outdoors: verandas, gardens. in-out & more
The best planting move is to set out heat-loving vegetables and flowers, such as the zinnias shown. The main chore is to get your watering systems and schedules in order for the dry season ahead. Set out heat-living annual flowers. These are pretty quick to bloom and easy to transplant from nursery packs: ageratum, bedding begonias, celosia, lobelias, marigolds, petunias, portulaca. Sow seeds of summer flowers. Marigolds and zinnias are especially easy to grow from seeds
Evaporative Misting Fan at 249$ A misting fan will be welcome on your patio or near your pool in the summer, especially on those sweltering hot days. — Add a Pinch | Robyn Stone Product Specifications: Sold By:Hammacher Schlemmer & Co
cute & makable
What a great idea for crowded urban areas When you're walking along New York City's High Line, it's easy to forget that this elevated park is also an urban thoroughfare.
another great public urban space When you're walking along New York City's High Line, it's easy to forget that this elevated park is also an urban thoroughfare.
the sphere idea
fantasy time
rosettes do add something to bare bones
the different color of tiles and some as plants
the pithari surrounded by greens and the gravel space
wonderful for the side walkway, love theboulders w low shrubs/herbs
nice screens, i've never seen such before Although fences and brick walls can do the trick, adding an extra divider, screen or plant barrier can block your neighbor's two-story view for good.
Think about the view from above. If you live in the city, an arched trellis like this one will ensure that no neighbors — not even those towering over you — can see what's going on.
Screen in your hot tub. FOR SURE
Decorate your space with a living wall.
Raise those planters. Add more vertical cover (and much-needed color) by securing planters on top of a low concrete or brick wall.
This sunny yellow bowl plays off the color of the variegated agave (Agave americana 'Variegata,' zones 8b to 11). Paler hued echeverias, zones 8 to 11, interspersed with deeper-toned pachyveria (X Pachyveria glauca 'Little Jewel,' zones 10a to 11) form a simple collar, adding interest while maintaining a pared-down simplicity.
Black rose (Aeonium arboreum var. atropurpureum 'Zwartkop,' zones 9b to 11) is a plant with attitude. Juicy black rosettes are held high on spindly "chicken legs," which I usually hide with a tier of lower growing plants. In this whimsical design I decided to play up the fun element, however, and leave the stems exposed.
LIKE THE CONTRASTING GRAVEL AND THE SLIGHT CURVE SEPARATING THE TWO AREAS. GOOD FOR THE SIDE WALKWAY Proportions: Use scale to imply function. The length of this pool is complemented by a deck similar in proportion. The long span of windows gives the home's interior good natural light, but also helps to connect the exterior and interior.
Echeverias are commonly planted in containers. LOVE THESE CONTAINERS. making summer and winter maintenance that much easier. If summer climates are more extreme, shelter plants from direct sunlight. Likewise, bring your Echeveria indoors if your climate experiences freezing winters.
Botanical name: Echeveria spp Common names: Echeveria, hens-and-chicks Where it will grow: Hardy to around 32 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA zones 8 to 11; find your zone) Water requirement: Looks best with moderate water Light requirement: Full sun, but shelter it from harsh summer sun Mature size: Varies with species Benefits and tolerances: Drought tolerant; deer resistant Seasonal interest: Evergreen; flowers in summer When to plant: Plant cuttings or offsets spring through fall; allow the stem end to become callous.
Botanical name: Helictotrichon sempervirens Common name: Blue oat grass USDA zones: 4 to 8; hardy to less than 0 degrees Fahrenheit (find your zone) Water requirement: Occasional; drought tolerant Light requirement: Full sun to light shade Mature size: 2 feet tall and wide Benefits and tolerances: Drought tolerant; deer resistant; can handle air pollution Seasonal interest: Evergreen in temperate climates; flowers in summer When to plant: Plant or divide in early spring
Planting notes. With a little maintenance, well-draining soil and deep, infrequent waterings, you should be able to grow blue oat grass with ease. It produces its best color when it's planted in full sun. In too much shade, the grass clump may flop over. Blue oat grass is considered evergreen, but in more extreme climates it may be considered semievergreen. Every spring and fall, pull out dead growth with your hands or comb it out with a metal rake. In harsher climates a late-winter or spring trim can help keep your blue oat grass looking its best.
Botanical name: Festuca glauca Common names: Common blue fescue; blue fescue USDA zones: 4 to 8 (find your zone) Water requirement: Drought tolerant; looks best with supplemental water Light requirement: Best color in full sun; partial shade in the hottest climates Mature size: Up to 14 inches tall (with inflorescence) and 10 inches wide Benefits and tolerances: Deer resistant; tolerant of drought, coastal conditions and poor soils Seasonal interest: Nearly evergreen; insignificant flowers in spring and summer When to plant: Divide clumps in spring and fall; it can also be planted from seed. Besure to place plants close together (10 in) since it is not a clumping grass it will not fill in
If you see grass browning after winter, cut back (to about 4 inches) in spring to promote healthy new growth. It’s a cool-season grass, doing most of its growing in spring and fall; you may notice dormancy in winter and summer. Grow it in well-drained soil.
Dare to compare and contrast. The river rocks and the moss share a similar size and shape but are totally disparate in color and texture. This similarity and disparity work together to capture the eye by creating a high degree of interest. Additionally, the river rocks relate to the boulder through the commonalities of color and texture but contrast in size and shape.
see pathway w the grass clumps and pebbles. lovely "A scene has to have a rhythm of its own, a structure of its own." — Michelangelo Antonioni Rhythm is the unseen force that holds art together. Here the architect beautifully orchestrated several materials into a lyrical composition.
gravel and stone border w clumps of grass
what is not to like?
spheres
spheres
pool steps
the view of course one can dream
Arrange doors and windows to circulate indoor air. These doors align to catch the prevailing winds and cool this home. Moving air is an important feature of mentally refreshing biophilic spaces.
different colors and textures. really like grasses
Remove lawns where they are not being used for active play or entertainment. Front yards are prime candidates for this treatment. These are typically smaller spaces that can become beautiful no-lawn showcases.
Creeping lilyturf (Liriope spp, zones 5 to 9), shown here, has a lush, grass-like look and is also evergreen. Additional choices — depending on your garden's growing conditions — might include periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus, zones 4 to 9), creeping thyme (Thymus praecox, zones 4 to 9) or snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum, zones 3
contrasting gravel
now thats a barbecue. love massiveness of fireplace -- unexpected
If you can fit just a chair or two, make sure they make an impact. Here a pair of mod white chairs mingles with ceramic garden stools and potted succulents for a fresh, fun look. Soften the edges of a tiny patio with curvaceous pots and greenery that reaches high.
Light up the night. If you have a narrow patio squeezed between tall buildings, use the vertical space to hang string lights high, transforming what would be a flaw into a charming feature. Just as with a small interior room, an outdoor space feels bigger and more welcoming when it’s well lit. Try adding landscape lighting to the plantings in the corners of your patio to draw the eye all the way to the edges of the space
for upstairs veranda
pink climbing clematis meanders over the veranda
different sizes
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