The Art of the Islamic Garden: An Interview with Emma Clarke

The principles of Islamic garden design have informed almost all of the work at Mirror Lake since Shawn first learned of the concepts in school. 

Today, Shawn and Blinda chat with Emma Clark, author of The Art of the Islamic Garden. 

Emma Clark designs gardens with a fundamentally spiritual and holistic outlook, undertaking them for private clients and public institutions, both in the U.K. and abroad.  She specialises mainly in Islamic gardens, focusing on contemporary interpretations of traditional principles.

She is Senior Tutor on the post-graduate Visual Islamic and Traditional Arts  (VITA) Programme at The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts, London

Read more

It's a Southern Thing

Shawn and Blinda reminisce growing up in the south. Southerners have a unique relationship with their gardens, and along with guest "Skip" Richter, the three dish on zucchini-bikinis, black eyed peas, and more. 

Read more

Nature Explore!

The kid are getting antsy! There are only a few more weeks of school left, and if you have little ones you know that they're ready for summer.

Shawn and Blinda chat with Chris Kiewra of Nature Explore, a non-profit whose mission is to "to help children and families develop a profound engagement with the natural world, where nature is an integral, joyful part of children’s daily learning"

Chris offers insight into how best to get your kids away from their screens and in front of nature.

Read more

Front Yard Water Features

A quick way to add curb appeal to your home is integrating a water feature to your front yard. It may seem like a bold or intimidating gesture, so Shawn and Blinda talk you through everything you need to know to create a welcoming space around the water. 

Read more

Running in Circles

Over 30+ years, Shawn has designed thousands of backyards and swimming pools. And he has noticed one fascinating phenomenon within these designs: our response to circles. 

Sounds strange? Hear the man out...

Read more