The latest trend if you haven't noticed is to take your indoor living areas and duplicate them outdoors.  That way you expand your living areas, continue with the things you like only outside instead of inside and stretch your creative juices when it comes to designing a second living area.  When you "think outside the box" you can create a space that is stunning and will not break your bank account in the process.

In todays decorating climate, manufacturers are competing with each other to see who can provide products that lend detail and function - all at a reasonable price.  From lighting, furniture, kitchens, fire pits and decorative items like pottery & statuary, the idea of taking your entertaining outdoors is fun & exciting.   People are cooking in outdoor kitchens, conducting business in outdoor office space, grooming in outdoor showers & entertaining in outdoor living rooms.
Homeowners are pushing their exterior spaces to levels unimaginable just a few years ago. 

 Use tall plants to create a sense of volume and privacy. By equally spacing 3 or 4 patio trees in the center of a narrow garden bed behind the pool, you can create privacy.  When they mature, the foliage will create a canopy that will fill in for a privacy screen.  Use them to block a neighbors home or other tall structure.  Choose trees with a small trunk girth and a max height of 15 to 20 feet at maturity.  You don't want to have to transplant these if they get to large.

Mix in medium shrubs to create a completed look.  Intersperse a few of the same plants and shrubs on each side of the trees to create a united look.  Choose evergreens with unique foliage for appeal all year long.  Keep pruning to a minimum by selecting shrubs with nice form and a managable size.  Add scents schrubs for added pizazz.

Frame the bed with color.  With all the trees and shrubs you can add a lower layer of color and scent with annuals or perennials.  Fill in bare areas with ground cover to keep exposed soil from blowing into the water.

Dress up the deck area with pots.  Planting and placing decorative pottery around the pool area adds character, color and a structural element.  Use large pots surrounded by smaller accent pots.  Make the pots colorful and durable.  Use pots made of Poly Resin, Concrete or a high fired ceramic.  All will last longer than a clay or terracotta pot.  Arrange them in groups or use identical containers in a row for a striking focal point.  Have fun and color here.

When selecting a plant palette, it is important to choose those that keep the pool and deck clean and safe.  So stay away from potential problem plants that: * Drop messy debris that can clog a filter or make the deck slick. * Have berries or fruit that could stain the patio. * Have invasive roots that could compromise the structure. * Attract bees - this seems obvious. * Have throns that romping kids could fall into. * Are susceptible to disease. * Can't tolerate exposure to pool chemicals.

We hope we were able to suggest some creative and flexible solutions to satisfy your pool needs.

Part 2 continues where Part 1 left off.  We start here with Tip 14

14.  Spur strawberries by rooting plant runners.  All types of produce more fruit if runners are clipped allowing them to produce no more than three daughter plants each summer.  When runners produce dauther plants, place them - still attached to the mother plant - into a small pot filled with soil  When the daughters grow enough roots, simply clip them off the runner.  Give the new plant away or start a new strawberry bed.

15.  Safeguard compost from contamination.  Avoid adding feces from dogs, cats, or pigs to your compost pile because it can carry harmful patogens that can transfer to vegetables grown from that compost.  But it is OK to use horse or cow manure that has been aged at least on year.

16.  Eat your flowers!  Learn which ones are safe to eat and only choose organically grown petals.  Nasturtium blooms add a peppery flaor to salads, minced snapdragon petals lend a confetti color to butter, and pea flavor tulips make a beautiful edible cup for tuna or chicken salad.  Remember to remove the pollen-laden bitter pistils and stamens inside.

17.  Help birds build nests by providing narrow grasses, fine strips of bark, thistle, burlap, or milkweed.  Stuff a mesh onion bag with pieces of yarn 8" long or shorter, hair, feathers, or small twigs and hang it in a spot protected from rain and cats.

18.  Make your own fertilizer.  Collect leaves of comfrey and stuff them into a bucket.  Compress the leaves with a brick or rock, cover the bucket and let the leaves decompose for 6 weeks.  The result will be a black liquid that looks like motor oil butis a godsend for plants because it is high in potassium and nitrogen.  Dilute with water (one part of the liqid comfrey to 15 parts water) and use the mix when watering plants, or spray it directly on leaves.

