Tamar Sahakian, the owner of Searoon Succulents (a site launching this week), was a crafty child, always making things or gardening with her dad. But when it came to choosing a career she went in another direction, becoming a special education teacher for young children. Things changed on a trip to the rugged woods at Salt Point, on the Northern California coast. Sahakian found herself marveling at the succulents that thrived on the rocky cliffs. When she spotted a big log with a natural crevice in it, she got the idea of pairing the two. 

Photography by Mimi Giboin.

Above: Back home in Santa Barbara, Sahakian began creating signature botanical art objects: chunks of tree trunks that appear to have burst open to reveal hidden troves of succulents such as echevaria, crassula, and sempervivum. Eventually she converted her landlord's old treehouse into a studio.

Above: What started as a hobby quickly attracted the attention of friends and colleagues, who began ordering the unusual pieces. Two years ago Sahakian started selling her work through word of mouth and in a local nursery. Now she's leaving full-time teaching and has just moved to San Francisco to establish an online business she's named Searoon Succulents. "I never thought this could be a career," she says of the changes going on in her life.

Above: Although Sahakian claims not to have a green thumb, she propagates many of the plants she uses. Others she buys from a local supplier. 

Above: Sahakian regularly makes foraging trips into the woods, looking for logs that are in some state of decomposition. She also combs the streets for the remains of trees the city has cut down. 

Above: The charm of Sahakian's work is that the succulents seem to have grown where they are. She gets that natural look by using the existing indentations in the wood, but occasionally she has to enlarge a hole or change its shape. 

Above: Sahakian says she's still getting used to the idea that people are willing to pay her for work she loves to do. This piece of framed succulents recently sold for $450.

Above: Her new website will show pre-made items, but Sahakian hopes most of the business will come from custom pieces, commissioned by clients who want something green and living that requires only minimal care.

Above: Sahakian considers working closely with people to be one of the most rewarding parts of her art. So far, many of her clients have been older couples and businesses, such as restaurants, looking for unusual decor. She has also designed for weddings. 

Above: A new direction for Sahakian is combining succulents with animal skulls found on trips to the desert.  

Above: What's up next? Succulents bursting out of books (watch her website for pictures). This idea is sure to be as startling and attractive as its predecessors. After all, the name of her business, Searoon, is a version of the Armenian word "sirun," which means "beautiful." 

For more on succulents, check out Tabletop Garden of Succulents and the handy How to Stop Killing Your Indoor Succulents. And on Remodelista, see Tabletop Garden of Succulents.

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As a native Cape Codder, I've always been fond of seaweed. So when I ran across designer Karen Robertson's pressed seaweed DIY on Garden Design, I had to give it a try.

Read on for a list of materials and step-by-step instructions:

Photography by Justine Hand for Gardenista.

Above: Any project that starts with "Step 1: Head to the beach" is A-okay with me. Here my little helpers (Oliver and Solvi) are finding seaweed specimens, which we carried home in a bucket of seawater.

Materials

• Seaweed
• 140-lb Watercolor Paper (76 cents a sheet from Dick Blick)
• Cardboard
• Weedblock Fabric ($9.97 a roll from Home Depot), or other mesh fabric
• An Artist's Brush (prices range from $5.50 to $16.64, depending on size and shape, at Utrecht)
• Two pieces of wood
• Something heavy (like a stack of books) to weigh down the prints

Above: Once your specimens are home, place them in the sink or a white bucket filled with seawater.

Above: Fill another bucket with 2 inches of water. (I used the other half of my double sink.) Slide a piece of watercolor paper into the water and arrange the seaweed on top, keeping both paper and seaweed submerged.

Above: Carefully lift the paper out of the water, tilting it this way and that so the water drains away but you still maintain your design (more or less). Use a small brush to reposition the seaweed into the desired composition and to sweep away unwanted bits of seaweed or sand. 

Above: Place your arrangement on a piece of corrugated cardboard and gently position a piece of mesh fabric on top. If you want, you can layer several prints this way.

Above: Put all your prints between the two flat boards and weigh them down with something heavy, like a brick or your Art Through the Ages book. Let the prints dry for several days, depending on the relative dryness of your climate. A fan will speed the process.

Above: After several days, remove the weights and layers to reveal your prints. (If they're still damp, just put them back under the weight.) I Googled the names of my specimens and wrote them on the paper in pencil.

Above: Two framed prints now grace my mantel. The most delicate specimens and simplest compositions turned out to be my favorites.

Above: After my experience, I have one addition to Karen Robertson's directions: Choose the more translucent and delicate seaweeds; they make better (and less messy) prints. 

We also made summer art with our collection of sea glass, shells, and driftwood. If you too brought back treasures from the beach, see DIY: How to Turn Flotsam and Jetsam into Wall Art.

For another kid-friendly DIY project, see my DIY Leaf Prints.

N.B.: This is an update of a post originally published on June 14, 2013.

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You don't have to live in a lighthouse or regularly battle stormy weather on dark nights to appreciate wharf-inspired outdoor fixtures. Here are 10 dock lights in our favorite pitch-dark color—black—that are rated for wet locations: 

Above: This 15-inch Wall-Mounted Fishing Light is available in two colors, including charcoal; £75 from Garden Trading.

Above: From Davey Lighting, a Weatherproof Ship's Well Glass Light in a weathered brass finish with a clear glass shade is £229 from Lighting Matters.

Above: The steel and aluminum Harbor Sconce by Restoration Hardware is 12¼ inches high and includes one 60-watt incandescent Edison frost bulb, $129.

Above: A Marine Wall Light by designer E. F. Chapman comes in five finishes (including bronze, shown above) and is $378 from Circa Lighting.

Above: The 12-inch-high Nantucket Wall Light is available in three finishes; $99 at Shades of Light.

Above: A Wire Guard Sconce comes in 18 finishes (including black, shown here) and has a heavy-duty industrial wall mount; $180 from Barnlight Electric.

Above: An Upplid Wall Lantern in an Outdoor Black finish is £25 from Ikea.

Above: Designed by Ralph Lauren, a Fulton Large Sconce with an industrial steel base and black shade is $770 from Circa Lighting.

Above: The Belfast Outdoor Wall Light by Garden Trading is finished in cast zinc; £80 from John Lewis.

Above: Kichler’s 12-inch One Light Outdoor Wall Mount, part of its Seaside Collection, houses a 100-watt bulb and is Dark Skies compliant. Available at 1StopLighting.com, $38.50. 

For more outdoor fixtures, see 10 Easy Pieces: Barnhouse-Style Outdoor Lights. For romance rather than illumination, check out 10 Easy Pieces: Cafe-Style Outdoor String Lights.

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Whether a space is grand or humble, water makes it better. And nothing lends itself more to quiet contemplation than a peaceful reflecting pool. We've found 10 gardens with Serene Pools in our Gardenista Gallery. . . . Aren't you feeling more relaxed already?

