OUR FAVORITE LANDSCAPING QUOTES

We definitely love good gardening and landscaping quotes. They bring a smile to your face and remind you exactly why you love digging in the dirt, discovering new plants and creating a lovely palette outdoors. These are just a few of our faves. “Don’t worry about perfection. Nature doesn’t grow in straight lines.” Lisa Lubell “All gardening is landscape painting.” William Kent “The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.” Alfred Austin “Gardening is any way that humans and nature come together with the intent of creating beauty.”  Tina James “There’s little risk in becoming overly proud of one’s garden because gardening by its very nature is humbling. It has a way of keeping you on your knees.”  Joanne R. Barwick “Texture and foliage keep a garden interesting through the season. Flowers are just moments of gratification.”      Kevin Doyle  

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VIRGINIA HAS A BOUNTY OF BEAUTIFUL GARDENS TO VISIT

Yes, we know. It’s only February,  and it’s not exactly bloom season yet. But that doesn’t mean you need to stop dreaming of beautiful gardens and the inspiration you can gain from them. And it’s certainly not too early to start planning a spring or summer gardening trip, especially one that focuses on some of the beautiful gardens that can be found in Virginia.

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LANDSCAPING TRENDS FOR 2020

What’s new? What’s on trend? The world of landscaping and exterior design is always changing with new looks, new products and new technology. One thing that’s big this year is using interior design elements outside. Pick an element that you’ve fallen in love in with inside your home and move it to the outdoors. Perhaps you love that herringbone pattern on your kitchen’s backsplash or that chevron pattern that’s surrounding your fireplace. You can pull that into your outdoor areas in a variety of ways. Use it on your porch furniture, to create a privacy wall, or a pattern for a patio. Traditional indoor materials are also finding their way outside. Porcelain tiles are being used to create patios, walkways and garden paths because of their durability and long life.          

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PLANT OF THE WEEK – MEXICAN BUSH SAGE

This is a favorite with many gardeners because it will provide you with dynamic purple blooms through the autumn season. Mexican Bush Sage (salvia leucantha) is drought tolerant which makes including it in your garden an even wiser decision. Particularly with the drought we’ve been experiencing this season.

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PICKING THE PERFECT JAPANESE MAPLE

The Japanese Maple is probably one of the most favored trees to include in landscaping. One of its most endearing features it that it grows somewhat slowly and tends to keep a a nice compact shape that won’t demand constant pruning. But the biggest reason people love a Japanese Maple is because  of its multiple colors and vibrant displays during various seasons. Add to the color interest a variety of leaf shapes, and is anyone surprised by their popularity. But most important, there is a Japanese Maple with size that is suitable to fit any yard or lack of yard. Let us help you find that perfect maple. Whether you’re putting one in a pot, in a courtyard, on a deck, as an accent in a bed or to help shade a window, we’ve got one that will serve your color, shape and size requirements.

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SEPTEMBER and OCTOBER LANDSCAPING CHECKLIST

As summer begins to wind down, there are certain lawn and landscape items that need to be taken care of during the months of September and October. Most importantly is that it’s the perfect time to think about renovating and rejuvenating your landscape design because these two months are a little cooler and there is more moisture in the air. This gives new plants the best possible conditions for establishing themselves in their new home. Make a list of the plants you want to incorporate in your landscape. This is also an ideal time to start buying and planting spring time bulbs as well.

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A STONE’S THROW…LANDSCAPING WITH STONE, GRAVEL AND BOULDERS

Love the look of stone and rock in landscaping?  There are many different types of stone that can be incorporated into your landscape, and an infinite number of ways to use stone.  New ideas pop up all the time, and some of the traditional uses will never go out of vogue.  Our favorites?  You certainly don’t have to ask twice.

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GETTING CREATIVE IN THE GARDEN

I’m always looking for creative new ideas to enhance my landscape and the landscapes of the homes we create designs for.  It’s also fun to share these finds with our readers.  Whether you choose to implement my most recent discoveries or use them as inspiration to create something that compliments your personality, I hope you’ll find our ideas a little different.

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TAKING A BITE OUT OF THE MOSQUITO POPULATION

They are the peskiest of pests, and they are at their height of peskiness during August.  But there are ways to control the mosquito population in your yard.  It’s not only their itchy bites that are problematic, but there is also need for worry over the diseases they carry. Armed with the right knowledge, you make it a fair fight and hopefully come close to winning the battle against these annoying summer visitors.

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