Shrubs along with trees are the backbone of most garden and landscape designs. Shrubs serve different functions in the garden. They can act as walls or low borders. They can stand alone as specimens of interest. Specimen shrubs are colorful and vibrant; sometimes they are oddly shaped. A specimen shrub is usually planted alone but […] More
Roses offer the garden designer a wide palette of colors, sizes, bloom times, and functions in the landscape. Roses bloom in every color except black. There are shrub and hedge roses, climbing roses, bush roses, groundcover roses, and miniature roses. Roses in the garden and landscape When adding roses to the garden consider first how […] More
Flower bulbs are akin to perennial flowers when it comes to garden design. Consider the flower color and foliage color and texture when including bulbs in a flower bed or border. The term flower bulb is loosely used here; it includes corms, tubers, and rhizomes as well as true bulbs. Botanically speaking, all are modified […] More
Perennials flowers might be considered the backbone of the herbaceous flower garden. They are long stayers in the flower garden—commonly three to five years, sometimes more. Perennial flowers, more than annuals, offer height and breadth and usually a longer season of color that will repeat next year and the year after. Perennials are usually the […] More
Annual flowers are a mainstay in the flower garden. They provide almost instant color in just about every season of the year. Annuals grow quickly to fill space where you need color. Annuals are available in every color. They are inexpensive so you can get a lot of color for your money. Annual flowers are […] More
Garden flower color throughout the year requires a bit of planning. If you want blooms in your garden from early spring through winter, here are a few quick steps to get started: If you were able to accomplish these three steps you are a long way toward realizing a year-round flower garden. And if year-round […] More
Plants are the focus of most gardens. Combining plants effectively is the key to a good design. The basic elements of a planting design include bloom color, foliage color, bloom and foliage texture and shape, plant height and width, and the seasonality. Underlying these elements are the soil, water, and temperature requirements of plants selected […] More
Garden structure includes fixed items in the garden. Garden structure includes hardscape—fixed decks, patios, porches, walkways and path, fences and walls, retaining walls, and edging. Garden structure also includes fixed plantings such as trees and hedges. More broadly garden structure includes the property lines and the house and other structures that sit in the landscape. […] More
Every garden has a style; some are more successful than others. Successful gardens, gardens that are pleasing to be in, make sense. They make sense to the eye and to the mind of the visitor. Gardens that are successful are unified; the space, the plants, the hardscape, all work together. When all of the elements […] More
Whether you have a new house with a bare, blank-slate yard or an out-of-control overgrown landscape, the process of planning a garden follows pretty much the same steps. Here they are: Get to know the space Don’t start planting your garden right away. Get to know the space. Start a map or diagram of the […] More
Gardening in mountain regions and at high elevations can be a challenge. Sunlight at high altitudes is more intense than at lower elevations. Snow is a possibility in nearly every season in mountain regions. Mountain garden must often endure wide fluctuations in temperature from day to day and certainly between day and night. Plants in […] More
The Pacific Northwest is known for its rainy winters and dry, moderate summers. The climate is well-suited for gardening. A wide range of plants grows well in the Pacific Northwest including rock garden, mountain, and alpine plants. Many plants native to China and Japan grow well in the Northwest. Here are suggestions for getting the […] More
Stephen Albert