Monday, May 14, 2012

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:








Thursday, May 10, 2012

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!