Above: We love this shimmering pool created by designer Eva Wagnerová for a garden in Brno, in the Czech Republic. The bottom of the pool is black slate, and the stone slabs that extend into the water are purely ornamental. No cannonballs allowed. For more, see The Dark Mirror: A Backyard Reflecting Pool in Eastern Europe.

Above: Helen Dillon, considered the queen of Irish gardening, is known for the rich colors and "organized chaos" of her Dublin garden. This space was once a lawn, which Helen dispensed with to build a pond and canal set in Irish limestone. Read more in Garden Visit: Helen Dillon's Garden in Dublin.

Above: Reflecting pools don't need to be huge. In Design Sleuth: French Garden Mirrors, we wrote about the small Paris garden of architect Nicolas Soulier and ceramicist Cécile Daladier, where tiny zinc mirror ponds reflect the sky and create the illusion of more space.

Above: The cobalt blue in this pool is the signature color of Morocco's Majorelle Garden, once the home of fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. The cacti and other exotic plants were collected by French artist Louis Majorelle on his travels around the world. For more, see Rhapsody in Blue: Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech. 

Above: England's Sezincote estate has unexpected Indian influences. Here, the view beneath what's called the Indian Bridge, where stepping stones lead to a waterfall and a pond beyond. See Garden Visit: Sezincote in Gloucestershire. 

Above: At La Noria, a garden in the South of France, landscape designers Arnaud Maurières and Eric Ossart have turned an ancient irrigation system into a modern water feature. Read more in Landscape Architect Visit: La Noria in the South of France.

Above: Water is perhaps the greatest luxury of all in India, and canals and reflecting pools are a coveted feature of Indian gardens. This courtyard pool is at a country house in Awas; read more in 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from India. Photograph via RMA Architects.

Above: Asked to redo the garden at an old family estate in Derbyshire, England, garden designer Arne Maynard created a reflecting pool beside what he calls "an embossed lawn—a subtle watermark—which gives a new lease on life to what is essentially a very traditional space." For more, see A Modern Garden in a Medieval Setting. 

Above: Who knew that America's Greatest Forgotten Garden was in the Westchester town of Yonkers, NY? Wealthy Manhattan lawyer Samuel Untermyer bought a baronial mansion, Greystone, here in 1899. A portion of the lavish estate has been restored by the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy and is open to the public. It's worth a visit just for the splendid view of the Hudson River.

Above: Mid-century magic: Read how a Japanese reflecting pool designed by Richard Neutra in LA was brought back to life in Architect Visit: Neutra House Restoration by Tim Campbell.

Trying to figure out how to incorporate a water feature in your garden? If you're thinking big, see images of Perfectly Placid Ponds in our Gardenista Gallery. Did you have something more modest in mind? See our Favorite Fountains.

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Landscape architect's design tip: Spy on the construction crew.

The first time Susan Wisniewski went to see the former dairy farm her clients had bought in upstate New York, a crew was at work renovating the old farmhouse. "It's great when the contractors are there, because you can see where they go to sit," she says. "They always find the best spots." The crew's favorite lunch spot is where she put the lawn.

Another design tip: Spy on the landscape. As Wisniewski walked around the 40-acre Hudson Valley farm, she spied a low, damp area near the old barn. "There used to be a soggy paddock there, and that got me thinking," she said. The paddock became a 1,800-square-foot pond.

And the pond? That became the center of attention. "When people see water, they walk over to it. Whenever a water feature is introduced to a landscape, your eye goes right to it," says Wisniewski, a member of the Remodelista + Gardenista Architect/Designer Directory.

Photography courtesy of Susan Wisniewski Landscape LLC.

Above: Soggy paddock no more. 

Before digging, Wisniewski sought the opinion of ground excavators, who agreed that the low-lying damp area was a good spot for a pond. 

Above: The "before" version.

Wisniewski laid out the pond following the landscape's natural indentations. The topography provided a rough blueprint. "I prefer to work with what's existing," she says. 

Above: Pond in progress.

The soil in the old paddock had a high clay content, so it held water. "We didn't have to put down an artificial barrier, so that was a huge cost savings," says Wisniewski. "And there's enough watershed around the paddock for a natural supply of water for the pond."

Above: When you drive onto the property, you see the pond right away. It sits between the barn and the house and unifies the landscape.

Above: The stepping stones are Pennsylvania bluestone.

Above: The biggest challenge to creating a unified landscape? "The property is full of black walnut trees," says Wisniewski. "They give out a toxic chemical, and it's hard to find plants that will survive around their roots. Thank goodness for ferns."

Above: The clients use the farm as a summer and weekend retreat from their New York City home, but have plans to move upstate permanently.

Above: A circular bench was built around the base of an old elm tree. Beside it is what's left of an old chicken coop.

Above: "There were remnants of a lot of old structures on the site," says Wisniewski. "We left the foundations in place and incorporated them into the landscape." 

See more Water Features in our Gardenista Gallery of images. And for more upstate New York design tips, see Required Reading: Gardens of the Hudson Valley.

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We think crushed seashells should be on the short list for topping paths and driveways. After all, they're natural, beautiful, functional, and remind us of the sea. Read on to find out if crushed seashell is the best hardscaping material for you. 

Above: Seashell paths originated in Colonial times as a result of early-American recycling efforts. Oysters and other shellfish were a primary source of food, and thrifty settlers put their discarded shells to use as a paving material. Later, this practice became common in New England as a way to recycle waste from the seafood industry. A hardworking hardscape material, it's stood the test of time, as seen in this crushed-shell walkway in an herb garden at Virginia's Norfolk Botanical Garden. Image via Urban Sacred Garden.

Why use seashells to cover paths and driveways?

A great alternative to gravel, crushed shells can be used on paths, patios, courtyards, driveways, and even bocce ball courts (the shells don't hold water or imprints from shoes and balls). As the shells are walked on or driven over, they break into smaller pieces that disperse evenly, creating a stable surface that's not prone to the ruts and holes you get with crushed stone toppings.

Another benefit is that, as long as they come from a sustainable harvesting operation, shells are environmentally friendly. They provide excellent drainage, since rainwater runs through them to percolate into the ground. And shells are a natural material that benefits the ground below as they decompose. 

Above: The crushed-shell driveway of Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan's Shelter Island home. Edging the driveway are a pair of autumn olives and tufts of drought-tolerant prairie dropseed grass. Image by Vickie Cardaro.

Above: A crushed-shell ribbon driveway in Nantucket. Image via Elizabeth Boyer on Pinterest.

How do you install a crushed-shell path or driveway?

Coverage is key. The experts at Emerald Landscape Supply in Massachusetts recommend a 3-inch-deep application. Some installers suggest starting with a gravel base, but it must be compacted and leveled (preferably by a professional) so the surface doesn't become soft. You want to ensure that tires drive over—not through—it. The shells will compact and become more stable over time. 

