Butterfly gardening Letting all that milkweed grow around my yard has paid off and we have some monarch butterfly caterpillars in there chomping away! Though we don’t recall seeing any adult monarchs flitting through the garden, they must have visited long enough to deposit some eggs. We have seen plenty of tiger swallowtails and always …
Bees and Pollinators Insects are responsible for one out of every three bites of food. With new reports showing pollinators remain in steep decline, let’s get straight to what we can do about it. Fortunately, it’s been proven that regular homeowners can achieve a great deal! Here are 10 ideas to help pollinators from home—from simply adding wildflowers …
A late morning glory The Japanese species are my favorites with their huge flowers and unusual shapes. I mostly prefer the Ipomoea tricolor ‘Heavenly Blue’ because of the heavenly blue color of their blooms. This species has double-sized flowers, compared to the common species Ipomoea purpurea. The first time I grew the ‘Heavenly Blue’ morning glories, I started …
Balloon flower Balloon flower (Platycodon) is an especially easy-to-grow plant that prefers full sun to part shade and organically-rich, well-drained soil. Choose cultivars with blossoms of blue, white, purple, or pink, in single- or double-petal varieties. Silvery-green stems may exceed 2 feet in height, bearing balloon-like buds that open into starry blossoms in July and …
Brick Paver × Brick pavers give a classic and natural look to new patios, driveways and garden paths. Made from compressed clay and heated at high temperatures, brick pavers are durable and they come in a range of natural, earth-toned colors. The brick pavers available range from simple solid bricks with flat edges, to interlocking …
Soft buffalo grass While buffalo grass is relatively low-maintenance, here are simple buffalo lawn care tips you follow to ensure it stays luscious and green all-year-round. “One of the things that make it such a great family lawn is that is self-repairs rapidly, meaning less patches and dead-spots,” says Adam. “Many varieties also have excellent resistance to …
English garden There seems to be two schools of thought as to what exactly constitutes an English Garden. For some it is the pruned symmetry and aristocratic formality of Victoriana. Others tend towards the more eclectic rambling colour fields of a ‘cottage’ style garden. Defining the true character of an English garden may be as …
Victorian Gazebo As a common decorative element in Victorian design, a water fountain, either freestanding or wall-style, is a classic accent to include in your gazebo design. A water fountain creates a naturally relaxing and tranquil atmosphere with its delicate trickle and design that can range from florid and ornate to simple and minimalist. Install …
Offset Pavers For offset slipforming, material is normally transferred to the filling hopper from a concrete mixer truck. This material is transferred to the offset slipform mounted on the side of the paver by either a pivotable conveyor belt or a pivotable screw conveyor. The slipform produces the monolithic profile as the offset paver moves …
The Relax Place There are times when we all need to escape the hustle and bustle of modern living. Creating a relaxing and calming environment right outside your back door will give you a space where you can clear your thoughts and take it easy. Quiet time in a secluded space is an ideal way …
A Quiet Corner A small garden space doesn’t mean you can’t have the garden you want. Having small outdoor living space does not mean that you can’t have a dream garden. With spring and planting season just around the corner, now is the time to choose a garden design for those small spaces and get …
Front Yard Landscaping Front-yard gardens can change neighborhoods. I’ve witnessed this both as a gardener and as a landscape architect. Years ago, I mixed some annuals and perennials among the evergreen foundation shrubs in front of my family’s home. Before long, the welcoming curves I had carved out of the sod near our front door …
Soft Lawn Success with your lawn depends on many things. Not the least among them is growing the proper type of grass for your area. In general, northern areas grow cool season grasses and southern areas grow warm season varieties. The transition area is capable of growing both types with the proper care. Creeping grasses like …
A Small Cottage Garden Before you venture out to the garden and harvest a bunch of flowers for the dinner table, it’s important to remember that some flowers are poisonous. Make sure you’ve made a positive identification of each variety you’re using. Obviously, you should avoid flowers that may have been sprayed with pesticides or …
Visteria Bulevard Lawn Lush green grass tends to get all the attention when it comes to lawns. If you’re short on time or just simply want something a little lower maintenance, though, a clover lawn may be just what you’re looking for. Here are 3 reasons to consider turning your lawn into a clover lawn: …
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