Based out of Birmingham, Alabama, Troy Rhone is a renowned garden designer that works with clients across the United States to create beautiful, functional, and elegant garden spaces. With over 20 years of experience, Troy has mastered the art of personalizing each and every project to make one-of-a-kind gardens.

By Marla Caligaris

Sparking his passion for garden designing, Troy Rhone studied horticulture at Auburn University. Being born into a bloodline of gardeners, writers, and artists, it was inevitable for Troy to become successful in a career that thrives off creativity. With each client he designs for, Troy searches for ways to shape his traditional style taste to create a truly unique and quality area. Rhone combines beauty with function to fit different lifestyles, making his portfolio of projects diverse and impressive.

His personal honesty, thoughtfulness, and carefulness have launched his business to success, based out of Birmingham, Alabama. Troy took a seat with SVM to talk about useful gardening tips, his garden design favorites, and why he became interested in the garden design business.

When did you first become interested in garden design? I am from a family of artists and gardeners, so in a sense, I have been interested in garden design from an early age. I started experimenting with my parent’s yard while in high school. In college I designed gardens while in school. I don't really remember a time that I didn't have an interest in gardening.

You were born and raised in Alabama, and you still work in the Southeast. How does your experience growing up in this area guide your garden designs? The South has a lot of rich cultural history and is easily transferable to garden design. I am not one for trendy designs. I try to stay away from trends and keep to the classical principles of design while having an understanding for the cultural history of the town in which I am working. Working with a southern plant pallet is always rewarding. I love camellias, roses, azalea and osmanthus.

When you first plan a garden, is it about plants, mood, or function? I start by assessing the site, architecture of the home, and the interior design. I work to bring a cohesive design, so the garden is not distracting from the home's architecture or interior living experience. I really work to make the home feel like a home... not a house with a yard. The feeling of home should begin as soon as you cross over into the driveway from the street.

What easy ways are there to make our gardens inviting for spring and summer? Flowers are the easiest way to make a garden inviting. Choosing the correct colors is really important. I choose colors that will feel comfortable with the home's interior views and with exterior approaches, such as an entry through a gate. Generally speaking I tend to lean towards softer colors, which are more calming versus bold colors that make a strong statement. However, if you have a white home with lots of green everywhere, I might need to mix a few bold colors to keep the space from feeling cold. It is a fine balance, so I look at the overall color pallet of the entire property before making a decision.

Is there a certain plant that you feel a garden just isn’t complete without? I love to work with antique roses. I can typically use them in most projects. They are low maintenance and many will give you blooms from spring to late fall. Marie Pavie is one of my favorites. It is perfect for a border garden or a container and blooms continuously for 9 months.

What is your favorite material to work with in addition to greenery? To make a garden feel really inviting, I will typically use a mixture of natural stone, wood and plantings. The stone adds a permanence that you just cannot get otherwise without it. Wood is a great way to add stability and color to a garden and soften the hardness of stone. Planting, of course, will generally feel very soft. The mixture of the three creates a perfect balance for any garden.

What tips would you pass along to homeowners wanting to update a smaller outdoor area? You can't go wrong with pops of color...even if it is whites and greens. Containers are an easy way to add layers to a garden to make it look and feel completed.

What are some of your favorite gardens you’ve designed? Honestly I love each garden I get to design. I feel really blessed to get to work with wonderful clients and dream with them. I am passionate about building the relationship with the client, maybe more so than designing the garden itself!

TROY RHONE GARDENS