Brightleaf

As spring quickly gives way to the first hints of summer, many of our clients are already thinking ahead to heat and drought-tolerant landscape designs. The good news is that a resilient garden doesn’t have to sacrifice beauty. By thoughtfully combining color, texture, and staggered bloom times, we can create plantings that not only withstand the heat but continue to feel vibrant and intentional all season long.

The snow and ice are finally melting, and I am looking at my garden asking myself some questions. What spaces are looking a little bare? What’s holding the space together? Are there any areas that need more balance?

This time of the year, evergreens play a big part in the landscape. They provide structure, interest, and balance when mostly everything else is quiet.

Read on to learn about some of my favorite evergreens and why they are winter stand-outs in my garden:

Get your Durham home or business ready for the holidays with Bright Leaf Landscaping’s stunning seasonal container plantings! We’re now booking installations for winter drop-ins that bring festive curb appeal. Our seasonal packages start at just $189 per container, or let us create fully custom designs tailored to your style and space. Spots fill quickly, so reserve yours today—email [email protected] or contact us to schedule your holiday containers!

When I meet with clients to discuss landscape design projects with heavy deer pressure they are often very discouraged. Having seen plants get eaten season after season is frustrating, and trying to protect deer prone plants from destruction can be a significant task. Deer repellants, while helpful, have to be reapplied after rain, and netting can trap other wildlife and generally be an eyesore. For these reasons we typically use a combination of plants that deer are less likely to eat – read on to learn more about how they can be combined to form a beautiful garden or click here for a video tour.

I recently participated in a Monrovia webinar on New Plants and Garden Trends for 2026. One trend focuses on the use of dark foliage mixed with chartreuse and variegation to create dramatic contrast – Goth Gardening. As someone who loves contrasting foliage I decided to give it a try in some of our shade containers at Golden Belt. See my plant list below and check out our video on Instagram.

I love succulents – their structure is always eye catching, and they are great choices for hot, dry sites. This season I created multiple residential containers designs using 2 of my favorites – Mangave and Aloe. Read on to learn more.

I’ve been gardening at my home in Durham for over 15 years and have reached the point where I can really focus on the containers in my garden, swapping out plants each season to add impact and drama. Read on for 3 ways that containers can add impact to your space.

Though it’s not officially summer I’m busy planning our container designs for the summer season. Read on to learn about two fun tropical plants to use in your container designs – Alocasia ‘Low Rider’ and Musa ‘Truly Tiny’.

Seasonal Container Planting by Bright Leaf Landscaping – Our Subscription Service for Truly Low Maintenance Gardening!

Say goodbye to spending the first weeks of spring waiting in line at the garden center. Instead, sign up now for four seasons of effortless beauty with our seasonal container subscription.

Here’s how it works: Choose your favorite container from our curated selection, and we’ll deliver it to your doorstep along with a custom-designed planting to fill it. As each new season begins, we’ll return with a fresh, stunning design and whisk away the previous season’s arrangement, making the experience truly hassle-free for you. Our experts carefully select plants that will flourish in your specific conditions, and we’ll provide season-specific watering instructions to ensure your plants thrive. With our subscription, you can trust that your patio will look its best all year long, without any of the hard work. No tools, no mess, and no more worrying about whether your outdoor space is ready for friends and family to gather.

Brr it’s cold outside! Does you garden need some additional color this season? Even though many of our perennials and deciduous plants are going through dormancy there are still options to add color to your garden beds or containers.