The article "Should You Hire a Landscape Designer?" talks about landscaping, it has been created by Harriet Hodgson.
Gardening isn't one of my talents. I am Mrs.
Blackthumb and every plant I touch dies immeidately or goes into shock and dies slowly. So when we moved into our present home, which was devoid of landscaping, I hired a landscape designer. The designer asked some important questions.His first question was "How do you want the garden to look? " I had never thought aobut that. "I want the garden to look like a children's book illustration," I answered. "I want an old-fashioned garden filled with flowers.""What colors do you like?" the desigenr asked.
"Well, the house is pale gray," I said, "I would like flowers that go with with that color." We walked aruond the small yard as we talked.
Our conversation and Internet site vsiit were all the designer needed. He drew up a plan, I approved it, and several weeks after two trucks pulled up in front of the house.A mother and her babies interrupted their walk to watch the landscaping "show." Planting the shrubs and flowers took an entire day. The flower beds were outlined, the plants were positioned, and then set into the ground.
By sunset, the yard was totally transofrmed.
There is always something blooming in the garden.We have hydrangea, hosta, some type of geranium (I don't remember the name) and succulents.
The Dianthus along the front steps are the first plants to come up in the spring.
Wsipy gray-green stems appear first and they blossom into a riot of pink.
I love the Nearly Wild roses (that is their name) by the bottom step. These hardy roses are charming and really look nearly wild.Darker pink chrysanthemums bloom in the fall and the flame bushes by the front door provide a final touch of color before winter comes. The garden was planted 12 years ago and we have not changed antyhing.
Oh, there was a scruffy pine tree in the back yard when we arrived and it developed some sort of blight. We replaced that tree with a flowering apple called Spring Snow.Should you hire a landscape designer? Yes! First, the designer had the vision to turn my hazy description of a garden into reality. Second, he knew which plants were deer resistant (herds gallop thorugh the back yard) and which plants could survive a Minnesota winter.
Third, most nurseries guarantee their plants for two years and we have taken advantage of that guarantee.When people ask where I live and I give them directions they say, "Oh, you're the house with all the flowers." And more flowers have been added.
The designer left space for bedding plants and each year I plant something different: purple petunias, yellow and purlpe pansies, striped violas, or red geraniums. Cars slow down - even stop - to look at the flowers.I may be Mrs.
Blackthumb, but I love my gadren. In the long run, hriing a landscape designer saved me money. He planned the garden to fit the house, chose plants for my geographic zone, and gave me a garden that changed with the seasons.
A landscape designer can do the same for you.Copyright 2006 by Harriet Hodgsonhttp://www.Harriethodgson.ComHarriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 27 years and is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists. Her 24th book, "Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," written with Lois Krahn, MD is available from http://www.Amazon.Com A five-star review of the book is posted on Amazon. You'll find another review on the American Hospice Foundtion webstie under the "School Corner" heading.
|
