Rose Plant - Carefree Celebration for Beauitful Summer Color

It's late in the season to be writing about a rose plant. But I just had to.

I saw this rose at a garden center in the spring and decided that I would give it a try. In the past, I have had great luck with the "Carefree" group of roses, particularly Carefree Delight. This rose was a little more coral in color than I typically like, but still, it was a Carefree rose and attractive.

Of course it looked nice when I first planted it (or I wouldn't have purchased it). After awhile however, it started suffering. It did not get blackspot, but it did have quite a few yellow leaves. I sprayed with a fungicide, just in case. Then the Japanese beatles came. I sprayed with an insect killer.Ok, roses are not for the faint hearted, but this type is more maintenance free than many others.

I watered. I fertilized. And I guess it just took awhile to call my home "Home", as now it's happy as can be. I can't wait to see what it will do next year. By the way, of have two and they are both doing equally well.

Small Spaces | Frontyard and Backyard Landscapes

I've always like working with small spaces. Well, actually, I like working with large spaces too. The thing about small spaces is that they can be very striking due to the impact that many landscape elements can have at one time.

A small space can have a vista, but more often than not your viewpoints are contained in a finite space. A meandering walkway, a lovely perennial garden, a small water feature, a special sculpture, etc., must be implemented well since you are not led elsewhere in the garden.

But small spaces can also be little areas within a larger landscape. Some examples are a peaceful sitting area, a small pond tucked into a small area, a "surprise" area as you walk through the woods, or a private retreat.

This pond (below) is in a backyard which does not go much beyond the extent of the photo.

Small property waterfall and pond

Here is a tiny corner (below) tucked away in a larger landscape. A wide pathway leads to the bench for quiet contemplation.

 

Small space within the larger landscape

As mentioned, a small space is often a contained one. But what about when it's not?

I'm going to go to a total fantasy place. I am going to imagine a small cottage on top of a hill. The backyard opens up to the view of rolling hills beyond. Small houses may dot the landscape…perhaps some sheep or cows. You are still in small space but somehow it looks huge due to the view beyond, or the phrase "borrowed view". The picture below, although a little different from the one in my imagination, is a very real project. The property is very small. Yet by leading the walkway through those majestic old trees a view appears, totally changing the look of this small garden space.

 Small space with a view beyond

If you have an open view you may leave it totally open or you may screen off part of it to just allow a peek through. Often homeowners are so concerned with privacy, that they don't realize they are closing off an area with a great view that actually makes their property seem larger than it is. Do some filtered screening here and there to create some enclosure such as groups of deciduous shrubs or trees.

One last thing about small spaces. In a small space you can take advantageous of using plants that require one to be close to appreciate its features. An example of this is a Butterfly Bush with dark purple flowers. If this plant was placed far away in the landscape, the beauty of the flowers would be hard to see. However, in a small garden, you can place it so that it is near the patio or walkway. The same holds true for other garden features such as small sculptures, birdbaths, etc.



Please see what other members of the Garden Designers Roundtable have written about small spaces!

Carolyn Gail Choi : Sweet Home and Garden Chicago : Chicao IL



Jenny Petersen: J Petersen Garden Design : Austin TX



Laura Livengood Schaub : Interleafings : San Jose, CA



Lesley Hegarty & Robert Webber : Hegarty Webber Partnership : Bristol, UK



Shirley Bovshow : Eden Makers : Los Angeles, CA



Susan Morrison : Blue Planet Garden Blog : East Bay, CA



Tara Dillard : TaraDillard.com : Atlanta, GA

Garden Designers Roundtable: Focal Points and Landscape Design Ideas

Landscape design and focal points….what comes to mind? Perhaps a distant pergola covered with flowering vines, a huge fountain, an arbor and so on.

Yes, any of these can be incorporated into a landscape design and be a striking focal point.

However….I'm thinking of a different kind. A focal point can be simple or it can be dramatic. Have you ever experienced a "wow" moment in the landscape…time stands still because something is affecting you very profoundly.

