Garden Paths

Stamped concrete path


A curved path, high walls, soft greens, and a bubbling fountain make this Southern California garden a soothing escape.
The broad path connects the gate to the front door. The walkway is built of stamped concrete and has a dusting of multicolored sand for extra texture.

Fragrant journey


Designers know a great path includes an intriguing destination. Here, a yellow-glazed container catches the eye at the end of a lavender-edged gravel path.

Path of grass


A narrow carpet of grass, all that’s left of a once-expansive (30- by 60-foot) lawn, meanders between curved planting beds. To make room for the beds, the homeowners removed sod around the turf’s edges bit by bit as they discovered new plants they wanted to try.

Wooded escape


A flagstone path in Pasadena leads through a garden underplanted with New Zealand flax shrubs and grasses.

Desert garden path


Bold furnishings and dense plantings can help you create a getaway in your own backyard, even where gardening can be a challenge.
Individual concrete pads create the illusion that they're hovering lightly above the desert floor. Their exposed aggregate finish blends in with the native soil's stony texture.

Garden art


In Newport, CA, geometric steppingstones crossing a small pool give the illusion of walking on water.
A piece of art tucked amid greenery at the end of the path treats visitors to a visual surprise.

Garden Scene Color Splash Part 2 of 2

Gaura (G. lindheimeri)


White flowers cluster like butterflies atop tall spikes on these airy 2½- to 4-foot-tall plants. Selected forms include 'Siskiyou Pink' (to 2 feet tall), with rose-pink flowers and 'Whirling Butterflies' (to 3 feet tall), with white flowers.

This continues part 2 of 2 about ideas for fall plantings.

Geum chiloense


Tall flower spikes grow from mounds of velvety foliage to 15 inches high, 2 feet wide.

‘Lady Stratheden’ has clear yellow blooms; ‘Mrs Bradshaw’ has double scarlet blooms. Both have a delicate wildflower look.

Gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia hirta)


Deep golden petals radiate from chocolate centers on 2- to 4-inch-wide flowers.
Plants reach 3 to 4 feet tall and 1 ½ feet wide. Shorter varieties such as ‘Goldilocks’ and ‘Toto’ top out at 10 inches tall.

Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa)


Tall stems of these Mediterranean natives are set with widely-spaced, hooded yellow flowers.
Moisture-conserving thick, typically furry or hairy leaves are lance-shaped. Pretty planted with lavender and red hot poker (Kniphofia ‘Bressingham Comet’).

Lavender


Every garden should have one of these beauties.



English lavender is the most fragrant, but Spanish lavender’s deep purple “rabbit ears” stand out in garden beds.

Where space is tight, grow a compact form; one we can’t wait to try is Lavandula angustifolia ‘Thumbelina Leigh’, coming late this year from High Country Gardens. It stays 12 to 15 inches tall.

Pineapple sage (salvia elegans)


At its best in fall when it sends up spikes of vivid red flowers, this salvia’s foliage smells like ripe pineapples.

The plant grows 4 feet tall. S.e. ‘Golden Delicious’ grows 1- to 3 feet tall with fire-engine red blooms and chartreuse leaves.

Have fun planting and don't forget to add cuttings from your garden into your home for a fresh festive feel of fall. Find lovely clear vases at my store to display indoor cuttings.
 
via

Garden Scene Color Splash Part 1 of 2

Alstroemeria (Peruvian lily)



Flowers of the evergreen hybrids come in shades of purple with dark flecks and last well in bouquets. Alstroemeria aurea blooms come in shades of yellow and orange.

The 2-to 3-foot tall plants produce flowering shoots as long as the soil doesn’t get too hot. (Twist the shoot off at the base to keep them coming).

Set out these flowers (and one gorgeous foliage plant) in fall or spring for beautiful garden color year after year.

Aster x frikartii


Delicate-looking flowers on ultra-tough plants tolerate just about any soil type. ‘Mönch’ grows to 2 feet-tall and pumps out 2 1/2-inch lavender-blue flowers almost all year if spent ones are removed.

‘Wonder of Staffa’ is another favorite with lavender blue blossoms.

