What's Bloom'n?

One of the nice things about living in Virginia is that Spring comes earlier than New Jersey.

So here we are in March, and already I am seeing color. Masses of Daffodils dot my landscape. Daffodils are great since they multiply.....and they are deer resistant too. Purple flowers are showing on my Vinca. Ok, these are rather quiet, but even so, nice to look at, especially when close to the house.

As I drive around, I see the Flowering Pear trees doing their thing with clouds of white flowers. I know some Pear trees have gotten a bad wrap lately, but I still love them. They are one of the first trees to bloom in the Spring and one of the last to show their beautiful Fall color.

The big old Eastern Redbud in my yard is just starting to show some color. This is an interesting tree, since all the pink flowers (lots and lots and lots of small ones) cover the branches before any of the leaves come out.

I'm sure there is more out there right now, but I am happy with the little bit I have. But of course, with the warm weather near.....I will be itching for more landscape color.

When the awards were given out at Rutgers University for our graduating class in Landscape Architecture, I received "The Gerturde Jekyll Award" for having color and flowers in every single one of my landscape design drawings. Comical.

Concrete Pavers - Love'm or Leave'm

Ah, the well know concrete paver. You've decided you need-want-have to have a new patio, walkway, or pool paving.

I am on the fence regarding pavers...well a little bit more off than on. Clients don't always have unlimited resources to spend on paving, so I have to admit they do provide an affordable alternative to natural stone. They are also easy to install. As years have gone by, their look has improved. The tumbled concrete pavers make the attempt to mimic natural stone, and some of them are not bad, granting the fact that they are not the real deal.

They come in many styles, colors and patterns. They are long lasting.

However....there are cons along with the pros. To read the full article I have written go to concrete pavers. For additional, detailed information on the prices of pavers compared to other paving materials you can choose, see my website page on paving costs.

Swimming Pool Designs & Placement- Where Oh Where

Swimming pool placement is one of the first things a homeowner things about when decided to add a swimming pool to their landscape.

I visited a prospective client the other day who wanted a swimming pool design. Since I live in Virginia, there are many "off the beaten path" home locations, and this was certainly one. After venturing out on my way to his home (with my GPS system!), I drove through rolling hills and mountains, with farmhouses dotted through the landscape.

I turned into a subdivision. Now, in New Jersey they are called developments, but in Virginia they are called subdivisions. At any rate, there were just a few houses there. I went to the end of the cul-de-sac, and there was a very subtle entrance to a driveway. Well, I entered here, drove along the twists and turns through the woods for about a quarter of a mile, and all of a sudden the house appeared.

The house was set with land sloping away. They did have a fair amount of lawn in the backyard. Adjacent to the lawn was woods.

And beyond?

The River.

Did I mention the views?

You could see the river in the distance. It was a filtered view through the woods, and of course the trees at this time have no leaves.

The agreed upon concept was to place the pool just inside the woods. The lawn area was not an option since the septic field was there. The pool shall be very naturalistic in form to blend in with the beautiful naturalistic surroundings. Some trees will have to be cleared, but I feel comfortable with this as they are either small or unhealthy. There is one large tree that will be removed, but only one amongst tons and tons. Pool landscape designs even if in the woods need plantings and in this environment they should be kept natural...perhaps even natives. I might consider extending the lawn also.

So here we have a lovely natural landscape with a view to the river from both the ground and the house. Landscape designs for pools can either produce a ho hum design or a spectacular one.

I am going for spectacular!

This is the perfect setting for a vanishing or disappearing edge as part of the swimming pool design. I suggested this, and the Clients were intrigued.
In case you are unfamiliar with this, a vanishing edge is where water flows over a section of the pool and seems to "disappear". The water, however, actually falls into a well-constructed basin. The trick is to set the pool in the correct location and at the right elevations so that the basin is not visible from your main viewpoints and especially the house....tricky since the house is very tall.

Location, location, location.