I thought this was a really useful post over on Houzz:
Strolling Through The Ringling
We had a superb visit to the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida. It was a perfect day to enjoy the grounds. In the central museum courtyard are enormous terra cotta pots with bougainvillea as the only color spots- and nothing more is needed. Classic and simple, and I wanted to live there! Although if I did live there, I would add lemon trees. Then nothing more would be needed.
First Day of Spring
Well, it’s the first day of spring, but that’s no guarantee of anything when it comes to the weather. Here in the DC area we’re enjoying a wonderful snow day, which means no school, hot chocolate, bootcamp in the snow, fellow exercisers pushing my car up a hill afterwards, working at home while looking out the window at sleds and snowballs- oh, and a trip to Livin’ the Pie Life so we can bring a Mile-High Pie to dinner next door. Here’s hoping for another slow day tomorrow!
Loving My Urban Mettle
Well, it was over 70 degrees here today, so I could not resist swinging by American Plant just to walk around in the sun. I picked up a few primroses for my mailbox and house number plaque, and I’m loving them! I’ll have to bring them inside if the nights dip down too much, but it’ll be worth it. Spring is coming!
Please Touch the Plants
Walking though your garden can be a wonderful tactile experience.
Like a cashmere sweater or a fuzzy fleece in a clothing store, it’s almost impossible for me to walk past these plants without touching them. Even prickly things, like the center of a coneflower, make me want to connect. (“Let me see if I can touch it so softly that it doesn’t hurt!”)
We’re always focused on how a garden looks, especially when we’re perusing beautiful photos, but when we’re in the physical space, the smells, sounds, textures and even tastes elevate our experience to another level.
#apldgotnick
Our local APLD Chapter is thrilled to have Nick McCullough as our Winter Lecture speaker this year! This event is open to the public, so come on out and get inspired for spring. Light breakfast, networking, lecture, and Q&A with Nick. See you there!
Happy New Year!
Outdoor Christmas Decor
A couple years ago a family in our neighborhood was leaving for a trip on Christmas Day, so they put their tree out on the curb. As you can imagine, it didn’t stay there for long. A group of guys got together and set it back up on the family’s lawn, complete with tinsel and whatever tacky decorations they could get together. The thing is, though, that people loved it! Little kids, random dog walkers, people driving by, they all got a kick out of it, so last year we decided to put up outdoor trees as a deliberate decorating decision. Some people were frustrated by the number of times their tree blew over, but others of us are hooked and have decided it’s a new tradition. Ours is a bird theme, complete with bird seed and these pre-lit cardinals that I think are the cutest thing ever. (Yes, I have a kitschy streak.)
How’s your decorating going? Have fun, don’t stress, do your own thing.
Using Black in the Landscape
Often people think that black is a bold color choice- white feels more neutral- but when it comes to exteriors, black is the best way to make something recede. Black is definitely one of the best color choices for a fence. In this example, our client installed a new fence and gate that jumped out at the viewer because of it’s light, raw wood. You can see this everywhere, as people usually do leave their fences unfinished. A simple coat of exterior wood stain, though, creates a much more harmonious look that will require very little future maintenance.
Perennial’s the Word
Take a look at this gorgeous photo and ask yourself, “Why am I buying mums every year when they would quite happily show up on their own?”
Okay, it’s great to put them in pots for some front porch color, but really, isn’t this amazing? My far-seeing neighbor planted these years ago and they come back reliably each fall. A definite garden goal for me, and something I’m trying to encourage more with my clients. If you’ve got mums that are starting to fade now, consider popping them in the ground for color spots next year. What’s the worst that could happen?