Friday, March 7, 2014
Ye Olde Royal Deeside Railway
This is a old railway line that ran parallel to the river Dee between the city of Aberdeen and the village of Ballater in the highlands (towards the Royal home of Balmoral). It ran for just over 100 years from 1853 to the mid 1960s.
The old line is now used as a cycle and walking route. However a short section of about 5 miles is being rebuilt and reopened, mainly to transport tourists from the nearby Crathes Castle to the local town of Banchory.
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans ( Yellow Indian Grass )
Also called Chrysopogon nutans and is native to central North America from Manitoba to Quebec; south to Arizona to Florida. This native tall grass prairie-grass once covered hundreds of square miles of the Missouri River bottomlands.
A moderate growing, stiff, open and upright perennial grass, with mid-green to blue-green foliage clumps reaching up to 5 x 3.5 feet. This grass looks great planted in masses.
The individual leaf blades are up to 12 x 0.5 inches.
The foliage turns orange, red or purple after the first fall frost, remaining orangish during the winter.
The showy golden plumes, up to 7 rarely 12 feet, borne late summer.
The seed heads are attractive during fall and winter.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun on just about any fertile, well drained soil. Tolerant of drought and heavy clay soil. Cut back hard during late winter. Propagation is from division done during early spring or seed being sown.
Deer resistant and not prone to pests or disease.
* photos taken on Sep 14 2013 in Columbia, MD
* photo of unknown internet source
* Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA SCS. 1991. Southern wetland flora
* photo taken by Jennifer Anderson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Indian Steel
Vase-shaped, reaching up to 6 x 3 feet, with silvery-blue foliage, which turns to coppery-orange during autumn.
The flower plumes are golden-yellow.
Hardy zones 4 to 8.
Llano ( Llano Indian Grass )
Vigorous and large, reaching up to 6 feet in height.
The blue foliage is complimented with showy, bronze seedheads during autumn.
Sioux Blues
Stiff upright habit, reaching up to 7 x 3.5 feet with bright blue foliage and attractive flower heads.
* photo taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
Read More..
Also called Chrysopogon nutans and is native to central North America from Manitoba to Quebec; south to Arizona to Florida. This native tall grass prairie-grass once covered hundreds of square miles of the Missouri River bottomlands.
A moderate growing, stiff, open and upright perennial grass, with mid-green to blue-green foliage clumps reaching up to 5 x 3.5 feet. This grass looks great planted in masses.
The individual leaf blades are up to 12 x 0.5 inches.
The foliage turns orange, red or purple after the first fall frost, remaining orangish during the winter.
The showy golden plumes, up to 7 rarely 12 feet, borne late summer.
The seed heads are attractive during fall and winter.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun on just about any fertile, well drained soil. Tolerant of drought and heavy clay soil. Cut back hard during late winter. Propagation is from division done during early spring or seed being sown.
Deer resistant and not prone to pests or disease.
* photos taken on Sep 14 2013 in Columbia, MD
* photo of unknown internet source
* Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA SCS. 1991. Southern wetland flora
* photo taken by Jennifer Anderson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Indian Steel
Vase-shaped, reaching up to 6 x 3 feet, with silvery-blue foliage, which turns to coppery-orange during autumn.
The flower plumes are golden-yellow.
Hardy zones 4 to 8.
Llano ( Llano Indian Grass )
Vigorous and large, reaching up to 6 feet in height.
The blue foliage is complimented with showy, bronze seedheads during autumn.
Sioux Blues
Stiff upright habit, reaching up to 7 x 3.5 feet with bright blue foliage and attractive flower heads.
* photo taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Wey and Arun examples
These are the examples from my Wey and Arun project (phase 1) that I will send out to potential employers.
My projects are in flash so therefore do not work as interactive documents in hardcopy, some practises only accept hard copy applications, so I have chosen these examples that are not animated.
For some reason the model picture above has appeared here in strange colours, Im not sure why that is.
The pieces I have chosen give a good idea to the nature of the projects. They will also be accompanied with a short project description.
I tried to select examples that cover a range of scales, representational techniques and media.
