Looking to add year-round color in beautiful container plantings? Beth with Bright Leaf Landscaping is teaching a course at Duke Gardens on Colorful Summer Container Gardens. Beth will take us through two different designs using a combination of evergreen plants along with seasonal interest plants. Each plant builds the color, texture, and seasonality of the planter. The evergreen may be left in place year-round while the other plants are swapped out to freshen the planter each season. The discussion will focus on what to look for in a container, what planting media to use, various plant choices, and then how to plant and maintain your container. Continue reading Container Design with Beth from Bright Leaf Landscaping
Container Design, Installation and Maintenance Services Available
Bright Leaf Landscaping is now offering container design, installation and maintenance for commercial clients!
We are excited and ready to offer our landscape design and installation expertise to businesses in Durham. Have existing containers and need help removing and replacing dead or overgrown plants? Looking forward to warmer weather and need to spruce up your outdoor dining space? Ready to get started but scared you’ll pick the wrong plants or won’t know how to care for them? We can help! Continue reading Container Design, Installation and Maintenance Services Available
My COVID Project Design Principals – Enclosure and Borrowed Views
The only plants that were existing when we bought our house in 2009 were a Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood), a Redbud (Cercis canadensis), a Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda), and a hedge of Privet (Ligustrum). When redesigning the space, I automatically worked around them because of their maturity, but it wasn’t until the space was complete and being used that I appreciated the level of enclosure they provide.
Continue reading My COVID Project Design Principals – Enclosure and Borrowed Views
My Covid Project – Reveal
Almost a year ago I introduced you to a project that I started at my house during the early part of the pandemic. Now I’m back with a reveal of our new and improved backyard space. Read on to learn more about our space!
Landscape Products I Don’t Recommend
Many landscape products are marketed to solve your gardening problems. Before you spend money on DIY projects, consider the pros and cons. Read on to learn about some landscape products I don’t recommend and why.
Plants I Use for Dried Flower Heads
Dried Flower heads are an ornamental highlight to my landscape. I grow a mix of perennials, grasses, and shrubs that I don’t cut back after the flowers are spent. Read on to learn about the plants I use for dried flower heads. Continue reading Plants I Use for Dried Flower Heads
My COVID Project – My Inspiration Part 2
I always encourage my clients to find garden inspiration without worrying about practicality, at least initially. In my last post, I discussed two gardens that served as inspiration for my backyard Covid Project. La Louve and Jardin Majorelle are both stunning and my next step was to figure out how to translate their styles to my ¼-acre residential lot in Durham, NC. My final source of inspiration includes elements of the larger properties but translated to a scale more relevant to my garden. Read on to learn more. Continue reading My COVID Project – My Inspiration Part 2
My COVID Project – My Inspiration Part 1
Over the past few months, I’ve introduced you to my backyard and its challenges, but now I’m excited to move on to my inspiration for the space. As someone who has worked in the landscaping industry for over a decade I’ve seen a lot of gardens –many in person, and many many more in gardening publications. Read on to learn about the two that most inspired me. Continue reading My COVID Project – My Inspiration Part 1
My COVID Project – Solving Problems
When I first told you about my COVID backyard project, I identified two problems – weed management and ineffective use of the space. Read on to learn how I created a space that is both low maintenance and highly functional for my family. Continue reading My COVID Project – Solving Problems
Deer-Proofing Update to My NC Garden
Last year, I made a few attempts to keep the deer from eating my plants. They damaged my Hostas, Oak Leaf Hydrangea, and Strawberry plants. Read on to get an update on my deer-proofing garden successes and failures.
‘I Must Garden’ Cinnamon Scented Deer Repellent
