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It is human nature to desire a beautiful placeto come home to, a place to rest and regenerate with a renewedsense of vitality each day. Space is also a valuable commodity, socreating lovely and inviting rooms for sitting, eating, relaxing,and entertaining is not only aesthetically pleasing, but a smartinvestment. In a land of concrete and steel, the homes we designare some of the most treasured spaces on the planet.Stepping into a roof garden and out of the city is a way ofexchanging one world for another. Suddenly gone are the crowds onthe streets below, and with them all the accompanying cacophony ofcars, buses, subways, vendors, and all the incessant drills, beeps,clangs, bangs, and swooshes of construction in a city that isforever reconstructing itself.All of this activity seems to dissipate into the faintest ofhums when I am standing in one of the terrace or roof gardens Ihave helped to create. City gardens feel more like little paradisesto me than gardens anywhere else, perhaps because the contrastbetween everyday life and the quiet repose of the garden is sogreat. No other place in the world are gardens more elusive or morenecessary for people's well-being.They are elusive for more than just the obvious monetaryreasons, but also for the monumental effort required in order forthem to exist at all. Imagine carrying thousands of pounds of soiland plants up stairs and elevators in order to grow even thesmallest garden on top of a building.Perhaps the enormous challenges faced in bringing them intobeing is part of what lends them such an air of special rarity anduniqueness in the world. Whenever I enter such a garden, it isalways with a feeling of adventure and discovery, as though I wereprivy to behold a secret treasure unsuspected and unbeknownst bythe throngs on the streets below. Nestled between clouds andskyscrapers, a roof garden is truly a living jewel of wonder andbeauty, a little emerald surely coveted even by the birds that flyabove it and must look down in amazement to see this concretejungle actually sprouting life from the buildings below.The gardens that I design are somewhat paradoxical in the sensethat they must at once escape the city and be inspired by it.Reminders of the city are all around us in these gardens, withskyscrapers peeking out above the trees here and there, railingsand reinforcements on the structure of the roof that remind us ofthe ever-present and intrinsically precarious nature of life in thesky, and those planes and helicopter that fly with the birdsoverhead.Planting vegetable gardens has many benefits that includehelping families save money on groceries and being able to consumemore fresh food. Some people find comfort in being outside andworking with their hands through turning the land, planting seedsand caring for vegetable plants. Gardening can be a fun andrelaxing family pastime and it can also lead to reduced stress.Stress seems to have become commonplace in society and can lead tonegative health conditions. Having a vegetable garden enablespeople to perform simple tasks that bare good tangible results. Avegetable garden may be the perfect hobby or activity to performafter a long shift at work or a long work week.Vegetable gardens create a need for people to spend more timeoutdoors in fresh air and sunlight. Sunlight and fresh air tends tohave a calming effect on most people. Spending time outdoors is agreat way to enrich the body with vitamin D. Spending excessivehours inside exposes us to unnatural light from incandescent bulbsand other forms of synthetic lighting. Walking in a large city cansometimes seem like an indoor setting because skyscrapers tend toblock out sunlight and create shade. In most cases an outdooractivity such as gardening tends to have a positive effect on thebody.

Urban gardening can be a great way totransform public and private spaces into lush, green and beautifulsurroundings. Urban gardens involves vegetable gardening as well.Urban survival gardens are the key to pleasant and pleasingsurroundings. Urban horticulture has acquired new dimensions in thecurrent scenario and this can create a very good atmosphere inwhich to unwind and relax. Short cycle blooms are grown in urbancities. This can transform the area into a personal heaven.Urban gardening can make such a difference to quality of lifeand the way people live. Urban horticulture is a step forward intocreating beauty and cutting down on pollution by planting moretrees and growing plants. Indoor as well as outdoor urban gardeningcan make a difference to the lives of those who live in thearea.Vegetable Gardening TipsSome of the vegetable gardening tips can be great ways to ensureyou can eat vegetables sown by you. You have first find theposition for your pots that gets eight hours of daily sunlight aday and water. Vegetables can be grown in window boxes and atop theroofs, but doorways, patios, roof eaves and sidewalks can also beused. Generally, shallow-rooted plants, such as lettuce and spinachrequire only 8 inches of soil depth to grow well, whiledeeper-rooted plants, like tomatoes and even squash, require 12inches of soil.Some other resources for vegetable gardening include terra-cottapots, wooden boxes, and even buckets are great containers. Justensure your containers have drainage holes, are not translucent oropaque as sunlight will burn plants' roots if it is so. Ensurecontainers are big enough to support the plants growing in them.Fill your containers with a good-draining potting mix thatcomprises fertilizer and compost. Almost all vegetables grow quitewell in containers, but selecting the right variety helps.Urban Survival GardenGardens are essential for urban survival. Urban survival gardensare a step towards ensuring that the greenery is omnipresent in theurban setting. Plant your own food and grow it in the urbansurvival garden. This will ensure your food is pure, clean andfresh and there is very little chance of contamination.Urban survival gardens are the way ahead if you want to eatclean and healthy fruits and vegetables. This can ensure that youare able to benefit from this miracle of having your own urbansurvival garden. Thus, urban gardening and vegetable gardening tipscan make urban survival gardens a reality and ensure that you areable to grow your own food.Many people have decided to forgo the massive garden that takesup a large portion of your yard (if you have one) in lieu of agarden that is smaller and more innovative in how it is planned.The desire to grow a few vegetables, have some fresh herbs, orsimply enjoy the beauty that comes from a garden can exist in amore hip and modern way. The urban garden is the answer to thatdemand and it continues to increase in popularity. Here are eighttips that will help you create an urban garden that fits yourneeds.1. Plan your spaceYou want to make the most out of your small space. Make sure youevaluate what is most important to have included in your garden,how much space you have to work with, and how you can incorporateeverything you want so it flourishes.2. Design ideas for small spacesDon't let the size of your space limit your options. There areways to incorporate a small garden that is easy to manage in youroutdoor places where you enjoy relaxing and entertaining. It's anincredible way to create a beautiful space. Think of any shape youlike and go from there.3. The perfect plants for a smaller space urban gardenThere are so many plant options out there. Evaluate the plantsyou love and compare that with those that will have a functionalpurpose for you (herbs, vegetables, etc.). You can find a greatblend that complements your garden.

Garden arbors can really bring out the best ina garden. Any climbing plant looks great over an arbor whether itbe a rose or honeysuckle. Arbors have been around many years, foras long as people have been building structures and they werehugely popular during the Victorian era.A garden arbor will become a focal point of any garden and canbe made from wood, metal, plastic or the more modern vinyl.You can choose to have an arbor over a path, or you can putseating underneath it for a relaxing spot in the garden. The arborcan be just an arched frame or you choose to have lattice work upthe sides to support climbing plants.Currently the trend is using an arbor as an extra sort ofoutdoor room in your garden. It is mostly used for entertaining.You can choose large arbors for a large entertainment seating areaor a little hideaway for yourself.There are so many choices for arbors and they come in differentmaterials and different styles. You can choose to build your own,have one made or use a kitset.If you have a country style garden you may want to use wood thathas a rustic look to it to integrate it fully into your garden. Ifyou are looking for something more modern, a simple arch in vinylmay just be exactly what you are wanting. If you buy a ready madearbor from a company, you may find that they also sell planterboxes and matching seats or benches made in the same material andstyle and you can buy these to incorporate a whole new look in yourgarden.If you want to add a new design layer to your lawn or garden youmay consider adding a garden arbor. Arbors offer a fairly easy anddistinct way to enhance your landscaping designs. There are avariety of designs and styles available; the most important thingis to choose one that fits the look and style of your currentlandscape designs.What Is A Garden Arbor?If you are not already familiar with this type of structure youmay wonder what exactly it is. To put it simply an arbor is anarchway. Traditionally they were made from real branches andleaves, but modern garden arbors are typically made from wood,metal or vinyl.To keep with the traditional theme many of them are borderedwith latticework or designed in a way where vines and flowers canbe grown along them. But those who enjoy a cleaner look oftenprefer not to grow plants or vines along them.More Than An ArchwayWhile they mostly function as an archway garden arbors can haveadditional features, some for functionality and some simply forappearance. Some are made with a bench or a swing which allows youto sit and relax outside while soaking up the beauty of your yard.Some have planter boxes allowing you to create a lush or colorfularea around them. Others have a gate and are used as an entrywayinto a specific area of a lawn or garden.Where To Use ThemThey are often used a as decorative type of entryway. They canbe used to create an entry to a specific area of the yard, a gardenor on a walkway to welcome visitors. They can also provide anattractive location for a backyard wedding.Choosing A DesignThe design you choose will vary depending on how you plan to useit and depending on the style of your existing home and yard. Theshape of the arc is one specific feature that differentiates onegarden arbor from another. They are either round like a typicalarchway, flat or pointed. The material you choose will also affectthe style and feel. As mentioned they are available in wood, metalor vinyl; all of which are made to withstand the outdoorelements.Garden arbors can provide a charming gate into a specific areaof your yard or simply an attractive focal point to accentuate aflower garden or walkway. Choosing a kit will provide a relativelyeasy way for you to incorporate this charming addition to youryard.

Not all gardeners have an expanse of gardenspace that they can use to turn into a butterfly oasis- butbutterfly gardens are just as doable without it. There are lots ofwonderful plants and cultivars that are perfectly happy living incontainers. You can easily make a beautiful butterfly garden incontainers.Here are some ideas for plants that would work well incontainers, so you, too, can attract butterflies to your garden -no matter where it is or how big it happens to be!There are some small cultivars of perennial plants that arenothing but beautiful, hardy versions of their larger siblings thatgrow beautifully in containers. The Chip Buddleia line is awonderful example. Breeders have developed a compact version ofButterfly Bush that is perfect for small gardens and containers.It's super hardy, and completely non-invasive (they are allseedless!).Blue Chip Butterfly Bush Lo and Behold: Much like it's largerversion, Blue Chip sports beautiful deep purple blooms in abundanceover a very long season- the only difference is it tops out at 3feet in height and not quite as wide. Purple buddleias are afavorite of many butterflies, and when in bloom you're guaranteedto see butterflies on it.Pink Chip Micro Butterfly Bush: Slightly smaller than Blue Chip,this small buddleia is a wonderful candidate for pot culture. PinkChip showcases beautiful dark pink cone spikes of blooms in thesummer through fall, and is a beautiful non-stop show of color! Ifyou have a small garden, this little cutie also works well in thefront of a border or middle of a small border too.Lilac Chip Dwarf Butterfly Bush: And the last of the Chip Trio(but not the least!), the lilac version is another little beauty.Totally carefree, this beautiful light purple dwarf butterfly bushis at home on a patio in a pot or in the front border of aperennial bed. Drought tolerant and resistant to deer, you canplant this little tiny wonder in a garden and not worry about ittoo. Never deadhead buddleias again too!Pineapple Sage: Pineapple sage is an amazing herb that isn't aswell-known as it should be. It doesn't smell like the sage that isnormally used for cooking. It literally smells like pineapple! Sosweet and tropical, and its spikes of beautiful tubular red bloomssmell just as good. They are very attractive to butterflies ANDhummingbirds! Pineapple Sage is hardy in most areas, but where it'snot it can be grown easily in a container and overwintered indoors(in zones colder than USDA zone 7).Chives: A very hardy perennial herb and much loved culinarystaple, green chives belong in every garden- from the largevegetable space to a small container arrangement. Chives growwonderfully in pots, and offer a great contrast to other leafycontainer plants. In the spring chives bloom in pink or purple (orsometimes white), and are very fragrant. For the first butterfliesof the year, the beautiful balls of blooms that chives grow areessential food sources. The green spikes are of course wonderful incooking. The blooms can also be eaten, used as a beautifulgarnishWalker's Low Catmint: People hear the word "mint" and theypicture mint that takes over their garden like a weed. Growing mintin a container stops that problem almost instantly. Walker's LowCatmint is also a small catmint that is not only very attractive tobutterflies, but it also behaves well in a container (and in theground interestingly!). It's a better version of mint for allpurposes. In larger areas it makes a great ground cover too. And ofcourse, if you've got a kitty, you can spoil them with some driedWalker's Low Catmint leaves too.There are some common perennials that are typically used inlandscaping that also are fine for growing in pots that butterfliesabsolutely rely on - not just for feeding from but also for layingeggs on. Plant one of these in your container garden or small spaceand you'll find that butterflies appreciate your garden that muchmore.

When you consider buying garden furnituresets, you think of elegance, functionality, suitability andeconomy. You can create a new ambien in your garden by selectingthe right kind of furniture. If you choose resourcefully, yourgarden can present a modern or old-fashioned setting, as per yourpreferences, for your tea parties where you can entertain yourguests in style.Factors Affecting Decision To Buy Garden Furniture Sets:Some of the considerations that will influence the sort offurniture you go in for to decorate your garden space, apart fromyour personal tastes, are -* Type of climate your city enjoys* Size of garden* Number and age of members in your family* Budget for yoursMaterials Used In Garden Furniture Sets:* Rattan - If you are looking for something durable and classyat the same time, rattan furniture is hugely popular. It issuitable for hot climates so it can last long as outdoor furniture.Rattan is flexible and can be painted in different colors and thisadds to the variety of choices you have. You can get dining andcoffee tables with chairs, arm chairs, sofa sets, loungers andottomans to really spruce up your garden.* Wooden - Wooden furniture can be both comfortable and stylish.You can get wooden picnic tables, benches and swing sets as well ascompanion seats and bistro sets. The arrangement can be customizedto be cozy and apt for couples as well as families.* Metal - If you are looking for simple and lasting furniture,metal furniture should do it for you. Round tables with chairs willoffer a quaint setting for your patio or garden.* Teak - Teak is valued for its superior quality and durabilityand is ideal to host formal and informal get-together.Kinds Of Garden Furniture Sets* Hammocks - Ideal for your afternoon siestas and lazy Sundaymornings, hammocks come in various designs, sizes and colorscustomize for adults and children. You can take your pick of swingsets or hanging chairs in addition to suspended or groundedhammocks.* Picnic Tables - These can be great when you want to holdchildren's birthday parties and other gatherings. It will helptransform your garden into a place where you can let your hair downand have fun.* Bar Stools and Tables - With these you can call your friends overfor a drink and give them the perfect feel of a bar-cum-home.* Swing Sets - This is guaranteed to bring the child out in you! Ifyour garden permits, you can get two seat and enjoy the day withyour loved ones.* Loungers - Whether you want to sun-bathe or relax in the sun,loungers are perfect for those laid-back mornings when you can kickyour feet up and lose yourself in your surroundings!You can also enjoy the comforts of garden sofas, fire pits,benches and parasols. Finally, it is an investment in a way of lifeto create memories that will last a lifetime!Garden furniture sets are a type of furniture specificallydesigned for outdoor use. They are typically made of weatherresistant materials which do not rust. Many people's perception ofoutdoor furniture is simply that of a patio set consisting of atable and chairs and quite frequently a parasol which providesshade from the sun or shelter from rain. The range today, however,is enormous and garden furniture has been adapted to suit all spacesizes from large garden spaces to patios to conservatories and foldable tables and chairs are ideal for balconies. Today you canchoose from tables, chairs, sofas, arm chairs, loungers, weatherproof cushions, parasols and gazebos which now come with UVprotection. Usage of garden sets is enhanced by the addition of apatio heater which allows people to sit outside at night or in coldweather.A garden is often referred to as an outdoor living room so youneed to choose outdoor furniture sets wisely so that they enhanceand make a statement in your garden without of course dominatingit.

If your garden is looking plain and bland, agarden arch might be just what you are looking for to spruce it upa little bit. But what plants can you grow around it? Perennialplants are a great choice. Evergreen plants keep their leaves allyear round so the arch is always covered. Deciduous plants willloose their leaves over the winter but will re-grow them againduring the spring. Each of these plants may give new flowers offruit every growing season.Garden arches should not be limited to only the garden entry,they are also great at a midway point to offer a shaded sanctuaryin the middle of the garden. If you install the arch with benches,you will have a perfect place to sit and rest or enjoy your morningcoffee.If you install a garden arch while your children are young, andadd the correct plants, it may be the perfect backdrop for a gardenwedding after they get older.Garden arches may be made of several materials. Metal arches areto be preferred over the wooden ones, however. After the vine plantgrow over the boards of a garden arch the wood could not bere-painted so it will be exposed to the elements and rot quickly.Once decay begins to set in the arch may no longer be secure enoughto support the plants.If you choose a metal arch, be sure that it is resistant to rustin order to have a long lasting arch for many years.Runners from your plants will need to be trained back into thestructure of the arch. You may need to do some trimming of theplants to keep the arch in good shape.It is sometimes said that every garden should have an archway.However, whilst this may not be strictly true, it's certainly truethat garden arches can have a part to play in many designs. Gardenarches come in many shapes, sizes, designs and materials and soconsequently they can also have many different uses within agarden.Uses of Garden Arches Within a Garden DesignOne of the most common uses of arches within a garden is as anentrance. This can be an entrance to the garden itself, or oftenarches can be utilized to create entrances between different areasof a garden. Using the arches a doorways between outdoor roomscreates a sense of progressive realization and a sense of journeywithin the garden. On a similar theme, they can create a sense ofintrigue to a garden visitor. Arches act as a draw to people,drawing people towards the arch to see what lies beyond.Garden arches provide a vertical element within a garden design,providing a point of differentiation if most aspects of the designare in the horizontal plane. What is more, they provide instantheight within a garden. Although planting can ultimately provideheight, unless mature (and therefore costly) plants are introducedinto a new garden, it will be a number of years before those plantscan provide the height that an arch can provide.When placed appropriately, garden arches can be used to frame aview within the garden - for example framing a focal point such asa statue or water feature. Similarly, garden arches can be used toframe a distant view or vista.Considerations When Introducing an Arch to the GardenAs well as being practical, useful and attractive within agarden, arches are also one of the easiest features to erect.However, although they may be easy to erect, some considerationdoes need to be given to the type, style and size of arch to beused - the wrong arch in the wrong place can negatively impact uponthe balance of the whole garden design. So what are the main designconsiderations?1. Scale / SizeThe scale and size of the arch must be in keeping with thegarden and surroundings. For example, a huge, gold plated, highlyornate arch would be totally out of place in a modest suburban backgarden, whilst conversely a 1m wide wooden garden arch would belost and insignificant within the vast grounds of a statelyhome.

