Wednesday, November 13, 2013

First Snow of 2013 - East Grand Rapids, MI

It's true! 
Winter has returned.  The first noticeable snow of the season arrived today (November 11) around 1:00 PM in East Grand Rapids. 
 
Here are a few photos of the 'Carefree Beauty' Roses adorning my home's front yard.

 

 
 

Monday, November 4, 2013

Flowers of London In July




Horse Chestnut - Aesculus hippocastanum
Larkspur - 'Magic Fountains Sky Blue' Delphinium

Onopordum acanthium - Scotch Thistle



Echinops ritro 'Veitchs Blue' - Globe Thistle



The contrasting flower color and form of
Ligularia 'The Rocket'  & Bee Balm
seen here in the foreground create a lively combination through which to view the Sunken Garden further away.

Monarda didyma- Bee Balm In the Foreground

Lavandula in the foreground; Ligularia, Monarda, and black Snakeroot? behind.
Pale yellow Allium in front of the Lavender offers another soft color and textural contrast.  


Dahlia -





Remodeling and Home Design

Grand Rapids Landscape Architects & Designers

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Kensington Palace Gardens - July 2013

My wife, Melissa, and I had the opportunity to make it to London, England, in July, 2013, staying at the Thistle Kensington located just across Bayswater Road from Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park.  We spent many hours walking the 650 acres of the Park and Garden where the Kings and Queens and their Courts have walked and gather since its aquisition in 1536 by King Henry VIII. 

I was surprised to find the majority of Kensington Garden and Hyde Park consists, not of "gardens" as we would understand the term in the United States, but of open lawns and ancient trees through which ran broad boulevards for strolling, running and biking. These areas are more like NY's Central Park or St. Louis' Forest Park.  The seeming monotony is broken by occasional fountains and formal displays of flowering annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees.  When we discovered these, I was ecstatic. 

The formal garden of Kensington Palace, known as the Dutch Sunken Garden, is lush and vibrant in July, boasting extravagant displays of a wide variety of flowering perennials as well as palms and evergreen shrubs and trees.
Kensington Palace Sunken Garden


Kensington Palace Formal Pool surrounded by cut flagstone walks and topiary in planters close trimmed lawns and vibrant floral and foliar displays. 



Notice the contrast as well as repetition of color throughout the garden.  Color is repeated from bed to bed using a variety of flowering plants, creating continuity while still maintaining interest that draws the eye deeper into the garden to discover the uniqueness of each area.
 
 


The Steel Blue of the Globe Thistle seen here in the foreground is repeated by the Lavender, drawing the eye deeper into the landscape.
 A wide swath of wine-red bipinnatus Cosmos creates a stunning complementing backdrop to the Globe Thistle. 
The striking red flower of 'Bishop of Llandaff' Dahlia stands out dramatically against its black leaves and stems which, in turn, are complemented by the open flower heads of the nearly spent pink Purple Loosestrife(?).

Bee Balm and Ligularia 'The Rocket' in the foreground.
Large topiary Arborvitae leading to the Queen's Alcove and arched walk around the Sunken Garden form the backdrop.

 

Sunday, October 27, 2013

London - Water Features in Kensington Park, Gardens and Hyde Park

Recently, my wife and I had the opportunity to spend a week in London, England.  We spent the time strolling Kensington Park and Hyde Park.  The majority of the Parks' area is dedicated to wide boulevards and expansive lawns.  Several lovely water features including The Fountains of the Italian Garden, Serpentine Lake and the Diane, Princess of Wales, Memorial Fountain, were available for the enjoyment of the Parks' many visitors. 


The Diane, Princess of Wales, Memorial Fountain drew many visitors, especially families with small children.  The parents lounged along the side of the meandering fountain's course or on the green while their children frolicked in the water.  One elderly gentleman also joined in the fun, immersing himself in the flowing stream.  I wasn't certain his attire and position in society lent itself to such escapades, but no one else seemed to give a second glance.  So,....
The Fountains of the Italian Garden were amazing, consisting of a small central fountain and four octagonal cut-stone, oblong pools, each sporting its own fountain, water lilies, and various other water plants, as well as fish and ducklings.
 

Above is the Queen Victoria Statue and pool which stands before the entrance to Kensington Palace along the boulevard in Kensington Park.

 The Kensington Palace formal gardens boast a wide array of meticulously maintained plantings surrounding a long rectangular pool bordered by broad natural stone paths.
Here, in July of 2013, the nearly placid waters of the pool reflect the clear sky and Kensington Palace and the planters and plants along its edge.
 
