One Man's Vision of Creating Award-Winning Gardens

Understated elegance and simplistic serenity were some of the comments expressed by the expert panel of judges who selected Brandon Jones as the 2012 International Landscape Designer of the Year.

Visions of creating a relaxing retreat for family and friends during hot, humid summer days influenced Jones’ winning design.

A principal designer and director of design at Glen Gate Company, in Wilton, Connecticut, Jones’ award-winning project was selected out of sixty-five entries in the Association of Professional Landscape Designers’ (APLD) international juried competition.

“When I first saw the turn of the century site I was instantly inspired by the space, which already had a pool and gardening shed, and I attempted to keep that history alive,” Jones explained.

To achieve a summertime oasis, Jones knew integrating shade would be vital, so he let the shade pavilion become the focal point. His vision was to create a cozy get-away, saturated in modern simplicity and vintage nostalgia.

When choosing plants for this design, local climate and zone drove his choices.

“Native plants are more likely to succeed because they’ve already adapted to the region’s climate and soil,” Jones explains. “By pairing a few, choice plants with strong architecture, the space became balanced and eloquent.”

His finished product was a hit with both his client and the APLD judges, and Jones was equally “honored and thrilled” when he found out he won the prestigious title.

Jones, who has been working in landscape design for nearly two decades, muses, “Being honored for your work by such renowned professionals is a thrilling acknowledgment, but it also marks the beginnings of an exciting new stage for me: one that comes with a responsibility to contribute back and help foster new design talent.”

Let us know what you think of the award-winning designs. Send us your photos and tell us why you chose the landscape and garden design for your home!
  ~Lynne, Garden Media Group Photo credits: Brandon Jones: Small Garden, Reiner Residence

Tips for Creating a Lasting Winter Container

Have you picked up the Nov/Dec issue of Horticulture magazine yet?  The cover features a stunning photo of Lantana Luscious Berry Blend that is a bright spot in this dreary weather.

Especially exciting is the story on Winter Containers on pg 80.  Experts from the Association of Professional Landscape Designers and Garden Media offer tips on creating a lasting and stunning winter container mix.  The secret: It's all about the right plants in the right pots in the right spots!

Tips for Picking the Right Plants:

• Chose plants that are hardy to at least two zones colder than your USDA Zone
• Combine conifers, evergreens and grasses for a lasting look

Photos by The Personal Garden Coach, Christina Salwitz

Tips for Choosing the Right Containers:

• The larger the better
• Pick a non-porous material such as fiberglass, metal or stone
• Make sure you have drainage holes

Tips for Placing Containers in the Right Spot:

• Pick a sunny, wind free spot
• The north facing side of your home is an ideal location

Pick up the latest issue of Horticulture to read more, and if you have a beautiful winter container photo to share- post it to our facebook page!

Thanks to Christina Salwitz for her beautiful winter container photos. 

Plant Something, It will Increase Your Property Value

Living on a street lined with tall, leafy trees is as much a part of the American dream as a green front lawn and a brand-new car in the driveway. While the latter two are fairly expensive and unsustainable (think pesticides and carbon emissions), it turns out that trees reward property owners with more than just shade.

Plants and trees on and around your property are directly related to a higher property value.

Lots of research proves this- try googling it.

• A study [PDF] by the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station published last month in Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, combined rent data from Craigslist apartment listings in Portland, Oregon with tree data from Google Earth to figure out the effect of trees on rent. The researchers, Geoffrey Donovan of the Forest Service and David Butry of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, found that trees planted directly on a property increase a rental unit's value by more than five dollars per month. Rental units with trees abutting the property lines feel a 21-dollar bump. The trend holds true even when researchers control for other factors that determine a neighborhood's desirability. In the past, Donovan has also linked the presence of trees to lower crime and healthier newborns.
• According to the Arbor National Mortgage & American Forests 83% of realtors believe that mature trees have a ‘strong or moderate impact’ on the salability of homes listed for under $150,000; on homes over $250,000, this perception increases to 98% 
• Management Information Services/ICMA says that landscaping, especially with trees, can increase property values as much as 20 percent. 

