"Green Star Award" received for environmental sustainability
Tue, Feb 4 2014 09:12
| Awards Recognitions, Children's Play Gardens, Herb Gardens, Organic Edible Gardens, Outdoor Living, Recent News, Sustainable Landscapes, Trends Ideas
| Permalink
Urquhart project by HGD receives more honors!
This back yard was created to provide a healthy and safe place for the children to play and discover nature. Everything is eco friendly from the raised beds of chicken manure compost & worm castings to the selection of plants for an organic vegetable garden, butterfly garden plus other plants in the landscape that will attract pollinators and beneficial insects. Hardscape are permeable. The design is water wise with drip irrigation that has state-of-the-art weather monitoring system for automatic adjustment based on current weather conditions.
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Rolling Planters move with the sun
Thu, Jan 30 2014 01:09
| Organic Edible Gardens, Pots Containers, Trends Ideas
| Permalink
Rolling planters present an opportunity to grow flowers and edibles in places never before possible.
What if the sunniest place in your yard happens to be in the middle of the patio where your tables and chairs are? Since you rarely sit there every day and certainly not all day long, consider this ... push the furniture aside and roll your planters to that location so your plants can benefit from the rays of the sun!I discovered these planters while searching for a solution for a family living in a mid century Modern home. The industrial look of these planters fits their style perfectly. The general concept is workable, however, for any style. Choice of materials, trim and color can easily modify the idea to work with a Traditional or even a Zen garden.
The key is heavy duty wheels that swivel so the planter can be moved easily in a small space. A light weight soil mix would be a benefit too, such as the soil used for roof top gardens, green roofs or hanging baskets.
I can't wait to find more uses for these planters along a driveway, near a pool, or even to transform the parking lot of a church or school. There are so many paved areas that are very sunny and unoccupied during the week or during the summer. Let's make that space productive and beautiful with edibles, flowers, and even fragrant small shrubs.
Get details about the planters shown in the photo above at rollingplanter.com and minifarmbox.com. Both are shipping from the West coast. I will be looking for other planters from suppliers located closer to each job site. Let me know if you discover anything.
Read more about us and my ecological, sustainable landscapes.
Danna Cain, ASLA
Home & Garden Design, Inc., Atlanta
homegardendesign.com
2 Sided Landscape - Hidden vegetable garden in front yard
Wed, Jan 29 2014 01:36
| Curb Appeal, Organic Edible Gardens, Trends Ideas
| Permalink
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| Vegetable garden in front yard can not be seen from street. This is view from owner's driveway |
Plant food, not lawns. Pretty front yard salad gardens
This salad garden is positioned in the sunniest part of the front yard in an area that is hidden from the neighbors. It's visible from my driveway and all windows across the front of the house. These edibles plus others scattered thru the front yard are combined with flowering shrubs and perennials that attract beneficial insects and pollinators. The plants occupy 90% of the space with only 10% remaining lawn.The front lawn at my house is a very small drift of zoysia that flows along the curb and blends with the neighborhood. The entire remaining front yard is landscaped with edibles mixed with perennials and shrubs. The photo below shows the view from the street. The edible garden with the 4 stone raised beds is located behind the pink azaleas. Other low growing vegetables, dwarf blueberries and strawberries are located behind the purple verbena in the upper, left corner of the photo below.
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| This is what the neighbor's see. Edibles are behind the pink azalea. |
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| This is the other side where the main edible garden is located. |
Looking forward to creating something perfect for you!
Danna Cain, ASLA
Home & Garden Design, Inc., Atlanta
homegardendesign.com
Edibles are fun with "Food Head Fred". Let's get creative with food!
Mon, Jan 27 2014 01:44
| Organic Edible Gardens
| Permalink
Ideas for vegetable gardens, kitchen gardens & edible landscapes.
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| © Food Head Fred, Elaine Callahan |
Besides, when combined with other flowering plants that attract beneficial insects and pollinators, you will have a more healthy and vibrant garden. The vegetable garden does not need to be crammed into the far corner of the rear yard. Imagine it conveniently located near your new outdoor kitchen and part of your outdoor living experience. What if the only place in your yard with adequate sun is in your front yard? No problem! I've created many front yard edible gardens that are absolutely beautiful. So whether you want an herb garden, salad garden, home orchard, or edible estate, there are ways to integrate that into your landscape. Look at this idea ...
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| Pretty front yard, organic salad garden |
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| Edible garden is hidden behind the pink azaleas where it can't be seen from street |
I have many more ideas to share with you. See upcoming posts to this blog from my recent seminar "Interesting Edibles: New, Unusual and Creative" that was first presented at the 2014 GGIA Wintergreen Conference. Discover how edibles are being incorporated intro trendy urban & suburban landscapes. Learn how to attractively integrate perennials, annuals and herbs that will attract pollinators & beneficial insects. Enjoy examples of how the design principles of color, texture & form are utilized to create beautiful results.
If you're too anxious to wait for the upcoming posts, you can peak at a few photos of organic edible gardens on our website.
Be sure to also visit elainecallahan.com to discover more "fresh art available in several delicious flavors". I'm certain you'll enjoy her refreshing illustrations.
Let's have some fun with edibles!