Grown right outside of the home, theconvenience of having a kitchen garden in your backyard can be verytime saving. In today's world of large supermarkets, most do nothave kitchen gardens anymore and all sorts of foods are availableyear round without any direct effort of having grown them. Despitethis allure, the convenience of having a kitchen garden is stillvery real, and until you've tried the deliciousness of a homegrownoregano in your pasta sauce that was picked right outside your backdoor, you may not realize what you are missing.There is some initial work and investment involved in anygarden, but be extremely simple and not a lot of work orinvestment. You can invest in designing a small area and have itlandscaped to create a beautiful backyard garden, or you canpurchase a few large pots and have them set right outside of yourback door for easy access. What's more important about your kitchengarden is what you choose to grow.Many people with kitchen gardens choose to grow herb plants thatthey would regularly purchase at the grocery store. This isespecially popular with immigrants from other countries. They oftenbring or order seeds from their native homelands and grow them onhere in their kitchen gardens so that they can continue to enjoymany of the same foods that they relied upon in their homecountries. For example, Italian immigrants used to have gardensfilled with spices and greens that they used in Italy in theireveryday cooking and to help supplement what they purchased here.Asians brought over seeds of bitter melon and various cabbages forstaples in their cooking. Many hybrid dishes have been made thatway and are staples in American cooking today.Starting with perennial herbs and perennial vegetables that areincredibly easy to grow crops is recommended. Rosemary, chives,oregano, thyme, sage, rhubarb and asparagus make a good base foradding annual herbs and vegetables. These base herbs will carry anycook throughout many dishes summer through winter. Supplementedannual herbs can be harvested and frozen or dried for off seasonuse.Seasonal vegetables that are popular with kitchen gardens aretomatoes. As the countries' most popular garden vegetable, thetomato makes the backbone of most kitchen gardens and for greatreason. Ready right off of the vine in the summer, tomatoes are areal treat fresh from the back yard! They taste much sweeter andbalanced than grocery store tomatoes, and with the heirloom revivaltomatoes are also beautiful and varied in shape and textures.Peppers are another backyard garden favorite. They too can beeasily preserved and enjoyed fresh, and growing your own pepperswill save you lots of money on grocery shopping. If you've neverenjoyed the health benefits and ease of growing delicious freshpeppers before you should. Even kitchen gardens in the far northcan enjoy a harvest of sweet peppers with the right varietiesgrown. Both tomatoes and peppers are as easily grown in containersas they are in the ground.Lettuces and other greens are another great seasonal kitchengarden additions. There are many kinds of lettuce with manyflavors, many of which you can normally only find in fancyexpensive restaurants. Grow them yourself at home and enjoy gourmetright outside of your back door cheaply! Other seasonal greens suchas Swiss chard, healthy spinach, cabbage, and micro greens are allexpensive from the store too, and are so easy to grow at home. Savemoney on grocery shopping by growing your own greens.Today, families are eating healthier and are more concernedabout the quality and taste of their food. If you're still not sureabout the convenience of a kitchen garden, try growing a few plantsin containers and watch your family enjoy the ease of picking freshherbs for adding to the family meal. Children love growing andharvesting these foods and the kitchen garden can become a projectfor the entire family!

Spring awakens the senses and draws usoutdoors. Embraced by the warmth of an May morning or draped undera canopy of evening stars, delight in your own outdoor space withthe newest trends in patio living. Designs abound from superretailers like Target, who this year teamed with gardening giantSmith & Hawkins, to perennial favorites from Pottery Barn, lookfor furnishings that invite you and your guests to sit back, relax,surrender.Creating a room without walls is a dream made easy withinnovative materials and concepts. The lines are blurred betweenindoor and outdoor furnishings now, a welcome and indulgent newapproach. Look for generously proportioned pieces. Deep cushions,graceful curves, and expanses of glass capture this season's trend.Most noteworthy are materials that have the look and feel of finefurniture...all designed to elevate your outdoor space.Capturing the charm of natural wicker, hand-woven resin combinedwith sold cast aluminum frames delivers exceptional resiliency andall-weather durability. These new "delicate" designs stand up tosun, water and fluctuating temperatures with virtually no crackingor fading. Pair a settee or softly sculpted arm chair with pillowsbursting with fresh color and put your feet up. Finish the lookwith unexpected accessories, normally kept tucked indoors, likeyour favorite collection of vintage vases, and the timeless whisperof gracious southern summers is yours.European style drives another trend in elegantly brushed blackscaled metals with a decidedly contemporary sensibility. Bistrocomes poolside in sleek yet substantial architecturally conceivedtables partnered with café chairs softened with lime tuftedcushions. Hang a candle lit chandler overhead and settle into thelate night breeze.Ecologically sound, Plantation grown teak is a sustainabletimber crop that is a natural choice for long-lived beauty anddurability. Smooth to the touch, outdoor teak furniture ages from ayoung honey blonde to a soft sliver gray...all without warping orsplintering through the years. The newest designs feature deepsquare seats, generous scale, and richness once found only inindoor rooms. Look for top-quality mortise and tenon joinery for alifetime of style.A patio living room can be used for outdoor entertainment allyear long, not just for summer. This outdoor living area needs tohave some comfortable outdoor furniture for you, your family andfriends who come visiting during the summer months. You can eveninclude a patio kitchen for some casual dining. An outdoor patioliving room can even add more square footage to your home.This outdoor room can be a comfortable addition right outsideyour backdoor or you can install a pathway of bricks, stones, orpavers leading to an area in the middle of your garden. You canhire it out but you get a feeling of satisfaction when you do ityourself. Pavers can be purchased in the sizes, shapes and colorsthat match the exterior of your house and complement yourlandscape. This outdoor patio room should be on a level surfacesuch as a patio or deck and the pathways leading to it should bewide enough for two people to walk safely side by side.This outdoor room needs to be covered with some type ofprotection from the heat and rays of the sun. Some suggestions areto build a roof or pergola, purchase some umbrellas, or install anawning. One idea for a roll out awning that can be attached to thehouse or garage wall that will protect your from the sun and therain. Patio umbrellas are another option as they come in varioussizes, shapes and color. These umbrellas and awnings come in manydifferent fabric designs and colors to coordinate with the colorsand designs on your outdoor furnishings.Your outdoor living room furniture needs to be comfortable andsturdy at the same time. This furniture should be able to stand upto all the outdoor elements and last you for many years.

Imagine having a place in your own backyardwhere you can enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Imagine this placebeing the focal point of a beautiful flower garden, a part of thelandscaping. If this sounds like a place that you would like tohave in your own backyard, the addition of a garden gazebo can makethis a reality.A gazebo is a freestanding, open-sided, roofed, outdoorstructure that can serve many purposes. Gazebos come in variousshapes and sizes and can be constructed from many differentmaterials. A decorative gazebo that adds beauty and elegance to agarden is known as a garden gazebo. A garden gazebo is often addedto the outdoor landscaping as a focal point as well as a place tosit and enjoy the outdoors. The most common shape for a gardengazebo is hexagon-shaped (six-sided) or octagon-shaped(eight-sided) to give it a round appearance.There are some simple ways to really make your gazebo beautifyyour garden area when it comes to landscaping:Build your garden around the gazebo instead of building a gazebosomewhere in your garden. A garden that is purposely built around agazebo makes the gazebo a much stronger focal point than when agazebo is merely incorporated near an existing garden.Carefully select your plants and flowers for the purpose of goingaround the gazebo. Choose flowers and plants of various colors andheight to give your gazebo a more natural look. As a general rule,the full height of plants growing around the gazebo should never bemore than 1/3 the height of the gazebo.When selecting your garden gazebo plan, take into consideration thedesigns that are built with lattice or trellises on them. Havingthese structures on the gazebo provides a place for vine plants orflowers to grow onto, making the gazebo "come to life."Try to visualize a corner in your backyard or garden where youcan admire the natural beauty that God has gifted us with. Envisionthis place as being the centre of attraction of a lovely gardenfull of flowers as an integral part of the beautiful scenery. Ifthis is the picture you portray for your patio then by adding agarden gazebo in your backyard, you can turn this picture intoreality.A freestanding, covered at the top, usually open-sided structurein the outdoors, providing a shady resting place or can also serveseveral other purposes, is known as gazebo. Gazebos can be made outof various different material and comes in a variety of shapes andsizes. An attractive gazebo which makes your garden look morebeautiful and stylish is called garden gazebo. A gazebo is mostlyan addition to the outdoor panorama as a centre piece to enhanceits beauty and also as a corner to simply relax and take pleasurefrom the outdoors. Gazebos mostly have hexagon i.e. six-sided orits also octagon shape i.e. eight-sided to make it look roundshaped.The easy ways to let your gazebos add to the beauty of yourgarden when the scenery is concerned are:o Try to construct a garden surrounding the gazebo rather thanconstructing a gazebo in some corner of your garden. Gardens whichare specifically constructed surrounding the gazebo will make thegazebo much eye-catching as a centre piece rather than a gazebowhich is built in an already existing garden.o You should wisely choose the plants and vegetations that wouldbe surrounding your gazebo. A variety of colours and length ofplants and flowers should be chosen to make the gazebo look morenatural. Generally the height which is set as a standard height,for plants and flowers to be surrounding the gazebos, should not beexceeding 1/3 of the gazebo's heighto While choosing the plan for your garden gazebo, you shouldalso consider the designs which are constructed by using lattice orwith fencing on them. A gazebo built by these configuration willgive some space to vine plants and flowers to grow on, and thusmaking the gazebos look lively

Home gardening is an enjoyable, relaxing andmost of all an inexpensive hobby. It sets your mood, keeps youalive and stress free. A lot of people nowadays have been intogardening. They started turning their front and back yards into asight to behold with bountiful colored flowers and blossoms orgreenery. The process is easy and can be done in just few steps. Byhaving the right tools; knowing what, where, when and how to plant,you can now indulge yourself in gardening and have fun withoutleaving your home.Home gardening is growing in popularity. Some people garden as ahobby and some to make money. It is very innate in every person toappreciate design, beauty and symmetry. Everyone would love thesight of a garden in abundance of beautiful flowers in vibrantcolors, although some people would prefer a bed of greenery.Freshly cut flowers in the living room will somehow bring a tingeof the summer indoors. It will be enjoyable to grow vegetables,too. Whatever your preference is, give your yard a face lift andmake it a magical sight of elegance and beauty.Many people had already made a way for home gardening into theirown front and back yards. Statistics had it that it has became afavorite leisure activity, placed ahead of time spent with family,but not on top of reading and watching television. Another thing isthat one out of every three families are more into home gardeningnowadays with most gardens found in urban areas.A person with a green thumb they say is gifted with the abilityof growing plants. This may be true, but it doesn't mean thatpeople not having this gift cannot do home gardening anymore. It'sa matter of personal taste. Everyone, young and old, who has thewillingness to learn how to plant can be a home gardener. There area hundred and one reasons to plant a vegetable or a flower gardenin your own yard and the benefits people get keep getting betterand better all the time.A Good Plan Today is Better than a Perfect Plan TomorrowHome gardening can be done in few simplified steps. There arelots of easy approaches on how to do gardening. First is having aplan. It will be better if you draw a picture of what kind ofplants you want and where you want them planted. Of equalimportance is knowing your plants and finding time to do a littleresearch in a local library or a bookstore to get acquainted aboutthe flowers or the vegetables you are growing will help you a lotin the process and will give you a clear cut definition of how theywill be grown. Determining the type of soil, how much space, theamount of shade or sunlight and how much water your plants requirewill always give you almost perfect results. The second is theright gardening tools. You are going to need a shovel, a rake and atrowel to loosen and soften the soil to make it easier in creatingthe holes for the plants.Having done these things, you are now ready to execute your homegardening plan. Before planting, you weed out the grass as this maytake over the garden before your plants even begin to grow, thentill the soil so it becomes loose and soft. Most importantly, applycompost or manure or a well-rotted animal a week before you plan toplant. This will make both the soil and your plants growhealthy.Planting and Taking Care of Your Home GardenHome gardening requires lots of nurturing for your plants.Planting and caring for your garden gives you a feeling ofcreativity as you turn that spot in your yard a masterpiece.Planting your garden can be done as much as possible in the springand fall. This kind of conditions that ideally enable plants togrow and mature very well. You can either grow the flowers fromseeds, especially during wintertime, or buy from a nursery. For aflower garden it is best to note which area you want to use getsthe full or partial sun or the most shade. This will enable you tochange the kind of flowers you can plant on your beds.

Standard landscaping helps organize yourplantings and makes your yard look nice and tidy, but if you want abit of drama and artistry try adding stone borders. Landscapingstones are available in every shape, size, color and design offeredby nature and then some. If you like a very uniform look,manufactured stone can provide just that.Creating beautiful stone borders for your flowerbeds and pathsgives your yard a unique and natural look. Additionally, stoneslast forever and only become more beautiful with the passage oftime so they represent an excellent investment.Where Can You Get Good Landscaping Stone?You can actually find good looking stones all over your area.For a truly authentic look, you can search for stones around yourneighborhood or even in your own lawn. Use these alone orincorporate them with other stones purchased at a local landscapematerials store or garden center. An artistic combination of stoneswill add visual interest to your outdoor environment.What Kind Of Rock Or Stone Is Best?Both river rock and flagstone are nice choices as the foundationfor any type of landscaping project. Flagstone comes in lots ofattractive natural shades to enhance any outdoor setting. Whensmaller sized rock is needed (e.g. when filling in open areas orcreating walkways) river rock excels.Hiring A Pro Can Save You Money & Hard Labor!If you are purchasing large amounts of stone, be sure to askabout home delivery as this will save you backbreaking labor andwear and tear on your vehicle. Additionally, take the time tocompare prices between purchasing stone and doing the laboryourself VS having it done by a professional landscaper. Prosalways have access to excellent prices in landscaping materialsthat offset the labor costs. Additionally, setting stone forpathways and borders is an arduous task that can cause significantaches and pains for the inexperienced DIY landscaper.Stone Landscape Is Functional & BeautifulIn addition to borders, you can also set stepping stones orcreate walkways and retaining walls using stone. This choicecreates a natural, beautiful, enduring effect in your yard andgarden while fulfilling practical needs. Using similar rocksthroughout lends a touch of uniformity to your design. If you are arock hound, using fairly uniform natural rocks such as flagstone orriver rock for your landscaping helps draw attention to artisticdisplays of your unique finds.Step 1: PlanningThe first step to installing a stone border is to PLAN. Choose astone that matches the architecture (shape and color) of the homeand identify the color of mortar that will look best (grey orbeige).Next, decide where the stone border will go. Think about futurelandscape expansions too, it is easier to add the space now thentrying to redo the border later. Sprinkler systems are also anissue, design the border to stay clear of any sprinkler heads.Tip: Most home improvement stores only carry a traditional greymortar, but I will explain how to custom mix mortar to make a beigecolor in Step 4.Calculations: Figure 1 ton of stone per 100 feet of border, andcalculate one bag of mortar per 3 to 5 feet.Step 2: LayoutNow that all the planning is out of the way and all thematerials are on hand, it's time from some fun! It's time to laythe outline of the stone border. I recommend using a garden hose,or some other object that will allow for easy adjustments until thefinal layout is determined.Once the final layout is in place, use marking paint to spraythe outline. This will act as a guide when digging.Tip: If there are long curves, use 1/2 inch diameter PVC pipeand grade stakes to help get a smooth curve. Determine thebeginning and end points of the curve and drive in one stake ateach end. With the PVC pipe wedged against the two end stakes, pushthe middle of the pipe until the desired curve is achieved. Drivein the middle stake to hold the pipe in place.

Garden pots help in creating a more aestheticand more attractive garden. The various designs, shapes, color andtextures of these items allow contrasts and accents to be utilizedin garden and landscape designs.You can find variations in types and makes of garden pots andeach of these would bring something different in your desiredlandscape and garden design. Each kind of pot would have its owncharacteristics, character and feel that you could utilize to makeyour garden look even better.Ceramic and clay pots would usually deliver a more natural andclassic feel. But that would of course, depend on the design of thepot. The more common terracota pots have that traditional andnatural feel. These are the brick red pots that you would commonlysee in gardens.Some ceramic and clay pots are finished with either colorful orplain colored glazes. Depending on the garden's theme, you coulduse one or the other but for some gardens, you could use both. Youcould make use of these colors to add an interesting accent in yourgarden.There are more modern garden pots nowadays. With the advent ofplastics, even gardening was penetrated with this material. Plasticpots of various shapes, colors and sizes are available in themarket. They could also be utilized to produce a more modern gardendesign.Some people would consider plant boxes as garden pots. These arereally interesting elements as well because they provide a bigspace where you can place some plants in an organized fashion.Garden pots are an essential part of the modern garden, and canbe used to do anything that a gardener wants, from growing largeoutdoor ferns to seeding a few herbs in a kitchen garden. When itcomes to vital garden supplies, pots are a must-have for everyonewho does their own gardening. Because they are so important to themodern garden, designers and supply shops have created a range ofpots to suit every kind of outdoor space. Choosing the best gardenpots for your own project can be difficult, but once you know a fewbasic rules you can take your pick.1) Keep to a ThemeIt can be very tempting to buy a little bit of every design ofgarden pots. When you go into a plant center and see all of theattractive containers available, your mind is full of all thethings that you can do with them. In a large outside space, withonly a few planters, this might not matter too much. However, mostgardeners only have a limited amount of space, and the containerscan quickly clash, making your garden look like an explosion in aclay factory. By choosing your pots based upon one theme, you canlimit the number of clashes your garden contains.2) Buy Modern DesignsTraditional garden pots with handles and ribbed patterns havehad their day. Instead, you can find modern styles and potsdesigned to have a more urban theme. These pots are designed to besleek, elegant and stylish. Unlike the traditional roundedterracotta pots, there is more emphasis upon geometric shapes,often square or hexagonal. Pots can also be made out of much morethan the clay of the past. Metal and stone planters are the normnow, and in addition they can also be made from large pieces ofcarved concrete, ideal for a soft garden which needs a solidfeature to catch the eye.3) Choose Pots to Suit PlantsThe best way to buy the perfect pot is to try and match it withyour other garden supplies. Pots which are tall, slim and elegantwill perhaps suit a single, architectural plant. Large hexagonalcontainers can be stacked together to create a rockery-stylefeature of your small alpines and shrubs. Look for modern designswhich suit the already existing plan of your garden, or which willsuit a particular area. Don't try and make your plants match thepots you buy, however, as this could mean that you purchase plantsyou are not really interested in, and which end up beingneglected.