The general rule of thumb is that one cubic yard of seashell will provide a 3-inch-deep cover for a 100-square-foot space.  Another tip: Shell hardscaping is best for level surfaces. A steep drive is not a good application, as the shells are likely to collect at the bottom.

Above: Livingscapes in New Zealand converted a steep walk into a series of flat grades covered with shells, putting wooden risers in between. Image via LIvingscapes.

What are the best shells to use?

The most common shells used for hardscaping are oyster, clam, and scallop. Their differences are subtle: mostly in color and how they break down. Oyster shells, primarily off-white and gray, break down in a way that makes them more compact and, subsequently, more stable over time. Clam shells, mostly off-white or yellow-white, are slightly more fragile and will break down faster than oyster shells. They also compact nicely for vehicle traffic. Scallop shells add brown coloration to the mix. Despite initial variations in color, all the shells bleach under the sun and become lighter over time. Your choice will most likely depend on what's readily available in your area.

Above: Mahogany quahog clam shells from Massachusetts cover the sand in this Shelter Island garden. A band of Elijah Blue fescue near the house blends into blue dune grass in the distance. For more glimpses of this garden, see Garden Visit: Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan on Shelter Island. Image by Vickie Cardaro.

Don't seashells smell?

Shells that are sold in bulk for hardscaping purposes are left over from seafood harvesting, so the shellfish have been removed. Typically, the shells have been thoroughly washed, so there should be little left to generate stink. That said, they may arrive with some natural aroma, but that should dissipate within a day or two. (To one homeowner, they smelled like the beach, not dead seafood.)

Above: Crushed shell hardscaping isn't limited to Cape Cod-style settings. It works well at this oceanfront house in Bridgehampton, NY, by Stelle Lomont Architects, a member of the Remodelista Design Directory. Image by Francesca Giovanelli, Kay Wettstein von Westersheimb.

How much do crushed seashell paths and driveways cost?

When bought in bulk, seashells are on the more affordable end of the spectrum: comparable to crushed gravel; less than asphalt, concrete, or stone. Clam shells seem to be the least expensive, offered at about $40 per cubic yard, or $50 per ton. We priced crushed oyster shell at $385 per ton. The Atlantic coast is the primary source of shells; if you live elsewhere, shipping may be the most expensive part of the project. Contact your local landscape supplier for availability. Alternatively, suppliers like Myco ship crushed shell all over North America.

Buyers tip: Buy in bulk for the lowest price. Unless you're covering a very small area, avoid purchasing small bags at a feed store or the like. 

Above: Shells mix well with other materials, such as brick masonry, stone, and grass. 

What about maintenance? 

The good news: Shell paths and driveways can't crack, so repairs aren't part of the package. Cold and heat won't damage the shells, and they don't develop ruts and holes. Assuming a generous layer was applied at the outset, the material will last a long time. Because of compacting it will eventually need replenishing, but not every year (or even every other year). And unlike gravel, crushed shell hardscaping rarely encounters issues with weeds or pests: The shells' sharp edges act as a natural deterrent (but they're not so sharp as to be an issue for tires or shoes).

Above: Like something more sure-footed? Tabby, a concrete made of oyster shells with lime and sand, is an alternative to 100 percent crushed shell. Image via Ellen George.

Seashell Path and Driveway Recap:

Pros:

• Natural product
• Durable
• Affordable
• Low maintenance
• Light colors mean cooler surface in hot climates
• Provides excellent drainage and prevents runoff
• Visually appealing
• Won't crack or break, requiring repairs

Cons:

• Rough surface that is not barefoot friendly or conducive to bikes, trikes, and other smooth-surface toys and activities
• Not a good covering for steep drives or paths
• Snow removal difficult
• Not readily available in all areas, and shipping may be expensive 

Above: Oyster shells line the paths of a kitchen garden at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. Image via Figs Flower Food.

Oyster shells are also a great boon to the garden. See Gift From the Sea: Oyster Shells in the Garden for tips on putting their nutrients to use. And for more hardscaping ideas, see all of our Hardscaping 101 Features. 

In a Cape Cod state of mind? Remodelista found a great stay in Provincetown: the Salt House Inn.

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One sure sign of summer in my family: Aunt Sheila coming in from the flats carrying a bag full of razor-clam shells. These she employs to add texture throughout her house, most famously on a living-room shelf (seen here and in Remodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home).

I suppose it was inevitable, then, that the rest of the family would get into the game. Recently, I decided to try my hand at making a pendant lamp with a razor-clam shade, inspired by the porcelain sculptures I spotted at Parma Lilac. The next time Sheila headed to the beach, I tagged along.

Read on for a list of materials and step-by-step instructions:

Photography by Justine Hand for Gardenista.

Above: First, go to the beach and collect many razor clams. Here, Uncle Mon holds a day's haul. This is about as many as you'll need.

To avoid confusion, let me clarify: On the East Coast, what we call razor clams (because their elongated shape resembles that of an old-fashioned razor) are actually Atlantic jackknife clams, Ensis directus. These are to be distinguished from Pacific razor clams, which are more oval in form. Atlantic jackknife clams are found all along the East Coast. Or you can buy the clams fresh, cook a nice meal and save the shells.

Materials

• Clean razor clam shells
• Small rotary drill (I used the Master Mechanic Rotary Tool Kit from True Value; $12.97)
• Scrap board on which you can drill
• A pendant fixture, such as a Matte Black Bare Bulb Pendant Light; $99 from Etsy
• Light wire
• Clippers

Above: If the shells you find are already bleached by the sun, great. More than likely, though, they'll need some help. Luckily, all this requires is time. I laid out mine for a couple weeks on my sunny deck until the brown bits had dried up enough to be easily scraped off, leaving pristine white shells. If you don't want to wait, use bleach and a scrubbing brush.

Above: Supplies: drill, scrap board, wire, clams.

Above: You'll need a diamond-point bit to drill through the thick shells without shattering them. I bought a Dremel 7134 Diamond Wheel Point ($5.03 at Ace Hardware). Get two, in case one wears out.

I set my drill at Level 3, then placed the bit about 1/4 inch from the end of the shell. I didn't bother to measure, because I wanted a random look.

Above: Make sure your shells are all facing the same way when you make the holes so that the finished lamp will lie right. Drilling all the holes took no more than 10 minutes.

Above: Cut a 2-foot section of wire and thread it through the holes one shell at a time, making sure they're all facing the same direction.

Above: A few shells done; many more to go.

Above: I strung two sets to make a double-layered pendant. You can also make a single layer.

Above: Though any old fixture will do, I chose a vintage-style bare bulb pendant with a cloth cord from Etsy seller Hammers and Heels. You could also choose a cage pendant for this project. 