Landscape Design Techniques to Suit Your Home
Landscape Design allows you to carry your interior decorating scheme to the outdoors. Whether you are a fan of floral and whimsical motifs, or you prefer a more rustic and rugged appeal, you can customize your backyard landscaping to represent the needs of you and your family, as well as your personal style.
When planning your backyard Landscape Design, it is important to outline exactly what you want from your outdoor space. Mapping out areas in your yard to serve specific purposes will allow you to create a cohesive area for your family and friends to gather, while also creating a beautiful outdoor oasis Designed for rest and relaxation.
Inter locking stone can be used to serve many purposes in your Landscape Design, specifically creating dining or seating areas, walkways, partitions and many other unique Design concepts. Inter locking stone is available in hundreds of different colours, textures and Designs and can be customized to fit perfectly with your outdoor space. Stone can also be laid in a variety of patterns, to ensure your look is unique and seamless. Also choosing the best plants, flowers and outdoor vegetation to suit your space is an important step of the Design process, as they will add interest, colour and privacy to your backyard oasis. Cedar trees are a great alternative to installed fencing for those who enjoy a more open feel to their back yard, yet want added privacy from neighbourhood noise and excitement. Interesting tall grasses can also add privacy, while offering a unique and transparent look. Colourful flowering plants and succulents are a great way to tie in a colour scheme to your outdoor space. There are a wide variety of exotic and local plant options to choose from and you can incorporate as much or as little colour and vibrancy as you would like. Planting perennials, plants that reappear year after year, often larger and more bountiful, will offer your backyard landscaping a more rustic and natural feel and require far less work and upkeep that annual plants, those that last only one season. Incorporating stones, rocks, coloured mulch and shells are a great way to ground a garden and tie in a streamlined and clean look.
In addition to the added space and beauty your outdoor Landscape Design will add to your Home, it will also significantly increase the value of your Home by adding stunning curb appeal. When adding an outdoor dining or living area, fire pit, serenity garden or wet bar, you are offering potential buyers the chance to envision themselves relaxing in and enjoying the outdoor space you have created.
When planning your backyard Landscape Designs, it is important to ensure you have outlined the exact wants and needs you have for your future oasis. Identifying areas to perform specific purposes, such as dining or lounging areas, will allow you to create the perfect outdoor space for your family and friends to gather. With the multitude of plants and materials available, Landscape Design allows you to carry your interior decorating scheme to the outdoors.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Top 5 Trends in Landscape Design
According to HGTV the latest and greatest in landscape design come down to these Top 5 Trends:
Peaceful Backyards
Examples include circular seating around a fire pit with a water feature off to the side to provide contrast and balance with the fire pit.
Romantic outdoor dining can be accomplished by placing a small table and chairs underneath a pergola with a hanging chandelier accompanied by surrounding foliage and planters.
You can create an intimate, cozy and private atmosphere by building a natural fence with tall plants surrounding a seating area or hammocks.
Water features and custom fire pits always add a sense of serenity and a place to relax in peace with family and friends. Flames always draw attention to landscape design and are a conversation starter. Oh, and they provide warmth allowing you to enjoy the outdoors all year round.
Trees With Beautiful Bark
Exfoliating trees, like River Birch, provide texture, depth and multiple colors. This trees white bark peels away to reveal a reddish, almost salmon trunk that matures into a darker reddish brown color. Other interesting species of trees include the Crape Myrtle, Paperbark Maple, Kousa Dogwood, Japanese Flowering Cherry and the Dawn Redwood.
Winter Landscape Brighteners
The starkness of winter can make your backyard feel drab and unattractive. Bring some color to the cold months by bringing in ornamental woodies. Woody shrubs and trees add colorful stems, berries and/or bark. Also winter gems and
ornamental grasses can add a nice touch of color to the dark days of winter. Also consider adding some artificial color with warm colored planters or painting some patio furniture in the warm color range.