There are a number of people who want to buildsomething in their garden, which is why they want to know how tomake an outdoor fountain from a pot. Now, you have to know that itis not all that hard, because a fountain is essentially a pot witha pump in it. You will however need to make sure that you have allof the parts you need to make it all work; you may also want to geta diagram or two to work from, so that you know what your endresult needs to look like. Now, let's find out how to make anoutdoor fountain from a pot.The first thing that you need to know is that you need to startwith a plan. You need a checklist and you need a design. You arenot going to make your fountain look like a bunch of pots you juststuck together. If you are going to make a fountain you need tohave a design in mind. You can take a look at actually fountains toget your inspiration. There are a ton of designs out there, andremember that you do not need to get pots that are the same color,because you are going to paint the finished product in the end.Now, what you will want to search for online is something calledthe vase pot fountains. This is what you will be building on yourhow to make an outdoor fountain from a pot journey. You need toalso know, if you have a pond in your garden at the moment, you cantransform it into a fountain with a few easy steps.One thing that you will want to keep in mind that if you havefish in that pond you will want to make sure that it is going to besafe for them when you are done. You do not want your fish endingup in the pump, because it could be a little painful. Make surethat if you are going to put fish in your pond fountains that yousurround the pump end with a piece of mesh plastic, so that yourfish cannot swim too close to it.Now, choose a design for your fountain, and if you cannot findon that you like, you should try to make up a design, put a fewdrawings down on paper and see what comes up. When you are donewith your design you need to break that design down in order to seewhat you are going to need to make it all work in the end, like anurn, or raw clay pots, or even clay to build your fountain fromscratch. Also remember that you can use broken pots, because youcan glue or silicon the piece together.Now you know how to make an outdoor fountain from a pot, butmake sure that you do extra research, because these are just thefirst few steps to the entire process.Though garden fountains are seen in many modern decor, they haveactually been a decorating staple for centuries. Originating in themiddle east, fountains were used in courtyards of homes todistinguish one from the other. These garden fountains were mainlydisplayed on walls and had a trough-like basin at the bottom. Manywere made of marble as there was an abundance of this material incertain areas. Detailed with carvings, often the fountains would beaccompanied by trees and plants. Garden fountains also would beused on a grander scale by cities. The fountain could often befound in the center of the city and act as a gathering place forthe people.This historical garden ornament can easily be replicated inmodern homes with any decorating style. The forms are quitevariable. These can range from a simple table top version forindoor use to an elaborate wall fountain or outdoor pond with waterfalls in your backyard. Decorating with a fountain can add thataesthetic Feng Shei look for those seeking a tranquil environment.Many even believe these fountains have the ability to bring goodluck! Along with luck, fountains are even known to bring abouthealth benefits. The soothing sounds of the water are believed tooffer natural destressing.

Gardening out of pots and using containers forplants is a great way to start a garden. If you do not have thespace to dedicate to a garden -- maybe you live in the city ormaybe you just do not want to commit to creating a full blowngarden -- but you would still like to benefit from enjoying farmfresh food and the satisfaction of growing you own vegetables andfruits, the pots gardening route is the one to take!How to pick containers for plantsThe gardening pot needs a wide opening at the topGlazed ceramic pots are the best choice. Clay can be used but youshould keep an eye on your plants to ensure over-drying does notoccur.Use containers with a capacity between 25 - 110 quarts.Ensure sufficient drainage. Drainage holes should be 1/4 - 1/2 inchacross.Keep the gardening pots off of a solid, dense ground. Set the potson bricks, blocks or even a gravel surface to allow fordrainage.Keep baskets away from the hot afternoon sun.Something to remember for your pots gardening to be successful: Notonly do the smaller pots restrict the root area, but they also dryout quicker. If you do choose a smaller pot size, you need to keepan eye on your plants. The size of the containers for plants thatyou choose also depends largely on the size and amount of plantsyou intend to place in them.Here are 6 great plants for pots gardening1. Tomatoes2. Strawberries3. Onions4. Peppers5. Radishes6. BasilPlants in their natural surroundings will send out their rootsto search for food and water. However, your indoor plants can't dothis as they will be dependent on what you give them. By learningthe proper way to pot your plants, you can ensure their survivalfor years to come. The soil they are planted in should be absorbentand able to store enough nutrients for the plant at the same timeit must be loose enough to allow the plant to drain easily and forthe roots to breathe.You can buy ready to use compost from your garden centers or youcan make your own. It is easier to buy it if you don't have theknowledge or the right stuff to make your own. You will need aboutequal parts of sterile soil, some moss peat and washed sharp sandif you are to make your own. If you know someone who may do thisfor you such as a keen gardener, so much the better.If you want to try and sterilise your own soil you need to bakesome moistened garden soil in a dish for about half an hour atabout 160 to 180F. Leave it to cool overnight.Knowing when your plants need re-potting is important too asthey may begin to die if left in the same pot without any room tobreathe. If you notice that there is very little growth or thatthey dry out very quickly then they may well need a new pot.One way to see if they need a new pot is to lift your pottedplant carefully and look underneath to see if any roots are growingout of the drainage holes. If this is the case it definitely needsa new pot.Before you take your plant out of the pot, make sure it isslightly damp. Take your plant out of the pot by protecting if withone hand over the surface of the soil and then turn the pot upsidedown until the plant comes out.If your plant has a mass of roots showing it will need to bere-potted in a bigger pot. If there are only a few roots showing itmay not need a new pot but just some new compost.To re-pot your plant, put some fresh compost in the bottom of abigger pot and place your plant on it. Then fill the sides of thepot around the plant with more fresh compost until it is nice andsnug in its new pot. Leave about 2.5cms from the top of thepot.Now you will need to water the plant thoroughly.You will find that most potting compost has all the nutrientsyour plants will need. For young plants there are compost mixturesthat contain less fertilizer than those needed for matureplants.If you are not sure which ones to buy, simply have a look on thepacket as they usually give you the instructions and which plantsthey are for.

Keep your garden beds mulched and weededFirst and foremost of course, is to make sure that the soilaround your plants is mulched and weeded regularly. This may soundsimple - and it is! - but makes a big difference to the appearanceof your home.Whatever size garden you have, if you weed regularly, it won'tbe such a chore. Try weeding for just 15 minutes each day - yourhome will never look better!Finish off your garden beds with garden edgingNow that your garden beds have lost their weeds, its time tofinish them off neatly with garden edging. Garden beds that simplyfade away look unfinished and messy. Garden edging will givedefinition and a "finished" look.For a simple and easy way to refresh the look of your home,replace or install some timber garden edging. You'll need somethingflexible, that can curve naturally with your garden beds, or runstraight. You can get panels of edging that alternate between aplain panel and one with a motif in it that allow you to place youredging where your beds are already.Garden edging is perfect for your vegetable beds too. A populardesign idea, you can now bring the level of your vegetable bedshigher and really let your veggies flourish! It's also easier tolook after your plants when they're up off the ground, and if youchoose an attractive design, they will look fantastic.Install a garden archWith a garden arch, the entry to your home is perfectly framed.Grow your favorite creeping plant onto the garden arch trellis andsee the admiring glances from your neighbors.If you have separate areas of your property, placing a gardenarch between the two areas is the perfect way to aestheticallydivide them. Create a feeling of "arriving" as you step through thegarden arbor from one section to another.Choose a timber garden arch to complement your timber edging toperfect the picture.Add some planter boxes filled with colorPlanter boxes offer great flexibility. You can move them whenyou need to, and fill them with seasonal plants that brighten anyarea. Timber planter boxes are the best, as they will match theambience of nature.For those living in apartments or units, there's rarely muchroom for a garden. But the benefit of growing your own herbs,vegetables and flowers is priceless. With planter boxes, you canenjoy gardening no matter where you are!Garden arches are just one of the many items people use tocreate beautiful, relaxing gardens and landscapes. The garden archis a great way to add instant structure and height to your garden,or to create a decorative garden entrance or focal point. There aresome points you should evaluate before installing a garden arch:the size of the arch, the design of the arch, whether you want touse it for supporting creeping plants, and the constructionmaterial and installation method preferred.1) Size. Generally, arches are wide and tall enough for adultsto walk through, unless the arch is being used to frame a smallplant or fountain. A large, graceful arch will obviously suit alarger garden, but for a smaller garden, do not exclude the use ofan arch, because it can will give your garden the illusion ofspaciousness beyond its actual size.2) Shape/design. Garden arches are most often used to frame afocal point, or even serve as one themselves. They can double as anoverhang for a patio or porch as well. Any lawn or garden is goingto be even more pleasing with this simple, stylish addition. Tomaintain proportion, wider arches should be taller than narrowerones. Before you decide to go hunting at your local nurseries, dosome online shopping to see what styles and sizes are available3) Supporting plants. An arch covered with climbing plantscreates an attractive garden feature, and can be used to screen offareas that you may not find attractive - the compost heap, gardenshed or wash line. Imagine your arch covered in cascades ofclimbing roses, accentuated with dark green ivy leaves.

There are many reasons for growing plants ingarden containers, flower pots and planters. An obvious one is ifyou are growing exotic plants that can be placed outdoors in summerin a location that suits each plant, and then taken indoors or intoa more shaded spot in the fall and winter. They are also veryconvenient for people who live in mobile homes.People who rent their homes and tend to move around with theirjob can grow their own plants that can move with them. Plants grownin garden containers are portable, and to many people this is bigadvantage. Not only that, but you arrange your garden as you pleaserather than the plants being in fixed positions. Using containersand flower pots it is possible to plant a whole garden that can berearranged to suit the flowering patterns of the plants.No more bare patches in spring due to some plants floweringlate, or in summer when the short-lived flowers die off quickerthan their longer lasting or hardier cousins. You can fill in thebare patches with new pots or planters, and arrange the colors tosuit your preference. You can decorate your veranda or patio withthe flowers that are in season, and are not restricted to the sameones all year round.While this all sounds like a very good reason for using nothingbut pots and planters, there are certain aspects using them thathave to be considered. Potted plants are totally depended on youfor their water and nutrition. Their root growth is restricted andyou have to know which plants are suitable for this type ofenvironment. You should also consider the overall look of yourgarden and the shape and color of your pots and planters.First the plants. Pots are restrictive and the size will dependon the requirements of the plants. Ferns, for example, grow betterwhen the root system is crowded whereas roses prefer a bit morespace in which to grow, especially climbing varieties. Cyclamenstoo prefer more space, and so would be more suited to large pots orplanters. Trees prefer large pots, and the larger garden tubs wouldbe more appropriate for the larger varieties.The same is true of shrubs and larger perennials such ashydrangeas. You can start these off in smaller pots, and graduallyincreases the size as they grow. Bulbs can be grown in planters,about two to three bulb widths apart, though the fall bulbs willneed some exposure to the frost since they need a low temperaturefor a strong root growth.Annuals are ideal for color, especially if you get a lot offrost in the winter, and they can be replaced each year. If youplant them fairly close together in garden containers or planters,you can design a lovely looking garden, or a fine display for apatio. Planters are available in a wide range of colors and shapes,and can be made of concrete cast into a variety of shapes orstained or painted wood to suit their surroundings.Hardwood planters fitted with a trellis are ideal for climbers,and can be free standing units suitable for outdoor use, or evenfor hallways, vestibules and conservatories. Cedar is popular, butso also are cypress, oak and cherry. They are suitable for a numberof climbing plants from sweet peas to cyclamen to passionfruit.Most annuals are suitable for garden containers, pots andplanters, some particularly attractive choices being petunia,tobacco plant (nicotiana) with its wonderful smell, and begonias.The latter two are particularly suitable for growing in shadedareas, as is impatiens or 'Busy Lizzie'. Other flowers suitable forcontainers are lavandula, gaura and salvia which provide colorfulopportunities for any type of garden design. Cigar Plants (cuphea)love lots of sun and have unusual flowers. These shrubs are idealfor tubs in sunny climates.Many people use containers for window ledges and balconies, andif you have decking, then deck rail planters are an attractivemeans of hanging plants from the handrails.

There are dozens of different styles you couldexperiment with when looking to design your garden. Many choose toexperiment with an informal 'wild' garden, or a structured cottagestyle. Japanese style gardens are popular variants, and each hastheir own distinct range of plants and structure to consider whencreating it.Tropical gardens are one of the most striking styles anygardener could invest in. The rain forests and tropics mark one ofthe most impressive collections of dense vegetation on the planet,and being able to reproduce the sensation and aesthetics of one athome is certainly a significant task. There's a few plants you canconsider, and you'll find a few of them below.Trachycarpus fortuneiThis isn't truly a tropical plant. It's a tall, high-altitudepalm tree native to China, though it has long been cultivated inJapan and India as well. Though it resembles one closely enoughthat visitors are unlikely to care, and will fit right in with theappearance of any tropical garden. With a tall, tufty trunk andfanning, segmented foliage appearing at the top, this is anexcellent palm for your tropical environment, and is oftenavailable in dwarf varieties to cut down on necessary space!Acanthus mollisAcanthus mollis is a particularly striking plant for any garden,and makes excellent use of space to boot. The focal point is along, erect stem rising up from the center, fanning out in thesummer to produce magnificent white flowers down the entirety ofthe stem, sometimes higher than a meter!The base of the plant features a large number of large, smoothand plastic-ey leaves. They suit the mental image of tropical rainforests extremely well, and function nicely as a colourful focusfor your newly designed garden.Musa basjooThe Japanese Banana plant is one of the most appropriate speciesto consider for your tropical garden. Unlike most tropical plantsthey're extremely hardy, and will survive a winter as low as -15c.Even if the stem of the plant dies, it will grow back to maturitywithin a single season.The leaves are the primary attribute which will enhance yourtropical garden here. Musa basjoo features huge, broad leaves witha rubbery texture, and are exactly what you'd expect from arainforest. A number of pseudo stems wrap together to create atrunk like appearance, and it even produces bananas in the summer.Remember they're purely for aesthetics and reproduction, being fartoo pulpy and seed filled to be eaten.Get Designing!Each of these species is a fine addition to your tropicalgarden, but there's plenty more out there to consider. Take a lookyourself, and get ready to plant as soon as warmer weather allowtropical plants to thrive.Do you want a trip to paradise? No, don't worry. You're on theright article. All G-rated stuff, here! I'm talking about livingand planting in the paradise of the tropics!Start a Tropical GardenAre you eager to embark on your next exciting and adventurousvacation? Invigorate the senses while simultaneously revitalizingyour life by escaping to a remarkable, tropical style garden in thecomfort of your own home or business property. Essentially, acustom designed garden, encompassing a colorful ensemble ofbeautiful yet robust plants, drastically decreases the need for anannual vacation, primarily because a contemporary tropical designtransforms your current garden into an extremely relaxingresort-like rendezvous. Moreover, the attractive Pacific beaches,tranquil Costa Rica vacations, or delightful Asian islands caninspire themes for this revolutionized project which willdefinitely produce rewarding and admirable results. Furthermore,regardless of your climate conditions, you can reinvent thequintessence of the tropics with a simple, highly effective, andpersonalized tropical garden design plan constructed to adhere toall of your inherent needs and desires.

We often want our garden to be filled with avariety of beautiful flowers that our heart desires. When we takecare of our gardens it is more than a hobby it is a passion. We cangrow gardens that are full of flowers, herbs, ornamental shrubs,trees of different types and lushly growing grass. The most commongarden flowers that you will find growing in almost all backyardsare roses.You can always put your own variety of annual flowers likeAlyssum, Baby's breath and snap dragons as well as impatiens withsome perennials. You should know that flowers grow and bloom indifferent seasons and there even some that are very rare and youcan only see them once a while because they take a while to growand bloom on set dates which after they do die forever.Garden parties are always a nice way to entertain your friendsand family. You get to show of your priceless flowers that you havebeen keeping for such an occasion. There are even competitions insmall town where they go garden to garden and rate the people withthe best gardens.When growing garden flowers it is important to note that maybeyou will need a gazebo, a garden house and maybe a place to keepyour garden tools. You will also need essentials such as a gazebowhich can surround your garden or be placed in the middle of it soas you get to view your beautiful flowers blossoming. Another keyitem will be a garden shed or garden house, where you can keep yourgarden tools as well as manure for them. Be prepared to prune andremove the weeds which will be growing around your flowers all thetime.If you have a green thumb and are considering sprucing up thegarden, have you decided what you are going to plant? Are youlooking at a vegetable garden that will provide you fresh produceto eat or are you looking at a more decorative garden such as aflower garden? Garden flowers are bright and colorful and when inbloom throughout a garden, can make you feel positive andhappy.It is commonplace to give flowers for many different occasions;birthdays and anniversaries to funerals and get well soon. Gardenflowers are very versatile in that respect and if you are everworried about what gift to give, a hand grown bunch of flowers fromyour own garden will certainly do the trick. Garden flowers arealso a great decorating idea. Arrange a colorful bunch of flowersin a decorative vase and place it in a dull room, it will make aninstance improvement on the atmosphere in the room. Perfumed gardenflowers such as lilies and roses in a dull room can brighten it upand leave an aroma that is hard to ignore.There is a huge variety of garden flowers available, some bloomall year, others only for a season, so it is important to know yourflowers so you can have a blooming garden all year round. There aretwo types of flower gardens; annual and perennial. Annual flowersonly live for a season. These flowers grow from seed, bloom and diein a single season. They need to be replanted each year in springand they include petunias and marigolds. Generally an annual flowercan bloom from spring through to fall.Perennials live for three or more seasons and when planted willnormally not bloom in the first year if grown from seed as theyhave not reached maturity. The lifespan of a perennial flower canbe approximately three to five years and after this time may needto be replaced with a new plant. Perennials, unlike annuals onlybloom for a very short period; anywhere from a week to three weeksonce a year. Perennial flowers include African lilies, columbines,English daisy, summer daisy and daffodils.As you can see, some preparation is required to create abeautiful flower garden. You will need to do some research to learnwhich garden flowers are perennials and which are annuals so youcan have an all year round flowering garden.

