Category: Tropical Style

Going green with your home design project is a choice made by levels, with layers of chances to select materials and techniques that will yield improved energy efficiency, sustainability and functionality. It is a devotion with a possibly great outcome that involves diligence, research and often extra funds. But even basic green steps can really make a difference in how many resources your house consumes — at the building of it and at the long run. Here are five points to remember as you plan your job. Portal Design Inc 1. Just build as much distance as you will utilize. Limiting the distance you construct will probably go a long way toward saving money on the immediate and future costs of your job. Besides the cost savings of building a more compact space, you will realize the long-term savings in heating, cooling and cleaning. Think through whether you really need…

I fell in love with beach cottages again on a recent visit to the northwestern shore of Florida. What struck me most about these charming homes was the maintenance that each homeowner put to creating a welcoming entry. Just about any front porch had just one — or even several — container gardens. I was in paradise! Tropicals and succulents were plentiful in these containers, on account of the warmth and humidity in this field. Often they have been used in ways or with plants I hadn’t seen before. I usually find one or two container gardens to picture on vacation, but the photographs of plants within this trip might have actually resisted the photographs of my family. If you are interested in developing a lush tropical look for your outdoor surroundings, a tropical container backyard could give it to you with minimal investment. Here’s some inspiration to your own…

As a way to make us love what we needed, I suppose, my mother used to tell a girlhood story about trudging through the California foothills gathering red toyon berries to sell for holiday decorations. She was not the sole toyon bandit. In the 1920s collecting toyon berries has been so popular in Los Angeles, specifically, that the state of California passed a law against it. Thus we still can admire the toyon’s December series of bright red berries in our parks and wild spaces. Toyon is also an superb garden plant (see below). Its other name, California holly, suggests a California”lite” version of traditional English holly; it has larger, brighter berries and larger, glossier, greener leaves. I love to look at toyon for what it is: a distinctive reminder of California’s own international melting-pot traditions in our gardens as well as in our houses and parties. As a continuous…

The west side of a house presents challenges for homeowners and landscaping plants. Subjected to sun for the hottest day hours, this region is more difficult to cool in summer. Shrubs that shade the region help save energy, but they need to withstand half a day’s total sun, heat and drying conditions. In winter months, it is fantastic for sunshine to strike the west side to help heat the rooms. Deciduous, heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant shrubs work best on the side to aid with energy conservation. Tall Shrubs On west-side walls unbroken by windows or doorways, plant tall shrubs for maximum summer shading. Consider allowing western redbud (Cercis occidentalis), which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 9, to grow as a large tree. Keep it to the desired height and conformation by routine pruning. Magenta spring flowers are followed by glossy, rounded leaves. This indigenous plant tolerates…

In search of a plant that is perfect? Try sweet potato vine, that comes in a deep, dark green or a bright and lively lime. It can complement a cottage garden, brighten up a contemporary planting or put in a little filler to any blank spot in the lawn or container. Read on for just a few tips for using sweet potato vine to the very best advantage. Botanical name: Ipomoea batatasShared name: Ornamental sweet potato vineUSDA zones: 9-11 (find your zone)Water necessity: ModerateLight requirement: Full to partial sunMature size: 18 inches to 6 feetAdvantages and tolerances: Vigorous expansion; handles some shade; ideal for potsSeasonal interest: Adds bulk to plantings from spring through summerWhen to plant: Mid-spring or after the last frost Murphy & Co.. Layout Whether it tumbles off the top of a rock wall or climbs a wooden pergola, sweet potato blossom adds vertical appeal to any backyard….

May is the first month when the Pacific Northwest really begins to shake off the dreary doldrums of winter. All that sun means it’s a good idea to check irrigation methods in time for summer watering. We also get to appear ahead to the bounty of blooms and vegetables we’d love to enjoy, because now is the time to plant heat-loving flowers and plants. But do not forget to clean up after spring’s plants so they can conserve nutrients and be all set for a repeat performance next year. Read on to learn how to perform these jobs, plus more, to have a beautiful May garden. More regional gardening guides Aiken House & Gardens Pick flowering clematis vines at the nursery school. Clematis vines have some of the biggest, most spectacular blossoms of any plant from the Northwest, and now is the opportunity to buy them at the nursery for…

Fall is prime planting time in Southern California. The nicely organized one of us are supposed to program all year long so they’re prepared to spring into action the instant the hot weather subsides (typically by mid-October). The shorter days, cooler nights and low-angle sunlight of autumn add up to lower water stress on new plants, while the still-warm soil enables roots to thrive. Prime planting season continues through January or so, when much-welcome rains (fingers crossed) give young plants an extra leg up. Keep an eye out for hot, dry Santa Ana winds early in the summer, however, and be prepared to apply extra irrigation to garden newcomers to prevent them from turning into shoe leather. See a sampling of fall planting selections below. Note: Considering that bare-root season is coming with the new calendar year, you can find a good healthy start for all these varieties and save…

In the soul of Black Friday, one of the most highly anticipated unofficial American holidays, this week’s plant select features — you guessed it — a black plant. Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’) has gained fame as one of the most uniquely-hued and easy-to-grow plants on the market. Much like many perennial grasses, autumn is a great time to plant black mondo grass. Elect for well-drained, humus-rich soil for a positive planting. Botanical name: Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’; Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Arabicus’; Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Black Night’Common names: black mondo grass, black lilyturf USDA zones: 5-10Water necessity: Moderate to regular, based on climateSun necessity: Full sun to partial shadeMature dimensions:12″ tall x 12″ disperseTolerances: Drought Distinguishing attributes. Striking matte black foliage resembling a sea anemone immediately catches your attention and draws you to the plant. Droopy leaves reach 15″ in length, leading to an overall plant height of around 10-12″. While the…