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Topic: Landscaping



Date Posted: Monday, June 23, 2014
Posted by: Tanya Zanfa (Master Admin)
Source: http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/lifestyles/landscaping-pla...


Garden Scribe: Landscaping plan helps The Breakers’ grounds thrive


By Kaki Holt

Special to the Daily News

I recently had the opportunity to discuss the challenges of landscaping 140 historical acres with Danny Miller of The Breakers.

The key, it turns out, is one that home gardeners can appreciate as well: Follow a plan.

Prior to developing a landscaping master plan for the property with designer Gregory Lombardi, plantings had been done on a project-by-project basis, Miller told me.

“When we put in a new golf course, we would do new landscaping there,” Miller, formerly director of horticulture and grounds at the resort and today general manager of Breakers Row.

To develop an overall master plan, Lombardi, with offices in Palm Beach and Massachusetts, began discussions a decade ago with the staff from many departments.

“I wanted to remain true to the iconic American institution that had been based on a Medici palace,” Lombardi said. “We analyzed all the details down to the color of ceilings and the style of trash cans to ensure that everything added to the Mediterranean fantasy.”

Large plan

The plan was so large that it had to be broken down by areas.

“We tackle a new project every two years,” he said. “We recently completed the pool area and the spa is next.”

In the old days, expanses of asphalt and a parking lot once marred guests’ first impression upon entering the hotel. Today, colorful flower beds and hedging lead drivers directly to the resort’s impressive fountain entrance.

“Our goal was to get guests outside to enjoy more of the property,” said Miller.

Plant list

“The salinity here is so high that we had to scrutinize our plant list.”

While protected areas such as the new lawn outside the Palm Court allow cleome beds, Miller had to winnow down his beach-facing plant list to a select few varieties.

“To create as much color as possible, we use foliage of contrasting colors,” he said. “When we are determined to have blooms, we try to create a windbreak with hedging to protect pockets of Dusty Miller, geraniums, petunias and red-leaf begonias.”

For beachfront dwellers, I thought a list of The Breakers’ bulletproof beachfront plants might be helpful: Garcinia, green island ficus, Rhaphiolepis, silver buttonwood, Serenoa repens and cocoplum. For flowers, the planners also favor scaevola and gaillardia.

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Lifelong gardener Kaki Holt has written extensively about horticulture for a variety of local and state publications. Additionally, she has spearheaded the founding of school garden clubs throughout Palm Beach County. A certified Master Gardener, she is a member of Garden Writers of America. Email her at kakiholt@mail.com.

- See more at: http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/lifestyles/landscaping-plan-helps-the-breakers-grounds-thrive/ngH2d/#sthash.CdiBRNQv.dpuf



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