Cool Pots, Benches and Outdoor Products

There are so many fantastic outdoor products on the market these days, it makes my job as a landscape designer super fun!

Every time I visit one of awesome local nurseries I always try to see what other items they might have to offer beside plants.  Sometimes I am looking for a nice bench to put near a clients Bocce Ball Court, or funky chairs for another clients hip back yard.

Check out some of the fun finds right here in Central Oregon:

Super cool metal lanterns

Lovely stone bench, plant flowers in the end or fill it with ice for cold beverages!

 

I can just see this bench under a wild rose bush....

 

Bring the sound of water to your small deck or patio with these wall fountains!

 

Wow, the butterfly bench is amazing!

 

I love these chairs, they come in different colors and would bring much fun to any landscape!

 

Turn this planter into a fountain or plant it with grasses and purple trialing petunia's, fantastic!

 

 

All of these items are available at Landsystems Nursery off Hwy 20 East just past Worthy Brewing.

Gray Butte Hike and Widlflowers

On Mother's Day I went hiking out at Gray Butte, by Smith Rock, and was happily excited at all the gorgeous scenery.  It was perfect wildflower time, there were whites, yellows, blues, pinks, purples, and even green! 

In addition to the wildflowers, the views were spectacular!  We were looking across the agricultural lands of Central Oregon towards the Cascade Range, and we thought we could even see Mt. Hood.

But back to the wildflowers.  Being a flower in Central Oregon is not an easy thing.  Water gets scarce towards summer so a flower has to get real busy while there is still moisture in the spring.  A lot of them are quite to flower and go to seed before the heat of summer kicks in and they need all their energy to stay alive, no more seed making. 
The flowers are also smaller than others you might see in more wet areas (like the Cascade or Coastal Ranges).  That is one thing I have come to appreciate about the desert, you have to look at the world a little differently and see the beauty in the smaller things, the smaller flowers, the curve of that mature Juniper tree, the way the light catches on the grass at dusk.

Our wildflowers may be small but they sure do pack a punch.  I highly recommend hiking Gray Butte right now while the flowers are still in bloom.  Then in a month or so check out Look Out Mountain in the Ochoco's and Iron Mountain off Hwy 20 West towards the Cascades. 

From Top Right: Field of Spreading Phlox and Nine-Leaved or Desert Parley, Unknown blue flower - do you know it?, Indian Paintbrush with Big Headed Clover and Yellow Salsify (or False Dandelion) , Middle Row: Puccoon, View towards the Cascade Range, Big Headed Clover, Bottom Row: Sage and Fescue meadow with view towards the West, Spreading Phlox with Lupine and Salsify, unknown white flowers - do you know it?

So many more out there that I did not capture, you will have to see them for yourself!

Backyard Landscape Designs

In researching project photos for a new client, I stumbled across many older photos I haven't looked at in a while.  As we are all thinking of this new season and lots of time spent outdoors in our yards and beyond, enjoy these photos and be inspired!

This was the site of an old defunct water feature with small pool, we were able to completely redo the whole corner without too much cost and still keep a water feature, one that is much easier to take care of!  Plus it is a gorgeous spot to sit mornings or evenings.

The remodeled deck of the same project.  The steps were widened and deepened to double as seating and to make access to the yard even easier.  The pergola adds shade (southern exposure) and a great place to hang plants or party lights!

This was a fantastic project to work on.  We took out the lawn and replaced it with low maintenance plants with interest for all seasons.  The flagstone path is planted with ground cover thyme which smells heavenly!  Now the front is a hang out for the client enjoying the afternoon sun.

This project turned out awesome!  I designed this yard to be super functional and easy.  Just enough lawn for picnics, a lounge area plus more around the corner.....

This has worked out so well for the client.  A whole second area for more formal outdoor dining or just ducking out of the winds that come up in the late afternoons. 

And more projects coming all the time!