And, check out an awesome new app from The Davey Tree Expert Company, Tree$ense, to calculate the benefits of the trees on YOUR property.  "Tree$ense turns users into TREEconomists, who can qualify and quantify their trees’ benefits and place trees in the best positions in the landscape to maximize these perks, including how much storm water the trees will intercept, how much carbon dioxide they will sequester and how much air pollution they will reduce."

 Visit value.m.davey.com with your mobile device to access the tool.

2012 ASLA Survey Shows Top Outdoor Living Trends for 2012

Design by Dan Maffei, APLD

The American love affair with the back yard shows no signs of slowing, according to the 2012 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).

The results show a preference for a low maintenance outdoor space for lots of entertaining.

American Beauties Native Plant Garden

Landscape architects with a specialization in residential design across the country were asked to rate the expected popularity of a variety of residential outdoor design elements. The category of gardens and landscape spaces, with 94.9 percent rating somewhat or very popular, was followed closely by outdoor livings spaces at 91.5 percent, which were defined as kitchen and entertainment spaces.

Across all categories, here's how respondents rated things:

• 97.4% rated grills as somewhat or very in-demand for 2012
• 96.6% rated low-maintenance landscapes
• 95.8% rated fireplaces/fire pits (95.8 percent)
• 95.7% rated seating & dining areas (95.7 percent)
• 93.1% rated lighting features
• 89.9% rated decorative water elements

Garden trends are on the top of our minds. Be sure to sign up for our 2013-14 Garden Trends Report.

Suzi
Garden Media Group

Design Experts Share Tips for Instant Outdoor Style

We love a good party as much as anyone here at GMG, so we asked some of our garden designer friends for tips on using plants to make your summer party sizzle!

According to James T. Farmer III, landscape designer and event planner, people planning outdoor parties think about the food and beverages but often forget about their deck or patio until the last minute.

He says it's really easy to create a tropical paradise right in your own backyard! "All you need are some beautiful hibiscus or mandevilla to instantly transform your patio or deck into a summer party for weddings, graduations and the Fourth of July."

No time plant? You can find stunning patio ready pots at your local garden center, which can add vivid color to any summer occasion. 

Bobbie Schwartz, past president and certified member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD), recommends creating a focal point using a series of accessories. “Place three containers of varying heights near an entryway to welcome your guests. Use at least one plant that can be repeated in at least two of the containers to unify the look,” she says.

Farmer says he often places plants right in a container and then just top dresses them with sphagnum moss for a finishing touch. “I create instant containers by removing the hanging basket wires and popping the basket right into a pretty container,” suggests Farmer.  “No digging or potting required.”

Try bringing a little paradise home with Costa Farms’ new Tropic Escape hibiscus. (www.costafarms.com).  The over-sized flowers come in more than a dozen hot showcase tropical colors like Caribbean Cocktail yellow, Tiki Temptation orange, and Monsoon Mixer pink and lavender. The easy-care hibiscus bloom twice as long as old-fashioned hibiscus and can take the heat through the hottest summer months.

  

Farmer and Schwartz agree this year’s color influences draw inspiration from nature.

“Many of the new cultivars are lower maintenance and longer blooming than plants of the past and they come in bold, wow colors like purple, pink and orange that attracts birds and butterflies to your backyard,” says Schwartz.

Next time you're planning your summer party don't forgot the plants to liven up your outdoor space!

-Stacey

Garden Media Group

Victoria Garden Mews stars in WSJ Lunch Break

Homeowners Trade Backyard Fences for More Space

Watch Anne Marie Chaker and Gwendolyn Bounds discuss Victory Garden Mews. The garden was designed by Grace Design Associates, a member of APLD.

Photo:  Scott Lewis for The Wall Street Journal

Tracey
-Garden Media Group

Spring Ushers in New, Easy to Grow Plants to Color Your Garden

It’s the first day of spring and time to take a lesson from Mother Nature’s palette to create a garden masterpiece with new easy to grow, low maintenance plants.