Providing Support for Climbing Plants
Climbing plants such as jasmine, honeysuckle, wisteria, clematis, sweet peas, passionflowers and vines cling add interesting texture and can fill otherwise empty space along fences, walls and pergolas. You can use several methods to help these plants reach new heights by adhering wires along brick walls, you can tie bits of string to lattice and wooden trellis as the plants first begin to climb to help secure them. Obelisks are also a good option to create depth and height in a garden for annual climbing plants. Ivy needs no support as it will attach itself to pretty much anything and everything. Be careful with certain areas you plant your ivy because it can climb up and inside any open spaces you may have in dormers, gutters, etc. and cause damage.
Simple + Elegant: Japanese Gardens
Curving pathways with stepping stones are a great way to lead people through a garden or backyard area to highlight landscape features. Planting moss rather than grass is another way to achieve an Asian feel in your back yard. Stone zen gardens
are a fantastic way to add texture and patterns to an outdoor space. Flat stones in varying shapes laid in gravel creates a natural pathway, patio or seating area. Plant a few trees and the vertical lines will compliment the horizontal lines of the stonework. Water features are a must when creating a Japanese garden providing reflection and serenity to the environment.
So there are the Top 5 Trends in landscaping according to HGTV.com. When you are in the market for a custom fire pit or burning system for your backyard upgrade, contact us at any time and well be happy to help you with your landscape plan.
Read More..
- Peaceful Backyards
- Trees With Beautiful Bark
- Winter Landscape Brighteners
- Providing Support for Climbing Plants
- Simple + Elegant: Japanese Gardens
Peaceful Backyards
Examples include circular seating around a fire pit with a water feature off to the side to provide contrast and balance with the fire pit.
Romantic outdoor dining can be accomplished by placing a small table and chairs underneath a pergola with a hanging chandelier accompanied by surrounding foliage and planters.
You can create an intimate, cozy and private atmosphere by building a natural fence with tall plants surrounding a seating area or hammocks.
Water features and custom fire pits always add a sense of serenity and a place to relax in peace with family and friends. Flames always draw attention to landscape design and are a conversation starter. Oh, and they provide warmth allowing you to enjoy the outdoors all year round.
Trees With Beautiful Bark
Exfoliating trees, like River Birch, provide texture, depth and multiple colors. This trees white bark peels away to reveal a reddish, almost salmon trunk that matures into a darker reddish brown color. Other interesting species of trees include the Crape Myrtle, Paperbark Maple, Kousa Dogwood, Japanese Flowering Cherry and the Dawn Redwood.
Winter Landscape Brighteners
The starkness of winter can make your backyard feel drab and unattractive. Bring some color to the cold months by bringing in ornamental woodies. Woody shrubs and trees add colorful stems, berries and/or bark. Also winter gems and
ornamental grasses can add a nice touch of color to the dark days of winter. Also consider adding some artificial color with warm colored planters or painting some patio furniture in the warm color range.
Providing Support for Climbing Plants
Climbing plants such as jasmine, honeysuckle, wisteria, clematis, sweet peas, passionflowers and vines cling add interesting texture and can fill otherwise empty space along fences, walls and pergolas. You can use several methods to help these plants reach new heights by adhering wires along brick walls, you can tie bits of string to lattice and wooden trellis as the plants first begin to climb to help secure them. Obelisks are also a good option to create depth and height in a garden for annual climbing plants. Ivy needs no support as it will attach itself to pretty much anything and everything. Be careful with certain areas you plant your ivy because it can climb up and inside any open spaces you may have in dormers, gutters, etc. and cause damage.
Simple + Elegant: Japanese Gardens
Curving pathways with stepping stones are a great way to lead people through a garden or backyard area to highlight landscape features. Planting moss rather than grass is another way to achieve an Asian feel in your back yard. Stone zen gardens
are a fantastic way to add texture and patterns to an outdoor space. Flat stones in varying shapes laid in gravel creates a natural pathway, patio or seating area. Plant a few trees and the vertical lines will compliment the horizontal lines of the stonework. Water features are a must when creating a Japanese garden providing reflection and serenity to the environment.
So there are the Top 5 Trends in landscaping according to HGTV.com. When you are in the market for a custom fire pit or burning system for your backyard upgrade, contact us at any time and well be happy to help you with your landscape plan.
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