How a Contemporary Garden Was Designed Around a Central Koi Pond and Lite Fountain

Author: Jeff Halper

A River Oaks couple contracted Exterior Worlds to design a contemporary garden behind the gym in their two-story home. The original garden was very traditional in both style and function, and was used exclusively as an area to plant foliage and various species of flowers. Its only ornamentation was a three-tiered fountain, which looked outdated and made noise throughout the night due to failing pumps. Our clients asked us to convert a portion of this space into something more functional, and to create a more contemporary garden design throughout the remainder of the property. They also requested we replace the fountain with a more contemporary water feature.




Because the garden had previously been designed in the shape of a near-perfect rectangle, we already had the basic geometry necessary for the development of a new, more contemporary style. We developed our landscaping plan by breaking this area up into proportional quadrilateral sections of varying size. Some of these would later be used as patio space, others as garden space, and the last and largest section would be converted into a far more sophisticated water feature and fountain.




We began the project by building a red brick patio over the first section just outside the window of the home gym. Rather than placing the bricks in a standard, linear fashion, we took a more eclectic approach. We laid the bricks in alternating diagonal rows that created a sense of immediate movement the moment you stepped onto the patio. This had the effect of drawing both the feet and the eyes toward the center of the property, and it also served to immediately establish the garden's new, contemporary design.




In the large central section of the property, we created a rectangular koi pond the size of a small swimming pool. We deliberately built it to be the central, dominating feature of the landscape that would anchor all other garden elements. We built a two-inch coping around the pond, stocked it with koi, and installed lighting in the fountain's corners at the end closest to the home. Our clients particularly liked this new water feature when it was finished. Neither of them were swimmers, but they had always enjoyed sitting by pools at the homes of friends. Now, they could sit by their own pond, and watch the koi fish swim around the lighted fountain.




To further develop the contemporary design of the garden, we added several more important landscaping features and physical structures. We built another patio, identical to the first, at the opposite end of the pond. This framed the water, bringing a sense of balance and refined containment to the landscape. We also built a sculpture garden near one side of the pond to add an artistic element to the water, masonry, and surrounding greenery. To do all this, of course, we had to significantly narrow the perimeters of the garden itself, so by the time we finished our construction, there was no room left to install a walkway. Working with what we had, as opposed to what we did not have, we built the walkway across the water. Large pedestals were placed in the pond, capped by large limestone pads that mimicked the effect of floating on water. These pads were large enough to support the weight of an adult, and provided both a means of transit across the pond, and varying points of observation from within the pond itself.




Contemporary garden designs like the one in this case study are typically a blend of geometry, natural features, and creative use of sculpture, masonry, or other man-made forms. The exact dimensions and layout of such a garden varies widely on a case-by-case basis. This is partly due to the fact that "contemporary" can refer to any number of progressive or eclectic concepts, rather than something definitive that can be identified as a specific artistic style or history period. Gardens designed in this manner often prove to be the most effective means of unifying a home with Nature itself, because forms that are both organic and inorganic are combined in new, innovative ways that blur the assumed boundaries between the natural and man-made, and create a new aesthetic based on natural tranquility combined with a passion for the eclectic and the progressive.

About the Author:
Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share infomation about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Contemporary Gardens or Landscape Design

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/how-a-contemporary-garden-was-designed-around-a-central-koi-pond-and-lite-fountain-807530.html

Pergola Plans - Building Garden Structures

Author: Dan Lazaj

Building your own pergola is a project many do-it-yourselfers can do themselves. This project can be built without plans. But to eliminate all the guess work, trying to design it yourself, you should look for step by step plans with illustrations, and a material list. There are many sites that offer free plans. If you can't find what you need with free ones, consider buying some, most are very affordable and they will eliminate a lot of work.




Plans will come with a material list, and this is a great way to estimate what the project will cost before you build. Of course, building it yourself will save you money, but is it possible to do it yourself? If you are capable of using a jigsaw, more than likely, yes. It is not a complicated structure. Square and rectangle designs are the easiest to build. This project can be done in one or two weekends. With the help of some friends this can be a fun weekend project.



Where do you begin? The first thing to do is to find out of any requirements by visiting or calling the building department. If digging will be involved, call the utility department to find out if there is any power, water, or electrical lines that might get damaged while digging. Once you have found the spot to build, measure and find the appropriate plans. Study the plans, and material list, make sure you understand the process of building it. Study the material list and all the cuts you will be making. Once you get familiar with the design, and the building steps, you are ready to begin.