Above: Spread the shells along the wires so they're evenly spaced. Wrap the first layer around the light and twist the ends of the wire to secure them. Fasten the second layer so it sits slightly higher than the first. Trim the wire ends and hang near an outlet.

Above: My finished lamp emits a soft glow.

Above: Fittingly, I gave my first razor clam lamp to Aunt Sheila. Here it perfectly complements the shiplap siding in her guest room.

Above: A detail of the textured clam shells.

Want more ways to turn foraged beach finds into home decor? See my DIYs on How to Turn Flotsam and Jetsam Into Wall Art and Pressed Seaweed Prints. Over at Remodelista, Julie shares her favorite ways to use Beach Stones as Decor.

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If you form the letter "C" with your hand, you'll be creating the shape of the delicious Hardanger Retreat. Just imagine that "C" shape as a cabin made of sleek, light-colored wood, tucked into a Norwegian forest at the edge of a spectacular fjord. The creators call it a "love shack," and indeed its isolated site and spare one-room design make it the perfect private hideaway.

This little building was created as a calling card by architects Todd Saunders and Tommie Wilhelmsen. Several years ago, the two were just starting out and in need of clients. Instead of trying to woo customers with drawings and blueprints, they reasoned that an actual structure they had designed and built themselves (with the help of carpenter Mats Rustoy) would be the best advertisement for their talents. They emptied their savings accounts to purchase the remote piece of land and went to work. The result was Hardanger Retreat.

Photography by Bent Rene Synnevag.

Above: Viewed from this angle, the 215-square-foot cabin is reminiscent of an Airstream trailer—but one built of oiled larch and birch plywood, materials that blend with the surrounding forest.

Above: The long thin deck is designed to float above the forest floor without harming the vegetation. Some 150 native plants grow in these woods, including delicate wild orchids.  

Above: A handful of trees had to be cleared to make room for the cabin, but their wood was used in construction. Rather than remove trees to build the deck, the designers simply worked around them. (For more examples of woodsmen sparing trees, see 5 Favorites: Decks Built Around Trees.)

Above: The cabin is off the grid and almost out of sight. It has an genuine presence that makes it different from its surroundings but somehow germane, both contrasting and in harmony with its location.  

Above: At 111 miles, the Hardanger Fjord is the third longest fjord in the world. Watching it is perhaps the main diversion here.

Above: Floor-to-ceiling windows allow maximum light inside and reveal the full impact of the jaw-dropping view. 

Above: The cabin has no electricity: The architects reasoned that it would be used mainly in summer, when the sun shines as much as 20 hours a day.

Above: Since this modest project, Saunders, a Canadian who's based in Bergen, Norway, has gained international acclaim. See his designs for artist's studios on farflung Fogo Island, Newfoundland, and for the striking 29-room Fogo Island Inn.   

Above: A respect for nature is a hallmark of Saunders' work, most of which is based in Norway and Canada. His book Architecture in Northern Landscapes is available from Amazon; $62.95.

For more ingenious outbuildings in Norway, see Norwegian Wood: Sheds, Retractable Roof Included and A Folding Ice Cabin. Can't get enough of these small structures? See all our posts on Outbuildings.

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When I bought my Cape Cod cottage by the bay, I dreamed of an English country-style garden, all lush and wild. And so for years I fertilized and watered, and replanted, and fertilized and watered some more, only to wind up with a few scraggly scraps of green. Which is why one day, I found myself at my local garden center for a presentation on "How to Plant a Native Garden."

I remember the expert saying, as he recommended beach plum, "This plant loves neglect. The more salt spray and sandy soil the better. Don't water it. Do not fertilize it. In fact, swear at it if you can." I knew I'd come to the right place.

Three years later, I have the lush and wild garden I always wanted. In fact, I spent this past weekend hacking it all back (ahem, I mean delicately pruning). Yes, I now have to thin my garden. No matter, that's a problem I can live with.

And so here are my own tried-and-true recommendations for the most drought-and-pest-resistant, sandy-soil-loving, wind-tolerant, easy-peasy perennials for the successful seaside garden. 

Photography by Justine Hand, except where noted.

Above: Photograph by Jouko Lehmuskalio via Luonto Portti.

If you live right on the beach, don't despair. There are a few plants for you, like Beach Peas. With a cheery purple or pink face, the beach pea, or Lathyrus japonicus, is one of the few plants that can actually survive on a dune.

Plant them along your beach path for a rambling border, or in your sandiest garden soil. (Note, these are not the same as annual sweet peas. I tried those one year, only to find that bunnies think they are very yummy.) You can collect dried beach pea seeds following this handy how-to by Sea Bean Guide, or buy Beach Pea Seeds from Smart Seeds via Etsy; $2.99 for a packet of 25. 

Above: In my own garden, I planted a mix of Northern Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) and Rosa rugosa. The lush, vibrant green leaves of bayberry not only look lovely against my gray siding, they also provide a substantial backdrop for smaller, more colorful plantings. The fast-growing bayberry is also excellent as a quick hedge, as long as you like the informal look. (Too much trimming otherwise.) I just give my bushes a good pruning in the late fall; throughout the summer, I snip any unruly bits and take them inside as a fragrant accent in the bedroom or bath.

Note: If you want berries to make bayberry candles, you'll need a male pollinator and a female plant. Northern Bayberry is readily available at most garden centers or at Home Depot, where a 3-gallon pot is $35.49.

Above: Photograph via Prairie Hill Farm.

I've had great luck with Globe Thistle (Echinops bannaticus). It may not be an instant hit like some of my other plants, but last year my globe thistle finally reached dramatic proportions. All it took was a little fertilizer a couple of times per season and water during the worst droughts. Available online at Digging Dog Nursery; $7.25 per plant. 

Above: Photograph of Kalmus Beach, Cape Cod, by Bruce Christopher. 

I mix Rosa rugosa with bayberry as my garden backdrop. Though it's actually native to Japan, it does quite well in most northern coastal climes. (Sometimes too well; Rosa rugosa is considered invasive in parts of Europe.)

With suckers that are prone to spreading, Rosa rugosa is good for covering a large area. It's especially beautiful in early and late summer, when it's blanketed in fragrant blooms. The white or magenta flowers against lime-colored leaves make it perfect for both colorful and more neutral gardens. And in fall, of course, you have wonderfully bright persimmon-colored rose hips. One further note: If you're picking the aromatic blooms for a bouquet, wear gloves, as they are extremely thorny. You can buy varieties of Rosa rugosa at most nurseries and at Nature Hill Gardens, where a Rosa Rugosa F. J. Grootendorst Hybrid is $44.95. 

Above: Grass provides wonderful texture and subtle tones to the garden. It's beautiful when planted in meadows or in large swaths as borders, such as in this garden in Brittany by Cao Perrot. Undulating grasses mimic the rolling sea. My favorite varieties: Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), spiky blue grass, switch grasses, fountain grass, and simple beach grass, which can be found at Plant Delights Nursery, along with a long list of salt-tolerant plants. For a complete guide to grass gardening, you can't do better than Dutch designer Piet Oudolf's Planting, a New Perspective at Amazon; $26.45.

