balcony
Blended in. Some gardeners like to make their containers stand out, while the designers of this project concealed them by painting them to match the color of the house. Instead, the contrasting colors and textures of the plants — golden grasses and green, gray and magenta shrubs — are highlighted in the design and pop against the beige backdrop.
Wall-mounted thriller. The designers of this side yard in Los Angeles took full advantage of every square inch, turning what’s normally a home’s thoroughfare into an outdoor destination, complete with ground and wall decking. Wall-mounted planter boxes filled to the brim with low-water plants and succulents soften and dramatize what could have been an otherwise wooden space
A red-painted antique hutch and a blue rug and chairs resonate with the red-and-blue color scheme elsewhere in the home. The pedestal table was custom-made using reclaimed barn boards and a black rub. after -Since the rear wing used to be a barn, the newfound height also created an opportunity to emphasize the beams. Platt says they used three kinds. The beams over the stove, seen here, are original to the house. Others were relocated from other parts of the house, and some are new pine beams from a local sawmill.
Bronze glory. A color palette of gold, copper, rust and green echoes the color of fallen autumn leaves in this container in the Northwest. Here, the leaves of heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) are turning bronze against a chartreuse lemon cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa cv.) at the back of the container. In the foreground, copper-colored coral bells (Heuchera sp.), ‘Goldfinger’ New Zealand iris (Libertia ixioides ‘Goldfinger’), limey sweet flag (Acorus gramineus ‘Pusillus Minimus’), black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’) and orange-flowering pansies form a tapestry of rich fall colors. Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun
Edible element. The brilliant leaves of edible ‘Bright Lights’ rainbow chard are just as stunning in a fall container composition as in the kitchen garden. To keep the arrangement looking good, and to encourage the chard plant to keep producing, harvest leaves at the base with a sharp knife or kitchen shears. Also planted in this Seattle container are coral-colored hypericum berries (Hypericum sp.), ruffled red ‘Fire Alarm’ coral bells (Heuchera ‘Fire Alarm’), ‘Blue Star’ juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’), ‘Tom Thumb’ New Zealand flax (Phormium ‘Tom Thumb’) and ‘Rheingold’ arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Rheingold’). Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun
Fall flame. The aptly named ‘Sticks on Fire’ milkbush (Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Sticks on Fire’) lights up this potted succulent arrangement in Santa Barbara, California, with its branched, coral-like structure and brilliant orange color. Lean it against a post or provide sturdy stakes to support this tall, brittle plant. The addition of deep purple aeonium (Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’) and purple New Zealand flax (Phormium sp.) creates a rich fall color palette that is perfect for warm-winter climates. Green-leafed aeonium (Aeonium ‘Starburst’), blue chalk sticks (Senecio mandraliscae) and slender myoporum (Myoporum parvifolium) round out the front of the container. Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full sun
Trio for fall. The addition of one pumpkin-colored pot updates the look of two summer containers for fall. The foliage of strappy purple cabbage tree (Cordyline sp.) in the tallest container picks up the dark purple centers of white-flowering Surfinia Blue Veined petunia (Petunia hybrid) and provides a sense of movement. Bronze-tipped succulents coordinate with the container glaze. Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun
Grasses and maples. Use subtle container plantings to balance dramatic fall foliage for a pleasing composition. Here, a pair of textured black containers filled with a wispy orange sedge (Carex testacea) and a dwarf false cypress (Chamaecyparis sp.) create a rich yet subdued accent along this gravel pathway. The real show in this garden is the brilliant foliage of Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) beyond. Water requirement: Low to moderate Light requirement: Full sun
Structural succulents. In a tall bronze-colored container, the wavy stalks of upright aeonium (Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’) are just as ornamental as their deep purple flower-like rosettes. A mix of aloe and echeveria plants fills in around the base of the aeonium, while delicate tendrils of string-of-pearls succulents (Senecio rowleyanus) spill over the edge of the container. This frost-tender composition would be best for warm-winter climates. Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full sun
Understated elegance. A stately Hick’s yew tree (Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’) looks good year-round, with dark needle-like foliage studded with decorative red fruits. Underplanted with houseplants including purple inch plant (Tradescantia sp.) and bright orange ornamental peppers, the container looks festive from late summer into fall. In winter, replace the underplanted houseplants with cold-hardy heathers (Erica spp.) or cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) and string the yew tree with twinkling lights. Notes: All parts of yew are toxic if ingested, and only female trees bear fruit. Water requirement: Moderate (yew tree requires little water once established) Light: Partial shade to full sun Contemporary Landscape by Pot Incorporated Pot Incorporated SaveEmail 5. Structural succulents. In a tall bronze-colored container, the wavy stalks of upright aeonium (Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’) are just as ornamental as their deep purple flower-like rosettes. A mix of aloe and echeveria plants fills in around the base of the aeonium, while delicate tendrils of string-of-pearls succulents (Senecio rowleyanus) spill over the edge of the container. This frost-tender composition would be best for wa...