If you feel this project is beyond your carpentry skills, consider hiring a contractor. Once you have the plans you like, and the material, you can show them to different contractors to get some bids for the project



Every city has different laws when building new structures. Make sure you check with your local building department before beginning any constructions. You might need a permit, you might not, check your zoning regulations for any requirements.



Do your research when choosing the lumber. Pressure treated wood is great to prevent rot and decay. Cedar and redwood is another good choice, it is more expensive, but it is nicer and it will last for many years.



If any digging is required, make sure to take caution with any water, telephone, or electrical lines that might be underground. Find out the locations of these lines to avoid any problems, or injury.



Save money by building it yourself. If you are thinking of building just a basic design, such as a square or rectangle shape, you should consider building it yourself. This design is very basic and simple to build. The best way to do this is getting some plans. You can search for free plans, or you can buy some.



If one of the main reasons to having a pergola is to entertain, make sure you build it big enough to accommodate people comfortably.



Adding a pergola will not only make a great focal point, it will add value to your property, making this project a great investment.

About the Author:
Building your own pergola can be done by most do-it-yourselfers. Before you begin take a look at my website for a list of free pergola plans and pergola designs www.MyBackyardPlans.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/pergola-plans-building-garden-structures-779372.html

Tips for Buying Sheds

Author: Jenny Austin

If you are frustrated with your garage being cluttered up with tools and gardening equipment you may well be considering purchasing a garden shed. It is surprising how widely the prices can vary and requires some thought and planning on your part. You might be in need of some outside workspace, for which a shed is an ideal solution and will allow you the space to become an enthusiastic tool collector.

If you are looking to buy a shed recognise the uses for the shed, if this is not thought through well you may well end up purchasing a shed that is far too small. For example if you forget that you need to store the families bicycles in the shed, these items take up quite a bit of storage room and you could end up with difficulties if you haven’t taken them into account. If you plan to work in your shed think about the sizes of work benches and other equipment you might use and remember to allow yourself room to work you don’t want to be sawing and banging your elbow! Most people store lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, basic gardening tools, garden furniture and children’s outdoor toys in their shed. Sometimes it is necessary to buy a shed to slot into a space; if this is the case it is important to allow enough spare room for any overhang from the roof. It is vital that measurements are correct otherwise the shed simply won’t fit (a expensive mistake), if the shed needs to slot into a specific space it will require good planning to ensure you can store as much as possible in the shed and still have access to everything.

Many people fail to realise how much room is needed in the shed doorway, for bulky items it may be worthwhile purchasing a shed with an extra-wide or double door which allows total flexibility. Remember to allow enough room in the shed height for you to stand up comfortably, especially if you will be working in the shed for long periods of time.

The two most common types of shed are apex roofed or pent style sheds, apex sheds are the most common choice due to their sturdy construction and attractive triangular sloping roof. Pent style sheds have a single sloping roof which is higher at the front than at the back to allow the rain to run off. This style of shed is ideal for those looking for extra head height and is ideally located against your house or a wall.

Think about where to position your shed, bear in mind that shade can be useful as sheds can get incredibly hot inside during the summer months. It may be important to have the shed situated close to your property, especially if you will be using power tool and need access to electricity. You might choose to have a separate power supply to your shed especially if you wish to work in the shed during the evenings; enquiries and plans for power should be made before purchasing your shed.

About the Author:

Jenny Austin is an expert in Sheds , for further information on how to choose your Wooden Shed , or which Garden Shed service to choose please visit beastsheds.co.uk.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/tips-for-buying-sheds-764096.html

Tallest Trees

Trees are in various shapes, sizes, and forms. There are some species of trees that can only grow as tall as a street lamp posts while others can grow as tall as the skyscrapers in Dubai or New York. That is why there are various records about the tallest trees that can be found in different parts of the world.

In order to include a particular tree in this record, the height of the tree must be measured. The past few decades some of the measurements were given much exaggeration that is why the previous world records are not too reliable. But thanks to the modern gadgets as well as the perseverance of the tree climbers, they found out that the previous measurements were more than 5 up to 15 percent higher than the real size of these tallest trees.

One of which is the Sequoia sempervirens better known as the Coast Redwood. Some people also call this tree as the California Redwood as well. It is part of the cypress family which can live for more than two thousand years. This is one of the tree species that is considered as the tallest in the world. The height of the tallest Sequoia sempervirens measured up to 379.1 feet or 115.5 meters. On the other hand, the diameter of the Coast Redwood's trunk measures up to 26 feet or 8 meters. You can see more of this neck-breaking tree at the Redwood National Park in California.

