"after" yards, pictures, and ideas...
Gardening for Seniors
Ask gardeners in their golden years why they still garden, and you’ll probably receive a variety of answers. “I love it, and it keeps me going.” “It gives me something to get up for each day.” “My garden is my pride and joy; it’s been with me for many years, and I intend to give it loving and... ...
Give Your Garden The Blues
Blue (and shades of blue) is one of the most restful colors in the garden. Imagine fields of bluebonnets or the purple haze of lavender (another shade of blue) in bloom. You can have the same calming effect in your yard through the growing seasons by planting flowers of pure blue and shades of blue....
What are Potager Gardens?
I love potager gardens! What are potager gardens, you ask? A potager garden is a vegetable garden that focuses on looks as much as taste. These quaint 16th-century French-style gardens have very recently become popular, and it’s easy to see why. ...
Blend Wheelchair Ramps Into Your Landscape Design
As the Baby Boomer generation ages, it’s possible that we’ll see a shift in how residential areas are made accessible. It’s not hard to imagine McMansions with wide, elaborately decorated granite wheel chair ramps....
Feed the Earth! A Guide to Composting
If you’ve ever tried to grow a lush, productive vegetable or flower garden in your yard—which you hoped would be the envy of your neighbors—only to have pale, lifeless plants emerge from the earth and struggle to hang on, then you may need to practice composting. ...
The Art (or Science?) of Good Soil
To have a sturdy building, you’ve got to have a good foundation. The same could be said of plants – having good soil can make or break your garden. Before you can improve the quality of your soil, you first need to know what good soil is....
Five Foolproof Tomato Growing Tips
Growing tomatoes is easy, but growing the picture-perfect tomatoes we all want isn’t. I remember when I began growing vegetables; I had visions of big, shiny, juicy, red tomatoes. Unfortunately, the tomatoes I grew didn’t measure up to this ideal....
Barbecue Time! Coke-Brined Chicken
Looking for a tasty twist to traditional barbecued chicken? Hit the soda aisle of your grocery store. This cola-tinged twist has become a summertime favorite at our house. It’s perfect for a cookout, with a few unusual techniques that will have your guests crowding around the grill as it cooks and talking it up long afterward....
Ornamental Potager Garden: The Artistry of Growing Vegetables, Herbs and Flowers
The ornamental potager garden is an attractive mix of vegetables, herbs and flowers growing together in raised beds. Initially developed by French monks, the potager kitchen garden (pronounced poe-ta-zhay) became popular in the 16th century in France....
Chop or Transplant - How Much are Your Trees Worth?
Trees are a long term landscaping investment. There’s no hardscape feature that can fully replace the natural beauty and shade of a living, “breathing” tree. Unfortunately, the decision about where to plant a tree is often made by the builders or original owners of a home....
