It’s beginning to look a lot like Fall. Cooler temps, a little more rain, and some dreaded nor’easters. But that doesn’t end the landscaping season and certainly shouldn’t keep you from completing some important tasks and fun decorating ideas.
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It wasn’t a difficult decision to add a new patio as a way to create more living space for your home. But now you’d like to bring more life to it. And this can be best accomplished with the addition of outdoor planters. Now comes the fun part! Deciding what to plant. And deciding on the containers to put those plants. One thing that will really add style to your patio is to select planters that are similar in style and color. Or to buy a specific design of planter and stick to that one style. The diversity will come from your plants. We love this collection from Pottery Barn. There are several different planters you can choose from that will match your style type. The plant selection needs more consideration when it comes to exposure to the elements. Is your patio space filled with shade? A few plants that might be perfect for you containers include coleus, fuschia, coral bells (heuchera), and impatiens. My absolute favorite shade plant for both color and foliage variety is coleus. Planted in a container along with some impatients and you will create a backyard show stopper. The color and size of the leaves have such a tremendous vaiety, and they are also extremely easy to care for. Is your patio in full sun? If you need plants to survive extreme heat and sun, there are numerous options when it comes to creating that perfect container full of lush colorful, plants. Among the choices are lantana, geraniums, zinnias, mint (it’s pretty, it smells great and it has multiple uses in food and drinks), palms (particularly Chinese fan palms) and the beauiful, crazy blooming Mandevilla. There are so many options when it comes to the plants that will decorate your patio, and you can go bold, basic, subdued with your planters and once you’ve decided on the planters, you can go try all of the different plants that are suited to the environement these planters will be placed.
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With so many people choosing to extend their living space into the outdoors, patios have become one of the most aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective solutions available. A patio offers additional space for relaxing, dining, and entertaining. Choosing a construction method or contractor to complete this type of work can often seem like a daunting task. We recommend concrete because of its style versatility.
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If you’re looking to add a new hosta variety to your landscape this season, let this be THE one! With it’s heart-shaped, blue leaves with a crisp white margin, the color and shape are certainly inviting. But toss in some incredible ruffling on the leaves and you’ve got a bounty of added interest in this selcetion.
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With it’s gorgeous, vibrant coloring and love for cooler weather, this edible ornamental vegetable is a perfect plant for your fall landscape.
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Halloween is quickly approaching. There are so many ways you can decorate your outdoor areas to welcome the spooky season. Who doesn’t love the color orange? Or pumpkins? Black cats and witches? It’s a fun time of the year and decorating your doorstep, your porch, your deck or even your garden areas can bring a lot of joy and fun to your home. These are just a few of our favorites.
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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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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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They are the peskiest of pests, and they are at their height of peskiness during August. But there are ways to control the 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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Thinking about a new landscape, but really don’t know what exactly it is you might be looking for? Certainly not an uncommon problem, but one we encounter on a regular basis. Your landscape should reflect your own interests and lifestyle. There are so many different styles to choose from that trying to decide on one specific style may seem a little overwhelming to the novice.
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