2023 Garden Trends Via Garden Design Newsletter - December 2022

Trends come and go, right?  In fashion.  In food.  In living.  Feels like you have to kind of pick your spots in all things trendy, right?  Can't be too on trend.  But, you still want to show how you're a little contemporary, right?  Trends in the garden are something that I've unpacked over the year.  Here's a trends post that I did very early this past year - January 2022.  And I did the same thing in 2019 and 2020.   I came across a recent 2023 Garden Trends list from Garden Design email newsletter and thought it was worth kicking-the-tires on the items they included.  Here's their list.  Below is a screenshot showing the nine items that they think will breakthrough and show up in gardens this growing season:

There are a few - what I'll call - 'narrow' items on their list.  And others that are way more 'broad' in nature.  Let's start with the more 'broad' category items.  Why?  Because they're A LOT less interesting to me.  That list includes #2 (Cottage Gardens), #3 (Mediterranean Gardens), #8 (Bright Outdoor Spaces) and #9 (Using Natural Materials).  Eight and Nine are...nothingburgers, right?  For different reasons.  They both make sense, but don't feel much like a true 'trend' to me.  Two and Three - feel like what they're *really* saying is native, four-season, formal, yet informal (lol) and drought-tolerant.  I suppose those are good trends, but they're 'broad' (to me).  

As for the ones that are more interesting to me?  Those are the remaining ones:  

#1 - Growing your own bouquets.  The phrase 'cut flower garden' is on an up-and-to-the-left path on Google Trends the past six or so years.  Thanks to Instagram, people are now going to cut flower gardens, too.  That's kinda nice.  Here's the Google Trends chart:

We don't get A TON of sun in our yard, but this idea of growing things for bouquets feels like something I can consider in 2023.  What about the sideyard?  I already started cutting and making small bouquets with our Disneyland Roses.  What about other flowers that can compliment those?  Seems like a project worth tinkering with this Winter.  

#4 - Getting rid of your lawn.  Listen...I get it.  Lawns are terrible.  They require water.  They don't help pollinators.  They are non-native.  If you want to reduce your lawn in size - I'm all for that.  I'll keep doing that.  But, at the same time...I do kinda love doing my own lawn.   So, sure...go ahead...create more beds and shrink the turf.  But (for now)....I won't be getting RID of mine.

#5 - Rare and Unusual Houseplants.   For me, this is all about Staghorns and topiaries.  Not going to stop.  Despite the setbacks.   

#6 - Adding texture with foliage plants.  I'm all in.  I consider myself a 'foliage gardener'.  Same thing as Staghorns.  Can't stop.  Won't stop.  Flowers don't do it for me.  

#7 - Going Vertical.  I find this idea of building a structure to grow things on/up pretty interesting.  As a screen and for privacy.  But, also to maximize what can be done in a small space.   In terms of how I can apply 'going vertical' in 2023, I'm thinking that I need to get the side-of-the-garage espaliers planted.  Those are 'vertical', right? And, something for vegetables - like this?