Do you have difficulty when it comes to addingadditions to Japanese Water Gardens? Believe it or not, this is nota difficult problem; all you need to do is make use of nature aswell as your imagination in order to bring out the best of yourJapanese Water Garden. One must realize, a true Japanese watergarden is a place of reflection where everything in the garden hasa meaning or purpose.Traditionally, stones express the human emotion of strength andare often used to symbolize mountains and islands. Your additionmay mean something else, so remember the meaning or purpose shouldbe personalized. Try placing the stones in odd number (3, 5 or 7)and place in a triangle shaped pattern. You may also want to trycreating a small sculpture with your stones. Many people give thema function such as stepping stones for a pathway which couldportray ones guide down the path of life. Feel free to becomecreative in how you place them, as it will give your water gardenthat personal touch that will last for years to come.At the heart of every Japanese garden is water itself. The flowof water must be of a natural setting and should invoke quietnessand tranquility. Natural shaped ponds, winding streams, and smallwaterfalls are all used as they would be found in nature. Bamboo isalso commonly used to trickle water back into your pond by using asmall pump with a filter. Of course, what is water without fish?Enhance your garden by adding some Japanese koi fish to liven upthe atmosphere with their brilliant colors.Ornaments are a great way to decorate the water garden settinghowever be sure to keep it subtle. Placing lanterns, basins,statues, or religious artifacts are all types of ornaments andshould be placed strategically so as not to create distractionsfrom the overall atmosphere. Many people build cedar bridges,benches or enclosures to create a place for meditation. Bridges aretypically symbolic of a journey and can represent stepping from oneworld into another. You may not have a stream to cross, however youcan always place it crossing over a bed of plants. It's all aboutcreating that place of rest, to relieve oneself from the anxietyand stress of the day.Plants are also an important element to the design of yourJapanese water garden. Typically, just about any type of plant canbe used in the garden setting however be sure to minimize color andgive preference to soft leaf tones. Emptiness should be a key toyour garden so every ounce of space does not need be filled withfoliage. Trees such as conifers, pine, bamboo, maple, and cherrywould all make great additions to your garden. Some recommendationsof plants could include morning glories, asters, dahlias, bellflower, ferns, camellias, hosta, rhododendrons, and hydrangeas.Also, be sure to enhance your garden by skilfully trimming yourshrubs and trees to give a distinct and controlled look to youradditions.Develop and install additions that are creatively unique to you.They do not need to be complicated as long as you place meaning andpurpose behind them. Base your design on creating a simple,relaxing, and meaningful place to spend your time and you can't gowrong.The very thought of having Japanese water gardens reflectstranquil moments. Perhaps you already have your Japanese Garden inplace and now you are ready to add some finishing touches to it.There is no better way to do this then to introduce thosemagnificent and beautiful Koi fish to it. Many believe Koi tosymbolize good luck which make adding the Koi fish to your JapaneseGarden a big plus. The Japanese also understand the Koi Fish to bea symbol of friendship and love.Koi fish have never been bred for the purpose of becoming a foodstaple. They are very much like a carp on a much smaller scale.Although the Japanese are well known as breeders of Koi, there arealso magnificent Koi species being breed throughout various partsof Asia.

Building a backyard water garden is anadventure. The process itself is fairly straightforward, butassembling the proper pond supplies can be a little tricky -especially for first-time builders.To make the pond building process as streamlined as possible,many companies have started selling pond kits. These handy kitscome pre-packaged with all the supplies you need to create the pondof your dreams.Pond kits also come with extremely detailed installationinstructions to make the assembly process as simple as possible.There are quite a few steps to remember, but if you follow theinstructions you should have no problem creating a fullyfunctioning backyard water garden.The Benefits of Pond KitsPurchasing the correct pond supplies for a backyard water gardenis one of the hardest parts of building it. There are quite a fewsupplies to get, and there are tons of variations of each. However,by purchasing a pond kit, you can make sure you have exactly whatyou need. You won't waste time making multiple trips to the store,and you won't have to constantly worry whether or not you chose theright supplies.As you can see, pond kits are designed to make the pondenthusiast's life as easy as possible. Find the kit that meets yourneeds, and start creating the pond of your dreams today.Do you want to build a fish pond in your backyard? Purchase apond kit to make sure you have all the pond supplies you need tomake assembly and installation as easy as possible.Building and owning a pond, water garden or pond-less waterfallcan be an awesome and rewarding experience to enjoy. Review thislist of 11 tips before beginning your backyard pond or backyardwater garden or waterfall project.1. Pick an area in your yard that you can make a pond or waterfeature look natural, preferably not a low area in the yard. Lowspots gather rain runoff which can be full of nutrients. Nutrientscause algae blooms and can turn a pond green fast.2. Do not build your pond too close to a tree. This can damage atrees roots and possibly kill the tree. That is something you donot want to deal with at a later date.3. Do not build a pond in direct sunlight. This will cause pondalgae problems. We recommend no more than 4 hours of directsunlight. Plants will grow perfectly fine in shaded pond. In shadedareas of your pond, simply use slow release aquatic fertilizertablets a couple times a year.4. Make sure there is plenty of room for landscaping around yourbackyard pond. This will add beauty and help the pond look naturaleven in the flattest of yards.5. To layout the shape of your pond, we recommend using a cord,rope or garden hose. You can continue to change the outline in youryard and play with it until you get the pond shape you are happywith.6. Keep pictures and make notes of the things you like andincorporate them into your water garden pond. Take intoconsideration water flow. Do you want a gentle waterfall or more agushing look?7. You should decide what you plan to do with your backyard pondor backyard water feature? Do you want fish and plants in it ornot. A pond with fish and plants requires different designconsiderations and treatment than a pond without fish andplants.8. Make sure you check with you local county or township codesregarding any restrictions regarding building your pond, such aspond depth.9. Placement of the pond waterfall is important. It is best toplace the pond waterfall at the back of the pond. This way you cansee it and hear it from your view point.10. Proper filtration is a must. We recommend putting all thewater in the pond through a filter every hour. This means if youhave a 2000 gallon pond then you need a pump that will move 2000GPH.11. Once you are ready to build your own dream water garden westrongly recommend you speak with an expert as pond design iscritical so that everything works properly.

Adding a water feature to your garden is oneof the easiest ways to give it a new look and add some extramovement and visual interest. Garden water fountains are availableto fit into even the smallest outdoor spaces and are a great way tomake your garden more relaxing, even if it is just a tiny space ona city rooftop. The sound of running water is soothing and calmingand really increases the natural feeling, however big or small yourgarden.Water features can be as simple as a small bird bath or fishpond or can be an elaborate ornate fountain. Running water displaysare easy to install, usually requiring just a small pump which isplugged into the mains electricity supply. You can buy ready-madewater features or you can create your own by using a pump to guidewater through a collection of stones or any other material.Water features can either look very natural or can be sleek andmodern for a more dramatic effect. Stainless steel features are nowbecoming very popular and these work particularly well in smallminimalist gardens as a great focal point.For large gardens, fountains work really well. These can eitherbe ornamental or made to look like a natural waterfall or stream.Combine a running water fountain with a pond containing ornamentalgold fish for an attractive and relaxing effect.Adding a pond to your garden will also give you the opportunityto grow aquatic plants and these will attract frogs, butterfliesand other wildlife. This is a fun and easy way to create arealistic nature corner in your garden which is attractive andchildren will love.If you don't have even a small outdoor space then you may wantto consider an indoor water feature. These are especially designedto be used within the home and the sound and movement of the wateris very relaxing. You may want to use one in your bathroom or inthe hallway as an impressive entrance for visitors.The collection of water features range from small, medium and tolarge water features. The varied designs ensures that there will bea water feature available for everyone's taste. All the waterfeatures have a natural rock-like finish, which can blend with anygarden.Garden water features add a cool, lush look and feel to gardenwith overall less effort than a normal garden. Water garden can beof any size. You can grow a small garden in any suitable waterproofcontainer. You can also buy molded fiberglass ponds with or withoutwaterfalls and fountains, in a myriad of shapes and sizes.Garden ponds can also be constructed using liners. Pond linersare reasonable in cost and offer a quick and easy solution. Anotheroptions for ponds is to use concrete. Whatever the size and shapeof your water garden feature, if you are also installing a pump fora fountain or waterfall, select a low flow pump, a small one is allthat is needed because most water plants require slow moving orstill water. There are range of water features to watch out for andthey include the following:Barrinton two tier fountain is the smallest of the barrintonfountain but still an impressive feature ideally suited to the morecompact English garden.The classic lion fountain is the one that water pours from all foursides and also bubbles from the top of this classic lion fountain.It is also available in two color finishes.The classic central column is large central column with fourpouring lions head and bubbling sphere. This fountain looksstunning at night with the optional underwater light kit. Theclassic planter pillar is mounted off from the ground on four legs.This feature has 12 individuals spouts and makes an ideal gardencenterpiece fountain.The classical finial fountain is the sister to the larger classicalfinal with Valencia pool. This fountain has a total height of140cm.The column well fountain is beautifully crafted from cast stone.This a fountain look aged but comes complete with brass tap andlarge well.

There are those of us that love garden pondsand love to keep fish, but don't necessarily have the garden toaccommodate a pond. Imagination always presents us with the perfectimage of a large pond with a waterfall and plenty of large fishswimming happily in their home.So what can we do if we only have a small backyard or garden, wejust won't have room for that big pond we always imagine. A ponddoesn't have to be big, small things are just as beautiful and allthough you won't be able to keep lots of fish in a little pond youcan still comfortably fit around six fish in most little ponds.There are some great designs these days for small ponds and someof them are self contained units that look great and come completewith pump and filter, some even have waterfalls built in, theseponds are free standing so there is no digging involved, they caneven be installed indoors.If a traditional pond is more your style then there are plentyof small preformed ponds in many interesting designs or as with alarger pond you can get a pond liner if you want to design your ownshape and sometimes these are better for small gardens as the onlyarea that you may be able to accommodate a pond might mean you haveto make it an unusual shape and a liner can give you thatfreedom.So whether you have a large or small garden there is always roomfor a pond and further more it will probably be the best featureyou can add to any garden. It must be time to check out all thosedifferent pond designs and get on with installing a pond in yourgarden, it makes for a great hobby for the whole family. So don'tlet the size of your garden be an excuse not to get a pond.Many people are looking to add something unique to their garden.Some may want something visually stimulating, where others may wantsomething to appeal to their sense of hearing. Some people might belooking for a way to incorporate new animals or plants in theirgarden. Garden ponds can be a solution for all of these people, andtheir broad appeal is one of the reasons why they are so popular.Here we will take a look at some of the benefits a pond can bringto your garden.To start with, garden ponds can be visually striking. A pond isa great way to break up the traditional greenery in a garden. Thiscontrast naturally draws people's attention. For this reason, apond can make a great centerpiece of any garden. Upon closerinspection, there are several aspects of a garden pond that can bevisually stimulating. First, the different plant life that you seein and around a pond can be very attractive. Certain types oflilies, for instance, are particularly pretty. Additionally, fishcan be a great addition to any pond. Koi in particular can be abeautiful addition to your pond. Finally, many ponds include sometype of fountain or waterfall. These pieces can be as simple orornate as your style dictates.Another element that garden ponds can add to a yard is theelement of sound. The subtle sound of rippling water has a soothingeffect on most people. Perhaps you see yourself spending some timeoutside reading a book or taking a nap on a hammock? The easysounds of your pond will put you at ease. Additionally, the soundof the water will help draw people's attention completely into theenvironment.A third feature of garden ponds is the ability to add new lifeto your garden. Fish are the obvious answer here, but they aren'tthe only new life you can add. Birds will naturally be drawn toyour pond. Additionally, there are numerous types of plants andflowers that will thrive in and around a pond. With the properresearch and planning, you can develop a mini eco-system for yourpond.All of these features contribute to making garden ponds one ofthe most versatile additions to any garden. Whether you are lookingto create a natural habitat for plant and animal life, or simplylooking for something pretty to look at or listen to, a pond can bea wonderful option.

Water gardens can be a stunning addition toany space, which are not only visually pleasing, but are also verycalming and peaceful. They are generally not very large, and assuch can be relatively easy to install and maintain. By following afew simple steps, these can be an attractive feature in any garden.Waters gardens have been in existence since ancient times. Theancient Chinese held the properties of water very highly, and foundthem to be very relaxing. The features themselves have changedlittle over the years, although modern technology has seen theintroduction of pumps and lighting to create more intricatedesigns.People who would like to install a water garden now have theability to create some very extravagant features. There are avariety of lighting options available, and sculptures can be addedfor decoration. In addition, a water garden can be designed in sucha way as to include pumps to create fountains or waterfalls. Ofcourse, a very pleasing feature can still be created with stillwater, but people often prefer the sight and sound of runningwater.Creating a water garden can be a very enjoyable DIY project, andit may not actually be as difficult as some people would imagine.Before beginning it is important to have a budget, and to knowwhere the water feature is to be positioned. If plants and fish areto be included then they will have to receive a lot of directsunlight to be healthy.The size of a water garden will vary depending on the size ofthe area it is installed in, and what its purpose will be.Generally they should be a minimum of two feet deep. Once the areahas been set out the ground will need to be dug. The hole shouldthen be covered with pond underlay, and then rubber pond liner.This feature can be decorated in any way seen fit. Many peoplesurround the feature with stones or rocks, lighting, and plants. Ifa waterfall or fountain is desired then a water pump will need tobe installed. After the water has been introduced, it may have tobe dechlorinated, and any aquatic plants should be added as soon aspossible.Many people favor water lilies and water hyacinths. It is alsovery popular to introduce goldfish, although if this is the casethen a water filter will be required. Also, it is important thatthe water garden is not situated under any overhanging branches oftrees, firstly because it will prevent it from receiving any sun,and secondly because leaves and branches will fall into the waterand it will require regular clearing.Water gardens will always require some general maintenance sothat the water is suitable and the plants and animals are healthy.It is well worth the effort, however, as they enhance any gardenspace. They provide a beautiful feature to be enjoyed all the yearround.There is no element in nature that can appear as dramatic andcalming at the same time as water. The sound of a roaringwaterfall, a splash in a fountain, the silent whispers of a smallstream or the laughing noise of water tumbling over rocks are allsoothing music to the ears of gardening enthusiasts. Nothing beatsthe sight of afternoon sunlight sparkling on the running waterfall,making each droplet look like a precious a diamond, the ripplingdisturbance created by sweet winds over the surface of a pool orthe reflection of the vast blue sky in still water.Because of the immense satisfaction and peace of mind itprovides, water gardening is the most popular form of horticulture.Though the modern horticulture texts consider this challenging andrewarding art as relatively new, the actual practice of it datesback to several hundreds of years. Digging into the historicalarchives reveals that civilizations everywhere like Egypt, Greece,Mesopotamia, Rome, China and even Arabia practiced this form ofgardening to add aesthetic value to their palaces, public regions,homes and places of devotion.

Decorating your home should not really be acomplicated affair if you know how to go about it in the rightmanner. One of the only things that you would want to keep in mindis to buy quality products from reputed dealers. Once theseconditions are met, it shouldn't be too hard to find the best dealthat your money can buy. It does not involve as much effort as youmight think. In fact, you should be able to get quality woodengarden furniture without burning a hole in your pocket.Opting for rattan furnitureOne of the things that you would want to go in for would berattan garden furniture, considering the sheer popularity of thesethings. Hence, you should be able to get the right kinds withoutmuch concern when you go to a reliable vendor. Ideally, you wouldwant to go to an online vendor as these happen to be worth themoney that you would investing in furniture of this kind Thereliable online vendors are in fact able to provide deals that areone of a kind and hence worthy of going in for.Getting garden hammocksThe other thing that you would want to get for your home mightbe garden hammocks. These are capable of providing a high level ofcomfort and would be the ideal things to get into on a lazy sunnyafternoon. Such hammocks are not necessarily expensive to invest inand you should be able to get them at highly competitive prices ifyou can simply find the right vendor to buy them from. Again, theinternet is a great place to look into for such conditions, asthere are a plethora of hammocks to pick from, right down to thekind that matches your requirement on every front.Other kinds of wooden garden furnitureYou don't need to have a particular design or style in mind. Itis possible to get even the generic wooden garden furniture basedpurely on design and appearance alone. Hence, you can look forthese without much problem to begin with. Keep in mind that you cango to a dealer and simply tell them that you want a particular kindof furniture to go with your home décor. Chances are, you might beable to get help in finding pretty much exactly what it is that youmight be looking for.Hence, with some effort, you can easily buy the ideal gardenfurniture that might be suited to your home. In fact, people willagree that the money involved will be significantly lesser if youare able to look up the furniture options on the internet. The onlything is that you should have faith in the dealers. There are goodones like garden furniture outlet, which give you genuinely gooddeals on furniture sets without robbing you of your money in theprocess. Hence, you should go online and search for the furniturethat would perhaps make your home look good and complete.Garden is small place where you can enjoy peace. It must havethe ability to provide tranquility for a human mind troubled bytiresome work. In fact it is considered as one of the small cornersthat provide best option to be close with nature away from thehustle and bustle of society. Garden furniture is just one of themajor features of garden that has the ability to increase theelegance of the garden.Wooden garden furniture provides relaxing and stable places tosit instead of sitting on loose walls or uneven surfaces. Made ofwood and teak, these furniture's are available in different colors,sizes and shapes, though Indian garden furniture is more known forits intricate carvings, fine detailing & supreme qualitywork.Today, it is important to understand that a tidily arrangedgarden can be a great place for relaxing in peace and at same timeyou can make it more useful by installing suitable gardenfurniture. Making the best selection and use of wooden furniture insame old garden can become the playground for children or a placewhere you can entertain guests.The first and most important thing you need for your garden ischairs. Hence, a garden table and chairs are the most importantparts of garden furniture.

Our homes are important to us and coming hometo a little bit of heaven is a dream most people have. We cravecomfort, security and beauty in our homes and adding a little touchof nature is how most of us create our version of beauty. To getmother nature in our world can take a little bit of effort.When we think of how to get our yards and natural areas in ordermost of us think of having some sort of area to contain thesupplies and work from the rest of the garden. A wood garden shedcan work nicely for this. The shed can serve as a wonderful storagearea for the tools we need to work with and an area to plant andarrange our pots as we go about the creation of our gardens. With anice place to work from we can create beautiful lawns, flowerbaskets and planting beds.A wood shed is practical and attractive at the same time. Thewood itself can add a natural and realistic touch to the gardenarea. Most lifestyles are very busy and a touch of any naturalelement into our life is welcome. The walls may store items on theinside of the structure and the outside walls could be a canvas fordecorating. Many people arrange decorative items on the structureto add a bit of visual appeal. Flower baskets, old garden toolsarranged in a unique pattern or metal art are some often used itemson the outside walls of sheds. The personality of the homeowner cancome to life on the garden shed wall. It is a creative paradisewaiting to happen.Storage for off season items is another handy use of the woodgarden shed. The change of the seasons has us constantly switchingout things we need. Snow plows, shovels, lawn mowers and kiddiepools are all often stored in the shed until the appropriate timecomes to need them. The extra space may come in extremely handyduring times when we are not outdoors as much, and helps withkeeping your home and garden clutter free for the season.Today many people use the garden shed for other functions aswell. People use them for playhouses for kids, work areas forcrafts and home offices. Homes are often overflowing and the extraspace can be extremely useful to enable expansion. The shed canbecome an extension of the home and add much needed space to thehome.When you think of wood garden furniture, do you automaticallythink of cedar? The first thing that comes to my mind is teak andthat is mainly because it is used on yachts and holds up quite welleven with a lot of moisture. Well, I guess we should all think moreabout cedar because it is a very resilient and it will maintainwell with all kinds of weather.Cedar outdoor furniture is resistant to the outdoor elements andwill probably last a lifetime. For years to come, cedar wood gardenfurniture will keep its rich grain and usually stand up to dailyuse activities. The entire family can sit on any of the furniture,including swing sets, and feel safe knowing that it is a hardwoodand is resistant to insects. Retreating to your backyard oasis on aSunday morning with a cup of coffee and the newspaper, you can restassured that the cedar garden furniture will be there to give yousome comfort.An advantage to having cedar wood furniture is the fact that itis more flame resistant than other woods. This is an importantfactor if you have a fire pit as part of your landscape. Theproperties of cedar wood make it slow to burn and slow to spread.If an ember from the fire pit should land on one of the chairs youhave enough time to remove it without destroying the chair orburning yourself.Cedar wood garden furniture is an excellent choice for outdoorgarden furniture due to its durability, practicality and its safetyfeatures.Other than its durability, practicality, and fire safetyfeatures, cedar garden furniture is a good choice because of itsbeauty. Because of its natural resiliency to decay, insect damageand outdoor elements, cedar is used very often for fencing andsiding on houses.