Susan McCoy, gardening expert for the Garden Media Group, a Philadelphia area firm specializing in green living and garden trend spotting says, break the rules when choosing colors. “You learned to color with crayons and experimented with mixing paints, so take that sense of play and extend it to the garden.”

Design and Photo by Margie Grace Associates, APLD

McCoy says to take cues from Mother Nature’s color wheel. “Mother Nature is daring,” explains McCoy. “She mixes amazing color combinations, from bright hues to soft pastels.”



Gardening experts say it’s easy to have a show stopping garden with continuous color spring through fall by picking the right plants for the right spot. New plants out this spring prove to be just what the gardener wants: easy to grow, full of blooms, and low maintenance. 

“The first thing you want to do when planning this year’s garden is to determine the “feel” of the garden, where you want your plants and the overall color scheme,” says Margie Grace, Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) member. “Then select plants that will create balance and draw the eye.”

Tropic Escape Hibiscus from Costa Farms

“Those looking for a backyard oasis can bring it home with the new Tropic Escape Hibiscus Collection from Costa Farms,” says McCoy. The over-sized flowers almost the size of dinner plates come in a dozen tropical colors like Caribbean Cocktail yellow and Tiki Temptation orange, and bloom twice as long as traditional hibiscus. These easy care hibiscus take the heat in sunny locations and add punch to any outdoor décor and quickly turn a deck, patio or balcony into a party.

 

Bambino Bougainvillea
from Hines Growers



“Bold colors are dominating this spring,” says McCoy. Purple, red and orange are showing up in many new plants, like the new dwarf Bambino Bougainvillea from Hines Growers. These new plants are more compact than traditional bougainvillea and produce abundant flowers. Plus, they’re drought tolerant once established. “They give spectacular color in the landscape, are ideal for containers and create a colorful spot in small outdoor spaces.” 



American Beauties Native Plans

Another planning idea is attracting birds and butterflies to the garden. McCoy loves native plants from American Beauties Native Plants for beautiful flowers and plants that are ideally suited for regional conditions. Plus a portion of each sale supports the National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat program.



Herbs in the landscape, in pots or in the kitchen garden are also hot this spring. Grace uses herbs to add color and texture in borders and mixes them in containers with veggies or perennials. 

Using herbs. like this wall of rosemary,
in the landscape gives gardeners beauty and function

McCoy agrees. “It’s so easy to pot up herbs indoors and out for fresh ingredients year round.” She loves the rare and traditional new herbs like stevia, lemon grass and bee balm, the herb of the year, she’s found at The Growers Exchange. “Perennial herbs like rosemary look stunning cascading over walls or out of containers,” says McCoy.

If planning a garden is challenging, it may be time to call in a professional. She says that professional landscape designers like Margie Grace, a recent International Landscape Designer of the Year, can help bring life to a garden with beautiful native and low-maintenance plants and natural materials. To find a local, professional landscape designer, check out APLD’s website.

 -Karen

Garden Media Group

Who is Blue? You?

With winter in hiding this December, I am missing the beautiful blues of icicles, frozen ponds and even cold blue lips! Blue is one of my favorite colors.  Getting true blue in the garden is easy with some lovely ideas like those pictured below from our APLD members.

http://www.apld.org/



What a lovely statement for the garden. What is your favorite color?

Great Gate

GMG is spreading the word about the artistic skills of professional landscape designers.  Garden writer Marty Ross highlighted garden gates in a recent Kansas City Star feature.  When clients want a special look or custom fence and gate, APLD designers have the artistry and know-how. 

Debra Phillips,  a landscape designer and vice president of the Midwest region chapter of APLD is an expert in the story about garden gates.   I snapped these pictures at the APLD Conference in Cleveland (along with about 400 other photos! thank goodness for digital cameras!) 

“I love garden gates,” says Debra Phillips, a landscape designer in the Chicago area and vice president of the Midwest Regional chapter of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. “Traditionally, we think of gates at the very entrance to a garden, but there are so many other opportunities. There doesn’t even have to be a fence.”

