The Novel Gardener
writing about plants, people, & landscape design

Circles in Mid Century Modern Landscape Design
Mid Century Modern Landscape Design Series: Part 2
Part two of a deep dive into mid-century modern landscape design forms and principles. This article is all about circles as paving pads, stepping stones, pools, planting beds, and more!
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16 Mid Century Modern Fence and Screen Styles
Mid Century Modern Landscape Design Series: Part 1
Do you own a mid-century modern house and want to install a fence or screen? Here are 16 different styles of MCM fences and screens to choose from!
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Do you own a rowhouse or a townhouse with a small back yard? Want to make the space more livable, pleasant, and environmentally friendly but aren't sure how? I work in these spaces frequently and wanted to share some tips and design examples with you!...
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Guide to Washington, D.C. Zoning Code for Landscape Design (Part 1)
Setbacks, Yards, and Exceptions, or Where You Can Build
So you live in Washington, DC and you want to make your yard more enjoyable and usable. Because DC is a dense city, there are a lot of regulations that limit what and where you can build. The million-dollar question (sometimes literally!) in DC is this: Can you build it there? The goal of this article is to help you learn what you can build and where you can build it. You're in luck: I've never encountered a property where nothing could be done...
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Guide to Washington, D.C. Zoning Code for Landscape Design (Part 2)
Lot Occupancy, Sheds, and Building in Required Yards
A continuation of the previous article on Washington DC's zoning code. Read that article first! In this article, we discuss lot occupancy, pervious surface, exceptions to the rules, and sheds. We learn what landscape structures you can build in required yards. It's more than you might think!
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