I look forward to soon sharing some of the stunning gardens and architecture we enjoyed in our too-short time in London.


Wednesday, October 23, 2013

How to Install a Base for Natural Stone Patios

In order to create a firm foundation for your stone patio, you generally have to start by digging. Sorry. Its almost inevitable. However, if you plan on creating a raised patio, you may only have to dig the base for the wall you'll use to raise it.

Before building your natural stone patio determine the best place for your patio.  Many patios are ajacent to the house. This allows for easy transfer of food and supplies from the house to the patio during dinner parties.  If you do choose to place the patio adjactent to your house, leave a few feet between the bulk of the patio and the side of the house. You can soften the edges of the patio and feather in the height difference between the house and patio using various plantings. Without plantings, this area could appear stark.

When determining your patio's position, consider various views: go inside your house.  Look out your windows. How will your patio look from inside?  How will your patio appear from various places in your yard, from yard entrances?  Your inside and outside vistas should be rewarding to view. 

What views will your flagstone patio offer?  Are there gardens or features that you would like to enjoy while sitting on you patio?  Will you add water features or planters that can be enjoyed from the patio?  Place your patio accordingly.  Spray the outline of your patio on the ground.  Draw another line 4" outside your patio outline. 


If you are going to create a patio more than one hundred square feet, you won't want to do this on your own. All soil gets heavy after a while. Clay, is horrendous.  Sometimes, it is easiest to till the soil before you remove it.  Remember, if you have to move the soil a significant distance, or need to dispose of it, you will need to load it into a wheelbarrow.  Don't overfill that barrow or you will tip it and have to reload it.

So, Time to Start Digging.  Dig along the outside line using a flat shovel, working from the area furthest from the soil's final destination.  You don't want to traverse areas you already dug out.  The wheels of you wheelbarrow will bog down in any loose soil and getting it out of the hole you've dug out will not be easy. 

Keep in mind, you have to put that soil somewhere. If you have any low spots on your property, consider using the top soil to fill these. Usually, the topsoil is only three or four inches deep. Anything below that level is usually useful only for creating raised areas, mix this soil with compost for planting, or filling areas in which you will never plant.

At my own home, I mixed the soil from the hole with compost to create a mounded garden bed.  This is preferable to removing the soil from the sight, if at all possible.

Finding a company that is willing to haul away fill soil, any soil not immediately useful for planting, can be a challenge because they need a place to dispose of the soil.  Disposal sites are limited.  If you must remove the soil from the site, look on craigslist.  I have found many people looking for free fill soil.  You just have to get it to their site.

Digging your patio or walkway base to the right depth and width is essential.  Determine the range of thickness of your flagstone.  Most natural flagstone comes in thickness between one (1) inch and three (3) inches. Generally, it will be sold in range between 1-1 1/2" or 2-3", with a wider actual range to be expected. It is always easier to handle thinner pieces because they are lighter weight. However, keep in mind, thicker pieces are less likely to break if dropped. In addition, the joints will set more firmly with thicker stone. Thin flagstone is best used in mortared applications. Most 2-3" thick flagstone covers between 60-90 square feet depending on the thickness

Add the greatest thickness of the flagstone (i.e. for 1-2" stone, you will use 2") to the depth of the road gravel or crushed concrete base, generally 4-6" deep and the depth of the bed of "chips n dust" or stone dust in which you will lay the stone (1-2").  Plan on digging approximately 8-10" deep.  Better to do the extra work now than to watch your hard earned patio collapse a few years down the road because the base was not deep enough.

I generally dig an area 4" wider on all sides than the finished patio will be.  This allows the crushed stone base to support the edges of the patio sufficiently.  Remember to slope the subsoil away from any buildings.  You don't want water collecting against the foundation of your house.  Make sure to eliminate any low spots that could fill up with water during winter and cause frost heave.  Use a landscape rake to level/smooth the foundation soil. 

Yes, this much digging can be difficult.  Especially if you are digging by hand or have to move the soil a significant distance in a wheel barrow.  The soil removed from a 100 square foot patio will be 2.5 yards or 3.5 tons, minimum.  You will be bringing in just as much material.  Don't let this discourage you.  Take your time.  Bring in help if needed.  The end result can be well worth the effort.

