Garden
Geum. Whether we credit the popularity of the perennial called Geum to its perfect timing of blooming during Chelsea, or to its gorgeous petal color, or to its whimsical form, it all adds up to a stellar choice for a mixed border, cutting garden or container. Geum rivale ‘Flames of Passion’ (USDA zones 4 to 8) is aptly named. According to Bluestone Perennials, it is deer and rabbit resistant, attracts butterflies, is long-blooming and is a perfect compact, low-growing plant.
Softening the base of a sculptural piece called Xylem is a fantastic silver and orange planting scheme that I found dramatic in its simplicity. Silvery Astelia and artichoke foliage is accented by an orange-flowering Geum and a bronzy carex. This can be easily replicated in a container garden or a small planting bed.
Especially dramatic are the white foxtail lilies (Eremurus sp), which emerge tall above a playful white tapestry of Viola cornuta ‘Alba Group’, ornamental onion (Allium nigrum), Centranthus ruber ‘Albus’, Artemisia ludoviciana ‘Valerie Finnis’ and Hesperis matronalis var. albiflora. Take that recipe to the garden center and you may be able to replicate a slice of Chelsea in your own backyard.
Fringe Tree Distinguishing traits. The spring flowers are the most distinguishing trait of this small tree. The flowers, with four petals each, hang down like soft, thin clusters of ribbons. The glossy, deep green leaves fully emerge while the tree is in bloom during late spring and bring a deep luster to the garden all summer. Fringetree is dioecious, meaning that there are separate male and female plants. The deep purple-black fruits occur only on female plants, but you do not need to plant both male and female plants to have blooms. The flower petals of the male plants are longer and showier than the flowers of the female plants.
Botanical name: Chionanthus virginicus Common names: Fringetree, white fringetree, old man’s beard Origin: Native to the southeastern U.S. but hardy to colder zones Where it will grow: Hardy to -40 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA zones 3 to 9; find your zone) Water requirement: High Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Soil requirement: Prefers moist, rich soil Mature size: 12 to 20 feet tall and wide Benefits and tolerances: Autumn fruit is a great wildlife food source; tolerates urban conditions Seasonal interest: Showy white flowers in spring; showy fruit and yellow leaves in autumn When to plant: Fall
4. Shallow rollout. Never let a deep drawer swallow up your holiday cookie cutters or cupcake papers again. This slim rollout hovers above another drawer, sharing the same drawer face and hardware. Cost: Jodi Tramontin of Dura Supreme Cabinetry shares that the cost of a rollout like this is $200 to $275; the feature must be added at the time you order new cabinets, as the company doesn’t offer it as a stand-alone item.
If you're going to go through the trouble of removing your downspouts to replace them with a rain chain, you might as well take it to the next level and enhance the area where the rain settles. Some stacked rocks or a ceramic pot with a hole drilled through the bottom looks great and helps the rain make its way into the ground.
What originated in Japan hundreds of years ago, the kusari doi, or "chain gutter," is a simple way to carry rain to the ground in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The Japanese have used these chains on temples and homes over the years with the sole purpose of embracing the beauty of a rain-filled day.
Botanical name: Geum triflorum Common names: Prairie smoke, old man’s whiskers Origin: Native from the northern Midwest (Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota) into the northern Plains and the entire Mountain West into Nevada, Northern California, Oregon and Washington Where it will grow: Hardy to -40 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA zones 3 to 7; find your zone) Water requirement: Dry to medium soil Light requirement: Full sun to 25 percent shade Mature size: 6 to 12 inches tall and up to 18 inches wide Benefits and tolerances: A well-behaved ground cover; loves rocky soil Seasonal interest: Red, closed, drooping blooms in late spring give way to sparkly, smokey-looking seed heads and seed heads that slowly mature; fall color When to plant: Potted or bare-root plants can be planted from spring to fall; seed in fall or winter. by Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens Save Email Distinguishing traits. Prairie smoke looks best during its period of unique blooms (the closed flowers bend downward) and after, with a show of glittery seed heads from late spring into early summer. This ground cover also produces attractive fall color from bright oranges to reds, while a ...
