Author: briGHt4384v

If you’re a tree lover like me, the thought of losing mature specimen trees is a real concern. In my garden I have a mature Willow Oak (Quercus phellos) that reaches well over the house, offering shade, wildlife habitat, and a canopy that adds a sense of maturity to my garden. I love this tree and would hate to lose it.

Several weeks ago a report on tree canopy loss in Wake County was widely reported on – including this article from WRAL. Additionally, this summer Duke Hospital clocked a 72mph wind speed recording on their roof, which is just one mile from my house.

As landscapers and designers we experience the weather every day, whether in our customers’ gardens or our own. The summer of 2023 was the hottest recorded, and here in Durham we also experienced 80 mph wind during a short lived, but very damaging thunderstorm.

We recently had the opportunity to redesign the container plantings at Fullsteam Brewery in Durham NC. Inspired by the copper color of the containers, the vintage brick, deep red logo and the prospect of fall around the corner we went all in on a fall color palette. Plantings this time of year are often designed around seasonal mums which offer a short term burst of color. Read on to learn what we did instead.

If you’re familiar with container plantings you’ve probably heard the phrase “thriller, filler, and spiller” as a shorthand for mixing plants to create a pleasing combination. I would argue that the concepts of “color, texture, and form” from landscape design are actually more relevant – read on to learn more.

As the summer weather heats up it’s important to select plants that can tolerate our high temps and humidity and keep your containers looking great all season long. Read on to learn about my formula for container plantings in hot and dry locations.

In our last blog post, we discussed my go-to trees and shrubs to create privacy on your property. Whether individual specimens or through a mass hedge planting, there are a variety of plants to create privacy for every space. This week I’m discussing some more unusual plants that can be used to create privacy. Read on to learn more.

As temperatures cool and the leaves begin to fall, many of our clients start to notice that their gardens feel less private. Views that were previously blocked by deciduous shrubs and trees are now open which can be wonderful, or not, depending on what the view contains. If you are looking to make an investment in your property this fall, consider identifying areas that could benefit from increased privacy through a screen or hedge planting. Read on to learn about some of my favorite landscaping for privacy!

We recently installed a series of shade containers for a customer in Chapel Hill. Focusing on contrasting leaf color and texture, we planted a combination of Hosta, Rex Begonia, Gardenia, Aucuba, Heuchera, and Japanese Painted Ferns. Most of these plants are perennials and several will provide year-round evergreen interest. The gardenias even bloom reliably in the shade and offer a fantastic fragrance!
We are excited to offer container design, installation, and maintenance services – give Beth a call at 919.619.4460 to get started on your own container project!

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.