Posts Tagged ‘edible gardens’
Patio solves slope and shade
Terraced outdoor space for coffee and happy hours. The backyard was a complete oversight on the behalf of the builder. First, he installed Bermuda sod in a completely shaded backyard – destined to doom. Having worked with our firm previously, the homeowner already knew this would be a problem and contacted us upon the closing.…
Read MoreOutdoor spaces that flow
Multiple outdoor rooms that work together. The homeowner wanted to create multiple outdoor individually themed rooms that connected with seamless sightlines. The goal was an outdoor experience used for entertainment. The main “living” area is a bluestone patio connected directly to the home. Prior to the project, the fireplace was functional on the interior of…
Read MoreEmbracing the lake
Making the connection. This homeowner wanted to feel a personal connection to the lake that borders his property. His main objective was to create an outdoor room for cooking and dining that did not block his view of the lake from inside or outside his home. The existing concrete slab was too small to be useful. We converted it into…
Read MoreSmall space, big impact
Cozy contemporary outdoor space. This small suburban back yard was mainly a leftover spot dominated by out-of-scale screening trees that made it feel like it was in a huge hole, a deck too small to accommodate more than two or three people, and no gardening space to speak of. Our clients like to visit with…
Read MoreOrganic herb garden
Inviting herb garden close to the kitchen. The 460 sq. ft. area that would become an organic herb garden had construction soil full of stones and pieces of concrete. We removed all of the soil to a depth of two feet and built new soil with organic soil amendments, organic local soil, and worm…
Read MoreBig ideas for small spaces
Make your outdoor living space cozy, creative, and connected. You don’t need a big yard to have an inviting space that beckons you and your family outdoors. Think “cozy,” “creative,” and “connected.” Q: What’s the definition of a small space? A: I consider a small space backyard garden to be no bigger than the footprint…
Read MoreGrowing outdoor walls and floors
Vines and groundcovers for the southern garden. When I think about vines and groundcovers, I remember my favorite childhood book — “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It’s the story of Mary Lennox, a not-too-nice orphaned girl who is sent to live with her uncle in England. She discovers an overgrown and neglected garden…
Read MoreSouthern grapes for southern gardens
Choose the best grapes to grow in your garden. Growing up in an Italian family, my mother would reminisce about my grandfather’s grapevines and the annual ritual of stomping on the grapes to make wine in the basement. While this memory always brought to mind a favorite “I Love Lucy” episode with Lucy and Ethel…
Read MoreSpice up your life with herbs
Grow your own herbs for freshness and flavor. If you’ve ever worked in the kitchen of a fine restaurant, you know that professional chefs demand and accept from their suppliers only the freshest fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices available. They recognize that the degree of freshness of these products has a tremendous impact on the…
Read MoreDeer and rabbit control
Making landscape choices to limit deer and rabbit damage. Aren’t they cute? Bambi and Thumper sure are sweet, soft and cuddly, but ask any gardener how they feel about these furry creatures when they’re found munching on their prize hostas and begonias! Nursery employees, master gardeners and county extension agents claim that “How do I…
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