Posts Tagged ‘perennials’
Preserving historical character
The client’s primary focus was to preserve the historical charm and character of the property. Many old garden areas that we intended to restore were overgrown with old shrubs or had poor soil. Many areas also did not have irrigation. We chose a plant list suitable for each area around the mansion. Some surviving plant…
Read More‘Nature Smart’ and inspirational
Smartville Garden is an outdoor classroom at a public elementary school where students, staff, parents and the community can experience the proven effects of nature on educational aptitude, health and wellbeing. Plant taxonomy and classification, water conservation, environmental awareness, nature science, and biology are taught via an instruction model that includes cross-connecting science, technology, engineering…
Read MoreLevel playing field
Front yard play space. The homeowners had three non-negotiable goals: The front yard must be level so their two young children can play ball. The front yard needs to be completely enclosed for the containment of their playing children and two dogs. All the while, the landscape needs to be in concert with the Country French style of…
Read MoreHistoric garden restored
Renovating and updating, while preserving the charm. The goal of this project was to renovate, restore, and update an historic garden dating back more than a hundred years. Originally begun in 1904, this garden was the subject of several books and the scene of many important parties through the 1920s, ’30s, and early ’40s; think…
Read MoreA touch of Italy
More space and sun, plants, and vehicles. These homeowners wanted more space for vehicles to enter and exit and originally requested that the existing hollies to the right of the driveway be removed. To bring a touch of Italy to the property, they wanted the hollies to be replaced with an Italian cypress hedge. The…
Read MorePerennial pow!
Balancing perennials for season-long success. When we think of seasonal color design, we typically think of annual gardens that are replaced twice a year. Perennials are infinitely more challenging. They create a completely different look and feel than annuals. As some flowers begin to bloom, others fade. The balance of maintaining a beautiful display through…
Read MoreTaming the slope
Gaining entertainment space. The homeowner requested a formal back yard with a pool and areas for entertaining. The property was sloped approximately 5.5′ from the upper back yard to the lower back yard so we began by creating terraced areas that would serve as large landings for lounging and a progression through the garden for…
Read MoreUnusuable space made usable
Making room for recreation and entertainment. The homeowner asked us to collaborate with the builder to provide a master plan for the backyard area. Pool, sports court, and cabana were some of the many elements the homeowner wanted to incorporate into this backyard space. One real concern expressed by the homeowner was to maximize what appeared…
Read MoreContainer gardens accent your landscape
Containers add interest and highlights. The landscape at this residence is simple, clean-lined, and mainly evergreen. The container plantings are meant to accent the landscape, add seasonal color and interest, and highlights areas of interest throughout the property. A close-up view of the front porch troughs consisting of a semi-permanent container planting of Autumn Fern,…
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…
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