Oh winter holidays!  This is the time of year when my design work pauses long enough for me to reflect on larger environmental forces and artistic directions, and how best to refine my practice in light of them.

A recent article in Garden Design spurred my thinking along this vein and reminded me of a visit I took to Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma, CA two years ago. A nine-acre series of walk-through gardens, Cornerstone showcases work by internationally-known landscape architects and designers that pushes the boundaries of contemporary landscape design. It was created in 2004 as an inspiration and resource for people interested in gardens, garden design and art.

The gardens are long-term installations with varying lifespans — some change seasonally, while others remain in place for several years.  The gardens pictured below are all still on view, and new, equally compelling gardens have since opened to join them.