2026 Notes

This has been one of my most memorable seasons in both the garden and community. I have taken on new roles this past year teaching botanical art with Omega Institute and in private lessons, which I’m endlessly grateful for. We have taken on new gardens and planted thousands of new perennials in spaces that feel very personal. I have been growing flowers with my daughter for the past few years with the intention of showing at the Dutchess County Fair. This was our fourth year in a row winning blue ribbons for our hydrangeas & annual flowers. It’s my favorite affair of the year.

I’m just so grateful for the change of seasons and the tenacity of nature. Each new chapter is familiar but also very much new. This Autumn feels so intense with the blazing yellows and burst of reds with the horizontal light beams…The air is the perfect temperature. Savor these moments, folks.

I’m planning my 2027 Spring planting collections and scheduling our botanical art workshops. I would love to share space and create magic with you! Please reach out if you are interested in fine gardening, pressed flowers or botanical crafting classes.

This winter is going to be full of new endeavors. Lets make something beautiful & laugh about it all because it’s way too crazy out here not to.

Photographs from March 2026-Oct 2026 Brooklyn Planting, Missy V. Bateson Fine Gardening

Mid-Summer Reflections: Gardens & Humanity

Summer’s heat is here… the Annabelle hydrangeas are blooming their hearts out, fireflies sparkle in the evenings, and the garden hums with life at its fullest.

Yet tending these spaces reminds me daily how connected we are to the world beyond our fences. It’s impossible to ignore the hurt and uncertainty so many face right now. Humanity is fragile… and so is the environment we share.

The choices we make, from how we treat each other to how we care for the land beneath our feet, leave a mark for the generations that come after us.

In my work, I believe deeply in the garden as a place of hope… and responsibility. I guide my clients to think beyond just what looks pretty: to choose plants that support the local ecosystem, to stop using sprays that harm pollinators and soil life, and to embrace a wilder, more sustainable vision for their spaces.

Amidst all of this, the fireflies are here for now. They remind me that even in the heat and uncertainty, beauty persists, and that the smallest lights can mean the most on the darkest nights.

MVB

Two Decades of Growth, Gardens, and New Horizons: 2016–2025

The past 2 decades have been ones of meaningful growth, both in the gardens I tend and in the relationships I’ve built through my work.

Since 2008, I’ve had the privilege of designing, restoring, and managing fine gardens across New York City, the Hudson Valley, and Connecticut. My practice has remained rooted in thoughtful, hands-on care and a deep respect for each site’s unique character and potential.

Throughout these years, I’ve planted thousands of perennials and trees, educated clients on sustainable garden care, and collaborated with skilled craftspeople and laborers who share a commitment to quality.

My work is about more than planting, it’s about nurturing lasting gardens and lasting connections. I look forward to continuing this work with clarity, passion, and purpose.

MVB

Around the garden... June/July 2016