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 explore GARDEN THRESHOLDS, a wonderful way to move from one garden room to another. ♥︎

The garden to the top right is located at the Denver Botanic Garden. 

GARDEN THRESHOLD DEFINED

Have you ever stepped into a garden and felt a subtle shift—like you’ve entered a different world? That moment of crossing the THRESHOLD is more powerful than we often give it credit for. It sets the tone, the mood, and the pace between two outdoor spaces.

In landscape design, a THRESHOLD is any point where you move from one space into another. It could be a gate, an arbor, a break in a hedge, a change in paving, or even just a shift in light. These little design decisions signal transition. They create a feeling of “leaving behind” and “entering into.” A well-designed THRESHOLD doesn’t just mark a boundary...it offers a moment of transformation.

The garden to the top left was designed by Craig Bergmann Landscape Design in Lake Forest, Illinois.

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THE IMPACT OF GARDEN THRESHOLDS

These moments of landscape design transition can be quite magical. Here’s how:

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They mark a change. Thresholds help you feel when you're leaving one space and entering another. Maybe you're stepping off the sidewalk into a front garden or moving from a sunny patio into a shady nook. They help you sense the shift.

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They guide how you move. Some thresholds gently slow you down, like a narrow path or a gate you have to open. Others invite you forward, like a wide opening or a path that curves out of view. They can shape the way you explore the space. Used in this way, thresholds also help create MYSTERY in a garden.

They create a sense of arrival. Crossing a threshold makes entering a space feel intentional. It can be a small moment...like stepping onto a stone path or something more formal, like walking through a grandiose pergola.

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They add feeling and drama. Moving through a threshold can create emotion like...anticipation, surprise, and calm. Think of a narrow passage that suddenly opens up to a big, expansive garden. That reveal is part of the magic.

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Here are two videos of me drawing and adding color to one type of threshold: an arbor.

The garden above was designed by Tracy VanVolkinburg of Plaids + Poppies in Michigan. 

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Let's do this!

Whether bold or barely noticeable, THRESHOLDS are a quiet but powerful tool in shaping how people experience a garden. How can you use thresholds in your garden to help the transition from one space to another?

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Would you like to learn a quick design tip every morning as you enjoy your cup of coffee? We've pulled together 100 for you in our 10x10 GARDEN DESIGN TIPS series for only $10.

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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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Happy spring to you,

Lisa 

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PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP

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