19.  Plant annual geraniums in clay pots or planters, which tend to dry out faster than other types of plant containers.  This is a good thing because annual geraniums need to throughly dry out between watering periods.  For most other annuals, use ceramic, poly resin, concrete pots with saucers to retain moisture.

20.  Design high impact containers with monochromatic color schemes.  Stock with one color per pot, adding interest by filling companion pots with plants that have a related hue by different shape or texture.  If you are unsure, group plants together in your shopping cart before buying to see how they look together; cool and warm tones of the same color sometimes don't blend.

21.  Use your ingenuity wthen mixing up solutions to keep deer away.  Deer learn quickly, so switch products frequently to keep them guessing.  Try garlic spray, predator urine, and commercial deer repellents.  All will work - for a while.  Reapply often.  The best solution may be to place motion-activiated sprinklers in the garden.  Deer never get used to being hit with a sudden blast of water.

22.  Preserve fresh herbs for soups and stews.  Fill an ice cube tray with chopped herbs, top with water, and freeze.  When the cubes are solid, move them to a plastic freezer bag.  Use as needed.

23.  Till soil sparingly.  Mechanical tilling is fine for a new bed or one that is heavily compacted.  But continual grinding, year after year, will disrupt the soil structure, turining it into a powder that won't hold moisture.  Till sparingly and be sure to augment annually with leaves.

24.  Shake out the salt. Epsom salt can be an ally in the garden when scratched into the soil  The salt's magnesium and sulfer help germination and flowering while improving the uptake of phosphorus and nitrogen.

25.  Sharpen your edge by using the proper eding technique.  Make a vertical cut with a flat-edge spade along the outside line of your bed.  After making the vertical cut, move to the other side of the bed.  About 3" away from the outside edge, angle the spade to about 45 degrees and cut to the bottom of the vertical-edge side.  Shake off excess soil, then toss the remainder into a compost pile.  Mulch to the edge of the inside cut.  The edges keep the lawn at bay for about a year.

Purchase healthy, bug free plants: Be picky.  A houseplant at a garden center should look its very best, not like it's on its last leg.  If you gently squeeze the sides of a plastic pot and the soil appears wet like a sponge, look carefully because you will probably see fungus gnats.  Also, if you gently thump the side of a container, you might see a whitefly cloud rise out of the soil.  Avoid buying these plants and introducing their problems into your home.

Keep a holding room:  When you bring home a new plants, isolate it in a room away from other houseplants for up to a month to make sure it's bug and disease free.

Don't overuse fertilizer:  Provide plant food monthly only during spring and summer, and use a diluted 20-20-20 fertilizer.  Remember: Fertilizer makes plants bigger; to much of it can make plants quickly outgrow their pots.

Upgrade pots judiciously:  Only when a plant's roots have outgrown its pots does it need to be bumped up to a bigger container.  Change pots conservatively because many plants, like succulents and cacti, prefer to be a bit root bound.

Don't underwater, and don't overwater:  Plants only need water when they're dry - unless the plant tag specifies otherwise.  To water, fill the container from the top layer of soil to the brim until water comes out the drainage holes in the bottom.  Wait for about half an hour for the plant to drink what it needs.  Remove excess water from the saucer with a turkey baster.

Rejuvenate tropicals with spa days:  Most houseplants are tropicals and enjoy humidity.  Treat them to a spa day by relocating them - one or two at a time - to a steamy bathroom.

Use flags for plant sitters:  When you go away on vacation, place a flag in the pots of plants that need special attention, such as extra water.  This will let your guest waterer know which plants to keep a careful eye on.

There are few things kids love more than digging their hands into the earth, watching flowers bloom and spending some up-close and personal time with nature's abundant creppy crawlers.