Above: Traditional roses by the sea are hard. My neighbor has struggled with hers for as long as I've owned my seaside house. She's constantly dowsing them with toxic chemicals, and finally resorted to putting chicken wire around each plant. But there are pest-resistant roses that love bad soil and almost no water: Dorothy Perkins, Memorial Rose, or my favorite, New Dawn. I wanted a rose-covered cottage, and I got one. All I do to achieve the profusion shown here is to fertilize my New Dawn once in the spring, and water only in the worst droughts. (Note: I inherited this old rose when I purchased the house. But still, they do grow fast.) New Dawn is available from Antique Rose Emporium; $18.95.

Above: Photograph by Boise Daily Garden Shot.

As well as it works in arid climates, English lavender also thrives by the coast, particularly when tucked into a warm, sunny, southern-facing nook. But lavender dislikes being crowded by other plants, so give it plenty of room to grow. Munstead English Lavender is available at Home Depot; $17.99. 

Above: Photograph via Wild Ginger Farm.

For color in the front of my garden, I planted a couple of yarrow (achillea) plants. It's drought-resistant, but it doesn't thrive on neglect like Rosa rugosa or bayberry (i.e., some water is necessary). My one frustration is that most places on Cape Cod only stock the really bright hues, which are too garish for my soft garden palette. Instead, I look for the pale yellow petals and silver leaves of King Edward Yarrow, or the soft pinks of Appleblossom or Apricot Delight. You can buy King Edward Yarrow at Bluestone Perennials; $9.95. 

Above: Photograph by Bob Cunningham.

Every year, my grandmother and I used to harvest Beach Plum (Prunus maritima) for her special jelly, so this coastal fruit tree has a special place in my heart. From its lovely little white flowers that bloom in the early spring to the edible fruit in fall, this native gives all year round. Since it grows to about chest height, beach plum also makes an effective privacy screen. Beach Plum is available at Stark Bros; $12.99 per tree. 

Above: Don't forget some winter color. Tall silver branches festooned with jolly red Winter Berries (Ilex verticillata) are one of my favorite holiday traditions. (I took this shot from the marsh walk at Coast Guard Beach on Thanksgiving.) As with bayberry, you'll need to buy the male pollinator in order to get berries. Ilex Berry Nice Winterberry and Jim Dandy are available together at Greenwood Nursery; $44.95.

Above: I've also had a lot of success in my sunny seaside garden with the following plants: sweet Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), $5.95 from the Grower's Exchange (pictured above with popcorn daylilies); Buttered Popcorn Daylilies, which bloom all summer and are $14.95 from Oakes Daylilies; and feathery Russian Sage Perovskia atriplicifolia ($12.45 from White Flower Farm), which is disease- and pest-resistant. I do love cone flower (echineachia) and rudbeckia, but before they can flower, mine are always eaten by the bunnies that I choose not to battle. You may note the conspicuous absence of hydrangeas. That's because this ubiquitous blue flower doesn't fit my concept of a wild, windswept coastal garden, so I don't have a lot of experience with them. I'll leave it to Michelle to write that post.

Do you have any other favorite foolproof plants for the seaside garden? Please share. It's a harsh world out there, and we coastal gardeners have to stick together.

For gardening ideas on a more exotic coast, take a tour of Carol Chadwick's inspired Aegean garden.

N.B.: This is an update of a post originally published June 19, 2013.

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• Field Guide: Pelargonium

While we at Gardenista were posting about all things watery for this week's Life Aquatic theme, the editors at Remodelista were doing the same thing, their way. Join them as they lounge in hammocks and celebrate the nautical life.

Above: Vintage boats hang from the ceiling at Slip, one of two adjoining restaurants on an island in the center of Stockholm. Reminiscent of Wes Anderson, perhaps? See more in Oaxen Krog and Slip: A Marine-Inspired Restaurant in Stockholm.

Above: Interior designer Tom Scheerer has remodeled two cottages on Harbour Island, in the Bahamas, and is now at work on a third (on Abaco). This attic bedroom shows his knack for combining the comfy with the composed. For more, see Island Life: At Home with Tom Scheerer.

Above: A post on Nautical Hardware: 7 Cleats for Home Use gives you a good excuse to hang out in your local marine-supply store. 

Above: Margot got permission to board so she could report on how a group of friends overhauled a beat-up houseboat. We love this shot of a tugboat towing the vessel down the Hudson River to its new home in the Rockaways, in Queens, before the deck-swabbing began. Read more in Rehab Diary: The Ultimate Houseboat in NYC. Photograph by Will Van Dorp via Tugster. 

Above: Julie investigates boathouse chic in her Trend Alert: 11 Rooms with Oars as Decor.  

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• Table of Contents: Life Aquatic
• Composting: Are You Obsessed?
• Trending on Remodelista: Scandi Midsummer

Some people can't leave a hardware store without buying something. We're that way in garden-supply stores (and websites, too). Here are some special additions we've been eyeing this week: 

• Above: Zinc-finish circle trays are ideal for serving cool beverages or displaying a garden bouquet. These come in a million sizes.
• Whatever your garden style, you'll find the path it deserves among these 41 ideas. 
• A graceful, easy-to-add architectural element: an arbor. Now, where to put it . . .   

• Above: It's called the Face Planter; get it? Silly, but we love it; from our friends at The Sill. 
• A carved-oak rope swing just says summer. Note to self: Need bigger trees.

• Above: Instead of a table runner, a three-foot-long natural branch makes a bold statement for an outdoor banquet. 
• Even the humble garden hose likes to dress up with a new accessory now and then. 

• Above: Kind of adorable. How else to describe the air plant-seashell jellyfish we found on Etsy?
• Two words: June roses.  

For more on Gardenista, take a look at this week's Life Aquatic issue. And check out Remodelista's equally oceanic issue. 

Finally, don't forget to submit your outdoor project to this year's Gardenista Considered Design Awards. Grab your camera; the July 7th deadline is fast approaching! 

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• Current Obsessions: Hello, Peonies

If you haven't prepared your entry to the 2014 Gardenista Considered Design Awards, there's still time to grab your camera and get snapping. But you only have 10 more days to submit your project!

Insider Tip: So far, the category with the fewest submissions is Best Small Garden, Amateur. We've received only a handful of entries, which increases your chance of winning in this category. Remember, this category is defined broadly: You can enter your indoor garden, window boxes, fire escape garden, container garden, vertical garden, even your houseplants. 

We also have plenty of room in the Best Edible Garden category, which is open to everyone—professionals and enthusiasts alike. 

Here's a sneak preview of some of the great entries we've received so far, followed by the full list of Gardenista categories. (And remember, you can see all contest entries as soon as they're submitted on the Gardenista Awards page.)

