In Part 2 of our Outdoor Mini Series, we welcome back landscape designer Carmen Johnston to talk about the art of decorating your outdoor spaces. Caroline and Liz discuss Ballard Designs' new Spring releases with Carmen and the importance of planning, choosing the right plants for your garden's sunlight exposure, and the use of frost-free dates for planting. Carmen also provides practical advice on container gardening, from soil preparation to plant selection using her 'three T's' method (tall, thick, and trailing plants). She emphasizes the importance of texture, variation, and the use of irrigation systems to keep plants thriving. Additionally, Carmen offers solutions for dealing with common issues like deer in the garden and highlights the benefits of professional garden planning. What You’ll Hear On This Episode: 00:00 Introduction to the How to Decorate Podcast 00:34 Welcoming Landscape Designer Carmen Johnston 01:16 Discussing the New Ballard Spring Release 03:06 Gardening Tips and Frost-Free Dates 09:40 Planning Your Garden Layout 13:19 Bespoke Garden Plans and Professional Help 15:40 Container Gardening Tips 34:00 Sun-Loving and Shade-Loving Palladium Varieties 34:43 Choosing and Planting Palladiums 35:08 The Importance of Texture and Variation in Containers 35:52 When to Buy Palladiums and Seasonal Availability 37:39 Understanding Plant Variation 38:22 Tips for Container Gardening 40:37 Choosing the Right Number and Size of Plants 43:35 The Versatile Kimberly Queen Fern 47:46 Irrigation Solutions for Your Garden 55:53 Dealing with Deer in Your Garden 01:01:59 Final Thoughts and Where to Find More Information Also Mentioned: Ballard Designs | Shop Now @carmenjohnstongardens | Designer Instagram Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone. Happy Decorating!