Garden With Beautiful Stone Design

 Without a doubt, plants are the foundation of our outdoor environment . The diversity of plant species and the multitude of cultivars, hybrids and varieties make for creative and appealing landscape compositions. There are a number of reasons for choosing plants for the landscape. We may be attracted to their ornamental appeal or call upon them to serve a specific function or purpose in the landscape, such as providing a screen, blocking unwanted views, or stabilizing a soil bank. Others may be selected because of their ability to adapt to poor soils or simply for the ease of subsequent care. Generally, when horticulturists are asked about plants, responding is not as simple as blurting out a few names. Plant selection is an organized process that examines several factors: function, aesthetics, site adaptability and management. The priority placed on each category varies with the individual. The freedom to choose from a wide variety of plants depends on the flexibility or restrictio

  Soil is a dynamic three-dimensional substance that covers some of the world’s land surface. It varies from place to place, in response to the five factors that form it: climate, topography, organisms , the parent rock below surface, and time. Our Maine soils developed since the last glacier moved across the region, largely in response to the parent rock (largely granite) and topography. Most Maine soils are acidic, and have a somewhat depressed ability to hold and exchange nutrients used by plants. Our native plants evolved in this system, and are well adapted to Maine soils. However, we often amend Maine soils by adding organic matter, lime and/or fertilizer, in order to increase the productivity of our food and landscape plants.                                                        Soil performs four major functions: It provides habitat for fungi, bacteria, insects, burrowing mammals and other organisms; It recycles raw materials and filters water; It provides the foundation for e

Even when the rain stops, these drought-tolerant plants keep going strong. They’ll survive dry conditions while adding color and texture to your garden. 1. Coneflower Echinacea spp. • Zones 3 to 9                                                            Often self-sowing, coneflowers need little upkeep. These drought tolerant plants and thrive in almost any soil with adequate drainage. Plus, coneflowers attract birds and butterflies. 2. Catmint Nepeta x faassenii • Zones 3 to 8                                               Perfect for borders, rock gardens and containers, these drought tolerant plant have aromatic flowers that attract butterflies and bees. Catmint blooms from early summer to early fall, with plants that are 1 to 3 feet tall and wide. Check out more long-blooming flowers for attracting pollinators. 3. Agastache Agastache • Zones 5 to 11                                            A bee’s delight, agastache grows 3 to 5 feet tall and sports purple or white flower spikes

 When diving into a landscaping project , most homeowners first think of the plants that will accent their lawn, garden, and patio designs . Trees, shrubs, flowers, and ground cover are all important elements in creating the perfect outdoor setting. However, hardscaping is just as important! Garden rock is an excellent way to add texture, color, and interest to your landscape — and it can be a beautiful stand-alone statement.                                             Here’s another fact you may not have considered: When winter comes, your hardscape will become the visual dominant element. Unless you live in a sub-tropical climate or plant mostly evergreens, trees will drop their leaves, plants will turn brown and go dormant, flowers will disappear. If you’re just as thoughtful in planning your landscape rock elements as you are with your plants, the hardscape choices will never look like an afterthought, and the landscape can be beautiful year-round . In fact,  you can create an impr

 During the Summer months getting gardens and outdoor spaces ready for garden parties, BBQ’s and relaxing weekends in the sun is a major trend. Summer is the perfect time to make the most of outdoor living and update gardens. But we all know that the Summer always comes with its fair share of rain showers to bring us all back indoors. So how can you ensure gardens can be used throughout our summer? Have you ever thought about an outdoor patio structure to provide protection from the elements? Including a garden structure or patio roof into your garden design can really improve the usability of the outdoor space and make it practical throughout the year (and all summer!). The minute you start doing your research into garden structures and outdoor roofs you will discover that there are a huge variety of patio structures on the market. So, which one is right for your garden project? There are three main patio structures that come to the front of people’s minds when considering these garde