Gardenista Awards Categories

• Best Garden/Amateur: Best overall outdoor garden designed by an amateur gardener.
• Best Small Garden/Amateur: Houseplants, indoor gardens, window boxes, fire escape gardens, container gardens, vertical gardens, etc. designed by an amateur gardener.
• Best Outdoor Living Space/Everyone: Outdoor sitting rooms and lounge spaces, outdoor kitchens, outdoor dining rooms, outdoor showers and baths, etc. open to both professionals and amateurs.
• Best Edible Garden/Everyone: Kitchen gardens, vegetable patches, raised beds, outdoor herb gardens, etc. open to both professionals and amateurs.
• Best Hardscape Project/Everyone: Stairways, decks and patios, driveways, pathways, fences, swimming pools, garden gates, trellises, etc. open to both professionals and amateurs.
• Best Professional Landscape: Best overall outdoor garden or landscape designed by a professional.
• Best Garden Shed or Outbuilding/Professional: Garden sheds, storage sheds, barns, garages, carports, greenhouses, pool houses, backyard studios, outhouses, guest houses, etc. designed by a professional. Though an outbuilding is typically detached from a main house, it's not required here.

Click here for rules, prizes, and FAQ; see our roster of guest judges; and enter the contest by July 7.

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• The Countdown Is On: Submit Your Projects to the Considered Design Awards
• Winner's Prize: 2014 Gardenista Considered Design Awards
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The sprinklers are on. The fire hydrants are spraying. And the neighbors have invited us to watch fireworks from their balcony. In between socializing this week (and celebrating Independence Day), we'll be rounding up some of our favorite signs of summer: hydrangeas, guest cottages, hostess gifts, and a tiny glassed-in work studio that converts to instant party space. You're all invited to the block party:

Monday

Above: Lindsey visits the quintessential All-American garden on Cape Cod—hydrangeas, anyone?—and shows us how landscape architect Stephen Stimson transformed the traditional into something utterly modern in this week's Landscape Architect Visit. Photograph via Stephen Stimson.

Tuesday

Above: The challenge: a 186-square-foot guest cottage, with a tiny bathroom and an even tinier kitchenette. In this week's Steal This Look, Michelle hunts down every item you need to ensure the guests can make their own coffee (and drink it out there too) in the morning. Photograph by Nicole Franzen for Gardenista.

Wednesday

Above: This time we mean it. We know we promised a 10 Easy Pieces featuring glass laboratory vases last week, but then we suddenly fell in love with Sarah's 10 Black Wharf Lights and rushed them into the lineup. This week? Stay tuned for our roundup of beakers and flasks and test tube vases. (Hint to summer houseguests: These make lovely hostess gifts.)

Thursday

Above: Ellen explains everything you ever needed to know about red clay roof tiles—the ones shown here are Mission Barrel style, by the way—in this week's Hardscaping 101. Photograph via Revitcity.

Friday

Above: Photograph by Mimi Giboin for Gardenista.

Our friend Mimi trekked high into the hills above Barcelona to bring us photographs of a special Outbuilding of the Week. We'll tour florist Manuela Sosa's glassed-in greenhouse work studio on the day she sets up for a summer dinner party.

The party's on over at Remodelista too; take a look at more Block Party posts there this week.

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• Trending on Remodelista: Life Aquatic
• Table of Contents: Life Aquatic
• Composting: Are You Obsessed?

At one time, building a house right on the Cape Cod shoreline seemed like a good idea. No more. And after it was determined that the house and terrace on this two-acre property in Osterville (near Hyannis Port on the south shore) infringed on the sensitive coastal ecosystem, an architect and a landscape architect were called in to remedy the situation. The solution: building a new house, guesthouse, and garage, all set back farther from the shore, and installing a permeable landscape that would protect and enhance the banks.

The Cape Cod landscape architecture firm Stephen Stimson Associates considered both the setting and the client's needs—including a request for lots of lawn for outdoor games—in the design. Boston's Catalano Architects designed the new house and outbuildings, and the Stimson firm worked closely with them to create outdoor spaces that balanced the formal and informal. A main objective was to replace any impervious surfaces with driveways, paths, and patios that conserved water, required little maintenance, and allowed for the activities of a busy household.  

Photography courtesy of Stephen Stimson Associates.

Above: A view from the parking area toward the guesthouse and driveway gate. The new hardscaping is both simple and elegant. This water-permeable paved area employs brick on edge, dry-laid with granite edging. 

Above: The granite path from the guesthouse to the swimming pool bisects the driveway, a visual cue to emphasize that pedestrians have the right-of-way here. 

Above: Joe Wahler, a Stimson senior associate and the project's key designer, first studied the soil to ensure that it was sufficiently porous, meaning that it has the air space to allow water to drain well. After the soil was amended, suitable hardscaping materials were chosen to create a water-conscious landscape. The grass median shown here improves the drainage of this granite path leading to the water-sports shed. 

Above: A permeable crushed granite path, edged in granite, ends at a gate. Wherever possible, drought-tolerant native plants were used to establish diversity for wildlife and to help stabilize the banks. 

Above: The south side of the house is bordered by a crushed granite path and a hydrangea hedge. The sparkling waters of West Bay lie at the end of the path. 

Above: Long granite steps lead down to the swimming pool; beside the steps is a bed of shrubs and summer perennials.

Above: The lawn on the terraced front garden, used for play and entertaining, is planted with drought-tolerant, low-maintenance fescue grass. Linear granite steps serve to connect the house to the bay, and a wooden bench facing the water offers a contemplative view. 

For more, see Required Reading: 10 Landscapes by Stephen Stimson on Remodelista. And for another of our favorite seaside gardens, see A Kitchen Garden on Cape Cod.

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Hydrangea; Hydrangea macrophylla: "The Madonna"

The hydrangea isn't called “the madonna” because it resembles the parent of any religious figure. Nor is it named for the singer Madonna, who in 2011 received a bouquet of these flowers at a press conference and ungratefully whispered, “I absolutely loathe hydrangeas!” Too bad for Madonna, the mike was still on—and the hydrangea community, outraged, came down on her like a sack of bricks. No, the hydrangea is called the madonna as in “an idealized virtuous and beautiful woman.” 

Above: Click on the image to see more Hydrangeas in our Photo Gallery. 

The hydrangea became popular in England’s Victorian era, so it's no surprise she acquired all the talents of a proper lady. The hydrangea can sing and she can sew: Her elaborate yet charmingly blowsy gown of white, pink, or blue petals captivates the eye. A short shrub laden with generous pom-pom blossoms, the mophead hydrangea steals the show without for a moment presuming to overbear.

Above: Photograph by BBC American Girl via Flickr.

Another virtue of the hydrangea: She always shows up on time. Some varieties bloom not only once but twice a year, in spring and fall. She's also flexible and accommodating, happy to switch her attire to suit a different occasion. You can change the color of your hydrangea blossoms from pink to blue and, if you so desire, back to pink again. 

