Seven Great Patio Design Ideas

I am very excited about this new video of mine. It was created by Truscribe. It's my voice, script and ideas (with some of their helpful direction),  but the very  talented Eric at Truscribe did the charming fun filled sketches and put it all together to create this amazing, simple video!

Be sure to watch until the end as all the ideas come together!

September 11, 2011 - 10 Years

Luck was on our side. Why? Why us, and not others? My heart goes out to all the those that had loved ones and friends who did not survive.

My younger son was in the second tower to get hit. He was there for a Morgan Stanley training session for a few days. That day, of all days. While he was in turmoil, I was watching the replay of the towers being hit.

But he got out. Down, down, down 65 flights of stairs in a mass of running people. Are there words to say how thankful my family and I are for being one of the lucky ones? No, not at all...no words can convey it.

We went out to dinner last  night, spur of the moment, my son, daughter-in-law and I. I looked at his face on the eve of September 11 after 10 years. My joy was only overshadowed by the grief of other families and what our country went through.

I am watching the memorials today and listening to all the support that has been given. I am thinking that it is almost impossible to fathom the dichotomy of good and evil.

Peace to everyone touched by September 11, 2001.

AutoCad Layout Tabs

If  you use AutoCAD and are comfortable with Layout Tabs, that's great. Maybe someday I will be in your shoes. However for those that are having a hard time with them, I came across a great tutorial which is here:
AutoCAD Layout Tabs

But even better, after you read through it (just so that you have a bit more information and knowledge) here is my "Cheat Sheet".
 Just follow the steps and you will have your layout tab set up and scaled correctly. The only thing I do is measure my drawing in Model Space to see how large I want the page to be prior to creating the Layout. this is so I know what size to make the paper (see below). There might be easier ways, but I finally found this method that works for me!

1. Click on Layout Tab at the bottom of the AutoCAD screen.
2. Once there, right click.
3. Select Page Setup Manager
4. Choose your settings...printer, paper size, etc. Make sure the scale is 1:1 (not your drawing scale size).
5. Type MV
6. Pick two points and draw a rectangle to encompass the entire sheet.
7. Type MS
8. Set the scale. Go to top toolbar. Select View - Zoom - Scale
9. If your scale is, for example 1"=10', type on the Command line   1/10XP
10. Type PS
11. Click the border so it becomes bold and right click.
12. Choose Display. Make sure that you set it to "locked". This allows you to scroll in your drawing without messing up the scale.

That's it! I hope this was helpful.

Landscape Design Software

After about 8 years, I decided that I was not happy with the landscape program I was using, which was Eagle Point's LandCadd. So I went on a mission to find some of the best landscape design software. Initially, I was looking for something that would also work well with Google Sketchup.

Many of these are for professionals but some, such as Google Sketchup, are for homeonwers also. Actually, homeowners can use some of the others also, but there is a cost factor. Sketchup has a free version.

After a couple of months of trying out different programs, I decided to write a review on the ones that I have tried. Here is a list of the various programs that I consider to be the best landscape design software (not in any particular order).

AutoCad
Bricscad
Land FX - the winner!
Visionscape
Vizterra
Google Sketchup
Vectorworks
Dynascape

To read about the reviews, please visit Best Landscape Design Software

NJ Landscape Designer's Own Backyard Landscape Design

My backyard is finally starting to emerge from the blanket of snow. It's nice to see lawn...but then I start remembering that it needs help!

I have been in my house almost a year now. This past year I took care of "essentials" that I hadn't planned on. However, I also did some plantings for the front yard landscape. The front foundation planting was there when I bought my house. It's definitely not my style, but I can live with it for awhile. Planting the front slope near the street was definitely a priority due to weeds and erosion and so I created a drought resistant garden. You can read the story about it and see photos here.
Xeriscape Plants

So...my backyard landscape design has been neglected and I decided that I would make a plan. This was both difficult and easy for a NJ landscape designer, if you can understand that. The easy part was that I know plants and I also know which I love and would want to have in my own garden. The hard part was choosing!

I created the following backyard landscape design:

1. A planting design for an existing bed with a stone border on the left side of the back yard. There were five old trees mixed in which created about a half day of shade in this area. I am sure the soil will be dry and poor. It will need some work. I would like to dig down about a foot and add a soil mixture of 1/3 topsoil, 1/3 peat moss, and 1/3 cow manure.
2. Designed a bluestone walk leading from the driveway to the back patio. this is a combination of regular and irregular shapes.
3. Created a planting bed on the right side for balance.
4. Added three ornamental trees throughout.

Here are the plants I chose (subject to change).

• Endless Summer Hydrangea (or other)- flowers on old and new wood and takes the shade
• Annabelle Hydrangea - white flowering Hydrangea that takes sun or shade.
• Butterfly Bush 'Adonis Blue' - deep blue flowers.
• Liriope - grass-like perennial that takes the shade. Blue flower spikes.
• Sedum - some of the low varieties. I love all the textures and colors that are available...so I'll look around.
• Lilac - Would like to try the new variety that blooms on and off all summer, Boomerang Lilac. However, I feel I need something taller where I placed it so may just opt for a more traditional one which would give the height.
• Viburnum 'Cardinal Candy'- tall with beautiful and abundant berries.
• Hosta - great for the shade and numerous varieties.
• Roses - one of the Carefree varieties - see my page on Easy To Grow Roses
• Thyme - very hardy, low ground cover which loves the sun.
• Coneflower - so many color of this perennial...how to choose?!
• Japanese Maple 'Bloodgood'- I've always loved the shape and the red foliage of this tree.
• Saucer Magnolia - an old fashion landscape tree with large, showy flowers.
• River Birch (might substitute for White Birch) - one of my favorites ornamental trees. It can stay narrow towards the bottom.
• Foster Holly - a narrower hybrid of American Holly.

Notice how this plant list contains hardly any evergreens. I want it to be more of a garden with flower color, fall color, berries and textures. The trees are needed for scale and interest. I will most likely phase it, depending on the cost. And of course, this backyard landscape design of mine will probably change!