Once the soil has been removed to its new location, start bringing in the gravel or crushed concrete.  I prefer to use crushed concrete.  It is recycled material and compacts better than road gravel which has rounded stone.  Place 2-3" inches of crushed concrete evenly across the patio area.  Hose down the crushed concrete with a nozzle set on "shower".  Too much or too little water and the base will not compact properly.  You can tell when the base material is properly watered by taking a handful and creating a ball.  No water should drain out and the ball should hold together fairly well.

Next, compact the first layer of crushed concrete.  It is best to use a plate compactor.  Tamping by hand can be exhausting and leave your arms and shoulders hurting for days after.  In addition, most people can not muster enough strength to compact the stone sufficiently.  You may still need to use a tamper in areas the plate compactor cannot go: corners and tight curves.  You can rent a compactor for four hours at most tool rental places including Home Depot.  Run the plate compactor over the entire area, starting along the outside and working your way in.  Repeat this 2-3 times. 

Lay down the second layer of crushed concrete and repeat the compaction process as mentioned above.  Make sure to eliminate any dips in the stone base.  To fill dips, use a shovel to add crushed concrete.  Raking with the tooth side of a garden landscape rake will sift the stone and separate the larger and smaller particles.  Avoid this.  Once all the dips are filled, run the compactor over the patio base two more times.

Install aluminum edging along the outside of the patio area, remembering to move the edging in 3-4 inches to allow for proper support of the flagstone.

Finally, spread two inches of chips n dust or stone dust.  Compact this layer as well.  As you lay down individual pieces of flagstone, you will need to remove or add to this top layer according to the thickness of the pieces. 

Coming soon: How to Install Flagstone.

Good luck.

Pictures will be added soon.

If you have any questions, or would like assistance in designing or installing your patio and live in the Grand Rapids, MI area, feel free to email me at omegabrickandlandscaping@hotmail.com or call Brent at (616) 328-3258.
 

Curb Appeal - Front Yard Transformation in EGR

East Grand Rapids Home Before Landscape Transformation
Planning to sell your home soon? Don't just clean up that landscape. Transform it.
 
If your home landscape hasn't recently been updated, you should really consider replacing outdated plantings.  It makes sense to keep mature, well placed trees and shrubs, assuming they have not become too over grown to be effectively prune without constricting your options for transformation.  Proper pruning can turn healthy trees and shrubs into prime focal points. 
Here I added PJM Rhododendron, Endless Summer Hydrangeas, Chocolate Eupatorium, Huechera, Hanoke Grasses and Hostas - Color interest is assured through use of "evergreen" foliage of various colors, as well as steady flowering of different plants from season to season.
Once you have determined what trees and shrubs can remain with careful pruning, remove other worn out plants.  Make sure you have removed all roots from old plants without damaging desirable plant roots. 
Having removed old perennials, shrubs and trees, it will be necessary to add garden soil or compost to fill the vacant spaces.  Spread four inches of compost over the area you are renovating.  In small areas, mix the compost in using a shovel or garden fork and rake.  Large areas will need to be mixed using a tiller. Just don't damage tree roots in the process. Alternatively, mix compost into individual planting holes at a 1:1 ratio.

Ground cover such as the Periwinkle seen here can be very effective for large areas.  However, it needs to be used in moderation.  The above area lacked height and color variation making the overall look pretty boring.  Overgrown Yews had previously been removed from beneath the windows (good move) leaving only Pachysandra.  Dull.  Most ground cover overwhelms other perennials and shrubs, so if you plan to keep the ground cover, be sure the plants have enough space to become established and not be choked out.  Also, choose plants that sufficiently tall and whose leaves naturally emerge higher than the typical 6-10" height of Periwinkle and Pachysandra.
Here we have another "before" view of the home we transformed in EGR.

And here is the after view.  Notice the colorful display.  I removed the existing Pachysandra and Periwinkle to make room for new perennials, including 'Candy Hearts' Bleeding Heart, 'Brise D'anjou' Jacob's Ladder, Burgenia and a variety of Hostas.  Also included in this planting area: a weeping Japanese Maple and 'Endless Summer' Hydrangea, repeated from the other side of the house.
 
This gently curving path is NY Bluestone set in Slate chips.  Another walkway that stands out and creates a unique feature that makes the landscape a stunning masterpiece.
 
This home in EGR beat the market by selling in a matter of weeks, not months. 
 
Believe it or not, this house sold at the asking price
 
Major selling point:
CURB APPEAL.
 
For assistance in designing a unique landscape for your home or business, or help creating that CURB APPEAL for the house or business you need to sell
 
Call Brent @ (616) 328-3258.