A well-designed entryway landscape not only enhances a home’s public face, but also allows the owner an opportunity to make a first impression.

The paving pattern of this cozy courtyard garden fits comfortably around the mature Japanese Maple.  The pattern of 12″ x 12″ pavers is infilled with ground covers including Elfin thyme and Corsican mint.

The focal point of this small entry garden is a grouping of a statue, pot of bamboo and a basalt column, surrounded by polished pebbles.

The existing picket fence was updated to lattice, and framed with ornamental grasses which add to the Zen-like quality of this space.

Wildflower Farm is a source for nursery-grown native North American wildflowers and grasses.  Located in Ontario, they have a great online store so you can order them regardless of your location!

Wildflower Farm’s website (http://www.wildflowerfarm.com) is loaded with information on how to assess your soil type, which is essential for identifying which wildflowers and grasses you can grow!

I’m looking forward to trying their Moss Milkshake!  Because of its low profile growth habit, moss makes an excellent alternative groundcover for areas of your yard that are shaded, or pathways where it is difficult to grow grass. Moss thrives in shade! The neatly tailored look that moss provides is perfect for accentuating and showcasing other, smaller woodland shade gardening plants and ferns!

An outdoor kitchen is quickly becoming a requirement of our outdoor living!  I am calling this post Outdoor Kitchens 101, as it is a primer that covers the basics for clients who are interested in having an outdoor kitchen installed.

An outdoor kitchen is an outdoor cooking space with a built-in grill, refrigerator, sink, prep area and storage.

Homeowners who have completed an outdoor kitchen installation consider the ideal skill set to be a combination landscape design and kitchen designer.

So exactly why are outdoor kitchens so popular?  My clients tell me that it adds enjoyment, luxury and relaxation.  It’s a lifestyle thing!  Cooking in an outdoor kitchen creates a sense of occassion for each meal, and the outdoor kitchen area becomes a gathering point (just as all great parties end-up in the kitchen!).

Creating an outdoor kitchen requires an assessment of your individual needs as well as a site assessment to evaluate all your property’s options.

The way you cook will vary from that of your friends and neighbours. Today’s outdoor kitchens make it easy to grill, make pizzas, boil lobsters and incorporate a bar!  A designer will help you incorporate your preferred use of the space.

We will also evaluate the scale of outdoor living you anticipate:  some of my clients need to accommodate a large gathering of family each summer while others have maximum dinner parties of 4-6.  We’re all different!

There are two types of outdoor kitchens:

• Satellite kitchens – the bulk of the food preparation is done inside
• Fully-independent kitchens – the bulk of the food preparation is done outside, increasing the need for refrigeration and food storage, counter space and work surfaces, storage of dishes and linens, and a larger sink.

Obviously the proximity of the outdoor dining area to the outdoor kitchen is very important!  As part of the site assessment, we will explore all of these options and look at outdoor dining furniture.

The trend in outdoor dining is moving away from dining around a formal dining table (although many of my clients still prefer this). I'm seeing more and more options for cocktail table height firepits which provide a heat source in the center, and room for a dinner setting or glass on the perimeter of the fire pit! I recommend a fire pit that is a minimum 42" square; this will accommodate two people on each side (or eight people total).

Click here for my post on outdoor dining furniture options!

I recently saw this landscape in upscale La Jolla, California.  I really like the way this designer combined the plants!

The groundcover forms a tightly-woven carpet between the articulated succulents that are graphically arranged.

The landscape is terraced, with the upper level highlighted by Cordyline australis 'Red Sensation' underplanted with Senecio mandraliscae. An Equisetum hedge provides a backdrop while screening residences from the street.

The many layers of this landscape come together magically!

En route to Palm Springs, I had to stop and fill-up in Pasadena.  To my delight, we happened across an incredible garden centre before we found a gas station.  I suggested “I bet the garden centre can tell us where to find a gas station” (with an ‘oh please, oh please…  let’s stop just for a minute’ undertone to my voice).  Joey had had a piddle break in hours, so we decided to stop.  Check-out my visit in a separate post here.

Perhaps my best find was Tony Kienitz’s book The Year I Ate My Yard.  It’s a must-read for anyone interested in growing their own food!  Kienitz’s humor is warm and welcoming while his gardening tips are full of insight and common sense.

Look for it at your local garden centre or book store.  You’ll be glad you did!

This exceptional site in West Vancouver required a facelift.  As the pool deck was resurfaced, my clients ordered several sleek planters from IAP.

Pool and jacuzzi as viewed from upper patio

The Penthouse of this luxury Downtown Vancouver residential tower has four separate gardens.

Upon entry to the condominium, a small balcony has been turned into a virtual oasis with a green wall, basalt burbler fountain and ornamental grasses.

Linear plantings of Mexican Feather Grass and New Zealand Flax wrap around the main living space of the condominium.

The roofdeck garden features an outdoor kitchen, Hinoki Cypress hot tub and grove of Black Bamboo, creating the ultimate outdoor room overlooking Vancouver’s False Creek and English Bay, with views of Vancouver Island on the hoizon.

“Michael is a gem. We originally hired him in 2006 to do the landscaping for a rooftop penthouse. We have been working with him ever since. Having worked on many construction projects over the past 15 years with many different vendors I can honestly say I wish there more people like Michael to work with. He has become a trusted friend, he is lots of FUN, he get the job done, and he follows up. What a pleasure!”

– Allison Stern

Combining various foliage colours is a way of making a dull part of your garden more vibrant!

At this Palm Springs residence, privacy is ensured with a lush Ficus hedge; but the hedge lacked punch! I installed a tall ceramic planter to punctuate the space. I chose a blue ice plant that picks-up on the blue glaze in the predominantly brown pot.

I surrounded the pot with light-coloured river rock, which adds a textural extention to the concrete pool deck.

Now we’ve gone from simply ‘a hedge’ to a dynamic focal point!

This new fence installation was built by Cedar Bay Fence Company.  I call it a fence, but it’s really a privacy panel which screens the neighbour’s view of my clients’ garden.

The classic trellis panels are supported between 6″x6″ posts, and a top arbour will support Akebia quinata, which will soon green up these handsome panels.

Gardenology.org is a complete plant and garden wiki encyclopedia with over 18,000 plant entries and articles written and edited by gardeners from around the globe!