The perfect furniture is the dream of everyenvironmental expert as well as the user of that particular item.First and foremost, you should keep the factor of quality in mind.If you purchase the expensive product, indeed it will be longlasting and it will be the perfect value for your investment. Thebest suggestion is to go for the expensive wooden garden furniturethat will offer tremendous resistance under all the climaticconditions.If you are the person who does not possess but dreams of perfectgarden with these products inside it, you should go for theconsultancy and better start the work in the warm season.Wooden Garden Furniture: The Perfect PlacementThe perfect placement of this type of luxury garden furniture isthe patio or the garden itself. This is the reason that it is alsocalled the patio or the garden furniture. In the present times,there is a growing trend of furniture that is quite simple inlooks. This, in fact, is the perfect placement for the heavyfurniture that is traditionally designed. The present trend is thelight or the polished ones.The sun room adjacent t the home can be an alternate place tokeep the furniture if you do not possess the garden. When youpossess these accessories, you can perform multiple tasks like sit,dine, enjoy. These provide the aristocratic look as well as theelegance. The perfect polishing of these outdoor products makesthem the modern and the nest in this category.Garden Furniture: The Enjoyment Option In SummerWhen you are in the rattan garden furniture in summer, you willlove to absorb the heat of the sun rays. It is healthy option forthe purpose of skin and will provide cure against ailments likeskin cancer. Why to get tired, you will love to sit on the luxurygarden furniture.You can also enjoy summer parties in the garden and take thefull advantage of these luxury items. For the perfect looks and thesuitable adjustment of such elegant products, it is very importantto decorate the back yard area of the home.Wooden Garden Furniture: The Ideal SolutionIt is better if you adjust the wooden garden furniture pieces tothe areas that not frequented too much as far as your garden isconcerned. It also, to a major extent, depends on the location ofyour garden. If the garden is on the coastal beach with the naturallandscape of the woods, you can get some exclusive wooden pieceseasily for the design of the exclusive furniture.In this case, the combination of Adirondack chairs and theelegant side table will be a healthy combination. These areprimarily installed in the coastal gardens that surround the beachhouses.Adding elegance to your backyard garden can be accomplished mosteffectively by adding wooden garden furniture. While plasticfurniture does the job cheaply and while cast iron is respectable,natural wood gives your garden a more earthy, connected feel.Whether you are seeking to create a social setting, a relaxingreading spot, or simply pleasing aesthetics, wooden furniture isthe best choice.Creating a Welcoming AtmosphereOutdoor furniture should be situated on a brick or gravel base.Many gardens lack such areas, so many backyard enthusiasts willfirst need to clear an area for such a foundation. The popularcenterpiece of an outdoor furniture collection is usually a tablewith 4-6 chairs. To add comfort for guests, seat cushions can beplaced on chairs and benches. Wooden gazebos can be constructed tocreate a canopy of comfort and protection from the harsh, mid-daysun. In addition to a well-kept garden showcasing wooden furniture,rugged stone pathways and ornamental rocks can be added. Equallycompelling in such outdoor settings are water pieces such asJapanese-style koi ponds, bird baths, and fountains. Somehomeowners enjoy adding wooden birdhouses to their backyardparadises as well as wind chimes to create dreamlike auralenvironments.

A fully wired and heated garden room, onceconstructed, should be furnished with as much care and attention asany other room at home. Consider whether to install blinds orcurtains at the windows to provide privacy and make the room cozy.Make sure, too, that you have sufficient storage - particularlyimportant if you are planning to use the structure as a home officeor study - and a quality floor. Timber, rubber or matting are allexcellent options. If expensive music equipment or computers are tobe housed permanently, fit good locks and an alarm. Many specialistgarden room companies add these as standard. Given that this is aroom for one person, or a few like-minded family members, inject itwith plenty of personality. The interior of a modular unit may lackcharacter, so choose to make it pretty, with a floral-upholstereddaybed and cushions, or trendy, with pared-down steel and timberfurniture and a cool office chair.If you are in search of an exterior retreat but have limitedoutside space, consider converting an existing garage. Providedthere is a drive (or you can park on the street), the benefits ofan extra room will be worth exposing your car to the elements. Manymodern houses are built with internal access to the garage - usefulon inclement days - and already have plumbing and lighting. Ifwalls are exposed brick and the floor concrete, think aboutcontinuing this theme, rather than trying to disguise it, andcreate a robust, industrial-style work space, with a trestle-tabledesk, open steel shelving and white-washed walls and floor.Whatever the style of outdoor retreat, it's important that itlooks good on approach. Careful, imaginative planting goes a longway to integrating the structure into the garden around it. For atraditional timber shed, train a scented creeper or roses up thewalls, set it beneath the natural overhang of a bushy tree or fitwindow boxes beneath the windows. A larger, modern structure may beflanked with rustling bamboo or tall grasses and morearchitectural-looking shrubs in giant galvanized pots.Many period properties have dark, dank rooms, small livingspaces and long thin gardens. A perfect solution to modern livingis to consider developing the rear of the house, subject toplanning regulations. The original open plan idea is still popular,despite the kitchen smells and general noise which pervades thesedesigns. Instead of extending to complement the existing house, howabout building to contrast with it?Developers are encouraged to make a new extension look new andtake advantage of modern materials and technology to create acontrasting look with the older aspects of the building. Adding amodern extension to the back of a traditional house creates aneye-catching feature and a unique selling point. It allows theowner to incorporate their fresh designs without compromising theoriginal features.Some can be built under permitted development rights butbuilding regulation compliance must still be met. If planningpermission is required, most councils will consider it within 12weeks from application. Practically, if there is no side access tothe rear garden, the foundations will need to be tackled by handand the materials brought through the house. If the work involvesthe wall between your house and a neighbor, it is a requirementthat you get a party-wall agreement and permission for anyscaffolding that is on the boundary.With building regulations, thermal performance and ventilationare essential to get right. Having enough wall, ceiling and floorinsulation is paramount and you may consider trickle vents, openingglazed units, under floor heating or heat reflective blinds. Somebuilding companies who use BBA approved SIPS building systems canaccommodate all these requirements, such as the garden roomcompanies which use BBA approved panels.

With spring approaching it is a great time tothink about one very popular use for the stirrers -that of a gardenrow marker. For planters, it is always good policy to somehow markor label a new planting. Whether we're considering about a row ofnewly sown seeds or new spring nursery plants -if it is notidentified, chances are good you will be puzzled at some pointtrying to figure out what you planted.There is a wide selection of garden row markers available thatare at once fancy and practical. They can also put a dent in yourpocket book. Some are not all that cheap. Many gardeners make theirown from available materials readily found, that are cheap whencompared.Identifying rows of radishes or some brand new plants can bemore interesting using decorative "store-bought" markers and,that's nice if you have too much money and are looking shed some ofthe load.I, for one, always try to keep things as simple as I can -like a'back-to-basics' policy or, waste not, want not mentality.Also, once the plants grow to mature sizes, the row markers willbe hard to see and not really required anymore. They are only ofuse in the beginning of the season. The basic homemade varietycould be re-purposed each spring to identify rows of seeds or newvegetable plants.What to UseWhen surveying around your casa for something to use, there area few ideas that folks have found work quite well. If these are notreadily located in your house, some items can be bought for areasonable price locally.One thing you might want to consider are paint stir sticks -mypersonal favorite. Paint paddles can be obtained at the big boxhome improvement stores -but typically only one or two at a time.Paint stores, naturally, have them too and generally will only handthem out with a purchase of some paint or supplies.Other ideas include plastic -like plastic knives, or scrapwindow blind slats, albeit a little too lightweight. You are betteroff with something that is stiff enough to stick in the ground andbig enough to record your important data onto.Wood shims are another option, however they are rough hewn andhard to write on; further, they are not very lengthy.Solar powered garden lights are one of the most economical andeco friendly power sources you can look for in a DIY project. Allthe components that are required can be readily sourced from anelectronics or hardware shop.Recycling old garden lightsOpening up an old solar garden light will show you whatcomponents to look for. These are very simple devices and can beall assembled within a glass jar. The tools required are a craftknife, a screw driver and a hot glue gun.The rest is simple. Using the old garden light as a guideassemble all the components in the jar in that order and aneconomical garden light can easily be made at home. It's a cheapand fun way to recycle old garden lights.Building a garden light from scratchYet another quick and easy garden light that's ideal forlighting up various areas of the garden can be made up of lithiumcoin batteries and white LEDs.The long wires of the LED are taped to the negative and positivesides of the coin battery (+) and (-). Carefully twist the wires,ensuring they won't touch each other, into a right angled positionwhich will enable to the battery to rest flat against the insidecover of a glass jar. Tape the battery in place and screw on thejar.These little lights will add interest to an evening garden partyand are quite cheap to make. The only problem with these is thatthey stay lit and the only way to turn them off is to separate thebattery from the LED.Paper lanternsBeautiful paper lanterns can be made at home and can adorn apatio or be hung up on trees. These lanterns can either holdcandles or LEDs. However, a word of warning: when lighting candleswithin paper lanterns it can pose a fire hazard and should be donewith the utmost caution. It is far better to use LEDs, as explainedearlier.

Garden fencing designs can be as unique as theperson planting the garden, if you have a little creativity or knowwhere to find help with design ideas for garden fencing. Of course,there are many books on gardening that offer unique ideas forgarden fencing and many of the home improvement stores sell thesebooks. For those that like to read gardening magazines, you willfind there are all kinds of creative ideas, when you are lookingfor the best designs for fencing. You don't have to settle for thesame fencing that everybody buys at the home improvement store whenthere are a number of things you can consider, when you aredesigning your garden.When it comes to using materials that are not normally used forgarden fencing, there are many people that will consider split railfences; stone fences and even unique oriental garden fencing can bemade with some bamboo stalks and twine. When you consider all ofthe different building materials you can use, there are a varietyof designs you can come up with. Bricks can be stacked or you canuse trellises with climbing roses as a garden fence. Some creativegardeners will enclose their garden area with vines, and grapevineswork nicely in many areas. A natural hedge can be a beautifulgarden fence, especially if you pick flowering varieties or bushesor shrubs.For those that are looking for more traditional garden fencingdesigns, a white picket fence always works nicely, and you can findinteresting wrought iron fencing with arched gates. When planningyour garden design, fencing can be an important part of making it aprivate and secluded area so you might want to consider your plantchoices and figure out how you can make them work as part of yourfencing scheme. There is no end to the varieties of plants that canform a good fence because there are many plants that offer plentyof dense cover and if you need to keep small animals out, you canalways hide conventional fencing discreetly with the right plants,vines, bushes or shrubs.If you are looking for a unique garden, you should considerunique garden fencing designs that include a variety of materials,plants and natural items. Whether you use cornstalks, bamboo polesor boulders and stones to make a border for your garden, you canadd a design element, depending on the type of materials you use.Another consideration is the shape of your garden. Not all gardensneed to be square or rectangle so you can take advantage of outsidebuildings and other design elements, such as landscaping ponds ornatural creeks and waterfalls that already exist in your yard, forpart of your garden fencing.The more interesting and diversified you make the fencing foryour garden, the more creative you can be with what you plantthere. You just need to think of different ideas that are not astraditional or conventional, if you want a garden that addslandscaping interest to your yard and might become the envy of yourneighbors.Traditionally, the main reason of installing garden fence is toprovide security and privacy to our home. However, garden fencenowadays has additional function: as garden accessory. By choosingthe right model and the right color, we will have a very beautifulgarden to help us maintain the safety of our house. If you areabout to install this useful improvement, there are many types offence designs that you can simply choose based on your budget andthe design of your exterior. Just play with your creativity to makeyour home beautiful and safe with garden fence.When you are going to build garden fence, you can consider sometypes of material. People usually use aluminum, wooden, wroughtiron, PVC vinyl and many other popular materials. Each of the typeshas its own advantages and disadvantages that you should alsoconsider. Therefore, before making a decision on a certainmaterial, it is better to consult experts to help you choose thebest material for your fence.

Whether you need fencing for your garden oryour patio, there are various types of fencing panels to choosefrom. They serve a variety of purposes as well. The most importantadvantage of having fencing panels around your yard is security.Apart from security, they can be decorative and ornamental as well.The best type of fencing can be provided with the metal fencepanels. They are available in different patterns, styles andtextures.Most of the metal fence panels are made of different metals likealuminum, steel or wrought iron. Another popular style of this isthe chain link panels which provide maximum security without beingmuch decorative. It requires only minimum maintenance. Since themetal panels are always exposed to all kinds of weather, theyusually have a coating to prevent rust and other damages.Chain link fences make use of rubber coating. This coating isavailable in different colors which are good for camouflage. Themost durable of these panels is the wrought iron panels. Thoughthey are expensive they look very attractive and impart adecorative aspect to the whole structure. While installing wroughtiron panels you will also have additional expenses on laboretc.The most inexpensive panels to use is the chain link. It lastslong as well. Another popular type of panels used is made of steel.You can find it in different kinds of patterns and shapes. Thebiggest advantages of using metal panels are their added security,customizable shapes and patterns and durability. You can find theseat both the local stores and online.The typical garden fence panel can have many uses far beyond itsusual purpose. Many panels can be used indoors as well and makewonderful decorations. A picket type panel, usually between 4 and 6feet in length, can make an ideal child's headboard with a fewadjustments and creative painting.These small, white picket panels can also be applied to achild's bedroom walls as a means of creating a forest or gardenscene for an easy and decorative display, instantly giving yourchild's room a wonderful and unique decoration style that is sureto be a topic of conversation whenever you have guests over to yourhome.In the garage, the smaller garden panel can also be applied towalls as a means of protection from typical garage wear and usage.Light and small and generally 4 feet in height, small panels can beapplied easily with nails to the drywall in one afternoon and areideal for guarding against stains and damage from car doors, toolsand machinery.Of course, garden fence panels are also wonderful when used inthe lawn. But even there, these handy panels can be applied in manynumerous and creative ways to solve several common gardenproblems.Better and more durable than a tarp, garden panels makewonderful shelters for various plants and areas where shade isneeded or preferred. While plastic, muslin or fabric tarps canoffer shelter, they are not as sustainable as fencing nor do theyremain placed properly against the elements. Placing a fence panelover an area where shade is desired, offers both function as wellas an interesting garden decor.Fence panels also offer a hearty and stable trellis for manyvines where the usual trellis design may not be sufficient. Vineswhich can grow heavy during their growth season can sometimes breakor bend the typical wood slat, metal or PVC type trellis designs. Aprivacy panel, typically 6 by 8 feet would hold a larger plant vinefor many years to come.Stakes can be nailed to the support boards on the back of thepanel and placed in the ground using cement, clay or gravel as asupport feature at the base. Since garden fence panels tend to havelittle room between each board, for climbing vines, it's best toapply hooks throughout the front of the panel to help train thevine as it grows. If treated prior to staking and planting, thiscreative and interesting panel will support any plant for as longas is needed.

People who have backyards tend to take a greatamount of time deciding what to do with all the extra space intheir yards. One good investment is to cultivate a backyard garden.However, deciding on what to grow in it is another decision. Thisarticle will help you choose what type of garden to grow in yourbackyard.Flower Garden. Proponents of flower gardens argue that flowers maketheir backyard more aesthetically valuable. A well planned andorganized flower garden will make any backyard filled with intensecolors and scents. Flower gardens will easily attract pollinatorssuch as butterflies, bees and birds which will add to the naturalbeauty of your backyard. When it is well-planned, you can have abackyard that is blooming with flowers throughout the year. Havinga flower garden will also ensure that flower vases inside your homeare always filled with beautiful flowers that can make any day,even the gloomy days, bright.Some flowers such as lavender and chamomile can produce oils thathave aroma therapeutic properties. Scents of lavender and chamomileflowers are said to soothe and calm the nerves. Other plants, suchas roses, are also used for their oils and are incorporated inbaths.Vegetable Garden. While some gardeners like to fill their backyardswith flowers, others prefer to fill them with vegetables. Growingyour own vegetable garden in your backyard can be a deliciousendeavor because of the following benefits:• Taste. Freshly picked vegetables especially those that are freefrom synthetic pesticides taste simply wonderful and taste moredelicious than those purchased in a grocery store. When you growyour own vegetables, you can control the amount of pesticides thatyou put into them.• Cost. Although there is some initial expense in starting your ownbackyard vegetable garden, the vegetables you get from your gardenis absolutely free. Most people will agree that you cansignificantly reduce you weekly grocery costs by growing and eatingyour own vegetables. Excess vegetables from you harvest can evenadd to your savings if you sell them to your neighbors.Flower and Vegetable Garden.Although some people prefer a vegetable garden than a flower gardenfor their backyard and vice versa; there is no rule that says thatyou can't have both flowers and vegetables in your garden. As amatter of fact, planting some flowers and herbs within a vegetablegarden can be very beneficial to your backyard. Flowers and herbsnot only make your backyard vegetable garden more aestheticallyattractive; it also protects your vegetables from different harmfulinsect pests. The mixing of herbs and flowers will eventually makeyour vegetable garden more productive through the following:• For Attracting Pollinators. Vegetables do not have the mostattractive flowers to attract birds, bees and butterflies. To makesure that these pollinators find your vegetable plants, haveflowers with high nectar content planted along side floweringvegetables. This will attract more pollinators that will pollinateboth the flowers and the vegetables in your backyard garden.Flowers that have shades of yellow, blue or white such assunflowers, cosmos and zinnias are ideal for attractingpollinators.• For Attracting Beneficial Insects. If you are like most peoplenowadays, you will want to opt for organic foods. This means thatyou want foods that are free from synthetic pesticides. Attractingbeneficial insects which kill insect pests is a more scientific andorganic approach to getting rid of the harmful ones. Insects suchas ladybugs, praying mantis, and parasitic wasps are beneficialinsects that are attracted to certain flowers and herbs such asparsley and flowers from the aster family.• Serve as a Trap Crop. When an insect pest infestation cannot becontrolled, one way of not losing productivity is by offering it asacrificial crop or a trap crop.

