Journal

Field notes from the studio.

Short, opinionated notes about gardens in north Louisiana — written for the kind of homeowner who reads care labels and pulls weeds on a Saturday morning.

Oct 4, 2025

What to plant in October in zone 8b

October is the best planting window we have in north Louisiana — better than spring, in my opinion. Here’s what I put in the ground every year between Columbus Day and Thanksgiving.

Coming back soon
Aug 12, 2025

On Louisiana iris (and why I plant so many of them)

Louisiana iris is the plant I’d save if I could only keep one in the studio. A short, opinionated profile and three places I keep going back to for rhizomes.

Coming back soon
Jun 30, 2025

A short defense of the hand-set flagstone path

Poured concrete is faster, cheaper and easier to warranty. So why do I keep talking clients out of it? Some honest notes from sixteen years of stonework.

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Apr 18, 2025

Hydrangea, in plain English

Big-leaf, panicle, oakleaf, smooth. Which one for what spot, when to prune, and the one mistake I see in almost every yard I walk into for the first time.

Coming back soon
Feb 2, 2025

The 12-month garden care calendar

What to do in the garden every month of the year in north Louisiana — pruning windows, mulching, dividing, and when to leave things alone.

Coming back soon
New notes once a month, more or less, when the weather lets me sit down at a desk. Until then, the portfolio is probably the next best read.