Take a look at your garden inventory:  Are all your garden tools adult size and to dangerous form small inexperienced hands?  Then create a "Kid Zone" of garden items that your little ones can play with.  Offer your children something different than the latest Barbie doll or video game.

Kid's tool sets, containing shovels, hoes, leaf rakes, aprons, tote bags, garden gloves and tool boxes are specially designed to fit and appeal to a small child and make great gifts.  They are safe and easy to use and will minimize any gardening "boo-boos."

Children with vivid imaginations and zest for life, will appreciate items such as paint a pot kits or bird houses to set up and watch from a safe kitchen window.

You parents and Grandparents love to pamper your kids and we know it.  That is why we make such a fun selection of childrens kits and garden toys available year round.  Holidays, Birthdays, Beginning of Summer, whatever the occasion to celebrate with fun child friendly items.

Remember - kids love to immitate their parents.  Do you garden?  Do you get out in your yard and enjoy it for all of it's wonderful opportunities?  If not then take this opportunity to start now!  It is worth your time and effort.  We promise!

If you are interested in purchasing any of the items show above - then go to our Gift Store.

Gather all materials.  You will need a stunning terracotta clay container, a hand spade or transplanter, appropriate plant materials, a good commercial pottery soil mix, fertilizer and a watering can.  Make sure your debth on container choice matches the plant label.




Start with soil.  Fill the pot approx one-third to one-half deep with soil.








Plant Rootballs.  For each plant, put one hand over the soil base or rootball and turn the container over.  Gently pull off the container with your other hand.  Set the rootballs in place at the proper depth, fill spaces with potting soil and press down firmly.  The soil level should be about 1 to 2 inches below the rim.







Water thoroughly.  It is very important to give it a good first time soaking to collapse possible air pockets and also help the flowers through their "transplant shock".





Fertilize:  A week or so later, mix liquid or powdered fertilizer with water in a watering can according to the fertilizer manufacturer's instructions.








Display:  A stunning container can be displayed as is.  You can also place a pre-planted nursery container inside of your clay or terracotta one to add style and looks.  Just make sure that there is good draining available.  You never want plant roots sitting is water.

Follow these east and simple steps and you can have a fantastic potted arrangement in minutes!

In our next entry on this series we will be discussing:

*  Dwarfing fruit trees for containers.
*  Selecting fruit plants that are container friendly.
*  Basic planting & maintenance needs.
and more.

Soaring summer temperatures can take a toll on many garden plants.  But you can freshen your landscape's look practically instantly:  Just combine crisp white blossoms with a shower of icy blue or silver foliage in a glazed container that is pale blue, celadon green or any other cooling shade.

Set the container in a high visibility area, such as on a patio or beside an entry.  Then notice how the soothing palette mimics the sparkle and cool, watery blue of a swimming pool or water feature.

To create the planting pictured above, first select a great looking piece of pottery.  Then choose four plants that combine well at your local nursery.  A tall blue oat grass as an accent in the center, lower gorwers- mealycup sage (Salvia Farinacea) and angelonia - to surround it, and a spiller (Dichondra argentea "silver falls") to soften the pot's edge.



1.  Place a small piece of fine wire screening in the bottom of the pot to cover the drain hole & keep soil from washing away. 

2.  Partially fill the container with loose, well draining potting soil so that the top of the 1 gallon plant sits below the rim of the pot.  Lightly firm the soil to minimize settling.

3.  Set the tallest plant, the blue oat grass, at the back of the container.

4.  Set the remaining plants into the container, adding soil beneath their rootballs as necessary to raise them to the same soil level as the large plant.  Add the salvia toward the back of the container beside the grass, the angelonia in front, and the dichondra near the edge so it trails over the pot's lip.

Simply stunning!

A simple planting can highlight and complement the beauty of a colorful or intricate container.  There is no need for flashy or complicated looking plant materials, which can make the overall design appear chaotic.  Sometimes simple is just plain better!