It's so easy to set up an indoor herb kitchengarden because so many culinary herbs are well suited to growingboth indoors and in recycled containers. Your ability to growveggies in your organic kitchen garden starts with only a fewsimple recycled materials and the simple will to feed your familyonly the finest organic foods grown fresh in your designed kitchengarden.Here are six easy to grow herbs without even trying; chives,thyme, mints, French tarragon, sweet marjoram and sage. As well,also think seriously about growing your own parsley, rosemary,nasturtiums and basil. So which ones do you plant and how do yougrow them? It really depends firstly on which ones you would liketo grow, how much you use of one or the other and then your budget,and of course the amount of well lit space you have.The high tech "A-Garden" type with its own lights and gadgetryis great and really works well (you know the one it's advertised onTV everywhere), but it's not cheap and not very big. Whereas, atthe other end of the budget is a set of recycled pots andcontainers with seedlings and your sunny windowsill, planter box orsunroom.Something in-between these two extremes are thecompartmentalised pots like the "strawberry pot", which is alsogreat. Also in the middle are the grow veggies kit forms where youjust add water and place in a sunny position and look after for aperiod of a few weeks. These are also absolutely great for thoselimited to space for your kitchen garden.I personally do not recommend planting different herbs in theone single pot as the competition for growing space problems faroutweighs the advantages of individual containers. If you do usethe compartmentalised pots then try to mix the same general typesof herbs together for the re-growth habits, height and moisturerequirements.The important thing is light, whether natural or artificial.Adequate light is essential to growing good herbs and veggies. Ifyou don't have enough natural light then you'll need to supplementit with artificial light.Why not consider making your own tiered shelving with its ownlighting? I've seen it done and its particularly good in climateswhere it's dark for much of the year but indoors is continuallynice and warm; or even consider using a skylight or solar tube,another inexpensive method of free natural lighting.If you have a well-lit patio or sunroom where you grow dwarffruit trees in containers (citrus, stone-fruits or pomegranatesetc) then you can plant perennial herbs in the same pots with themsuch as rosemary, mints etc.Because there are so many suitable herbs, you must decide whichones. Just remember to check the seedling labels to see how largethey grow. Only plant the ones you have the room for in your ownindoor herb kitchen garden. When it comes time to grow veggiesconsider using larger pots or deeper pots.Everybody loves kitchen herbs, and if you're thinking of growingsome we've picked a select few that most chefs agree are the bestof the best. Their popularity among Captains of the kitchen can bestated in three words -- taste, fragrance, and beauty -- and forthe beginning gardener, they are easy to grow.Basil grows well in the kitchen because it loves the heat. Trimthe plants and use the leaves in salads, stews, ground meats,poultry stuffing and any dish that includes tomatoes. Start basilfrom seeds, or from plants you can find at your local nursery.Burnet is one of the prettiest plants. It has feathery leavesthat trail which makes it a good choice for hanging pots. And theleaves are cucumber-flavored which make it a great addition tosalads.Chervil is a fine-leaved herb that looks like parsley and hasanise-flavored leaves you can use for garnishing and to seasonsoups, sauces, and salads. It will germinate quickly and can begrown from seed.

As the prices of real properties skyrocket,most people can no longer afford to own houses with wide frontlawns. A few meters of extra space around the perimeter orsometimes even just at the front and back of the house are whatmost new homeowners could afford now. This may be sad especially ifyou planned to have a huge sprawling garden, but even with limitedspace, you can still have a beautiful front garden design byplanting the right plants at the right locations. Here is how youcan design your own small front garden.1) Plan the LayoutSince you will be working with a little space, it is importantthat you plan first before you start digging into the soil. Draw alayout of your front garden design and take note of where yourwalkway should be and where your garden should start and end. Makesure that trees or shrubs will not cover the front door lateron.2) Visualize Your GardenVisualize how you want your garden to look like. Would you wantit to be colorful? Then think of flowers or plants with colorfulleaves. Would you want it to be a lush green? Perhaps you shouldchoose trees and shrubs then. Once you know what you want, it istime to pick specific plants that should grow in your garden. Witha small space, you do not have the luxury of planting large trees,so opt for a small tree instead.3) Create BalanceJust like in a flower arrangement, the way you place your plantsshould have a balanced effect. For instance, place the tree awayfrom the door so as not to interfere with the focal point of thefront of your home. To balance the tall tree, plant some shrubs atthe opposite side of the tree, near your door.4) Make a Bed of PlantsYou cannot leave the area leading from the tree to the frontdoor bare. Make a bed of plants on this path to bridge the gap. Youcan choose from flowers or herbs, whichever you prefer to grow onyour garden.5) Line the WalkwayIncluded in your front garden design is emphasizing the paththat leads to your door. To give definition to your pathway, lineboth sides with low flowers whose blooms complement the exteriorpaint of your home. Allow some space between these flowers to avoidcrowding.6) Define the BordersYou can place groups of shrubbery at the borders or corners ofyour garden. These will further balance the visual effect.Eventually, trim these shrubs so that they will be of differentheights to add dimension.7) Plant Some GrassIt would be nice to be able to walk on your garden barefoot, soplant some grass on it. Choose a variety that will grow well inyour specific location. For instance, some varieties can withstandshaded areas while others cannot.8) Add Some DecorationsThe corner of most properties is typically wasted space. With acorner garden shed, however, that wasted space can be transformedinto valuable storage even as you improve the overall appeal ofyour yard.When you are dealing with an angle, there are few options.Anything that you place there will have long sides with limitedaccess. Many people choose to turn corners into play areas fortheir children. Many more will turn a boring angle into a garden orother feature. However, a much better use of this space would be toinstall a corner garden shed.When you think of a corner shed you may picture a triangularshaped structure nestled into the corner. However, these sheds areactually five sided, with the front of it resembling one half of agazebo. Imagine how attractive such a unit would look in your yard.Not only will you have more useful space for storing all of yourgardening tools and supplies, but your yard will visually look asif you have a gazebo occupying the corner.A corner shed can be placed anywhere in your yard. You can usean outside angle that needs to be dressed up. You can also place itin an awkward angle off your patio or near the house. It offers youa great deal of flexibility in placement.

It is sometimes said that every garden shouldhave an archway. However, whilst this may not be strictly true,it's certainly true that garden arches can have a part to play inmany designs. Garden arches come in many shapes, sizes, designs andmaterials and so consequently they can also have many differentuses within a garden.Uses of Garden Arches Within a Garden DesignOne of the most common uses of arches within a garden is as anentrance. This can be an entrance to the garden itself, or oftenarches can be utilized to create entrances between different areasof a garden. Using the arches a doorways between outdoor roomscreates a sense of progressive realization and a sense of journeywithin the garden. On a similar theme, they can create a sense ofintrigue to a garden visitor. Arches act as a draw to people,drawing people towards the arch to see what lies beyond.Garden arches provide a vertical element within a garden design,providing a point of differentiation if most aspects of the designare in the horizontal plane. What is more, they provide instantheight within a garden. Although planting can ultimately provideheight, unless mature (and therefore costly) plants are introducedinto a new garden, it will be a number of years before those plantscan provide the height that an arch can provide.When placed appropriately, garden arches can be used to frame aview within the garden - for example framing a focal point such asa statue or water feature. Similarly, garden arches can be used toframe a distant view or vista.Considerations When Introducing an Arch to the GardenAs well as being practical, useful and attractive within agarden, arches are also one of the easiest features to erect.However, although they may be easy to erect, some considerationdoes need to be given to the type, style and size of arch to beused - the wrong arch in the wrong place can negatively impact uponthe balance of the whole garden design. So what are the main designconsiderations?1. Scale / SizeThe scale and size of the arch must be in keeping with thegarden and surroundings. For example, a huge, gold plated, highlyornate arch would be totally out of place in a modest suburban backgarden, whilst conversely a 1m wide wooden garden arch would belost and insignificant within the vast grounds of a statelyhome.2. Unity of Design & MaterialsThe style & material of the arch must be in keeping with thegarden and environment. So, if you are designing and building acottage garden, a highly contemporary glass and metal structurewould look ridiculous. Similarly, if you are building a modern,minimalist garden, you wouldn't want a traditional style woodenarchway.3. Strength / StabilityAs well as design considerations, you need to consider what youwill be using the arch for - not least, will you be using it as asupport for climbing plants? If you are, depending on the plants tobe grown, the arch must be sufficiently stable and robust towithstand the weight of plants as big plants with lots of growthcan be surprisingly heavy and put significant pressures on the archbelow.Garden arches are just one of the many items people use tocreate beautiful, relaxing gardens and landscapes. The garden archis a great way to add instant structure and height to your garden,or to create a decorative garden entrance or focal point. There aresome points you should evaluate before installing a garden arch:the size of the arch, the design of the arch, whether you want touse it for supporting creeping plants, and the constructionmaterial and installation method preferred.1) Size. Generally, arches are wide and tall enough for adultsto walk through, unless the arch is being used to frame a smallplant or fountain. A large, graceful arch will obviously suit alarger garden, but for a smaller garden, do not exclude the use ofan arch, because it can will give your garden the illusion ofspaciousness beyond its actual size.

One of my very favorite types of flowers is arose. Now I am not talking about the tea variety that you get in abox on Valentine's Day. The kind that I mean come in a huge numberof varieties of colors and scents, and if you choose from themcorrectly you can have a rose garden that blooms all season long.When you are highlighting a rose garden one of the best ways iswith metal garden arches. Metal works best with roses, because theyget really heavy as they grow to cover the arch, and metal canhandle the weight.How to place your arch.When you are using an arch in a rose garden you need it to doone of three things. It should either lead you down a path, open onto a different part of a garden, or contain a garden bench and beplaced toward the back of your garden.A garden arch that is sitting in the middle of nowhere justlooks silly (believe me, I've tried to make this work).What works well with a metal garden arch.Plant climbing roses against the garden arch (be patient theydon't grow fast) and then tier the rose bushes around it. Plantnearly wild rose bushes (or any variety that gets about 3 to 4 feettall) next to the arch, and carpet roses in front. If your arch islining a path, you can also use cast iron decorative edging alongyour beds to give them more definition. It goes great with thearch.If your garden is looking plain and bland, a garden arch mightbe just what you are looking for to spruce it up a little bit. Butwhat plants can you grow around it? Perennial plants are a greatchoice. Evergreen plants keep their leaves all year round so thearch is always covered. Deciduous plants will loose their leavesover the winter but will re-grow them again during the spring. Eachof these plants may give new flowers of fruit every growingseason.Garden arches should not be limited to only the garden entry,they are also great at a midway point to offer a shaded sanctuaryin the middle of the garden. If you install the arch with benches,you will have a perfect place to sit and rest or enjoy your morningcoffee.If you install a garden arch while your children are young, andadd the correct plants, it may be the perfect backdrop for a gardenwedding after they get older.Garden arches may be made of several materials. Metal arches areto be preferred over the wooden ones, however. After the vine plantgrow over the boards of a garden arch the wood could not bere-painted so it will be exposed to the elements and rot quickly.Once decay begins to set in the arch may no longer be secure enoughto support the plants.If you choose a metal arch, be sure that it is resistant to rustin order to have a long lasting arch for many years.Runners from your plants will need to be trained back into thestructure of the arch. You may need to do some trimming of theplants to keep the arch in good shape.Flower gardens bring in the beauty, freshness and positivityinto the surroundings. Flowery gardens are full of blossomingflowers of vibrant colors to give your garden a welcoming look.There are various patterns and shapes in which gardens aredesigned. These garden ideas are often made in consideration withgrowing challenges of the area. The large and wide places usuallyhave large gardens while small, limited spaces may have only asmall garden corner. This is how flowering plants have a greatcontribution in keeping the surroundings bright and welcoming.Here are some of the flowering plants that can be a part of yourflower garden space.Limelight hydrangea: Medium moisture is best suited for thisflowering shrub plant. It grows in partial to full sun. With anorganically rich and well drained soil you can give a completegrowth to this plant causing its branches to arch downward. Thisplant is easily maintained as a small shrub or pruned as a smallhydrangea tree. This hydrangea shrub has textured coarseleaves.

You feel secure within your home and you feelthat security by using white vinyl fence around your home'sboundary wall. You have many options where fencing is concern. Youcan go for wood fencing but it's a little expensive or you shouldgo for aluminum fencing which is durable and sturdy but expensivetoo. The best option for you is white vinyl fencing which can comewithin your budget.Why Go for Vinyl Fencing: It is extremely durable and can standin frosted area steadily. The look is extremely classy and thedesigns are superb. Fencing can give the entire area a new lookwith its amazing design.Advantages of Fencing: You need to fence the boundary wall tofeel protected within your home. You need to fence your pool fromyour children as well as your dogs and other animals at home. Youcan give your home a cleaner and neater look when viewed from adistance. It gives the entire area a boundary without stopping youfrom seeing the outside world.Benefits of Fences: White vinyl fencing is a very good option asit looks like a wood fence. The appearance is simply classy yetvery attractive to look at. The fence does not require to bepainted. It never gets stained and it is maintenance free.Installation of this classy fence is extremely easy. You can enjoythe beautiful fence as it comes within your budget. It has anexcellent quality as it cannot crack or split or splintered. Thewhiteness of the fence can be maintained by simple cleaning, youjust need to spray it off with a hose. The area will never lookdirty or dusted as it's very easy to clean.Some people don't like to go for this kind of these fencesbecause they feel it is expensive and difficult to install. Forinstallation no person is required, you can do it yourself as nodigging is required for placing them. You can place it yourself andthat also very quickly and installation does not take more than aday. You can create different styles with these fences. You cancreate a slope like design or stepped look.These fences are easy to place because they come with Do ityourself fencing facilities. You need to see a video to see how itneeds to be installed and you don't need outside help. You can alsorequire not digging up holes and ruining the look of the entiregarden.White Vinyl fence should be placed at the boundary wall as it isdurable. Comes in the finest quality and is very easy to maintain.The installation is very simple and the cost of this fence is alsonot much.If you own and maintain a garden, consider enhancing your gardenwith garden fencing. After all, you put a lot of work and prideinto your garden so go ahead and show it off a little. Three greatoptions for fencing your garden are: picket, vinyl and trellis.Picket fencing can vary in height. If you have several flowersthat are tall, such as tulips or black-eyed susans, you might wantto use a low picket fence so that the flowers can easily be seen.On the other hand, if you have plants and flowers of varyingheights, consider installing a three foot high fence with a gate.Leave the gate partially open so passer-bys can catch a glimpse ofyour garden. Picket fencing is usually made out of wood that ispainted white or vinyl.If you're looking to have some privacy in your garden area, thenconsider going with vinyl fencing. These fences ranged from fourfeet to six feet tall. Each panel consists of six or more posts.Usually you'll have a choice of rounded, squared or pointed posttops. Vinyl fencing holds up well in most kinds of weather. If yourgarden contains a small pond or a water fountain, then this mightbe a good option. It will discourage animals and small childrenfrom entering the garden.

So you want to know how to build a botanicalgarden in your yard?Before you start digging carefully consider what you really wantfrom the garden. You may soon discover that an average size gardencannot easily provide the requirements for a botanical garden.Why?The primary role of a botanical garden is to focus on providinga plant collection with some scientific basis. These gardens arenot designed for the outdoor domestic needs of singles, families ora couple.Prior to any design concept it is important to acknowledge thatthe look of your garden will be influenced by the more mundanedomestic garden items such as a children's play equipment, pottingshed, household bins, clothes line and so on.The plant collection needs to fit around a family's requirement.If it is the other way around the plants are likely to be destroyedand the garden will look a total mess.Sure a botanic garden can provide a children's playgrounds andoutdoor seating areas but these activities can often be separatedfrom the plant collections.A botanical garden is basically a well cared for andwell-designed (sometimes not even planned out) garden that isconsidered a public place for the whole community to enjoy. Mostlyyou will also be able to see cards with the scientific or botanicalnames of plants, flowers and trees. The key to creating a botanicalgarden right in your backyard is determining what these plants andtrees will be called in any nursery, getting them and startdesigning! At home, however, you can include the plants you findthe most attractive and there are no rules that state you have tokeep plants that do not appeal to your tastes.The most important task you should keep in mind when creatingyour own botanical garden is the application of a focal point.There should be a corner, a flowerbed or an amazing tree thatultimately attracts the attention. An ornamental flowering tree isa good example of a beautiful focal point and flowers and bushes ofyour liking can successfully surround these. To create that "lush"and tropical look, you should make sure you incorporate floweringbushes and trees and if you have a big backyard, you can createsmaller, interesting focal points with these that lead up to yourmain attraction. Using bamboo adds to the tropical feel and caneven be used to create "walls." Colour is crucial, especially whencreating the "botanical garden" effect. This can be done by addingdifferent rose bushes and trimming them to the correct heights tofit in different places. Hibiscus flowers with their huge blooms,Lilies or Gladiolus also add immense and beautiful colour tobotanical gardens. When you plant them in heaps or "mass plant"them, you can create a magical effect.Plan ahead and determine where the most shade and sunlight fallsin your garden. Make sure you plant certain flowers and bushesaccording to their needs, because you can ultimately waste a lot ofmoney by replacing plants over and over. Make sure you also knowwhat the seasons do to your garden. In winter, for example, it isgreat to have evergreens and plants that keep their berries so youwill have colour all year round. When it comes to grass, it is bestto use Zebra or Pampas (tall grasses) to fill space or to placehere and there. Letting plants and grass grow more freely creates amore natural look.Do not let a smaller yard discourage you, because smaller yardscan in fact look cosier. Creating walkways makes a yard look biggerand adding a bench in the middle of tall plants also gives yourgarden an intriguing feel. It is also important to not only think"botanical," but also to be consistent with a style and climateappropriate plants, like Mediterranean or English Country. Abotanical garden should ultimately be place where trees, flowersand shrubs are "cultivated for exhibition" and that is what youshould recreate: a beautiful place that keeps you and visitors in agood mood.

