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LANDSCAPING -- WITH BROMELIADS Bromeliads are the oddest of plants appearing many times a bit drab in contrast to other plants sharing the same garden space and requirements. Some of them have exotic looking leaves, but many do not. It isn't until blossom time that these plants shine as brightly as any others and maybe even more than most. Their requirements are fairly simple -- terrestrial or arboreal, bright light with little direct sun and water to fill their collecting cups on a routine basis. For the terrestrials, the soil should contain lots of humus, for the tree plants a good bit of tree detritus to sit upon and that's about it. What could be easier? Now that they're all in the garden, just sit back and enjoy the show. |
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Photographed: In the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia, in 2013.
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Photographed: In the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia, in 2013.
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LANDSCAPING
YOUR ENTRANCE |
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Photographed: In the (Ortobotanico) Botanical Garden in Naples, Italy, in 2014.
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Photographed: In the garden at the Hotel San Buenavista at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala in 2011.
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Photographed: In the garden at the Hotel San Buenavista at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala in 2011.
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LANDSCAPING IN A DRY CLIMATE AND XERISCAPES Dressing up the base of our homes has long been a tradition. In many parts of the world we use dense greenery and spring blooming azaleas and rhododendrons. All of these plants love receiving a routine amount of rainfall or watering and most prefer an acid soil which can be hard to accomplish next to a cement foundation. For those of us who have or have had a warm climate home all of these practices are counterproductive as they act as invitations to termites and molds and mildews that can negatively affect our health. Here's an alternative that may take some getting used to, but I guarantee you are going to love it when the termites stop coming and you stop sneezing or wheezing. Consider planting a xeriscape (dry climate) garden in three or four feet of sandy soil next to your foundation. You can see below some of the great variety of plant options from tall and thin to short and fat and everything in between. Like us you may in a short time come to appreciate the wonder of these plants. Surely you'll appreciate lessening the risk of termites and respiratory illnesses. When I get a chance I'll put in some photographs of our home in Montserrat where I did just what I'm advising you to do. |
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Photographed: In the Ortobotanico in Naples, Italy, in 2012.
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Photographed: In the Ortobotanico in Naples Italy in 2012.
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Photographed: In the garden at the Hotel Atitlan at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala in 2013.
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Photographed: In the Ortobotanico in Naples Italy in 2012.
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Photographed: In the garden at the Hotel Atitlan at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala in 2013.
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Photographed: In the garden at Viscaya in Miami, Florida, in 2014.
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As there are more and more of us these days, finding a bit of privacy isn't always easy, even for the wealthy. Plants can go a long way to making your life feel more insular, more personal and more protected from the whims and whimsies of all of the people that surround you. Sitting out on your porch with your feet up on a swing while you while away an hour or so reading something worthless is wonderful, but not if you have to greet every neighbor that passes by. Plants can help. Plants growing in a big window will allow you a view, but will confuse the view of those outside at a little distance. Houseplants are now known to clean our air and maybe will also be known for clearing our minds. |
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Photographed: In the garden at the Hotel Regis in Panajachel, at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala in 2013.
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Photographed: At the Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum in Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, in 2013.
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Photographed: In the garden at Viscaya in Miami, Florida, in 2014.
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Photographed: In the garden at Viscaya in Miami, Florida, in 2014.
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Photographed: In the garden at Viscaya in Miami, Florida, in 2014.
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LANDSCAPING
OOPS! |
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| When landscaping always look first to cure any faults in your property and then to enhance its best qualities. Try never to emphasize its weaknesses which has been done to this home where first much could have been done to add and vary height and texture. As it is, it attracts enough attention that we stopped to take a photograph and that's not what you really want. These folks spent a lot of money to do this to their property and sad to say all or most of it was completely wasted. | ||
Photographed: Somewhere on the road in Rhode Island in in 2013.
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If
you have seen an OOPs, send me a photo and we'll share it with
the world. Please
click here to contact me. |
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