Arbor Harbor

07/05/2024

In Provincetown, where homes are closely spaced, privacy is a key concern. European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) hedges became popular choice for their dense foliage and quick growth, providing immediate screening.

I had the opportunity to work on pruning European hornbeams to complete a garden design by Tess Knowles and Sam Samuel Spiegel.

07/05/2024

I'm thrilled to share an insightful article from the Provincetown Independent featuring my friend and talented colleague, Tessera Knowles. As a passionate landscape designer, Tess beautifully merges the realms of art and horticulture to transform Provincetown's landscapes.

While the article charmingly misspelled my last name as "Khukau," it captures the essence of our vibrant gardening community here on the Outer Cape. Tess's journey from artist to landscape designer is inspiring, and it’s a pleasure to be mentioned alongside her and other local experts like Tim Callis.

Check out the article to dive into her creative world and see how Provincetown’s gardens are being reimagined through her visionary eyes.

In Tessera C. Knowles’s painting Saltine at Egg’s Isle, Provincetown’s drag mistress of political satire sits in a chair on the sand behind the Julie Heller Gallery surrounded by an […]

03/28/2024

Aesthetic pruning is focusing on bringing out the natural lines and forms that give Japanese gardens their unique spirit. This careful pruning is key to keeping the garden’s original allure and peaceful essence intact.

American and New England gardening, rooted in European traditions, brings its own charm, applying these techniques to a Japanese garden risks diluting its authentic spirit, potentially edging towards kitsch. The key lies in embracing the subtle, nuanced approach characteristic of Japanese pruning, where every cut is a respectful nod to nature’s inherent beauty.

I had the privilege of contributing to the meticulous reconstruction of a Japanese garden under the wise guidance of Nicki . For years, Nicki has been weaving harmony into this space, transforming it from a mere collection of species into a coherent, storytelling landscape. It’s not just about pruning; it’s about reviving ancient philosophies and crafting a narrative through the careful shaping of plant material.




https://www.instagram.com/p/C5EpKo1uO2h/

03/02/2024

Revealing the “Essence of the Tree”: Aesthetic Pruning of Japanese Maple.

Winter reveals the true structure of our beloved Japanese Maples, offering a unique opportunity to enhance their natural architecture. Without the veil of leaves, we can truly appreciate the intricate dance of branches and twigs, each with its own story and place in the garden..

The dormant season is when we can best observe and adjust the bones of our trees, making thoughtful cuts that encourage healthy growth and form. It’s not just about aesthetics; it’s about the tree’s well-being and preparing it for the lushness of spring.

During winter pruning, we’re not just cutting away — we’re envisioning the future and setting the essence of the tree free. We’re setting the stage for new life, ensuring that when the warmth returns, our Japanese Maples will awaken with vigor and beauty, ready to play their role in the garden’s awakening.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C4A-RkPuBTZ/

01/07/2024

Eugene Zhukau Eyes Provincetown’s Trees.
A walk among favorites and invasives, with pruners in hand.

Eugene Zhukau has always been interested in trees. He had a favorite in the neighborhood where he spent his childhood, in Minsk, Belarus. It was a horse chestnut tree, and […]

07/07/2021

Aesthetic Pruning of Japanese Maple. One year difference.

04/13/2021

As for your timing, as long as you’re being selective and cutting correctly, “the best time for pruning,” Zhukau concedes, “is when you’re standing next to the plant and have pruners in hand.”

There is a stillness that lays itself over our gardens during the winter months. Without the vibrant greens of leaves and pops of color from flowering plants, we are reminded […]

06/08/2019

Cape Cod’s Beaches difficult imagine without garbage, no matter how hard enthusiast cleaning it, the ocean will bring more.
I do it time by time — it meditative, plus points in karma. Recently I dug out a garden tarp at the beach of Long Point.
Some things can’t be recycled, but can be reused!
Cape-Friendly Landscaping is all about it.

03/27/2019

Hello, my friend!

My name is Eugene and I’m a gardener. I do landscaping in Provincetown and the Outer Cape for 5 years, in a winter switch with San Francisco and Bay Area, and I travel a lot – trying to keep my hands dirty all the time and learn more and more horticulture. I do love Cape Cod - it’s a unique place and indescribably beautiful. I bet you know!

I notice a lot of property owners try to make Ptown even more beautiful and more unique – they bring vivid colors of exotics plants, order their garden from Amazon, more more and more to win a neighborhood contest of beauty!

I believe in Cape-Friendly Landscaping – smart maintenance, and collaboration with nature is a thing which our Big Sand Dune needs!

You say: “Who cares it's going to be underwater by 2050 anyway?!”. Maybe you’re right but let’s believe in something better! If a person cannot be cured it does not mean that they cannot be helped.

Let palms trees thrive in Palms Springs, vivid flowers wither under the sun of Wilton Manors, keep striped lawn for the White House.

But let’s try to help Cape Cod stay unique, beautiful, and full of wildlife and vitality!

I don’t do big and fancy projects, ones that require a big 4x4 truck and constant travel to the landfill but if you have a compost pile at your property and need some help to maintain a planet-friendly yard, you can rely on my hands and knowledge!

My favorite gardeners are Piet Oudolf and Nigel Dunnett. In my work, I take inspiration from nature - if it grows in the Beech Forest, it will thrive in your garden!

And if the Cape going to be underwater by 2050 it would be an honor to know that I was with you on the same boat in 2019.

Your Wash-Ashore,
Eugene.

03/25/2019

We Know Seas Are Rising, but We’re Not Abandoning Our Beloved Cape Cod!

Lifelong residents are building higher with each flood. But while they contend with climate change, some say they aren’t sure what to believe about the cause.