Summer Stillness & Inspiration Abroad

While July often brings a slower rhythm to the garden, it's a treasured moment for us at Gardens to Love—a time to pause, breathe and look around with fresh eyes.

This summer, I took a busman's holiday to Amsterdam, where I explored the city's hidden canal gardens with Mark Fleming, formerly of McGill & Fleming Landscapes. For one weekend each year, a curated selection of private gardens tucked behind the historic canal houses opens its gates to the public.

Though these gardens live in much smaller footprints than we're used to here in Atlanta, they offer a wealth of inspiration. Towering trees are cherished, lawns are left to grow wild for pollinators and chemicals are never used. The result is lush, intentional beauty rooted in sustainability.

At the end of many of these narrow gardens sit delightful garden houses-each one unique, brimming with charm and offering a moment of retreat. Imagine something similar nestled into your own landscape: a quiet studio, a guest nook or simply a place to enjoy the garden from a new perspective.