I'm now living in New Jersey, but prior to my move, I was visiting with my family one time. We were going out to dinner in Edgewater. Edgewater is one of those revitalized waterfront towns. So…driving along River Road that evening, I happened to look towards the river and looming out and beyond…and I mean LOOMING…was the New York City skyline, lit up in all its glory. A focal point.

It didn't have to be positioned. One didn't even think about where it was being viewed from when it was created. It didn't need a background. It wasn't too large or too small…it just was.

So how do you create a dramatic focal point in a garden?

Placement
A focal point can be placed out in wide open space. This might be the middle of the lawn, at the center of a patio, or in the middle of a low garden.

Yet it can also be located at an edge. Picture a statue in the corner of your property. To make it really stand out, create a strong background. My favorite way to do this is with evergeen trees or shrubs behind it.

Scale
If it is too large it will be overpowering. Yet if too small it will get lost. This is where judgement, creativity and taste come into play.

Focal Points - A Formal Fountain

See more project pictures at:

Susan Schlenger Landscape Design 

Landscape Design Advice

Focal Point Objects

• Sculptures - a simple sculpture or statue can be used in a variety of places
• Waterfalls/ponds - These can be dramatic. It can be placed nearby for everyday viewing or tucked away in a hidden spot.
• Fountains - Use electricity or for simplicity there are solar powered fountains.
• Trees - Choose for flowers, interesting bark, form or fall color.
• Benches - An outdoor bench can look nice in a corner of the garden.
• Pergolas/Temples - Very striking, but much though has to go into location.
• A distant Garden - What could be more simple?

If you'd like to read more about focal points, please visit other posts by members of the Garden Designers Roundtable.

Andrew Keys : Garden Smackdown : Boston, MA »
Carolyn Choi : Sweet Home and Garden Chicago : Chicago, IL »
Debbie Roberts : A Garden of Possibilities : Stamford, CT »
Laura Livengood Schaub : Interleafings : San Jose, CA »
Lesley Hegarty & Robert Webber : Hegarty Webber Partnership : Bristol, UK »
Pam Penick : Digging : Austin, TX »
Rebecca Sweet : Gossip In the Garden : Los Altos, CA »
Susan Cohan : Miss Rumphius’ Rules : Chatham, NJ »
Susan Morrison : Blue Planet Garden Blog : East Bay, CA »
Susan Schlenger : Landscape Design Advice : Hampton, NJ »
Tara Dillard : TaraDillard.com : Atlanta, GA »

Foliage in Landscape Design

Foliage in landscape design will be blogged today by people from the Garden Designers Roundtable. I am opting out this month. However, I would just like to point out one suggestion when working with plant leaves.

That point is TEXTURE.

Make sure when you are selecting plants that those adjacent to each other have different textures. This is because the contrast in foliage creates interest. As an example, here are a few plant combinations:

Rhododendron and Boxwood (small leaves and large leaves)
Ornamental Grasses and Nepata (Catmint)
Roses and Lavender
*I would not use Boxwood and Azalea together, since they both have small leaves.

Follow these suggestions, and your garden will have lots more interest.

So...now please visit the wonderful other garden designers of the Garden Designer Roundtable to read in depth articles with the designers' individual points of view! Go to Garden Designers Roundtable for the direct links.

Landscape Trees In A Garden

What an impact landscape trees in a garden can make!

Once in awhile I come across a garden that really moves me. Oh, I know, you are probably thinking of lots of colorful perennials and flowers. It's true they can be striking. Another type of garden might be an overall great landscape with enchanting features such as a glorious waterfall, a beautiful pergola with vines, and so on.

So for a little different spin, I really enjoyed seeing this garden. I thought, "Is this a garden?" It looked more like a park. But upon corresponding with the owner, I found out that yes, it was indeed a garden.

Take a look at the beautiful colors and textures of these great trees...in Mike's garden...31 years in the making!



Fall 2009