Great gates make me smile. If you want to see some fantastic ideas check out Walpole Woodworkers. Do you have a spectacular gate?  Tell me! :) Kathleen

Five Fall Garden Tips from Landscape Design Pros

It’s finally feels like fall here in Kennett Square. It was a gorgeous weekend, and as I walked around my yard cleaning up the last of my plants and bringing my houseplants indoors, I remembered what some of our good friends at the Association of landscape Designers suggested to do this fall for a fabulous garden next year.

And since that is what we all want, I wanted to share these tips from the landscape designers:

1. Plan now, bloom later. Judy Nauseef, APLD, to take stock of your garden now to see what worked and what didn’t, where you have holes and what needs to be replaced or moved.

I like to take a photograph from the second floor window to get a bird’s eye view of the yard.

2. Give your containers a fall facelift.
Give your tired containers a fresh look by adding bright fall annuals and colorful foliage in bold fall colors of red, orange, deep purple and gold. Peter Cilio at Campania fills birdbaths with apples and gourds for a festive look.

3. Plant in the fall.

Fall is an excellent time for planting and giving plants a jump start on spring. Plus the weather and soil conditions are better in the fall, as opposed to spring when it tends to be cold, muddy and wet. This new Solidago 'Golden Cascades' from American Beauties Native Plants is an excellent fall bloomer that the bees just love.

4. Deer proof your garden
Deer used to be so cute, until they started eating the fruits of my labor. Winter months are some of the deadliest times for deer destruction in the garden. I’m checking out some new high tech deer repellent “machines” from Havahart. One sprays water and the other gives them a static electricity shock on the nose to train them to go to your neighbors for dinner. Watch this very funny video for more information.

5. Winterize your accessories
I love my Campania containers and they have withstood some harsh winters here in Pennsylvania. I just raise my cast stone planters and statuary up on blocks of wood to let them drain and keep them from absorbing any moisture from the ground that tends to freeze and thaw. Terra cotta planters, which can absorb moisture and are subject to winter freeze-thaw cycles, should be stored indoors for winter.

For more fall garden tips, click here. Remember, fall is for more than watching football games and raking leaves. It’s the best time to protect your investment to ensure a glorious spring garden.

Suzi

Garden Media Group

A Zone for Zen

A garden is a great place to relax. Of course, knowing that I need to start weeding can be a distraction, but forget all that for a moment! I spotted these Asian inspired garden features in Cleveland at the APLD Conference. Features can be big or small - but they all add calm to a garden space. Is this umbrealla a treasure only found in Bali or a fabu shop? Think again - it is from Pier 1! And before we take it too seriously, be funny - like this meditating frog from Campania. He makes me smile and relax at the same time. How about you?

If you have time to read a blog, you have time to friend the GMG Facebook page -- and get in on some interesting conversations! Already a friend? Well, just leave us a comment.

Kathleen at GMG.

Chinese Garden Inspiration

Gardens can be dramatic, as these pictures clearly state. But dramatic in a small space is not easy to achieve. This Chinese garden that was part of the APLD tour in Cleveland was breath taking. I had to jump online to see how difficult it is to get a beautiful structure like this (it's hard, so if you know of a source tell me! )

What do you think? Leave me a comment below!

Stay cool - it is super hot outside here in PA... my poor garden is really feeling the heat this year! And my window box is totally fried! Kathleen at the Garden Media Group

Getting Ready!

"Business Trip" - that is one way to put it.... I will be attending the APLD Conference in Cleveland from June 13-17 -- and I just can't wait! Below are some pictures of a garden designed by Bobbie Schwartz. It is always an inspirational conference, but there is something special about this year. The reception to kick off the conference is being held at the famous House of Blues. The Association of Professional Landscape Designers is a fun and creative group -- and I will be taking tons of pictures, shooting video and tweeting as much as possible. The conference is open to the public and you can register at http://www.apld.org/ for a day or even the whole week. I better make sure my memory card is empty before I go...I tend to take a lot of pictures!

