Hello Lisa.

Welcome back to another edition of THE PENCIL CASE! Each issue explores a fresh theme to inspire new ways of thinking about garden design and graphics.

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This week, we’re diving into one of the most important distinctions in garden design: spatial design vs. planting design. They’re often talked about together, but they play very different roles in how a garden feels and functions. Understanding the difference is the key to creating gardens with both structure and soul.

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And if this sparks your curiosity—please join me for a free masterclass next month: Structure + Soul: Understanding Garden Rooms vs. Planting Design. More information later in this newsletter. ♥︎

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The garden above right is by Falling Waters Landscape and the one on bottom left was designed by Joe Berlin...both in San Diego, California.

SPATIAL DESIGN VS. PLANTING DESIGN: Why the Difference Matters

Designing a garden often starts with the plants—but what if that’s actually backwards? In my updated blog post, I share why the most successful gardens begin with the spaces first, and then use plants to reinforce and enrich those spaces. Spatial design lays the structure (think: garden rooms), while planting design brings the soul (choosing plants that add beauty, ecology, and atmosphere). When you understand the difference, your gardens shift from being simply pretty to truly powerful.

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Read the full post here → Spatial Design vs. Planting Design: Why the Difference Matters

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The next time you look at your own garden: Ask yourself—Have I defined the space first or are my plants defining it for me?

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The garden below was designed Tara Dudley of Plant Life Designs in Van Meter, Iowa.

RESOURCES + RABBIT HOLES

Ready to dive deeper into spatial and planting design? Here are a couple of great places to explore:

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Check out my article on the Monrovia website: HOW TO DESIGN AN OUTDOOR ROOM.

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Don't forget to join me for my upcoming free masterclass, Structure + Soul: Understanding Garden Rooms vs. Planting Design. We’ll explore how structure (spatial design) and soul (planting design) work together to create gardens that are both functional and deeply beautiful. It’s going to be a lovely time to learn and dream together. Save your spot here...plus learn a bit about The Garden Design Collective while you're there.

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Below is a lovely spot in Chanticleer Gardens in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

CLIPPINGS + CURIOSITIES

Not everything relates to the topic at hand, so below are a couple of random thoughts...from my sketchbook, the garden, or the day. Let's shake it up.

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Things I Didn’t Expect to Love. This is our first year growing vegetables...mostly tomatoes in our raised planters. What’s surprised me most isn’t just the taste of fresh tomatoes, but the little ritual of checking on them each day. Sunny and I take short walks together to hunt for ripening fruit, and it’s become this sweet pause in the day—fresh air, a wagging tail, and the quiet satisfaction of gathering food we’ll enjoy later at the table.

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Design-Related, But Barely. I’m not great at stopping...my mind is usually buzzing with projects and ideas. But every so often, Tommy nudges me to get a massage, and I’ve learned it helps more than just my muscles. For that one quiet hour, I can’t do anything but rest. My thoughts wander, rearrange, and sometimes land in surprising places. I don’t try to solve problems there...I just let my mind go where it needs to. Somehow, that pause gives me more clarity than hours at my desk ever could.

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The garden below left is located in Charleston, South Carolina, while the garden below right was designed by Falling Waters Landscape in San Diego, California.

Did you get a chance to read about Spatial Design vs. Planting Design here?

And did you sign up for my free masterclass next month on STRUCTURE + SOUL?

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If you know someone that needs a bit of garden 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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Keep exploring, sketching, and savoring every garden moment.

From the studio + garden,

Lisa 

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PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP

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