Above: Photograph via Saipua.

Cheat Sheet

• Naked hydrangea shrubs look sad in winter; shield them by planting evergreens nearby.
• Some like 'em pink. To change the color of hydrangea flowers, amend your soil to make it more alkaline (for pink) or acidic (for blue). 
• Space shrubs from 3 to 10 feet apart to give them plenty of room to flop.

Keep It Alive

• Versatile; will tolerate full sun or partial shade.
• Hardy in zones 2,4,5,6,7,8, and 9.
• In colder climates, mulch heavily before winter to protect the roots.

 Above: Photograph by Justine Hand for Gardenista.

This outdoor plant goes beyond the call of duty, making wonderful indoor centerpieces and adornments. And it's easily dried, whether you want to retain the original color or let it turn a shade of honey brown.

Read More:

Read more about Hydrangeas and browse our Field Guide archives for tips on more summer garden plants: Foxglove, Alyssum, and Tomatoes, to name a few.

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Meet Eva Sommaripa, a farmer who grows more than 200 kinds of uncommon herbs, greens, and edible "weeds" that are highly coveted by Boston's best chefs. 

What makes the harvest from Eva's Garden, her farm in Dartmouth, MA (about an hour's drive south of the city), so special? For one thing, most of her 22 acres are set aside for wild edibles. And on the 2 1/2 acres she actively cultivates, many of the plants she grows are rarely encouraged elsewhere because they're considered weeds or invasive species. But they're also delicious. Eva's organic purslane, juniper berries, lovage, sorrel, stinging nettles, autumn olives, wild roses, Japanese knotweed, cardoon, chervil, chickweed, and wild carrots—to name a few—make their way north to end up on the menus of many Boston restaurants.

Eva is considered a pioneer in the farming world, and not just for her unusual plantings and the quality of her produce. It's also because of her firm commitment to a simple, sustainable life based on the principles of preserving, conserving, salvaging, and bartering. Here's what Eva was growing when I visited her the other day:

Photography by Christine Chitnis for Gardenista.

Above: Grapevines (L) and alliums (R), with Eva's winter greenhouse in the distance.

Eva showed me around the farm, imparting some of her vast and intimate knowledge of the natural world. She knows the taste, season, and growing tendencies of every edible we encountered.  

Above: At one stop, she plucked a fistful of bronze fennel and urged me to drop it into my water bottle. "It will give the water a sweet, slightly licorice flavor. Go ahead, try some," she encouraged while popping a bit in her mouth. By the time we'd walked through the entire farm, I had tasted many herbs and weeds that I'd never encountered before.

With her lanky frame, mud-stained jeans, and wind-blown hair, Eva looks younger than her age (she's in her seventies). She credits outdoor work, fresh air, and a diet of farm-fresh whole foods—she visits a grocery store only once or twice a year. 

Above: Eva began farming more than 40 years ago in a small kitchen garden. The Dartmouth property she now calls home was her family’s weekend cottage back then, an hour’s drive from their main residence, in Cambridge. When her garden began producing more herbs than she could use, Eva took the extras back to sell to markets and restaurants in the city. At the time, fresh herbs were hard to find in the Boston area, so Eva’s business soon flourished.

Above: Treviso Radicchio, an Italian heirloom variety in Eva's garden.

As interest in her produce grew, so too did Eva’s interest in horticulture. She began taking guided walks with foraging expert Russ Cohen, and quickly realized that many of the wild edibles they found were growing as weeds in her own garden. “Once I learned that the weeds I was battling were edible, and incredibly nutritious, I let them grow,” Eva says. “To this day, weeds are still an important part of our production. But it's always a balancing act to decide what to leave and what to pull so that they don’t choke out the other plantings.”

Above: Eva makes room for peonies and other flowers in her organic garden.

Eva takes a seasonal approach to both the growing and preserving of food. Spring finds the forest teeming with wild edibles, and the waking garden putting forth tender shoots. Summer brings a full harvest and bustling sales to restaurants and chefs across the northeast. (Any extra bounty is preserved for the barer months.) In fall, only the heartiest greens survive the dipping temperatures and first frosts. Finally, winter means relying on stored root vegetables, which find harmonizing flavors in juniper berries, a foraged winter treat. 

Above: Lunch from the farm. Eva manages to feed her family and her farmhands, and to keep her customers supplied, year-round—not an easy feat in New England's harsh climate.

Above: When her children were young, farming wasn't a full-time venture for Eva. Nowadays, however, the farm seems to run in overdrive, with multiple farmhands on staff, a busy delivery schedule, and a phone that never stops ringing as chefs from Boston and New York place their orders.

I asked Eva to explain the current interest in wild and foraged edibles. She doesn't think it's just their superb nutritional value; she also credits the human love of discovery. “People are fascinated to learn there are things growing right under their feet, whether it's in the city or in the country, that are not only edible, but incredibly tasty and nutritious,” she told me. “It’s the same joy we get from pulling fresh vegetables from the soil. The thrill of harvesting our own food, whether cultivated or foraged, is one of life’s ancient, lasting pleasures.”

Above: Purple hollyhocks flourish in Eva's garden.

After my day with Eva, I started to explore the uncultivated areas of my own community garden. I've already maxed out the growing potential in my modest 6-by-9-foot raised bed, so I'm tempted to supplement my production with foraged edibles. And now I feel compelled to examine every weed I pull. In fact, I believe that kind of attention is Eva's wish for all home gardeners. It's doubtful we'll cast aside our lettuce and spinach to snack on knotweed and purslane, but perhaps we'll give those weeds a second thought. And once in a while, we'll sneak a handful onto our dinner plates.

For more, see Christine's own garden in DIY: A Family Friendly Vegetable Garden.

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Why does the word "kitchenette" sound so retro? When we recently featured a tiny 186-square-foot summer cottage as our Outbuilding of the Week, we admired the way it relies heavily on Ikea to make modern use of every inch of space (giving houseguests an excuse to stay out of sight till after breakfast). Here's how to recreate the look:

Above: Photograph by Nicole Franzen for Gardenista.

Furnishings first. The secret to making a 186-square-foot cottage look spacious is diminutive furniture. A 30-inch wooden Tripod Table ($199 from West Elm) seats two comfortably. Ikea's birch plywood Frosta Stool (£8 in Great Britain, but not available in the US) is a copy of the Alvar Aalto original and extremely versatile; it doubles as side table or nightstand when needed.

Above: Photograph by Nicole Franzen for Gardenista. The back wall is covered in 4-by-8-foot Wainscot Panels ($19.75 each) from Home Depot.

Above: On the shelves, Everyday Restaurant Salad Plates ($17.99 for a set of six) and Everyday Restaurant Mugs ($17.99 for a set of six) are available from Williams-Sonoma.

Above: Before we get started on the fixtures, let's fix ourselves a nice pot of tea. From Staub, an Enameled Cast Iron Round Tea Kettle in basil green is $159.99 from Big Kitchen. 

Above: Bellocq's 3.5-ounce reusable travel caddy filled with Majorelle Mint Tea is $32 from Sundance.

Above: Guests can boil water in the microwave and then pour it into the kettle to brew. A GE 1,200-Watt Black Countertop Microwave sits on its own recessed shelf; $179 from Lowe's. 

Above: Braced to deal with the plumbing? An Edsvik chrome faucet is $49.99 and a Fyndig Single Bowl Sink is $26.98; both from Ikea. They're mounted on a 1.5-inch-thick beechwood Numerär Countertop ($195 for a 73 1/4-inch length from Ikea).

Above: Made of recycled glass, a Copper Soap Dispenser holds 13.5 ounces; $30 from Terrain.

Above: A nickel-planted Fintorp dish drainer ($14.99 from Ikea) attaches to the wall with two screws and holds a removable tray.

Above: Ikea's freestanding two-door Akurum Base Cabinet Faced With Rubrik Stainless Steel measures 30 inches wide ($245).

Are you looking for inexpensive and stylish ideas to kit out a summer guest cottage? See Steal This Look: Beach Cottage on the Dutch Coast and on Remodelista, Steal This Look: A Finnish Cottage Kitchen and Dining Room.

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LA creative director Sarah Sherman Samuel, who blogs at Smitten Studio, clearly has a thing about eating outdoors. We're with her all the way. She's even developed her own line of modern "picnic-ware" that looks vintage, for sale at A Sunny Afternoon. Many of the items are made in her father's workshop in Michigan, often using wood that her dad, Lee, has salvaged from downed trees or otherwise reclaimed.

Photographs via A Sunny Afternoon.

Above: This woven picnic basket is a prime example of Samuel's wares: It's handmade from Appalachian white ash, has sturdy leather handles, and is lightweight and exceptionally durable.  

Above: The basket is lined with green-and-white gingham vinyl; there's also a version with a black-and-white lining. Each measures 18 by 12 by 10 inches and sells for $125.

Above: Remember the scene in Mad Men when Betty shakes out the picnic blanket and walks away, leaving all the litter on the grass? Not that we'd do that today, but this basket looks just like something the Drapers would have carried. Go to A Sunny Afternoon for more of Samuel's products, including the linen-cotton Polka-Dot Napkins ($26 for a set of two) shown here.

A basket this nice deserves high-caliber accessories. Check out the great choices in Janet's posts on 5 Favorites: Portable Coolers and 10 Easy Pieces: Picnic Blankets.

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When I was growing up, the Fourth of July was one of my favorite holidays. That was no doubt because it falls close to my birthday, and our family celebrations usually included some kind of sheet cake with my name scrawled in blue icing. Now that I'm older my sweet tooth is more refined, but my ardor for the Fourth of July hasn't waned.  

Olivia Rae James of Everyday Musings has a similar yen for festive gatherings. She developed this cocktail with just enough sparkle to make it fit for a holiday devoted to fireworks—er, independence. If you're still making your party plans for the Fourth, consider the Raspberry Sparkler; full recipe below.

Photography by Olivia Rae James for Gardenista.

Above: Olivia's refreshing Raspberry Sparkler cocktail uses raspberries, lemons, limes, and mint—plus gin and vinho verde, the slightly effervescent Portuguese wine.

Above: Farmers are just starting to send their raspberries to market in New York. So begins my favorite time of year.

Above: Olivia pairs lime and lemon juice with sweet muddled raspberries.

Above: Honey cuts the tartness of the citrus juices (but not so much that the cocktail is overly sweet). 

Above: Raspberries, mint, and honey are muddled with lemon and lime juice (Olivia used a Porcelain Mortar and Pestle from William-Sonoma; $49.95).

Above: The recipe below makes enough for four; I'm tempted to make a pitcherful.

Raspberry Sparkler 

Ingredients:

• 1 lemon 
• 1 lime
• 1 pint fresh raspberries
• 2 tablespoons honey
• Handful of fresh mint leaves
• 4 ounces gin
• 4 cups vinho verde 

Squeeze juice from the lemon and lime. Muddle the juices with raspberries, honey, and mint. Distribute the mixture evenly among four glasses. Add an ounce of gin to each glass, then fill with vinho verde and ice cubes. Best enjoyed when surrounded by friends, family, and a water view.

Looking for more garden-inspired drink ideas? Here are a few more of Our Favorite Summer Cocktails. Don't you think this cocktail would be perfect for one of these Summer Drink Dispensers?

N.B.: This is an update of a post originally published July 2, 2013.

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Remember walking around with a pink-stained tongue all summer long? I don't advocate the return of Kool-Aid to your diet, but if you keep a tray of DIY rose petal ice cubes in the freezer, you will be able to instantly replicate the excitement of drinking pink.

The moment I spotted rose petal ice cubes at Sweet Paul Mag, I knew I had to have them for my own. But why stop at cubes that contain a single perfect petal? My Cardinal de Richelieu climbing rose produces miniature cube-perfect flowers, so I tinkered. In the end I made ice cubes that can each hold an entire rose suspended in their shimmery cold depths:

Photography by Michelle Slatalla for Gardenista.

Above: Basically, all you need for this project is an ice cube tray, water, some pesticide-free rose petals (or whole miniature rose flowers) from your garden—and patience. The trick to getting the petals to appear suspended in the middle of the cube is to freeze the ice in layers.

Step No. 1: Pour enough water into an ice tray to fill it one-third of the way. Freeze.

Step No. 2: Place petals or whole roses on top of the ice. Add enough water to fill the tray two-thirds of the way and freeze again. 

Step No. 3: At this point, the petals or flowers will be stuck in the ice and unable to float annoyingly to the top of the cube. It's safe to fill the tray the rest of the way with water and freeze.

Above: Rose petal ice cubes are a lovely addition to any clear or light-colored drink. Put them in drinking water. Or vodka. Or a Lillet cocktail.

Lucky UK gardeners have lots of sources if they want to buy a Cardinal de Richelieu rose. For instance, the climber is £14.50 from David Austin. (N.B.: Do you know of an online source for US gardeners? If so, please share it in the comments section below.) 

Above: When you use tap water to make the ice, you may end up with tiny air bubbles. If you crave perfect crystal-clear cubes, use distilled water or boil and cool tap water before freezing.

Above: I can't decide if I prefer a scattering of individual petals or a whole flower in my ice. Either way, it's better than Kool-aid.

Above: I used an old-fashioned metal Onyx Stainless Steel Ice Cube Tray; $29.95 from Amazon.

For another edible rose recipe, see DIY: Rose Petal Honey.

N.B.: This is an update of a post originally published June 11, 2013.

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