Best Landscape Ideas

Ixora coccinea (Jungle Geranium Red)

Duranta repens (Golden dewdrop)



Ixora coccinea (Jungle Geranium Orange)

Ok, so yesterday I mentioned how we were installing some custom fire burning systems in the backyard of the owner of G.A. Larson, one of the nations largest distributors of HVAC & Refrigeration products, with over 40 stores spanning 14 states. G.A. Larson is one of our distributors of fire pit products and we are proud that the OWNER of the company has installed OUR PRODUCTS in his very own backyard!



Well, I also mentioned I had hoped to show some photos and here they are. Note his excellent taste in landscape design firstly, and secondly, notice the beautiful flame projecting from our Crossfire Burning System.



Its hard to tell because the pool and hot tub covers are on and the waterfall isnt flowing, but Larson decided to do a tiered entertainment space with a pool on the top level, a waterfall that will spill from the pool into a crevice below between the two fire bowls you see, and the hot tub on the lower level is about 5 feet from the custom fire pit that will keep everyone warm and create an excellent comforting ambiance.



We here at Warming Trends would like to personally thank Mr. Larson for choosing our products to install in his home to entertain his family and friends! For all your heating and plumbing needs, please check out G.A. Larson.

Planning a beautifully landscaped outdoor space is made simple with sophisticated, enjoyable to use landscape Design Software. Even if you have no discernible Design skills, the straightforward, drag and drop capabilities of most Design Software makes quick work of the once complicated aspects of landscape Design. Landscape Design can help you make extensive plans that include plant placement, lighting, pathways, and outdoor living spaces. Design Software makes Landscaping not only foolproof, but fun.
The primary step in deciding your landscape Design is considering your current layout. What works, and what doesnt? If your Software allows it, upload photos of the current state of your yard; otherwise, create a space inside the Software that reflects your yard. Consider the architectural Design and color of your home when planning your yard; the types of plants and other Landscaping elements should match the façade of the house. Try to draw attention to the most attractive elements of your home through clever Landscaping color and placement choices. Think of your Landscaping placement as a flowering frame for the front and back of your home.

Trees

Consider first the placement of your trees, as they will anchor the Design and probably be the largest elements. Use the drag and drop function to play with the possibility of removing existing trees, or planting new ones. Favor trees which are planted on either side of the house, as larger elements create the frame effect most homeowners favor. Trees can increase the value of your property probably more than any other single traditional yard element. However, an improperly placed tree, such as one with roots that may encroach on a homes foundation or plumbing, need to be replaced with other Landscaping elements. For this reason, if you are on a small lot, avoid planting many large, quickly growing trees. Some Landscaping Software can predict the size of trees and other plants over time; use this to get a good idea of how much space your trees will eventually need. You will also need to consider how the shade from the tree will affect the amount of light needed by other nearby plants.

Flowers, Smaller Plants, and Ground Cover

Use the library of plants in your Software to search for the perfect plants for your Landscaping needs. When browsing through the thousands of options likely available, factor in information about your local climate, the amount of available light, how frequently you can maintain the plants, as well as matching the plants to your homes façade and your personal tastes. Experiment with plant placement using the drag and drop feature, favoring smaller plants closer to the front door, as this directs the eye to the entrance of the home. Drop some ground cover in a line down the driveway or footpath, as ground cover very effectively softens hard lines.

Structural Materials and Accessories

Finally, add in accessories and structural materials as needed and for maximum effect. Possibly expand a driveway using a different material or add in a gazebo or deck.

Landscape painting once had a rich dialogue with landscape design. The English landscape garden, for example, was greatly influenced by paintings. This rich connection hardly exists today. But painter Philip Juras might have something to say about that.

Formally trained as both a painter and a landscape architect, Juras is the perfect link between landscape painting and design. His large scale paintings capture the beauty of specific ecological communities. Juras paints primarily remnant native landscapes. Like the Manahatta project in New York, Juras’ work focuses on depicting specific ecological communities as they may have looked before European settlement.

His canvases are large and luminous, capturing the feeling of space as light moves across it. He deftly balances abstraction and ecological specificity. The compositions are serene yet teeming with life. Juras most recent series are paintings used to illustrate a book on naturalist William Bartram’s travels through the American South.

I first met Philip when I was in graduate school at the University of Georgia. My professor and native plant expert Darrel Morrison developed a class that took students to remnant virgin landscapes around the Southeast. Juras joined us on some of those trips. The landscapes we witnessed changed the way I thought about design. The complexity and majesty of these spaces were unlike any other human disturbed forest or meadow I had experienced. The patterns created by the mature plant communities were strong, legible, and distinct, a offering a storehouse of ideas for modern design. Juras’ paintings recall these landscapes.

To see more about Philips work, visit his website: http://www.philipjuras.com/index.htm