You're in the back yard surrounded by wispybushes, flowers that have tantalizing colors and fruit trees thatare blowing in the wind. Somehow after all the hours of work itstill seems somewhat bare and unfinished. You can tell the theme ofyour different gardens but how can you help others see what youhave composed. What can you do to guide your visitors around sothey don't miss a thing?To accentuate the beauty of your carefully chosen plants andflowers there is the garden plaque that helps break up thevegetation. They can spice up the garden wherever they are placedand never go out of fashion. They are used for identification,information and decoration.Garden plaques are flat plates or disks which are beautifychiseled, ornamented or engraved for use in garden decorations.They can also be used as decorative stepping stones. Many companiesthat make them advertise them for either use.They originated in ancient Greece. The Greeks had an abundanceof marble and were fond of making decorative wall hangings. Theyalso used materials of wood or stone. These tended to be very heavyand in many of today's gardens resin has taken its place. The bestpart about resin is that it is highly resistant to wear and tearand the extremities of weather.Garden wall plaques can also be used inside. They help bring atouch of the outdoors inside. Often you see them in homes hangingfrom walls or placed on the mantel above the fire place.They can have quotes and sayings or simple designs. They can behand painted, sculptured or custom made. There are so many choicesfor the avid gardener.They come in many different sizes, styles, shapes, materials andprice ranges. Some materials that are available are resin, wood,ceramic, pewter, stone, marble, metal, concrete, glass and crystal.When placed under lighting crystal offers stupendous effects. Manyof the garden wall plaques still follow classic design motifs. Someof the designs are of animals, nature scenes, floral, sun, moon,mythology and words of inspiration.For small cramped gardens they can be a great space saver andcan also be placed to add specific themes for certain areas. Youcan decorate around water ponds, gazebos, porches, hang them from atruss or place them on fences. Of all the features that can beadded to a garden scene there is none that is as effective as thegarden wall plaque.It might surprise you to realize that you may own one right now.Most people have them to adorn their front doors. They usuallystate the address and last name of the owner. You might even haveone placed in the front of your house to welcome any visitors thatstop by.They also make great gift ideas. Be creative for that specialhouse warming party. Have one custom made and engraved with thatsincere happiness you feel for them. Anyone who spends a great dealof time in their garden will think that is the best present theyhave ever received.Whatever garden wall plaque you finally choose, it is sure toenchant and inspire you with a welcoming splash of color andcharm.Butterflies are mysterious insects that bring wonderful color inthe garden, patio, oasis or even inside the house. Yes, you read itright guys - inside the house. You might wonder how you canactually put butterflies in your living room or how significantthis idea could be. Well a huge market for interior design starteda new fad of using butterfly wall decor and butterfly wall art asaccents to express the home owner's interest for nature. For somereason, the butterfly's natural characteristics - color, wingdesign and their unique fragile nature made them a timelessmasterpiece that can add a distinct feature inside your home. Thisis a perfect decorating idea for those who appreciate the beauty ofthese gorgeous insects.Whether fact or fiction - butterfly wall art acts as an artisticreminder of the eternal beauty of these magic creatures renderedthrough metal wall art.

If your backyard is looking a little drab andlacking in character, it might be time to add some metal gardendecor. Metal garden decor can be fun or functional. It can be usedto add structure and form to a flat landscape or to add aneye-catching focal point to your yard.When designing a garden, structure is very important. One simpleway to add structure and definition to a yard is with a large metalarchway. They are easy to setup and require little or nomaintenance. Add a climbing rose or vine and the covered trelliswill beckon your visitors to walk through and discover the secretson the other side. Metal trellises are no longer just functionalplant supports. They are often creative works of art that lookbeautiful on their own. With or without plants they add verticalinterest by drawing the eye upwards into the garden.For bird lovers metal bird baths and bird feeders provide aplace for their feathered friends to rest and recharge. Migratorybirds often travel thousands of miles and seek out safe havens ontheir long journey. Add a beautiful copper birdbath andsquirrel-proof bird feeder and you will have many gratefulguests.Copper rain chains replace ugly downspouts with ornamentalcopper cups and chains which guide the water down from the roof.Also called "kusari doi", rain chains originated in Japan hundredsof years ago and were used to capture rainwater in water basins. Acopper rain chain turns a boring downspout into a beautiful waterfeature as the rain gently cascades down the copper. Soothing onthe ears as well as the eyes they are a pleasure to behold.Most people use metal garden decor to add personality to theiryards. Large bronze or stainless steel sculptures are often focalpoints in large gardens. More commonly people add smallersculptures, stakes or wall hangings to create interest or liven upa dull spot. Some pieces are surreptitiously placed and surprise ordelight when they are stumbled upon. A metal cat may sit on thefence or an alligator lurk in the bushes. A metal frog can be foundclimbing up the trellis. Have your flowers starting to fade? Add acolorful metal sunflower or two to fill the holes.Metal garden decor is an easy way to enhance your outdoor livingspace and add your own personal touch.No garden is complete without a least one piece of wonderfulmetal garden art. Even the most die hard gardening purists havebeen known to quietly sneak a piece or two into their yard. With somany artists working in the field and so many different materialsto choose from, the choices are endless. No matter what your taste,you will find at least one piece of metal garden art to add yearround color and character to your garden.Steel is the most popular material used in metal garden artbecause it is inexpensive, versatile and easy to work with. It isused to make garden sculptures, garden stakes, wall art and metalgarden decor like lanterns, wind spinners and bird feeders. Steelcan be used in its natural state, varnished, painted or left torust. Some artists even combine rusted metal with treated metal forpieces with a very unique look. For larger more contemporarypieces, corrosion resistant stainless steel is used to createstriking, architectural pieces.Some of the most creative, fun and whimsical pieces of metalyard art I have seen are made from recycled metal. Recycled steeloil drums or tanks, discarded bicycle or tricycles, broken toolsand nuts and bolts, these all provide the raw materials for thecreative eco-artist. A rusted oil drum is incarnated as a happypig, and a broken rake becomes a bird.Copper is also widely used in metal garden art because it isbeautiful, durable and adds elegance to any garden. If allowed tooxidize it will age gracefully to a natural weather worn greenpatina. It can also be preserved with a clear coating to maintainits bright, shiny look. Copper sculptures, wall art and gardenstakes add a touch of class to any decor.

When you think of art, does your mind conjureup a Van Gogh or Monet impressionist painting? Or do you think of aRoman sculpture or other traditional piece of art?Art can also be living, as in the art of the bonsai gardeningplant, which is a living tree. The art of bonsai is originally fromJapan and the word actually means "tree in a tray." When onepractices the art of bonsai, one shapes and prunes the treecarefully to produce a beautiful, meticulous miniature tree.You may be surprised to learn that these trees are notgenetically developed to grow small, but are the product of masterartists who use years of patience and skill to shape otherwiseordinary trees into these unique forms.It requires delicate care to keep the bonsai plants healthybecause of the manner in which they are grown and shaped in smallpots. After all, these are naturally large trees such as maple,pine and similar species.The gardener, or artist, must keep the soil and temperatureprecisely controlled and measured to ensure it always remainswithin a healthy range. As you can imagine, it requires a certainpersonality to master this art. Years of training and practice gointo learning the pruning techniques, potting and re-pottingskills.A science in its own right is the watering procedures. One muststrike a delicate balance between too much water, which can leavethe bonsai with root rot or fungi from water-logging, andunder-watering, which can quickly result in dry soil and witheringleaves, causing the tiny tree to die.Potting methods and choice of soil mix with the wateringrequirements to address the vital issue of drainage. Coming fullcircle with these critical features are the shaping and pruningtechniques. It is all quite complex to get just right.Bonsai is perhaps more difficult than traditional art to createas one is working with a live organism and the many elements eachhave to be perfect for the living tree to survive. One can see whyit is an art form.On the one hand is the science of horticulture and the need tolearn and master multiple sub-sciences. While on the other hand isa need to master precise skills and artistic vision to be able toproduce the intricate styles and shapes of the bonsai.Have you previously looked at redesigning your gardendecorations? Maybe you have a massive backyard with trees andshrubs, plants and maybe a vegetable growing area or you could haveonly a modest patio; what ever its size you must be able to convertyour own little bit of outdoors into a restful area. Your outdoorspace should become an extra room of the home, where you are ableto both entertain or eat out in the open. You'll find loads ofstuff in the marketplace that will assist you to convert your backyard right into a brilliant dining or sitting area.To be able to keep the backyard or patio uncluttered then a goodoption is to have storage containers available to put all yourgardening tools, barbecue pieces, youngsters toys and perhaps youroutdoor furniture or your soft cushions inside. Possibly the bestthings to use for storage containers is patio benches; these comein many materials for example wickerwork, and rattan or perhapsplastic which demands no maintenance but may well not look asattractive as the other two solutions. These storage benches willnot just make your outdoor area uncluttered but also supply moreseats for folks.You could have a wide open patio area or yard, nevertheless agood suggestion may be to divide the outdoor space into sections.You might have a cooking place, dining area and lounging space. Oneapproach of attaining this is by using trellis. An effective kindof trellis is made from metal; this will never decay and may keepgoing for a long time. Metallic trellises come in several patternsand the elaborate metallic trellis is an increasingly popularchoice.

Adding garden lights to an outdoor space canbe a fantastic investment for a number of reasons, increasedsecurity, extending the amount of time the garden or yard can beenjoyed each day, and the added ambiance that illumination adds toany space. Determining the right type of garden lights to use for aparticular purpose doesn't have to be difficult or confusing ifthere's an understanding of what's available and the benefits ofeach lighting type.Outdoor garden lights available today include lanterns, outdoorgarden lights, decorative garden lighting, deck lighting, and manydifferent types of solar powered lights. Each type has differentbenefits and uses to consider.Outdoor lanterns are a fairly inexpensive hanging light fixturesthat give a yard a soft, warm glow. They are usually gas powered sothey must be filled with fuel on a regular basis, which makes thema bit more high maintenance than other options.Outdoor garden lighting is more expensive than other typescurrently available, however they are also the most versatile. Thistype of lighting includes adjustable spotlights, low-voltageoutdoor lights and colored lights. While more challenging toinstall, they can be placed on timers; and if installed by alighting expert, they can really make the most of the yardsfeatures.Decorative garden lighting, otherwise known as rope lighting.This is a quick and easy way to dress up a yard or garden. Ropelights are actually a chain of LED lights inside a plastic tubethat protects the lights from the weather.Deck lighting is used to enhance the look of the deck andsurrounding yard. A wide variety of systems are available rangingfrom post cap lights to inset lights that will also provide anadded safety feature so that steps and deck edges can be seen inthe dark.Solar garden lights are becoming increasingly popular with thedesire to make green choices and save energy. Solar garden lightsare available for just any use. They contain small solar panelsthat charge in the daylight and when it gets dark enough theyautomatically switch themselves on and use the energy gatheredthroughout the day.Summertime garden lights are a great way to bring a new emphasisto creative concrete designs in your yard. Many people have begunto decorate what was once boring concrete in their yard such aspathways, stepping stones, walkways, driveways, patios, and decks.While there are many effects used, the broom effect is one of thebest effects that your summertime garden lights can illuminate.Summertime is a time when everyone wants to linger outside andenjoy the extension of their home by socializing on a patio,cooking on a deck, and watching the sun go down sitting on aconcrete bench in their garden. By utilizing summertime gardenlights, homeowners can cast the perfect bouncing, dancing shadowsin their gardens, along their footpaths, or as they are sitting ontheir new porches.Through the use of a decorative concrete contractor, you can addbeauty to any home or business, inside or out. They can not onlyhelp you design the perfect decorative effect for your exteriorconcrete needs, but they can help you select the perfect summertimegarden lights. Since there are many changes that have taken placein the concrete industry and continue to take place, it isimportant that you utilize a professional concrete company to meetall of your concrete needs. These are the people best informed interms of the options available to you, the styles, the colors, andthe maintenance. One of the greatest trends in terms of decorativeconcrete finishes is the new slip-resistance that you can addthrough broom finishes.Broom finishes will detract from a clean and shiny concretesurface, but if you would prefer the styles of aggregate finishesor exposed aggregate finishes, then you can really benefit fromutilizing the broom finish. The name pretty much explains itall.

You would be able to bring all the charm ofthe outdoors to indoors with the help of pots. You could even add atouch of class to your deck or outdoor landscaping by adding yourown personal style by picking from the several different pots foroutdoors too. Smaller gardens offer convenience, pleasing looks,less upkeep and you still have the beauty of a garden.There are a great variety of pots to choose from. You couldchoose from several different styles, colors, sizes and materialthat would mix and match all decor styles and enhance hundreds ofplants.Garden supplies pots could be picked up from a variety of laces;home improvement stores, garden or nursery supply stores and evendepartment stores have classic pots and sleek, modern day looks inyour choice of planters.When you're choosing the very best pots, there are few importantbasics to remember. Knowing what style you're going for is good.There are many modern styles that would update any area of yourhome or the great outdoors.You can choose your garden pots in many different materials likeglazed, metal, terracotta, plastic or wood. Choosing your plantersin one or two coordinating colors or a rainbow of colors would letyou match any color scheme you have got in mind. You could mixcolors, styles and plants to create the ideal potted garden.Any drab and boring area in your home can be brought to lifewith the beauty of the outdoors by adding plants in pots; 1 ormany. Elegance could be brought to the outdoors also by findinggarden supplies pots, soils, fertilizers and tall or short plantsto suit your personal style and add functionality to any area.Your garden pots can complement your personal garden area plusyou ought to realize if it is suitable for the plants you choose.Plants could make a perfect focal point in any area you want todraw attention to. Adding your own garden pots to an outdoor areacould assist to halt the development of unwanted or invasiveplants.Small areas such as apartments provide garden pots which wouldlet you enjoy the experience of gardening. There are garden potsthat would hold a tree all the way down to matching herb sizegarden pots that will easily fit in your windowsills.Any effect and design could be achieved with very little effort.Take some time to browse and search the internet and just choosethe right garden pots which suit your requirements.A garden pot is a unique item for indoor or outdoor decorations.There are varieties of pots for gardens available in the market.They have different shapes and sizes. These plant pots have beendesigned in multiple colors which can attract the eyes of a plantlover. These containers are appreciated for their scenicbeauty.The pots are made with different types of materials. It may bemade of ceramic, wood or plastic materials. They may also differ intheir shape. Most garden containers are round-shaped,square-shaped, box or oval-shaped.There are large and small garden urns. The small urns areconvenient to be placed indoors. They can be hung on the walls ofthe house, thereby providing elegance to the room. In most gardens,the containers are either placed in a row, kept horizontally orhung. This enhances the grandeur of the garden.But the urns for large plant should be put to use judiciously.In a large garden urn with ample space, you can fix a large plant.In the same way, you can use multiple, beautifully designed largecontainers with distinct colors, and fix many large plants in itbefore placing it in the garden for viewers' appreciation.In this modern era, maximum importance is given on beauty anddecoration. The concept of natural landscaping and gardening is onthe increasing. The indoor gardens can be decorated beautifullywith colorful large and small plant containers.

At some point you may have ambled into yourbackyard and studied the nice but rather bland landscaping,wondering how to jazz it up a little. Or you may be planning thegarden and landscape from scratch, and you want to do something tomake it into an extra-special retreat for you and your family. Oneeasy way to add instant character and charm to your property iswith a garden arbor. This attractive structure, which comes in avariety of materials and styles, is a classic element in gardensand is now making a comeback in popularity.People sometimes use the terms arbor and pergolainterchangeably, because they refer to very similar structures. Anarbor typically includes a seat under the arch, while a pergola ismore of a covered walkway. Whatever word you use, any garden decorstore will know what you mean.Arbors and pergolas serve a number of useful functions in theyard or garden. A striking garden arbor can provide a focal pointin your landscaping, drawing the eye in that direction. Similarly,it can be used to visually separate or connect parts of yourproperty.Arbors are often used as support for growing plants and vines.Although you don't have to grow plants on your arbor, floweringvines that gently cascade over the structure add wonderful colorand life to this bit of garden decor. Landscaping looks best whenit contains plants, flowers, and grasses at a variety of heights,and the arbor can create a sense of height and visual interest toachieve a more balanced scene.A strategically placed arbor can hide an unsightly view like thegarage next door. Or it can give you a little privacy from yourneighbors' eyes. Most of all, an arbor or pergola offers aattractive, restful spot for you to sit and enjoy nature'ssweetness.Wood, metal, and vinyl are the most common materials for gardenarbors. Each material has its own personality.Wooden arbors, usually made from cedar, are traditional andnatural-looking, blending in with nature's bounty. They inspire asense of nostalgia and remind us of a simpler time.Metal arbors are sturdy but can appear delicate and airy. Shaped inintricate designs, some metal arbors are works of art inthemselves.Vinyl arbors have a fresh, clean look that many homeowners findappealing. This type of arbor will give you the appearance of newlypainted wood, but without the effort. A vinyl arbor is sometimesused as a charming backdrop for an outdoor garden wedding.For someone experience in building things, an arbor will takeseveral hours to set up. If you don't have the time or prefer notto do it yourself, you can buy the kit and hire a local handyperson to put it up for you.If you want to grow plants around your arbor, you have manykinds to choose from. Some lovely flowering vine varieties areannuals that will have to be replanted each year. Perennialsgrowing over your arbor will need to be trimmed occasionally.Colorful climbing roses are a popular choice for arbors, becausemany are fragrant and have repeat blooms from spring through thesummer. Morning glories are another favorite. These plants havelarge bell-like flowers that can be found in almost any color, fromwhite to pink to blue to purple.Honeysuckle is an easy flowering vine to cultivate. It growsquickly and will put out blooms from late spring through thesummer. Wisteria produces an abundance of delicate blossoms in thespring, ranging from white to purple. Other good choices includetrumpet vines, cypress or star glory vines, moon flowers, andclimbing sweet peas. For a simple effect, use English ivy to coveryour arbor in a verdant green.Some of these plants can be trained to grow around the openslats of the arbor, while others will need to be fastened. Consultyour local garden nursery to find the best plants to suit yourgrowing zone and your particular aesthetic tastes.