From the same family comes another one of the tallest trees in the world. The Sequoiadendron giganteum or simply called as the Giant sequoia is indeed a fascinating wonder of nature. Also found in California, the Giant sequoia can reach 311.4 feet or 94.9 meters. But this particular giant tree is not only seen in United States but in other regions as well such as Europe, Canada, New Zealand, as well as Australia.

Still in California, is the Picea sitchensis or the Sitka Spruce. You can find a lot of it at the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park located at the state. It is also as tall as the Giant sequoia since it measures 317.3 feet or 96.7 meters high. This is considered as the tallest coniferous tree that has a trunk diameter of 5 to 7 meters.

But not all of the tallest trees in the world can be seen in California. There are also gigantic trees located in Oregon as well including the Pseudotsuga menziesii or what others call as the Coast Douglas-fir. Although it is not as tall as the Coast Redwood, the Coast Douglas-fir is considered as the second tallest tree in the conifer family. This tree can reach be as high as 326.1 feet or 99.4 meters.


Last on the list is at the other part of the globe ? in Australia. In this country, it is not only the kangaroos that are popular but also the tallest tree in the country named Eucalyptus regnans or the Australian Mountain-ash. This can grow as big as 326.8 feet or 99.6 meters.

Poisonous Plants in Your Garden

“I didn’t know what to do!” Explained Mrs Bradley. “She was coughing and holding her throat. I thought she was choking so I tried to make her bring up what she had swallowed.” Staff at the casualty unit of the hospital treats a four year-old child who chewed on a seedpod from a wisteria. This plant poisons many children.

”Parents often try to make the child vomit and this is very dangerous,” warns Sister Graham RN, RCHN. “If a child aspirates the poison, it could prove fatal. The largest numbers of poisonings we deal with here occur in children under five years of age.
Children are naturally curious but must be taught never to put any part of a plant in their mouths and never to eat berries, wild fruit, seeds or mushrooms. Flower arrangements for the dinner table or buffets should never include fruits, berries or seeds that might be toxic.”

Some varieties of cut flowers have toxic properties. Species of Orntihogalum are among the most poisonous plants and if allowed to contaminate fodder, leads to stock loss. Several of these are cultivated as garden plants and cut flowers. The most common are Ornithogalum thyrsoides and Ornithogalum conicum, commonly known as ‘chincherinchees’.
Often one part of a plant may be edible while the rest of it is poisonous (e.g. rhubarb). Many plants used for medicinal purposes are toxic only if ingested in large quantities.
Some plants, although not poisonous, cause allergic reactions in people suffering from hay fever or asthma, especially pollen bearing trees like Acacia or Plane trees.
Plants that are innocuous to some people, like strawberries, ivy or chrysanthemums can cause skin irritation in people who are
allergic.
If you suffer from allergies wear protective gloves when handling plants. Stems should always be cut rather than broken to prevent harmful sap from coming into contact with the skin. Fortunately, many poisonous plants have survival characteristics including thorns, hard outer shells or are bitter to the taste. Plants that cause irritations or illness in humans should never be fed to animals.

In case of suspected poisoning of a human or animal:

Act immediately – do not wait to see if the symptoms go away. Some toxins can stay in the body and only manifest themselves a day or two later.
• It is preferable to go straight to a hospital Casualty rather than to a doctor.
• Identify and collect samples of suspected poisonous plants in your garden to take to the casualty
• Do NOT induce vomiting or give milk – some poisons are contra-indicated for milk.
• Carers should be taught about poisonous plants in the garden.

Write down contact numbers for the Emergency Poison Unit closest to you.
Published: 2008-11-21
Author: Sylvia Nilsen - http://sites.google.com/site/sylvianilsen/

About the author or the publisher
I am a freelance writer who has been published in a number of consumer magazines - Children, pregnancy, Food and Enterntainment, Women, Travel etc.
www.amawalker.blogspot.com
Source: ArticlesGratuits.com - Free Articles

Naturally Say Goodbye to Garden Pests

It's an unavoidable fact that if left untended, for every flower and plant that adorns our gardens, a greater number of pests will also take root. The good news is that removing these scoundrels from infesting your vegetation does not need to rely on chemicals, nor should it. For each individual species of pest that shows up in your garden abode, there is a natural solution that is cheaper and most importantly, safer to use than pesticides.


Shockingly, North Americans use upwards of 130 million pounds of pesticide each year, both in their gardens and in their homes. This dwarfs the amount used by farmers by almost three times, and accounts for a high percentage of wildlife pest poisonings and contamination of surface water from pesticide use.

Cutting back on this problem requires educating gardeners and homeowners everywhere. Taking the initiative by spreading the word yourself can only help, and the best way to do that is to lead by example, and keep your own home pesticide free.

