Hello Lisa.

Welcome back to yet another edition of THE PENCIL CASE! Each issue focuses on a theme to encourage a fresh look at garden design and graphics. Let's discuss TRAVELING as a beautiful source of inspiration. ♥︎

Recycled brick found in the RiNo District in Denver, Colorado.

TRAVELS + A MIND SHIFT

Last month, Tommy and I took a much needed break via a car ride to Denver, Colorado. We discussed many trip options, but decided long conversations on a 9-hour drive, plus day trips inside and outside Denver would be the perfect break from our normal routines. We found a super cute Airbnb in a cool area north of downtown (RiNo), then enjoyed great food, meeting awesome people and learning about a new area...from culture to the arts to the environment.

.....

Traveling is a great source of inspiration all around. When we feel stuck about a design or simply want to push boundaries in our work, it's important to listen, learn and take in new perspectives. There are many ways to achieve this...and traveling is one of them.

Left image: Flowers found along the Chief Mountain Trail at 11,000 foot elevation.

Right image: A super cool wall/fence in the RiNo District of Denver.

HOW I WAS INSPIRED 

Traveling (whether to a new area in town or a place miles away) is one way I enjoy shifting my perspective. When we visited Denver (and the surrounding area), these were a few places that inspired me:

..... 

The Denver Art Museum. Though the entire museum was awesome, I especially loved the Biophilia exhibit. It was a lovely collection of art, architecture, fashion, sculpture and so much more...inspired by nature. It made me revaluate how our own designs can grow from nature and the site....in meaningful ways.

.....

The RiNo District. This is the area that served as our homebase, located just north of downtown Denver. This is an up and coming neighborhood with cool restaurants, coffee shops and shopping. I was inspired by the use of recycled materials (from pavers to furniture), the amazing murals (simple to complex) and how beautifully old materials/architecture was mix with new. 

Eating lunch along the Colorado River to celebrate the half-way point on the Lulu City trail in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Rocky Mountain National Park. This was the first time Tommy and I visited and wow! Tommy suggested we leave early (4:45 AM) in the morning to visit a trail on the west side (Lulu City) of the park and it was well worth it. Two hours of driving on the most beautiful road, then we hiked a pretty easy trail to get us acclimated to the mountains. It took us 4.5 hours to walk 7 miles, so I had a lot of time to look at the natural landscape. Seeing native plants along the trail really embedded in me the importance of understanding local flora (and where they grow), then using those as a foundation for your own garden.

Bonus: We also hiked Chief Mountain Trail (south of Idaho Springs) and experienced the top of a mountain. Loved seeing the plants (and rocks) way up there too!

.....

Denver Botanic Gardens. I always love visiting local gardens and we were thrilled to see not only the main Gardens, but also those located on the south side of Denver at Chatfield Farms. Both sites had super inspiring design from overall garden rooms to the beautiful transitions between them, plus all the special details of paving, garden structures...and the most amazing plant combinations. Shall I dare say my phone is filled with hundreds of photos that will show up everywhere...via classes, newsletters and presentations? 

The beautiful Denver Botanic Gardens.

LET'S DO THIS!

What recent trip has inspired you? Tag me on Instagram @paper.garden.workshop to share a photo and let me know how that experience energized you.

.....

Mark your calendar for our first DRAWING DEMO on Thursday, September 12 at noon US Central. More information will be shared in our next newsletter.

.....

The GARDEN DESIGN COLLECTIVE is also opening up for enrollment once again in September. This is our monthly membership where we dive into one topic a month. Please join our WAITING LIST to learn more.

.....

Need design inspiration now? You're welcome to join our 10x10 GARDEN DESIGN TIPS email journey for only $10.

.....

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.

.....

To many inspiring moments,

Lisa

.....

PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP