The Gingham Gardener
Floral & Garden Design
Erin melcher
Flower & garden artist
theginghamgardener@gmail.com
The Gingham Gardener is a full-service garden and floral design service.
Whether your need is beginning a garden from scratch, redesigning and repurposing an existing garden space or design and creation of flowers for an event, large or small. With over 30 years of experience in gardening and floral design, my intention is to help everyone create beautiful spaces and experiences with plants and flowers. Please review the images on my website and testimonials from clients to judge for yourself my ability and results. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have. I can be reached at:
theginghamgardener@gmail.com
The images shown here are from the Ladies MacKenzie Gathering. 200 golfers from Alister MacKenzie courses around the world gathered at Crystal Downs Country Club. The venue was a post-and-beam barn in northern Michigan. The theme was ‘rustic elegance’. The clients wanted to highlight the natural beauty of the surrounding environment. My intention was to utilize native plants and wildflowers as much as possible, while accenting arrangements with fall-blooming perennials and grasses. The canvas was simple white tablecloths with burlap runners which allowed the florals to take centerstage.
“Erin has an ease in her methods. She is creative and efficient, two traits not often combined in one person. her designs elevated our event space introductin charm and beauty.” - Susie Feiten, Event Chair,
The easiest way to begin beautifying your space is with container plantings. Whether it be a simple terracotta pot filled with pansies, or a larger vessel comprised of annuals and perennials, containers are the best and most affordable way to add instant impact to your environment. Decks, balconies, front porches and patios are all enhanced with containers. The images shown here are a just a few examples of the unlimited variety and possibilities available.
Whether your needs are for your home or place of business, The Gingham Gardener can fill that need. The images shown here are of a commercial project for Bowdie’s Chophouse in East Grand Rapids, Michigan. To meet city ordinances, Bowdies needed to define their outdoor patio space. With the installation of several planters of the same design but various heights, we were able to create a composition that complimented and extended the exterior, while softening the black wood and metal with a combination of annuals and perennials. The boxwood served as the foundation. Spring blooming tulips, muscari and miniature narcissus eventually give way to summer annuals, and herbs intended as a nod to the culinary setting of this popular restaurant.
“Erin was creative, thoughtful, and timely with delivery. Our patios popped with vibrant color all season and her design set us apart from the neighboring competition.” - Nick Fisher, Restaurant Manager
The image in the bottom left corner is provided as evidence of where this project began. The homeowner, Frank Kerrigan, had a vision for the vacant lot next to his home along the shores of Lake Michigan. He wanted a garden full of color, texture, and variety, and he wanted it to look mature in the first season. To help achieve this, I established a foundation of boxwood, hydrangea, daylily, roses, hosta and sedum. I then filled in with heuchera, iris, daisies, anemone, yarrow, delphinium, dianthus, and other perennials that establish quickly. To fill in the space during that first summer a variety of annuals were employed. In the fall we planted several spring blooming bulbs.
I love all flowers and all colors, however, white flowers are my favorites. There is something so pure, clean, and beautiful about a white flower. The images here, as with all photos on my website, are my own, I am a true ‘plant nerd’ and take photos and videos wherever and whenever I am, whether I am in my backyard, or in another country, I have my iPhone ready.
There is no better way to add impact to a garden than with sunflowers. Helianthus come in a variety of colors from white to chocolate brown and every yellow, orange, and red in between. They can range in height from 12 inches to over 12 feet. And the best part? You grow them from seed! For literally pennies, you can have beauty and amazement. There is no better plant to grow with children.
Everyone loves Peonies. There is no tougher or more beautiful flower that can deliver for decades. The next time you are driving through the countryside in late spring, be sure to try and spot an old farmhouse with peony bushes along the side. Unfortunately, most people stick to the familiar varieties. There are so many beautiful varieties to choose from with new hybrids being introduced each year. Try something new!
Guilty as charged, I admit it, I over-order spring bulbs. Every fall I pour through the bulb catalogs, and every year I order more bulbs than I have time to plant. I suspect my friends know this, and as a result they wait to purchase bulbs, knowing I will give them my excess. There are just soooooo many gorgeous bulbs to choose from, I have no control.!
The only color of rose that you cannot have is blue. Other than that, you have thousands of colors, shapes, sizes, fragrances, and growing habits to choose from. If you want ‘bang-for-your-buck’ you cannot go wrong with heirloom varieties. I would take a thousand fragrant blooms rambling over an arch or along a picket fence over a dozen hybrid tea stems in a vase. I choose abundance and scent over all, but will always defer to my client’s wishes and preference.
A few sample bouquets