The following tips will help you keep your garden healthy and pest free without resorting to harmful pesticide use.

The most common problem gardeners will face is insect damage to their plants. With proper cultivation and gardening methods, this problem can be drastically reduced before having to resort to other methods. This means having well-prepared soil, adjusting the pH balance as needed, good drainage and air circulation.

As your garden continues to grow and take shape, remove and dispose immediately of any struggling plants. Be sure to keep your compost area for storing your weeds, discarded plants and compost well away from your main gardening area, as the compost heap will be sure to attract pests.

Keep your garden beds well mulched and top-dressed with compost to ensure healthy plant development. Ensure you're using clean mulch, bought from a reputable dealer or cultivated yourself.

Be sure to keep your garden area clear of debris and things that will attract insects. If you have fruit trees near your garden, be sure to dispose of any fallen fruit immediately. Spoiled pears or apples will attract all many of pests.

Seaweed fertilizer sprays are useful for strengthening soil and promoting plant growth. They contain helpful minerals and trace elements like iron, calcium, sulphur and magnesium.

Mix up your garden beds with a variety of plant types interspersed throughout. This makes it difficult for plant specific pests to propagate and spread throughout your garden bed.

If you've used your gardening implements on infected plants, be sure to sterilize them before using them on healthy plants.

Finally, you can call on the power of nature itself to help you in your fight using a natural product like neem oil. By attracting or purchasing insects which feast upon the particular pests bothering your plants, you can remove them in one fell swoop of natural selection. Praying Mantises, Hover Flies, Ladybugs, Chalcids, Brachonids, and if they don't frighten you, Wasps, are all insects which will help you battle common varieties of garden pests.

Having a healthy and beautiful garden should not be your number one priority, the health and safety of family should be. Thankfully it is not a choice of one or the other. By using any or all of the above tips, you can keep your garden looking great, and have no fear of your children playing near your plants. It's truly the best of both worlds.

Creative Landscaping With Yellow Plants

One of the three "primary" colours, yellow is the most visible of them all and it always gets noticed – a fact of which advertisers are well aware. In your landscape design you may not want to put yellow flowers beside that ugly old garden shed that you want to fade into the background, but you might like to use yellow to highlight a sculpture, or to focus on an attractive water feature or a patch of pleasing foliage that would otherwise be ignored.

Many yellow-flowered plants will bloom in part shade, where they really stand out, like street lamps glowing on a dark night. Some examples are yellow foxglove, clivia and corydalis. Tiny yellow primroses are great in a dark corner and the leaves of the variegated hosta can complement them beautifully.

Especially in spring, when we are moving away from the dull greys and blacks of winter, a vase of yellow flowers is a sure way to enliven a dull room. Some yellow-flowering spring plants for picking include forsythia and daffodils (of course). In summer there are many more: roses, lilies, dahlias, gladioli and yellow asters.

You can plant soft yellow Anizoganthus (kangaroo paws, a native of Australia) to accent the subtle foliage tones of a mixed perennial border when other summer-flowering plants are dying down. This evergreen plant grows in heathlands and sandy plains in its native country, so it is guaranteed easy care, loving hot places. It grows up to 3 feet tall by 1 foot wide and prefers full sun and a well drained soil. It may need protection in winter.

Yellow Hemerocallis (day lily) is another good choice for the perennial border. Day lilies are not fussy about soil type, establish readily in most situations and need little care other than some initial watering. While enjoying hot summers, they tolerate cold winters just as well, disappearing underground until conditions are suitable for their light-green spring leaves to pop through the ground and the vigorous growth to resume. Day lilies grow up to four feet high and produce numerous flowers over a long period. They are not suitable for flower arrangements because, true to their name, each bloom lasts only a day.


Beware of overdoing yellow. Bright yellow walls in a room have been shown to make people angry, so take care. Balance the accent color with plenty of green foliage. You can fade bright yellow daffodils into beds of cream-coloured jonquils, or intersperse yellow roses with cream or white roses; "Pascali", "Margaret Merrill", "Peace" and the brilliant white "Iceberg" are some older varieties that look stunning accompanying a yellow accent bush.

And yellow's complementary color (in terms of the artist's "color wheel") is purple, which is why purple pansies or violas, or dark purple grasses look so dramatic teamed with a yellow accent plant.



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About the Author: Article by Steve Boulden. Steve is the creator of Landscaping Videos.com which offers free landscaping advice, landscaping pictures, and videos. Get even more free landscape and garden design ideas at www.landscapingvideos.com.