endangered gardens the world over. If you would like to join us, contact: office@historicgardens.org Janine Wookey, Editor of The English Garden Magazine, met with us to discuss potential future articles. To subscribe, follow this link: www.theenglishgarden.co.uk