The 401
SPACES: FOCAL POINTS
BY DANA LAVERTY
L Beauty in Decay
ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Adam Anderson recently crafted [ DECAY ] DENCE, a garden exhibit spotlighting weeds and other“ maligned” species, at the Philadelphia Flower Show. The founder of Providence’ s Design Under Sky says weeds are nature’ s“ botanical opportunists” that“ thrive in the cracks of asphalt, concrete and fence lines” but also“ stabilize disturbed ground, accumulate organic matter, prevent erosion and prepare soil for more complex plant communities.” He used staghorn sumac, yarrow, witch hazel, lavender, sunflowers and mullein to create a parterre, a formal garden made of enclosed beds separated by gravel. European hornbeams, Cornelian cherry dogwoods and silver birches soared around the perimeter, with a glowing red form in the background representing the garden’ s caretaker.“ From the outside it might look like an ugly object of beauty, but inside is where the decadence is, it’ s where all the flowering things are,” says Anderson, who was one of only four designers invited to create a landscape honoring 250 years of horticulture in the United States.
Spring Plant Sale
BYOW( BRING YOUR OWN WAGON!) to the University of Rhode Island’ s Spring Plant Sale, taking place May 9 from 9 a. m.– noon at the school’ s Kingston campus. The sale will feature seedlings of all kinds— annuals, perennials, herbs and veggies— as well as the special Fourth of July tomato grown by URI Master Gardener volunteers. Bring soil for testing, and all your burning gardening questions to the roaming Master Gardeners. Don’ t forget to take home some free Burpee seeds to hold your very own propagation party. URI Botanical Gardens, 6 Greenhouse Rd., Kingston, uri. edu / coopext / events.
PHOTOGRAPHY( CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) COURTESY OF ADAM ANDERSON, DESIGN UNDER SKY; COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND; COURTESY OF ROCKSALT STUDIO / BLUEFLASH PHOTOGRAPHY.
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Worth Its Salt
AFTER TWENTY-TWO YEARS of crafting beautiful home and commercial spaces, Kelly Taylor Interior Design has rebranded as Rocksalt Studio. Same team, same work, but a whole new name, logo and website.“ While the firm began under my name, the work has always been collaborative, and Rocksalt Studio reflects the talented team and partnerships that shape every project,” says Kelly Taylor, left, the principal and creative director of the Providence-based firm. Why Rocksalt?“ Like rock salt, our work is grounded but never stuck,” she says.“ Rocksalt is structure with soul. Strength with style. Interior design that’ s built to last— and made to live in.” rocksaltstudio. com 🆁
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY I MAY 2026 41