Hello Lisa.

Welcome back to another edition of THE PENCIL CASE! As always, each issue focuses on a theme to encourage a fresh look at garden design and graphics. This week let's celebrate the start of 2025 Garden Design Inspiration. ♥︎ Oh, and Happy New Year!

GARDEN DESIGN INSPIRATION

Each year I continue to add layers to my garden design knowledge through many resources including: my students, my own garden, fellow designers, plus so many talented people that write, share and teach about gardens on paper and online. Every time I learn something new it helps me gain a new design perspective...which is invaluable.

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Even though I have a strong garden design foundation, I am constantly trying to tip it a little in hopes of shifting my view. A-ha moments and new connections are the best....and I get these by constantly looking for inspiration in different places. Below are some recent sources for me, but know that I'll keep sharing new ones throughout 2025 so we can continue shifting our perspective all year. 

CURRENT DESIGN SPARKS

Below are a few things that have inspired me recently. I hope you'll enjoy them too.

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2025 Trends in Garden Design

These were pulled together by Garden Design and are not the only inspiring things on their site. I encourage you to sign up for their newsletter too.

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Your Natural Garden

This lovely new book by Kelly Norris helps you think about the importance of ecology in your own backyard...and honestly, shifted my mindset a few times while reading it. Please note this is an affiliate link.

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Shuffles

If you're into 2025 visioning, try this fun app to pull together ideas for your garden this year. It connects to your Pinterest account and allows you to collage ideas on your phone (like the image above). My daughter gets the credit for introducing me to this one. Super fun.

The Top Garden Trends in 2025

Yes, I LOVE these trend lists and go down the rabbit hole looking for them at the start of the year. This one is by Gardens Illustrated.

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Hamilton House Designs

If you are looking for happy, positive, inspiring garden vibes in 2025 check in with Skye Hamilton on Instagram. She focuses on hydrangeas and overall gardening (rather than just design), but her high energy posts always lift me up and remind me constantly of how lucky we are to have gardening as an outlet.

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Outdated Backyard Trends and What's Replacing them in 2025

I just have to throw in one more trends list...it's that time of year! I love how this one connects past design trends to new ones. Created by Homes + Gardens.

LET'S DO THIS! 

My free masterclass, 5 TIPS FOR SIMPLE GARDEN GRAPHICS, is another way to gather a bit of inspiration. I offer these during the Garden Graphics Tool Kit enrollment period (January 7-16, 2025) so you can get some free tips, plus learn more about my 8-week drawing course.

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Perhaps you'd like to dive into another source of design inspiration now? Join us for 100 days of design tips with our 10x10 SERIES.

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If you know someone that needs design inspiration, please feel free to share this newsletter. Anyone can subscribe right here. I also keep a VAULT of past issues in this secret location.

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Cheers to you this new year, 

Lisa 

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PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP

Thank you to Mandy Orgler for designing the lovely graphics in all these newsletters.