ight and airy. Bright green tendrils of maidenhair vine (Muehlenbeckia complexa) pour over the side of this tall rectangular container to create an eye-catching cascade in Seattle. Evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum ‘Thunderbird’), a Northwest native, provides dark berries in summer and copper-colored leaves in fall, as seen here. The larger green and bronze leaves of highland doghobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana) and variegated Japanese sedge (Carex hachijoensis ‘Evergold’) complete the display. Water requirement: Moderate to high Light requirement: Partial shade to full sun
Autumn embers. Vivid foliage and hot-colored flowers nearly glow in two charcoal-colored containers in this Vancouver garden. A mass of bronze coleus leaves edged with chartreuse forms the middle layer of the composition in front of orange-flowering canna lilies (Canna sp.) and purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’). Spilling over the edge of the pot, pumpkin-colored Calibrachoa picks up the color of the canna blooms, while sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) deepens the color palette. Water requirement: Moderate to high Light requirement: Full sun
Hit the flea market. Digging for treasures at outdoor flea markets and summer yard sales is always an adventure. Folding chairs, vintage wicker and small wood tables are natural choices, but keep an eye out for interesting containers for plants, mirrors and artwork, too. Imperfect finds you might pass up for the living room could be splendid on a summer porch, so keep an open mind.
Make a plan to keep bugs at bay. If you have a water feature, make sure you regularly treat it or skim it to keep mosquitoes from breeding there. If the bugs are bad in your area, plan your event for a less buggy time of day or hold it on a screened-in porch, where your guests can enjoy a fresh breeze without getting bitten.
If you're short on floor space, a few hanging plants can add a brilliant pop of green to a room. Just make sure they're in a place where they can drain without making a mess and can still get plenty of sunshine. (By the way, how perfect is this summery breakfast space? It looks like the perfect place to start your day.)
Summer is also the season of juicy, ripe fruits and vegetables. If you have the space, add a potted lemon tree or two to your balcony. You can also do container gardens or window boxes with herbs or a few berry plants, or raised beds of vegetables. (We all know how good homegrown tomatoes are in summer.)
Add a rooftop Zen garden. High above a bustling commercial area in Los Angeles, on the top floor of an industrial building, a Japanese penthouse offers a retreat from the busy world below. A built-in raised bed filled with gravel and a specimen pine tree provides the wraparound deck — as well as the adjacent living area — with a focal point and a bit of green.
Hang a swinging chair. Just looking at a hammock or hanging chair is relaxing, and nothing beats hanging out on one on a lazy summer afternoon. If a traditional hammock is not your style, try something a little different, like the hanging platform bench shown here.
Hang a few extra hooks outdoors for drying beach towels. Stop those wet and sandy beach towels before they make it in the door with a few well-placed hooks outside. Once the towels are dry, you can easily shake out the sand and reuse them, or bring them in to wash.
Exotic materials add to a Thai-Miami tropical fusion feel
With some creative thinking, you’ll find ways to express yourself beyond your choice of flowers, plants and shrubs. Here, vintage glass marbles have been epoxied to the top of a wrought iron railing.
Most gardens concentrate on the ground surface, but fences and walls also offer design opportunity. This homeowner repurposed what appears to be vintage mailboxes into planters. It’s a great use of space on a small patio. Asian Patio by JHLA | Jennifer Horn Landscape Architecture JHLA | Jennifer Horn Landscape Architecture SaveEmail Don’t forget about the top of your garden wall, either. This one sports a layer of wood planters. Consider this route if you have a less-than-desirable view you’d like to screen, want more privacy from neighbors or just want more planting space. Keep in mind that you’ll probably need some carpentry work to support the planters.
covered deck
look at the luxury !OMG
The blue wall
Feeling of fluorescence. This patio went for a punch of color with the turquoise patio furniture, lime table decor and fuchsia tabletop flowers. Potted annuals and chartreuse-foliaged plants bring that color story up another notch, while also creating an eye-catching backdrop for diners and a visual landing spot between the ground and the wall.
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