Danna Cain, ASLA
Home & Garden Design, Inc., Atlanta
Danna Cain is featured speaker at GGIA Wintergreen State Conference
Tue, Jan 7 2014 02:41
| Awards Recognitions, Organic Edible Gardens, Recent News, Trends Ideas
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Interesting Edibles: New, Unusual & Creative is topic for seminar
I'm excited to be one of the speakers at Wintergreen 2014. GGIA invites renowned leaders in Georgia as well as nationwide horticulture specialists to share their knowledge of the latest info and trends related to landscaping. I'm very honored to be in the lineup of speakers that includes Michael Dirr & Alan Armitage of UGA fame as well as Jenny Edge Hardgrave, owner of Simply Flowers, one of the most talented landscapers I've ever meet.GGIA's conference has been Georgia's #1 top horticulture conference for decades. Everyone who's anyone in the horticulture/agriculture world has attended this event since it's inception in the 1970's.
In addition to the fabulous educational sessions, GGIA Wintergreen features a trade show of companies from all over the Eastern U.S. who have the highest quality plants and other materials used for landscaping. It's always a joy to see and learn about the new introductions that will be on the market soon as these items will make my designs and your landscapes shine!
The current trend in the industry is to develop plants that are more dwarf, disease resistant and with longer blooming seasons. For my clients, that means plants that are very colorful, easy to maintain and small enough to not require pruning. I'm always looking for problem-solving plants so hope you contact me when you need advise or are ready to renovate your landscape.
At the conference, I will be presenting "Interesting Edibles: New, Unusual & Creative" ways to incorporate vegetables, herbs and fruit into the landscape. Explore how edibles are being incorporated into trendy urban and suburban landscapes. Receive inspirational ideas and information about extraordinary new plants, containers, vertical gardening, pollinators and more!
If you miss this conference be sure to check upcoming blog posts where I will be posting excerpts. I'm also available to present this hour long presentation at your conference, retreat or meeting. Inquire regarding details by sending email to contactus@homegardendesign.com
Danna Cain, ASLA
Home & Garden Design, Inc., Atlanta
homegardendesign.com
Transform your holly bushes
Sun, Sep 1 2013 08:11
| Curb Appeal, Herb Gardens, Italian Garden, Organic Edible Gardens, Perennial Gardens, Pots Containers, Pruning, Small Front Yards
| Permalink
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| These holly trees have been "limbed up" into tree form plus new, more interesting plants added around for color, texture and an Italian flair |
Morphing a holly hedge into an award winning statement
Here's an idea you can use! When faced with a huge, boring hedge, consider "limbing it up" to morph it into a row of trees. That was our solution when the City of Atlanta arborist would not allow us to remove these Virginia Highland hollies. The raised canopy gave us space and sun to plant the herb and perennial garden that the client desired. This idea won the 2013 Atlanta Home Improvement, Best Before/After Makeover contest in the landscape division.The hedge was so fat and robust that it was difficult for the owner to keep up with pruning it off of the unique, yet small driveway. The first goal was to give the client more space.
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| Before photo |
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| Before photo |
The photo below was taken immediately after pruning the hollies. Yes, that entire hedge was from only 2 plants! Notice how we selected only a few of the best main trunks on each plant. We then shaped and cleaned out the canopy. Strategic limbs were cut back severely so that they would “bush up” to fill in and grow into a more compact form. Drastic reclamation pruning, such as this, should be done in February while the plant is dormant. This timing, just before the flush of new Spring growth, assures that the plant will not be barren for long.
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| During photo, taken just after pruning the hollies |
The next photo shows the holly trees "limbed up" into tree form plus the new, more interesting plantings surrounding the hollies. This client wanted color, texture, herbs and an Italian flair. Notice how we incorporated the Italian cypress that he really wanted for texture. He did not mind seeing the neighbor's house. In fact, he welcomed the more spacious view that this idea presented.
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| After Photo, one year later |
Between the hollies, we placed a large Italian Terra Cotta urn as a focal point. This provides color rear round, especially in the winter when the surrounding perennials are dormant.
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| Large Italian Terra Pot with annuals |
The sunniest place in the yard was at the corner, so this is where we placed the main herb garden. See how the pruning of the hollies, addition of the Italian cypress and the herbs plus perennials have transformed the curb appeal of this Midtown home.
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| Before photo |
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| After photo shows how this idea provides better curb appeal plus space for the herb garden at the sunny curb |
Award announcement
Magazine article
Portfolio photo #1 curb appeal
Portfolio photo #2 perennial gardens
Good Housekeeping features our organic vegetable garden
Sat, Jul 13 2013 10:12
| Awards Recognitions, Organic Edible Gardens, Recent News, Trends Ideas
| Permalink
"Creating an Outdoor Oasis" article about HGD
Good Housekeeping's official website has selected one of our projects to feature in an article about "Creating an Outdoor Oasis". Here, you'll see an interesting oasis in a front yard landscape that just so happens to be a beautiful organic vegetable and herb garden. We're excited to be picked up by this well respected national magazine.
More about this project ...
In Good Housekeeping
In UAC journal
On the cover of the AJC Homefinder!
Thu, Apr 4 2013 10:35
| Awards Recognitions, Children's Play Gardens, Organic Edible Gardens, Outdoor Living, Recent News, Trends Ideas
| Permalink
"Outdoor Activity Havens" article
What a thrill to open the Sunday paper and see one of our projects on the cover! The custom play set that we designed as a part of the Urquhart discovery play garden gets center stage.