So you want to know how to build a botanicalgarden in your yard?Before you start digging carefully consider what you really wantfrom the garden. You may soon discover that an average size gardencannot easily provide the requirements for a botanical garden.Why?The primary role of a botanical garden is to focus on providinga plant collection with some scientific basis. These gardens arenot designed for the outdoor domestic needs of singles, families ora couple.Prior to any design concept it is important to acknowledge thatthe look of your garden will be influenced by the more mundanedomestic garden items such as a children's play equipment, pottingshed, household bins, clothes line and so on.Sure a botanic garden can provide a children's playgrounds andoutdoor seating areas but these activities can often be separatedfrom the plant collections. It is unlikely that a play area is alsothe only place available to locate a very rare plant.In general, botanical gardens are large whilst domestic gardensare comparatively small. Creating a successful botanical garden ina small area is very different from creating one in a largearea.When space is limited it is very important for every object inthe garden, including plants, to take on more than one function. Ashrub in a small space may need to act as a screen to block out theneighbours whilst providing shade from the summer heat and addcolour to a dark corner. It is hard for a plant to meet all thesefunctional requirements plus also be from only one plantspecies.Furthermore, small gardens work much better with fewer planttypes rather than more. Small spaces appear much bigger and aremore appealing to the eye when plants are repeated over and overagain. A small garden becomes fragmented and appears disorderlywhen loads of different plants and garden accessories are used.Still Want a Botanic Garden?The outdoors of the house says a lot about the indoors. Abeautiful garden not just makes you feel the beauty of nature athome but also makes you feel relaxed and at ease. Properly managedgarden space not just adds to the exquisiteness of your home butalso makes your home look one of a kind. Garden arbors make youryard look beautiful and also give you the opportunity todifferentiate your yard from others. Proper placement anddecoration is very important when it comes to the decorating youryard. Various garden yard decorators are professional experts thatmake sure that your garden is decorated in a perfect manner and thespace is properly occupied.These designers know exactly what should be incorporated where,and how to make full use of your garden area. They make sure toincorporate all the beautiful elements needed while planning gardenstructures and landscape designs to make your garden look elegantand refreshing at the same time. They understand the exact measuresand keep in mind proper length and width so that whole area wouldbe occupied properly. Garden arbors have always been everyone'sfavorite and have been installed into their garden yards to add tothe beauty of the yard. The large payment issues may worry youbefore hiring a professional decorator for the planning and designof your garden yard.The professional decorators make sure to design your garden inevery shape, color, design and size with the most reasonable price.These professional decorators know exactly how to design, what tobuy, from where to buy and how much should it cost. Theirexperience not just gives your garden arbor a beautiful look butalso save you that extra penny and hard work. We already know thatarbors add a lot to the beauty to the outdoor living experience.Either you want to create a focal point in your yard or just liketo make a statement with the entrance way into your outdoor room;these decorators make sure to provide you exactly what you desireat a price that fits your pocket.

There are different types of fountainseverywhere you look and it can take time on choosing the right onefor you and your garden. The most popular versions are rockfountains and these can be found in all garden centres around theworld. They are very common in oriental countries especially asthey look excellent next to bonsai trees.Rock fountains are very beautiful and look very elegant insideor outside your property. They can come in many different designs.With many different colours and shapes and sizes to choose fromthere is plenty of variety. They are usually very reasonable inprice and you can pick one up for s little as $35.00. Many peoplechoose to shop online as this saves time and money.This rock fountains not only look stunning but in fact are verypeaceful and relaxing. The sound of gently running water is knownto be a stress soother. Furthermore watching a fountain can have acalming effect.Some stone fountains are a good idea for inside your home asthey create a calm and relaxing atmosphere. This is excellent tohelp you to unwind you when you have had one of those hectic days.If you want to help the environment then you can buy solar poweredrock fountains. Solar powered ones can help you save on theelectric bills as they do not need mains power. They are also veryconvenient and can be placed anywhere.People have fountains in their gardens to create peace and theycan place them on the side of ponds or even on the middle of alawn. Rock fountain are most popular during the summer when thegardens are blooming with bright colours and the fresh smells. Theysell better during the summer so it may be a wise choice to shopfor one in the off-season.When buying your rock fountain it would be a good idea to buysome cleaning fluid. This is part of the simple maintenance routineinvolved in keeping fountains running. With all fountains it isessential to keep them free from dirt and grime. The cleaning fluidis simply run through the fountain every now and again.In short a rock fountain makes an impressive garden ornament.With solar models being so easy to install and convenient they arebecoming increasingly popular. Add solar lights and you have abeautiful fountain for a night-time display.A rock fountain adds a touch of elegance to your home or officeinteriors. This fountain can be kept both indoors or outdoors. Itcan be kept as a beautiful centerpiece in your living room or itcan add beauty to your garden. It provides a typically rugged lookto your garden. The trickling sound of water falling on the rocksis very soothing to the senses. It can immediately lift your sensesand rejuvenate you completely. You can line up many beautifulplants around your rock fountain to make it look morebeautiful.This fountain comes in different shapes, colors, materials andsizes. Depending upon your location, available space, style andbudget, you can choose your fountain. You can either choose afountain that is made of natural rocks or you can choose one thatis made of a synthetic material such as fiberglass. Rock fountainsmade of synthetic material are usually light in weight and easy toinstall at any location. The synthetic material is given a naturalrock finish and looks like just the real thing. They also requireless maintenance.Some Of The Most Common Rock Water Fountains Are As Follows:Rock waterfall fountain: It brings nature to your home or officespace. The sight of water falling over the rocks is absolute bliss.This type of waterfall fountain looks very natural and you willfeel as if you are there in the mountains. You can also hire anartisan to sculpt rocks or stone to make something special for you.You can add a beautiful statue to this rock waterfall to make itappear aesthetically astonishing. You can decorate the area aroundthe waterfall with beautiful stones, pebbles and shrubs.

A botanical garden is a place in which plantsare grown and displayed primarily for scientific and educationalpurposes. It consists chiefly of a collection of living plants,grown out-of-doors or under glass in greenhouses andconservatories. It usually includes, in addition, a collection ofdried plants, or herbarium, and such facilities as lecture rooms,laboratories, libraries, museums, and experimental or researchplantings.The plants in a botanical garden may be arranged according toone or more subdivisions of botanical science. The arrangements maybe systematic (by plant classification), ecological (by relation toenvironment), or geographic (by region of origin). The largergardens often include special groupings, such as rock gardens,water gardens, wildflower gardens, and collections of horticulturalgroups produced by plant breeding, such as roses, tulips, orrhododendrons. A plantation restricted to exhibits of woody plantsis called an arboretum. Most botanical gardens will incorporatewater features.History of Botanical GardensOne of the earliest botanical gardens for the study of plantswas established in ancient Athens about 340 B.C. by Aristotle andrun by his pupil Theophrastus. The oldest public one in the worldare those established at Pisa, Italy, in 1543; at Padua, Italy, in1545; at Paris in 1635; and at Berlin in 1679. In the 16th and 17thcenturies, herbalists cultivated medicinal herbs in privategardens. In 1673, the Society of Apothecaries planted the ChelseaPhysic Garden in London to provide materials for research andmedicine. The American botanist John Bartram near Philadelphiaestablished the first experimental botanical garden in the U.S. in1728.Where Botanical Gardens Are FoundAlmost every major city has a botanical garden. The RoyalBotanic Gardens, better known as Kew Gardens, near London, foundedin 1759, is the largest in the world. Experiments and research donethere have led to the transplanting of commercially productivecrops, such as rubber, from their native habitats to other parts ofthe world.More than 300 botanical gardens are in the U.S. Among the mostimportant are the Missouri Botanic Gardens in Saint Louis (1859);the New York Botanical Garden in Bronx Park (1895) and the BrooklynBotanic Garden, both in New York City. The Arnold Arboretum,established in 1872, is located at Harvard University.Benefits of Visiting a Botanical GardenBy visiting botanical gardens or arboretums, city dwellers candiscover a part of the natural world to which they ordinarily haveno access, escape from the pressure of dense urban population, andperhaps even develop new interests and hobbies having to do withthe natural environment. In these special parks, plants from allover the world are scientifically cultivated, studied, andartistically displayed for the pleasure and enlightenment of thepublic. Arboretums specialize in raising trees and shrubs (woodyplants) in their natural surroundings. They may exist independentlyor as part of a larger botanical garden.Unlike ordinary parks, botanical gardens and arboretums are laidout with more than just the beauty of the landscape in mind. Theywill offer sculpture and cast stone water features Although treesand shrubs may be interspersed throughout the area to enhance thepleasant surroundings, plants are usually grouped according totheir scientific relationships. Often there are small, specialgardens, such as rose gardens, rock gardens, wildflower gardens, orJapanese landscape gardens contained within the larger botanicalgardens. Many have sections devoted to plants of particulargeographic origins, such as a tropical plant section, or an aquaticplant section. Usually, plants are labeled according to commonname, scientific name, and region of origin.

When it comes to flower garden landscaping youwant to make sure you create a beautiful place for you to enjoy notto mention a place that visitors will brag on! There are severalcomponents of flower garden landscaping that are considered veryimportant and then there are others that are simply up to yourpersonal discretion. However, we will discuss some of the importantelements in order to ensure that you create the most beautifulgarden for yourself.Some of the most important elements of landscape design includecolor, form, line, scale, and texture. This might just sound like awhole lot of words to you but they actually serve a purpose when itcomes to landscape design.First of all, color is important because you need plants andflowers of various colors that are also complementary. You want toplant them in a complementary way as well which takes some thoughtand planning. Landscaping a beautiful garden is very much likepainting a painting. It takes thought, planning, and forethought tocreate the beautiful garden.Form is also important and it is regulated by the way a tree orplant branches out as well as the shape of the leaf. The form ofthe plants will determine where you plant certain trees, shrubs,and flowers and also where you plant others. You must come up witha plan to plant them in a way that is complementary and beautiful.For instance, you could have vinyl fencing around your garden andsince this provides a high backdrop for your garden you will beable to use trees and shrubs that are taller in some areas.Vinyl fences also come into play some when you consider the lineof the garden. This includes the horizontal and vertical planes andhow and where everything I planted. You want the eye to flownaturally over the garden so the line of the garden should flow ina natural pattern.Scale really just refers to the size of the plants and flowersin relationship to the garden, fences, and other parts of thelandscape and softscape. Texture relates to how someone mightperceive the way a plant feels from the way it looks. This ispretty subjective, but it is part of landscape design.When you figure out what all this means in relation to your owngarden then you will be able to move on to some other designfeatures like using concrete brick pavers to create a walkway.Interlocking pavers are also great because they just lock togetherand make it easy to create a path. These are just some of thebasics of flower garden landscaping. You can learn more on theInternet or from a specialized book.Having a beautiful garden can be extremely rewarding, though itwill take some work to keep it at its best. When you first set itup you will need to do some thinking about the kinds of flowers youwant to look after. You will then need to take care to maintain thelevels of water, sunlight and nutrients. Here are a few simple tipsfor looking after your flower garden.It goes without saying that your flowers need water to live.This can come from Mother Nature, though you may also useartificial sprinklers. Be careful not to over-water your plants asthis will do more harm than good.As well as keeping your plants watered, they will need enoughlight to develop properly. This means you should make sure the suncan access your garden, and you can also increase their developmentby using fertilizers in the earth when planting your flowers.When choosing what to put in your flower garden, remember thatdifferent flowers will grow at different times of the year.Perennial flowers can live for as long as three years, and they gothrough cycles of growth where you should always insure you aredeadheading the flowers that are becoming week to help the plantstay healthy overall. This simply means removing the flowers thatare dying to make room for healthy new ones.

The construction of a garden pond demandsconsiderable care and attention, but is well within thecapabilities of most practical gardeners. There are a number ofdifferent methods of construction, each having virtues from both apractical and aesthetic point of view. The most important factorsare ensuring that the structure is secure and water-tight, and thatthe accommodation afforded is suitable for the plants and fishesthat it is intended to introduce. Careful planning is an essentialingredient for success.Pond liners are the most popular option and available in avariety of materials. They enable the water gardener to createalmost any fanciful shape or design of pond and to easily add avery functional bog garden. They are, however, the most vulnerableto damage, although if carefully constructed and maintained therisk is minimal. Make sure that the material selected is the mostappropriate for the pond and the construction method beingproposed.Pre-formed ponds place some constraints upon the imaginativegarden designer as they are a rigid shape. Not usually a constraintfor the formal water gardener who requires a particularpredetermined formal shape and size, but limiting when an informalpond is envisaged, although in recent years the designs ofpreformed pond shapes have greatly improved. The introduction ofmodern materials has also led to improvements, some of therestrictions of earlier technology now having been removed.Concrete ponds do not have quite the same following aspreviously, but are still constructed for some larger projects,especially as fish ponds, and by serious fish hobbyists who areinvolved in specialized fish breeding and showing. Although theconstruction of a concrete pond is never going to be easy, some ofthe previous problems that have placed limitations upon concreteconstruction for the home gardener have been overcome with theintroduction of various additives. This has been especiallyimportant in the areas of temperature as it affects the laying ofconcrete and its subsequent hardness and resilience. Internalwaterproofing techniques, as well as external sealants have alsobeen greatly improved.Landscape design for ponds and water gardens has become apopular part of modern outdoor living space. Water features arecalming, elegant, and add a natural element to your garden design.From trickling streams to rushing waterfalls, the tranquility ofmoving water creates a relaxing atmosphere and an inspirationalview for your yard as well.Whether your yard reflects a formal garden style, a contemporarydesign, or a charming country garden, there are an array ofpossibilities for including water features in the design. Thesesimple steps will help you plan a waterscape that complements yourhome and blends with your overall landscape design.Determine the purpose of your waterscape. There are manydifferent ways to use water within your outdoor space. Garden pondscan be used for fish, including koi, or can be designed simply forenjoyment. A waterfall can be designed as a rustic addition to aninformal garden or an elegant highlight in a more formal landscape.Fountains and streams can be designed to suit your outdoor theme aswell.Choose the best location for your water features. There are manydifferent things to consider when selecting the best place in youryard to install a water garden. If you are planning a new landscapedesign, it will be easier to incorporate your water features butyou can integrate a waterscape into your existing garden just aseasily with a little extra planning. Consider a locationthat:Is level and drains easily to avoid flooding.Is easy to clean and maintain. An area with pathways around thewater garden and accessible storage is ideal.Receives the right amount of sunlight for the plants and animalswithin your water garden.Provides an unobstructed view from terraces or sitting areas.

Choosing the right water features for yourmodern garden designs involves a lot more than simply the aestheticflavor. Wall fountains are becoming increasingly popular as astaple feature of entryways, patios, decks and lobbies not tomention extraordinarily popular in gardens and yards. Take yourtime to choose the right one that fits what you are looking for. Agood way to do this is to simply look at pictures from a printedcatalog or high quality online retailer, close your eyes, andvisualize how the fountain would look in your garden.Choosing Wall FountainsBefore you start off on your quest for the right wall fountainsfor your modern garden, you need to consider where in your gardenyour fountain is going to be placed. Do you plan to put it along astone or brick wall in the back of your garden, or closer to thefront where it will have more visibility? Where you decide to placeyour water feature will help you determine what type of fountain topurchase. Some people buy their fountain of preference first, butoften bring it home to find out that it does not coordinate withtheir modern garden design, or that it does not fit where theythought it might. This is why you should examine the space that youhave long before you consider what type to purchase.Themed Wall FountainsWhat is the current theme of your modern garden? Modern gardendesigns can take on a number of different themes. Modern wallfountains with Zen themes, for example, may not blend in well withclassic marble and statuary filled gardens that have more of anancient Roman theme. It is important that you choose water featuresthat coordinate well with the décor and theme that you have alreadyestablished in your modern garden. Otherwise, it may simply not fitin, which can disrupt the look or feel of your sacred space.The next thing that you need to decide on is what type of wall,and where you will put your brand new wall fountain. Are youconsidering a large sized fountain that is more vertical thanhorizontal? Or are you looking into horizontal wall fountains thattake up a lot of horizontal space instead? The type of fountainthat you plan on purchasing will play a determinant role in whereyou can place it, but you should also look at your options longbefore you choose a specific fountain to purchase.Different fountains can really enhance certain walls, becausethey draw the eyes in different directions. Vertical water wallfountains, for example, tend to draw the eyes upward and thenbeyond. Lower walls on the other hand are best suited for smaller,horizontal water features, because tall, narrow features would lookcramped on walls that do not accommodate them fully. You mustconsider both your wall options and your fountain options beforeyou do any serious planning, otherwise you may end up with asituation that you simply do not like.So here is what you need to know when purchasing water wallfountains for your modern garden design: Decide where you want toplace them before you purchase them. The reason being is - when yougo shopping, you have the measurements, location and otherpertinent information in mind. Also, consider what kind of fountainyou have in mind before you go shopping, so you can eyeball yourgarden or other preferred installation location, before hand. Ifyou don't think it will work, don't risk it; otherwise you may endup with an expensive garden fountain with no place to put it.A garden is incomplete without a beautiful fountain. Fountainsturn your static and still garden into an energizing, dynamic andgraceful landscape. Garden fountains make wonderful addition toyour landscape. The natural noise of falling water always makes usfeel relaxed and calm. The comforting voice of cascading waterreally makes you feel energetic and revived after a long stressfulworking day.

When talking about home improvements andlandscape features, constructing a garden office is becoming reallypopular. The reason is fairly simple and plain. For people who havea passion for nature, their garden is a wonderful place to unwindand these days, a lot more people are employed at home. Rather thanbeing cooped up in an office or a study in their house, it makes alot of sense to construct an office in the garden where they canwork in an idealistic environment. In the office, they will findthe ambiance conducive to working more productively. Finding it tobe highly relaxing, they will get things done more efficiently andeffectively. That's because, a lot more individuals are assemblinghome offices in their gardens.The concept of constructing a garden office has been around fora long time. Yet, not so many people could afford to purchase one.It was quite expensive to specifically design and make a gardenoffice. These days, current construction and manufacturingtechniques have made garden studios really low-priced - Anybody whohas a budget can construct a one at a reasonable cost.Modern home-owners have become more practical when it gets toinvesting in their property. The result is the fact that a lot ofthem are recognizing the full potential of creating an office intheir garden as part of their household improvement procedures. Inshort, if you're intending to invest in your home, installing agarden office is a tremendous place to start. This can definitelycontribute value to your home.There are also a number of householders who are finding thatthere are lots plans and alternatives when it comes to buildingone. It is good to realize that a garden office is not exclusivelya formal work area. It is regarded to be an attractive option toputting up green houses, sheds, or barns. A garden office maylikewise serve well as a child's playroom or maybe an extra livingspace. One reason why they are favourite is the fact that you canchoose from a variety of designs and styles. The cost of a gardenoffice may also vary. Householders can simply choose a style thatcan fit their home and budget.Recently, more and more professionals opt to work at home. It ismore favourable because it can save more money and time for theiremployers and also workers. Lots of employers favour home basedworkers because the idea of a virtual office has become veryattractive. Logically, these professional people would prefer towork in their private garden offices.If you're planning to install a garden studio, then the firstthing to do is to conduct a survey of your garden. It isfundamental to know where you will place the garden office. Thiscan help you to design the best option for your needs. The bestthing about owning an office in the garden is the fact that it isboth practical and appealing. If you've designed your garden officefittingly, you can gain a space that can provide you withcontinuing advantages. When you are building your garden office,remember to go for comfort and security.Ever thought of ditching that long arduous commute to work andworking from the comfort of a purpose built office in your owngarden? Well, in a relatively short period of time since around2004, thousands of us have and do.As a supplier of Garden Offices, garden rooms and outdoor timberbuildings we are asked the same questions time and time again byprospective customers and so have come up with this handycheck-list for you to refer to when you decide to look for yourideal garden office.What size garden office do I need?There are no precise guidelines regarding the size. Often thesize of a garden office is dictated by the space available. Youshould consider how many people you might like to seat and makesure there is ample room inside for you to carry out yourwork/activity.