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Design 101

            ~ The Gardener ~
 
In this Issue:

       Publishers Notes
       Diversion              
       Design 101          
       Computer Tip


             ~ Publisher's Notes ~

March trillium sale was great!  Thank you all.  NOTE:  Red trillium are the
only ones yet to go, and should be here and out soon.  TN Ostrich ferns are
delayed due to mud and cold at the growers, and likewise should be here
and shipped soon.

Up to date shipping status-  Most plants same/next day. Aquascape and
NurseryPro water gardens and supplied always ship next day.  Most irrigation
supplies ship next day.  Outdoor lighting always takes a week to ship, items being
too numerous to stock here, and ship direct from supplier or Vista.  Fountains
always take about 2 weeks to ship.  OASE takes that long to assemble to
your specs, and ship direct to you.

Quick Landscape Tip:  Keep bark mulch bedding away from the siding of your home. It will
rot the wood in no time.  (And stain cement or vinyl.)

Yes, bare-root plants can be installed any time of the year.  During warm summer
months, they may not emerge for a while, and naturally, won't be as large until next
year.  Most stock is shipped dormant (which is best) and will wake up and emerge not
knowing they have been transplanted.  By June, dormant stocks are running out,
and fresh stock is dug, cleaned, topped, and shipped. It will take longer to emerge,
and be smaller until it catches up with the seasons.Many garden centers and nurseries
get our bare-root items and put them in containers and sell them for a large mark-up. 
We do the same, as well as install them directly into our landscapes.

Next week we'll focus on water garden design and installation, but this week we are
running a repeat of our basic design article for those in the planning stages of your
landscape.  But first:


            ~ Diversion ~ 

Kill the Anthropologist
 
An explorer in the deepest Amazon suddenly finds himself surrounded by a
bloodthirsty group of natives. Upon surveying his situation, he says quietly to
himself, ''I'm screwed.'
'
There is a ray of light from the sky and a voice booms out: ''No you are NOT
screwed. Pick up that stone in front of you and bash the head of the chief.''
 
So the explorer picks up the stone and proceeds to bash in the head of the
chief. He is breathing heavily while standing above the lifeless body. Surrounding
him are the 100 native warriors with a look of shock on their faces.
 
The voice booms out again: ''Okay.......NOW you're screwed!'' 


===========================================


            ~ Design 101  ~


Perhaps the most common question we get is:  "If I send you pictures
of my house, can you give me some ideas?"  

Unfortunately, the answer is no, but there's a few basic things that you
should keep in mind when planning your landscape.

Landscape the area you live in first.  Hold off doing the front of your house
that is viewed from the entrance, until you have a little experience with
what you are doing.  Look at your BACK yard.  Where are you sitting and
eating Bar-B-Q?  Where is the lawn wearing down from foot traffic?
Sit where you usually do, and notice the 'paths' through your yard.  Don't
try to change the traffic patterns.  Put walks where there are natural paths
already.  Make a patio where you are sitting, even if it's just wood chips
for now...   Then landscape the path and patio with flowers and shrubs
around them.  Always plan your landscape to be something that you will
walk through.  This gives you the feeling of depth, and makes it a design
with more that two dimensions to it.  You can enhance this type of design
with outdoor lighting and really have some atmosphere.

Look at your whole back yard.  You'll need a few larger items,
and then put smaller things around them.  Don't line up shrubs in a row
along the house.   Instead, put a larger item like a small ornamental
tree out from the house, and landscape the tree, coincidentally landscaping
that area of the house, too.  As you move around your home creating
three dimensional beds, fill in between them with flowers and ground
covers and groups of shrubs.  A random grouping of shrubs will look
far better then a row.   Landscape on both sides of any walks, especially
the front walk to your front door.  The farther out from your home that
your foundation planting extends, the more pleasing and natural it will
appear. 

Plan your patios, water gardens, bird baths, etc., right from the start,
and incorporate these hardscaped features into your living areas.  Don't put
things off in the distance of your yard, unless each distant item is a complete
3-D area, and is a definite destination in your yard.  Some exception can
be made for screening, but basically, if it's too far away to appreciate,
it would probably look better with nothing at all.

Go easy with trees in the yard!  A few trees in an open area is fine, but
even then, it is often better to group a few upright growing trees together,
then have a lot of round maples all over the yard.  Open space is good,
when it is surrounded by interesting 'destinations' in your yard.  It becomes
inviting.  Almost an invitation to walk around the yard and view the attractions.

If you are not sure what will grow well in your climate, ask your neighbors.
They have probably already made all the mistakes with climate zones, and
will love to help you!   If you go slow, start with all of your ideas on paper,
you should end up with a design that you can live in, and looks great, too.
A little planning will avoid the 'cluttered' look.  And remember, landscaping
can be habitual.  If you get the urge to tear something out and improve it,
go with it... it's fun.

Final Tip:   Install water gardens, fountains, bird baths, etc., as close to
your home/patio as possible.  Blend them into your home and living area. 
Avoid putting your 'features' out in the center of your yard, or off on the
edge.  They are YOUR 'habitat', and meant to be lived around and enjoyed.


Thanks for reading,
Spike

Contact me here ~ 
http://www.greatlakeslandscaping.net/question.htm 

Check out flowers, irrigation, fountains, greens, water gardens and more:
Web Site:  http://www.greatlakeslandscaping.net

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Great Lakes Landscaping
403 E Main ST
Mancelona
Michigan 49659
United States