Traditional Detailing

The architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is associated with two aphorisms: "Less is more," and "God is in the details." Both are true in the garden. So often, the simplest, most traditional materials are best — as here — where an antique English stone base holds a lovely fluted English lead urn, planted with native ferns and mosses.

Although such elegance looks incredibly simple to achieve, learning to limit the palette in this way requires years of experimentation. As a reporter once remarked to Picasso, "Sir, what is the difference between your paintings and those of a child? My two year old paints like that" "Not quite," he shot back, "your two year old may know what to put in, but I know what to leave out."

Back to the contact sheet