Botanical name: Calycanthus floridus Common names: Eastern sweetshrub, Carolina allspice, strawberry shrub Origin: Native to the Southeastern U.S. Where it will grow: Hardy to -30 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA zones 4 to 9; find your zone) Water requirement: Medium Light requirement: Partial shade to mostly sunny; prefers afternoon shade Soil requirement: Prefers a nutrient-rich, moist loam but tolerates many soil conditions Mature size: 6 to 10 feet tall and wide Benefits and tolerances: Tolerates clay soils; deer resistant Seasonal interest: Bold, fragrant flowers in late spring When to plant: Fall
Moss smoothie. If you are impatient for nature to take its course, you can easily kick-start a moss culture with one of these two recipes, which are said to work equally well. For best results, use native moss and apply when evaporation is low (that is, in spring or fall). 1.Yogurt base: Blend several handfuls of native moss with a large carton of plain yogurt. Slowly add buttermilk to form a slurry. 2.Beer base: Blend several handfuls of native moss with 12 ounces of beer plus 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar to form a slurry. With either blend, brush the mix onto the desired surface and spritz daily with water until it becomes established. Conditions needed: •Morning sun or all-day filtered sun •Damp or humid atmosphere
Tranquility is possible even in the smallest of spaces. This small Zen garden, with its simple plants, includes a sitting Buddha with both hands in a meditative pose. The hands overlap each other, with the left hand placed on top of the right so the thumb tips touch to form an oval, symbolizing the turning of attention inward.
•Cobblestone and pavers are the longest-lasting option — a cobblestone driveway or walk can last 100 years or more! They are also by far the most expensive options and require the most work initially to prepare the area and lay a foundation for the stone. Repairs are fairly easy with both; you can replace individual stones as needed, making upkeep costs relatively low.
Perhaps, like me, you have lots of small terra-cotta pots that are gathering dust in the potting shed. This is a wonderful way to use them. Hyacinths, daffodils, tulips and grape hyacinths have been planted in individual pots, then clustered together to create an instant spring garden. A delicate white and pink color scheme adds a romantic, feminine touch to this courtyard.
Bench with a view. What garden is complete without a bench? Before positioning yours, take the time to consider both what you will see from the bench and what views you will have of the bench from elsewhere in the yard. Consider a view of a water element or vegetable garden, or position a bench at the end of a winding path that can be seen from the house.
Bean tepee. Beans grow quickly and are easy to grow even for beginning gardeners. If you are thinking of planting beans, there’s no need to keep them along a fence in neat rows — try a tepee instead. Pick up a dozen or so bamboo or willow poles at your local garden center and drive them into the ground at even intervals around a circle in the dirt, leaving a gap for the entrance. Plant a bean seed at the base of each pole and train the beans onto the tepee as they grow. When the plantings fill in, this will make a stellar playspace for kids.
Have you made edible gardening easier with an ingenious planter solution? Houzzer Cathy Messer showed us how she and her fiancé, Bruce Edwards (shown here), grow leaf lettuce and microgreens in rain gutters off their deck at Middle Earth Farm. These edibles are quick growers, she says, and their height makes them easy to harvest.
Create inviting smaller spaces for intimate conversation. The extrovert’s well-designed garden should incorporate smaller vignettes so partygoers can break off from the crowd for more intimate conversations. Narrower paths leading to small seating areas with cozy furniture provide a respite during larger gatherings. A surrounding hedge or wall will create a psychological sense of freedom and security for those who venture there and can optimize usable space in a smaller garden. Place behind gazebo but make it a fire pit instead.
Employ lighting to create festive drama. The appropriate use of outdoor lighting can influence moods and create the vibe you are seeking for your space. Small spaces feel larger and spring to life with well-designed lighting. Spotlights can create interest and seductive drama. Lighting can wash across surfaces to highlight textures and shapes. And finally, lights strung overhead create a festive mood for evening cocktails and themed parties. If you are not confident in your technical and aesthetic abilities with regard to designing and installing lighting, an outdoor lighting professional could save you time and money.
A small seating area, and maybe even sculpture, added along a rustic path could make for a magical place in the landscape. contemporary landscape by Bliss Garden Design Bliss Garden Design Save to Ideabook Email Photo Some of these examples of creating places to be in a garden are more accessible than others, but the ideas translate to different landscapes. Places where one can find repose in the garden can only add to our experiences of it. On a recent trip to the home of James Rose, I was reminded that great design isn’t just for the well-off. Small spaces can be as exciting as the grandest ones, and great materials can be sourced to accommodate a variety of budgets. A few boulders set loose in a circle can add to the joy of the garden as well as any custom fireplace. To enjoy the landscape, one needs to not be afraid to explore possibilities; just get outside and explore.
Create a rhythm. Precast pavers create a visual field, or a pattern, defined by their shape and dimensions. Shown here are extra long and thin pavers that create a long, linear rhythm in a paved area. Pavers have also been selectively removed or spaced, with the voids filled with gravel that matches the gravel at the edges.
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