Using a decorative pot or container has to be one of the best ways I know of to hide the hose and keep it handy at the same time.

The one you’re seeing here is made of copper.  Nice looking, right?  It’s made just for this purpose with a hole where the hose exits and connects to the faucet. It’s suppose to hold 150′ of hose, but that might be pushing it.   50 – 75′ is a more comfortable fit.

The homeowner has a collection of decorative planters on the patio filled with seasonal plants.  These have to be watered regularly.  The copper hose pot is the perfect solution. And I have to say, the hose comes out of the pot nicely and is a breeze to coil back in when you’re done.

Since we’re on the subject, let me just say that it pays to buy a better quality hose.  A good quality rubber hose is easier to work with and coil and, if taken care of, will last a long time.  Generally the better ones come with higher quality couplings at their ends – this makes a huge difference too. FYI, Sears makes a nice quality rubber hose at a reasonable price and they back it up with their warranty policy.  I’d suggest buying hose in 50′ lengths or less.  It’s just more manageable.

Do a search in Google for “copper hose pot” and all the choices out there.

Decorative Options For Plaster Walls

There are a few options for softening and/or disguising plaster walls.  You could paint them, although I’d look into that real thoroughly.  Painting concrete has to be done right or problems can result. Also, once it’s painted, it’s painted!… Not a treatment easily reversed.

There are decorative finishes such as those from companies like Sto that can be applied over the concrete.  There are thin-stone veneers and artificial veneers that also can be applied to the concrete wall without the need for a special footing or support.

Decorative lattice is another option.  If you intend to see some or all of the lattice then you need to be attentive to details such as trimmed and finished edges.  On this particular project our intention was to ultimately cover the entire wall with English ivy.  What we needed was a support system to train the new ivy plants onto.  The carpenter nailed wood furring strips to the concrete and then attached PVC lattice to the strips.  We used 3 English ivy plants that came in 7 gal. containers.  Their runners were already 6′ long and enabled us to cover quite a bit of the area.  In a year or two I suspect the wall and PVC lattice will completely be covered.

Maybe you’ve had luck with another solution.  If so, please leave a comment.

Flagpoles Are A Classic Property Feature

Well the article title probably gives it away, but I happen to love the idea of integrating a flagpole into the landscape.  Come on, you have to agree!  How often do we hear and read about the importance of using “focal points” in our landscape designs?…Strategically and in good taste of course.  Well here you have it then.  They’re beautiful, classic, go with just about any style garden or home.  (Alright, a zen garden may be pushing it.)  And the patriotic sentiment is as beautiful as the flag.

Anyway, this is an all cedar wood flagpole made by Walplole Woodworkers in MA.  The homeowners had ordered it themselves so I don’t have all the details. I’d say it stands around 20′ tall, has a brass ball finial at the top and comes with all the hardware and rigging.  There are 2 support posts on either side of the flagpole that allow you to pivot and lower the pole by removing one the the support pins.  A standard feature on most flagpoles for maintenance purposes.

To insure this flagpole will forever stand straight and proud we have approximately 700 lbs. of concrete in the footing.  The boys couldn’t resist leaving their handprints for future explorers to find.  The 2 x3 studs work great for bracing while the concrete sets.

I wonder if either of these wiseguys have tried to climb to the top yet.

I’m a real proponent for structures and ornamental features in the landscape if done in good taste.  These elements can give structure to the outside, help to designate space, and even guide the visitor.  And let’s not forget their sometimes artistic contribution.  There are countless examples of hand-crafted works in the landscape.

Above is a traditional square-picket fence.  Whereas some fences are one sided, this fence is equally finished and beautiful on both sides.  Here it is used along the sidewalk in front of a residence.  The fence was not needed to keep people out, animals in, or give privacy.  Perhaps it was added as an architectural feature to extend the home’s design out into the property – or to define the front yard in a subtle way.  Combined with a gate or arbor it can convey a feeling of passage from one space to another.  A decorative fence gives year-round interest while offering a backdrop to seasonal gardens like this spring bulb display.

Today fences are made from newer materials other than wood and metal.  Plastics have entered the industry as I guess they have every other industry.  Perfection Fence is one of the manufacturers that does some amazing things with vinyl.  I have to say, though, if it’s being seen close up there is no hiding the fact that it’s vinyl.  For some (like me) this can be a turn off.  But from a distance it’s awesome – and very, very practical.

To take synthetics to another level, Walpole Woodworkers in MA has teamed up with AZEK.  This is a company that manufactures building and architectural features from PVC.  This partnering has enabled Walpole Woodworkers to produce fence and garden structures from AZEK materials.  Walpole’s special line of AZEK made products is called “Freeport“.   It’s beautiful, practical, and very hard to distinguish if it’s real wood or not…even close up!

So when contemplating design ideas for your yard, consider the addition of structural features to add new dimension and interest.

So, in the realm of easy care and long life, I specifed these fiberglass planters by Tournesol Siteworks. Although the company doesn’t offer many styles, the quality is quite good. They have a division of the company called Planter Technology that offers some innovative solutions to irrigating planters.

Stay tuned folks because I’m going to post examples of ornaments in the landscape with the hope that I can convert some of the non-believers and inspire the practitioners. For you believers, check out the NightOrbs in the picture above. Now I know this isn’t a classic urn or birdbath, but these are hand-blown glass works of art that can be illuminated and I would just love to work one of these into the right garden setting.

A design client of mine called to ask if I’d help him find a spot in the landscape for his new garden bench. How often we see something we really like and when we finally get it home we don’t know where to put it. When he and I surveyed the property we chose the location you see in the photo above. It offered an excellent vantage point to look at the house, patio and gardens. The Birch tree provided shade as well as another feature in the composition. I think it’s so important to create “settings” for garden features & ornaments. It just makes them appear more integral to the landscape.

One of the challenges was to give the bench a solid and level footing for it to sit on. Although the land sloped gently we were able to create a level platform using 1/8″ crushed stone for the base and a thick piece of flagstone on top. The soil we removed to prepare for the gravel base was used to build up and support the now level platform. The hardest part of the project was removing the grass sod. You can see the white lines I painted to guide the installation crew.

It only took the guys a few hours from start to finish, but I’m sure you’ll all agree the garden bench now has a place to call home. In the spring we’ll add some plantings around the bench to really “tie it all together.”

What’s wrong with this picture? I don’t think it bothered the homeowner as much as it bothered me and maybe it’s a bit of my OCD, but the dirt splattered on the white painted base of this mailbox post had to go. And stay gone!

This is just one example of the “attention to detail” that should be a part of any construction project. In this case the installation and workmanship of the mailbox post was excellent, but it shouldn’t have stopped there. Realizing that soil & mulch that close to the woodwork would end up on the woodwork, how about some stones fitted around the base to keep things clean & attractive.

Time, use and environment have an impact on everything. It’s not just how good the work looks the day it’s done, but how it will stand up over time. Let’s not forget how moisture and organics cause wood to decay. A conscientious builder I’m currently working with uses plastic composite material for all the exterior trim work on his buildings. “Yes, the cost is a bit more, but the homeowner will never have to replace any trim” – now that’s a nice detail!

Plants with flower color are often at the top of everyone’s list, however here in the northeast the cold weather puts an end to flowering plants after a frost or two. You could bring these plants indoors as with the ivy topiary, but most people simply discard them after the season and look forward to a new look in the spring. In both photos we’re seeing beautifully detailed cast planters that are durable for year round use. Cast planters such as these offer timeless style and elegance. Even if they happen to be unplanted in the off-season they continue to carry a stately presence.