“In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different.”
~ John Steinbeck
Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& early June celebrant)


“In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different.”
~ John Steinbeck
Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& early June celebrant)
Imagine the ultimate retreat in your own backyard: A beautiful custom swimming pool perfectly paired with a peaceful, low-maintenance landscape…a year ’round oasis just outside your windows! This post will address a final consideration in the realization of your dreams for a garden oasis.
It may be an encouragement for you to know that many, if not most, of our clients choose to divide their garden landscape project into phases. This enables them to spread their investments in high-quality, custom work over a number of years, making each outlay more do-able. If you are interested in this approach, we will work with you to devise a master plan at the outset and can implement the design in phases to suit your budgetary needs.
At our house, we prioritized the planting of trees right from the start, since trees take a longer time to realize their potential. Hardscaping and boulder “planting” around the house was done over a span of several years, as was the case with stepping stone paths through our wooded wetlands. Gradually, as time and resources allow, we have regraded and added boulder and shrubbery beds on the banks. Our home is now surrounded by vibrant, interesting vistas and plants that are increasing in value and beauty each year. For us, this phased approach has served us well: it has permitted–rather than prohibited–many gorgeous, top-notch garden spaces around our home.
Gratefully shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& phased-garden proponent)
“Here is a heart that knows
The truth of May
And walks the way,
By which its fairy beauty leads,
Through woods and lanes,
With haunting strains
Of magic music, sowing seeds
Of summer in the sod,
Until she finds her fulness,
And bows down in adoration
‘Mid the yellow cowslips
At the golden feet of God.”
~G. A. Studdert Kennedy (English Anglican priest and poet; 1883 – 1929)
Can we create green-garbed woodland paths, tree forts or wildflower meadows for your little ones to wonder at, discover, and explore? We’ve done this for our littles and would love to share the joy! Give us a call: 717-653-1273.
Joyously shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& lifelong Truth-seeker)
Imagine the ultimate retreat in your own backyard: A beautiful custom swimming pool perfectly paired with a peaceful, low-maintenance landscape… a year ’round oasis just outside your windows! This post will address the next step in the realization of your dreams for a garden oasis.
Step 4: Plant All Season Beauty
A pool garden can look beautiful year ’round. Hanselman Landscape’s design and install teams will carefully select slow-growing trees and shrubs to increase visual appeal from inside your home or beside the pool in every season, while minimizing pool debris and adding lasting value to your pool landscape. It is important to us that your swimming pool garden brings you and your loved ones joy, even when it is not in use.
Personal Note: Our home is surrounded by plants that hold our interest even in the coldest days of the year (evergreens), while presenting a vibrant display of texture, color, and beauty in all of the other seasons, as well. Hanselman Landscape is known for its high-quality, well-curated, and well-maintained plants. In fact, our plants have been sought out for high-end gardens in Massachusetts (at MIT), New York (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island), Texas, Illinois, and–most recently–Tennessee!
Shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& glad participant in the “green” industry)
“Oh, what is so rare as a day in May,
When the great sun shines like this!
When the soft winds woo, all tender and true,
And breathe on one’s cheek like a kiss!
When the sky is so blue—ah—heaven’s own blue!
And the birds in the greening trees
Are bursting their throats with rapturous notes…”
~Jean Wright, “A-Maying”
Joyfully shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& May celebrant)