I worked with the home and garden editor at the The Cleveland Plain Dealer to spread the word - the article is here. Will you be attending? Let me know! Kathleen

Wordless Wednesday- or not quite!

OK, it's hard for me (as everyone here knows) to remain "wordless." So here's my version of "slightly-less-words for Wednesday." These images of gardens designed by landscape designer, Susan Cohan, a member of APLD (Association of Professional Landscape Designers ) do leave me rather speechless. Great ideas, lovely shots and what can I say... let the pictures speak for themselves. Enjoy.

For more information for help designing a garden that's perfect for your home, check out
http://www.apld.org/ and click on "find a designer."
~Lynne GMG

Garden Goods Prize Pack

Friends! The Garden Media Group has 3 wonderful garden gift packs to give away to our loyal readers, friends and followers! In 50 words or less leave a comment on this blog about why the special man in your life deserves our GMG Prize Pack.

This prize pack includes:

• Spot Gone! The natural, organic way to remove urine spots on your lawn! Keep the dog, lose the spots!



• Centurion loppers to clean up your space



• JAZ rose spray concentrate - a natural way to promote vigorous roots, shoots and blooms!



• The Biltmore Nursery - A Botanical Legacy by Bill Alexander. The history of the Biltmore Nursery and a complete 1912 Biltmore Nursery catalog.
  

Leave your comment below before June 9 - and you could be one of 3 lucky winners! Winners will be announced on June 10.

On a side note - I am getting ready for the Association of Professional Landscape Designers conference in Cleveland June 13-17. I will be tweeting, facebooking and blogging throughout the week. :) Kathleen at GMG

It Started with a Window Box

I couldn't resist. I saw the flowers at the garden center, and I snapped them up like a fiend. My window box is one of the first things I work on in the spring. It doesn't take long and can be changed out as the plants mature - and it just makes you happy to see it!

My next project, well really my husband's next project, may be a pergola. Landscape Designer Susan Cohan discusses designing with pergolas and outbuildings in her blog post. I read her blog not just because she is a gal pal with great ideas, but as a member of The Association of Professional Landscape Designers she has a knowledge base that runs deep. She also lives in NJ (my husband likes to joke that I glow in the dark) -- so we connect on that level too.

Window boxes are always a hit. But are pergolas a hot trend? Do you like my sassy plaid garden boots? Clearly they need a blog post. Leave me your thoughts below as a comment - and we can debate! :) Kathleen at GMG.

APLD Members Quoted in the Wall Street Journal

Recently, the Garden Media Group connected two wonderful professional landscape designers with the Wall Street Journal -- for a story on winter damage and how to repair your landscape. Laura Kuhn of Massachusetts and Susan Murphy of Wisconsin - both certified professional landscape designers with APLD were included in the print and online issues of the Wall Street Journal. Here is the link to the story As a side note.... I was talking to the reporter about APLD, I mentioned roof damage to my own house -- and poof! I (well really, my old roof) was included in the story too.

I am still high on hellebores. I have tons of pictures to share. But that can wait for another time. Did winter hit your garden hard? Tell me about it! If you read the WSJ article linked above - check out the pictures and let me know what you think!

Let's Set a Date!

We are having some seriously cold days here in Pennsylvania. But I don't let the cold weather get me down!

Now is a great time to dream and plan your garden. Look through magazines and check out garden websites for ideas and inspiration.

One of my favorite blogs is Carolyn's Shade Gardens.

Located in Bryn Mawr, PA - Carolyn's Shade Gardens has some very special plants. If you fall in the category of "Plant Collector" or just love unique plants you should get to know Carolyn.

I will be attending her first open house -- a Hellebore Extravaganza - on March 26. I will be sure to take pictures and video - if I can stop myself from trying to buy everything. Can't make the sale? She takes appointments too - so why not plan to visit Longwood, Chanticleer and Carolyn's Shade Gardens on the same jaunt to Philly! Do you love hellebores as much as I do? Leave me a comment with your favorites!

Kathleen @ GMG