HOME DESIGN: Outdoor

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Monday, June 21, 2010

Hanging Out in the Sunshine

Today is the first day of summer – Happy Solstice!!!

I wish we had more sun around here in Victoria BC to enjoy. But this is not an excuse to share my favourite 10 outdoor furniture pieces for the season. Furniture pieces where you can relax and read a nice book while you sip a refreshing drink.

Which one would you like to lounge in?

Royal Botania E-Z EZ 195

Designed by Zaki Molgaard and Bo Larsen

Leather Swing by Egg Designs

Royal Botania Wave WV Hammock

Designed by Erik Nyberg and Gustav Ström

Hanging Chair – Habit

Coocon Hammock

FERLEA

Ferlea Outdoor Chair

Hammock Chaise by Poul Kjaerholm

Jiella Chair by Samuli Naamanka

Hansa Hammock

Maia by Patricia Urquiola

Friday, June 4, 2010

Container Gardening

On Memorial Day my man asked me about the garden I had been talking about planting since we moved to Atlanta and had a place to plant. Hmmm. A hour later we had a galvanized steel container with a couple dozen holes drilled in the bottom, a bag of potting soil, and 5 plants. We filled the bottom of the container with rocks from the yard, topped it with potting soil and a layer of our compost, more soil, and then planted jalepeno, flat leaf parsley, chives, thai basil, and tomatoes. Here are some more ideas for container gardening.

Mediterranean Garden: tomatoes, cucumbers, rosemary, thyme, and sage.

Mexican Garden: tomatoes, jalepeno, habenero, cilantro, tomatillos

Thai Garden: thai basil, thai peppers, cilantro, lemongrass, mint

This is a quick (it only took us an hour) and easy project that can reap big rewards all summer long.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Time to Prune Your Roses

Today, I had my most gracious neighbor and master gardener, come to my house to show me how to prune the over grown roses in the backyard. We rent, so while the yard is mowed and the leaves are blown, the trees and bushes have not been regularly tended to. January is the time to prune, when the littlest buds are showing on the branches. She showed me where to prune (about a third of the way down) and what to look for when branches start (grow out, not in). Essentially we cut everything off, so the poor thing looks pretty sad, but I have been told that if you mix 10-5-5 fertilizer and some epson salt into the soil for the roses they will love me come spring. I am excited to see what color the roses turn out to be!

She also told me that I have parasitic vines (like ivy) that I need to take care of and there are several hydrangeas plants. I am looking forward to getting down to work. Who knows maybe my gardening dreams will only last a weekend. I already have scratches all over my hands from the thorns.