Coneflower (Echinacea)


Colorful and super tough, ‘Ruby Star’ from Monrovia nurseries has large pinkish-purple blooms with pronounced coppery centers.

The plant grows 2-feet tall; the flowers are 4 inches across. Among the many showy hybrids are ‘Orange Meadowbrite’, butter-yellow ‘Sunrise’, and reddish-orange ‘Sundown’.

Coreopsis 'Mango Punch'


The low, mounding perennial covers itself in summer with mango-orange flowers that have a red blush.
We love the fresh, fruity hue of this new variety. Clip the faded blooms so the flowers will keep coming.

Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica)


Must-haves for lightly shaded woodland gardens, these much-loved plants bear tiny but exquisite blue flowers in spring in mild climates.
‘Baby Blue’, a hybrid from Proven Winners, has true blue flowers and grows 6 to 8 inches tall.

Gaillardia x grandiflora


Cheerful daisylike blooms in various warm shades of yellow, bronze, and red. Many varieties are available, with single or double flowers.

Ones we love: foot-tall ‘Goblin’ with deep red flowers bordered in yellow; ‘Yellow Queen’, pure yellow flowers (2 1/2 feet tall), and orange ‘Tokajer’ (3 feet tall).

I don't know about you, but my garden is fadding of color, I started by planting mini yellow mums and found these other great plants to add color to the garden for the fall, trying to keep that spring feel a little longer. via

Outdoor Spaces

This lush entryway welcomes visitors with natural ease. A canopy of date palms shades a small collection of subtropical plants and helps cool the space in the summer. I personally LOVE this one!!!

Swathes of contrasting shades of green embrace this outdoor seating area in a Bloomington, Indiana, garden.

A pergola supports bougainvillea, white wisteria, and climbing 'Sombreuil' and 'Iceberg' roses. A weathered dining table surrounded by mismatched chairs provides a peaceful spot for outdoor entertaining beneath the blooms.

This backyard veranda serves as a fireside retreat. With views of lush landscaping and ancient live oaks, the covered terrace evokes the laid-back ambience of the Mississippi River Delta. Architect Billie Brian.
This garden courtyard provides a welcome escape from the summer heat. Timber bamboo, which quickly grows to 35 to 40 feet, screens the perimeter. The reflecting pool has an evaporative, cooling effect as the water flows over the leading edge down to a trough just below grade. The platform and steps off the dining area and master bedroom double as seating, turning the courtyard into a true outdoor room and an urban oasis.via

Small Backyard Solutions

These are a few ideas for small yard makeovers. A stone path leads to an elevated stone patio and tranquil water feature.

 

This artful design creates an English cottage garden and effectively doubles the living space. The bluestone pavers form the foundation of a new patio, then alternate with bricks to create a meandering path to the back wall, where a simple pergola shades a bench.

Granite pavers laid on the diagonal make the space seem larger. The design called for a trellis atop the brick wall, but the wall wasn't strong enough for the bolts, so planters filled with boxwoods were installed to furnish the necessary privacy.

Want to increase the attractiveness of your veggie garden? Pitch out the concept of straight rows. Curved beds, stonework and a decorative piece turn the garden into an ornamental display.

Patio Styles

Ahhhh, the poolside retreat!!!!!!!! This is an important factor about using lighting on your patio, once the sun goes down, light it up, to reflect shadows and create a romantic relaxed mood.

Ahhhh, I want to go here on vacation!!!!!!!!!

Lovely extended room patio with fireplace!!!!!!!!!!

Love this style for a patio home!!!!!!!!!!

This outdoor kitchen patio is great for the large estate surrounded by the woods and it is completed with a fireplace!!!!!!!

This design is perfect for high rise living, condos or second level decks.



The total jungle feel....I could do that!!!!

A contemporary style and the water does all the rest!!!!!!!!!!

This patio has an old world feel, adding the bright pastels gives it a contemporary feel. Love it!!!!

This patio is gorgeous serene and fits my style of relaxing with nature.


This beautiful eight-sided pavilion, designed by landscape architect Keith Anderson, is the focal point of a European-style garden. I found this elegant design at HGTV. You can just hear the sounds of the water fountain behind the pavilion.