Front Yards and Sidewalk Strips

I was talking with a friend today about the latest landscape design job I did, explaining it was a frontyard remodel, taking out the grass and putting in hardy perennials, small boulders and shrubs.
I realized I have designed a number of lawn-ness front yards here in Bend and thought I should share them with you.

Barton Crossing Residence, took out the lawn replacing it with hardy flowering perennials, seasonal shrubs, fragrant plants, apple trees and ground covers.  We will take out the remaining lawn this year putting in a veggie and cut flower bed, it will be beautiful!

This residence had an awful lawn that was nothing but trouble for the home owners.  Now they are greeted by the most exciting front garden in their entire neighborhood!  It is full of life from the grasses that sway in the slightest breeze to the hummingbirds and butterflies that frequent their flowers.

This is the same residence just the other side of the driveway.  This also had horrible lawn which is now a very practical, diverse raised bed planting. 

This landscape design is a combination of the two properties so instead of each residence having a narrow yard they both enjoy a seasonal display of nature's bounty.  The irrigation is divided per each property and each owner is in charge of their own side, but the gardens blends together seamlessly and the border is invisible.  This is a lawn-less front garden with seasonal interest, flowers that bloom throught the season, deer resistant, hardy, mostly drought tolerant  and fairly low maintenance, wow!

More images of the combined frontyard landscape design:

Mother's Day Ideas - Succulent Cube Garden

Stylish, cute, easy and perfect for any home or garden, succulent cube gardens by Vivaterra.  The blocks are lightweight and can arranged on a windowsill or center piece on a table. 

Other great ideas include an herb basket, these can be purchaes at most local nurseries or at Giving Plants:

Happy Mother's Day and happy planting!

Queen of Denmark Rose

Happy Birthday to her royal majesty Queen Margrethe of Denmark born in 1940.  To honor her birthday Daves Garden website choose the old garden rose 'Queen of Denmark' as their plant of the week.  Here is what they say about this lovely rose:

"
April 16, is the birthday of Queen Margrethe of Denmark. Born this day in 1940, she was crowned queen upon her father's death in 1972. This made her the first female ruler of the country since Margrethe l, who ruled from 1375–1412. The lovely old garden rose 'Queen of Denmark' honors both of them and is a favorite rose among gardeners. While it only blooms once, in late spring, the beautiful, fragrant flowers are captivating. The soft pink blossoms are quartered rosettes and are very full, having up to 100 petals. Plant in full sun and give it room to grow, as the shrub can get quite large. The plants are disease resistant and hardy and it is considered a good 'beginner' rose."

New USDA Hardiness Zone Map

The USDA has come out with a new hardiness zone map with help from Oregon State University PRISM Climate Group among others.  Check out the new map:  New USDA Zone Map

According to the new zones map, Bend is now 6b.  I am rather surprised at the high rating and I would still be careful and stick to zone 5 plants.  Our irregular climate is what makes it difficult here for many plants, as well as our drying air and sterile soils. 

Remember if you live west of Mt. Washington Blvd. you are in a different micro climate than the rest of Bend being at a slightly higher elevation and more prone to harsh winds.  Deschutes River Woods and Sunriver are also different (colder) climates. 

Shop at our local nurseries and ask lots of questions for the most success!

International Garden Photographer of the Year Winner

Beautiful and stunning images of gardens, landscapes and plants on the KEW website for the International Garden Photographer of Year.

Here is the overall winner Magdalena Wascizek 'Upside Down':

Others include:

 'Hummingbird' by Patrick Corning, the Young Photographer of the Year winner:

'Morning Glow' by Abigail Rex:





The see all the photos from  the different categories visit the International Garden Photographer of the Year website.

Beautifull Landscape Design

Browsing through images of scotch moss for a client, I came across this serene image of a landscape designed by Sculpt Gardens out of San Francisco, CA. 

I particulary like the use of the moss between the stone wall and the patio, ingenious!  Take a look at their portfolio for more beautifully designed landscapes.

Landscape Design Fun

I was trolling for landscape images for a client the other day and came across this one.  The lightness and good humor of it all was just what I needed on a winter's day.

'Clothespin' from the Rueben Miller website by

mmarsupilami