If the thought of seeing naked potting soil at the dining table doesn't sit well with you, consider topdressing your pot with inexpensive aquarium gravel, decorative river rocks, filbert nuts or glass beads.  They all come in decorative colors and they will give table top containers a polished, finished look.  These types of toppers wil all prevent soil from splashing onto the table when watering.

Don't be afraid to pack plants tightly to achieve a full or finished appearance in temporary centerpieces.  Many plants can withstand the removal of much of the medium from around their roots for several days before showing signs of stress.

Color doesn't need to come exlusively from flowers; plenty of plants derive most or all of their color impact from leaves.  Foliage plants provide a long lasting visual impact and are appreciated by guests sensitive to flower fragrances or pollen.

When it comes to adding pizzazz, think beyond potted plants.  Consider including cut or silk flowers, fruit, branches, food, ribbons, candles, decorative rocks, moss, or whatever you like.  All of these things can be easily removed as they fade or as your mood changes.  Go with seasonal or holiday looks also.  They are so easy to do!

All though you want your dining table centerpiece to draw attention, you do not want it to be an obstacle for your guests.  To determine the right size for your table, follow these guidelines to help you create a conversation piece rather than an annoyance.

Make sure you have enough elbow room.  To determine the maximum width and length of a dining table centerpiece, set the table fully, placing a dinner plate or large serving platter in the middle of the table.  Then see how much space can be left around the center plate without crowding any of the serving pieces, stemware, and any other items above the plates.  Mark the area with a string or something of a similar shape, and measure the area for the container's width & length.


Keep the height below eye level.
To determine the maximum height of a dining table piece, sit at the table with someone of average height sitting across from you.  Stack items in the middle of the table until they reach the level of the other person's chin, then measure and record the height.  Use the determined height as a guideline when composing your container.


Spruce up your outdoor dining and entertainment spaces with decorative planted centerpieces.  Keep in mind the table elements and surroundings - such as furniture, carpets, walls, and decorative objects - and choose compatible colors that suit the occassion.  Portable centerpieces are a great way to introduce color and style to any table.  Putting these pots together isn't hard but it does require some thoughtful planning.  Design is important but so is functionality.  The art of creating effective tabletop containers goes beyond providing potted plants with the right light, nutrients, and water.  Practical considerations, such as how long you plan to showcase the container and where you intend to display it, play a role in helping.

Lastly, remember the "design police" probably won't be invited to sit at your table, but if they do show up, tell them you have they enjoy your creation.

Plant a colorful variety of nectar-rich perennials to attract butterflies and hummingbirds.  You can also use wildlife tempting trees, shrubs, vines, and groundcovers.  Use a diversity of uncommon plants that grow quickly and produce lots of pretty flowers without needing a lot of water or maintenance.



Shrubs will do the heavy lifting in a wildlife garden.  They provide a habitat for birds, and even the Monarch caterpillars hightail from the milkweed flowers to shrubs when they are ready to pupate.

These make great places to teach home gardeners to attract wildlife.  Time spent watching birds and butterflies can tell you a lot about what they like.

A matrix of sheltering branches can form the garden peimeter.  Similar to an English hedgerow, they woody thicket is home to birds large and small.  Tiny hummingbirds nest about 6 feet above ground in shrubs and vines, while resident hawks perch on top of towering eucalyptus.  Orioles attach their nests to the undersides of large fan palm leaves.  You can also attract families of Quails.  Even dead twigs adn braches provide safe perches for mating or nesting birds.





Hummingbirds & butterflies migrate to perennials & shrubs with long, tubular flowers.  Plants that bear small, flat clusters of flowers feed the Monarchs and Swallowtails.  Make sure there are birdbaths or object to provide several containers of water throughout the garden.  Go with double duty plants that feed both butterflies and hummingbirds - especially if your garden area is small.  Try butterfly bush, which bears showy clusters of white, pink, lavender, purple, or yellow blooms.

Remember that what is attractive to the human eye is equally appealing to winged creatures, so view your garden on different levels.  Below are some suggestions.....give this a try.  Young or old, these types of gardens are entertaining, easy and truly fun!