From the Archives: Prepping the Deck
Summer is here! ...
DIY: Holiday Wreath
Happy December! We've already seen the Christmas lights go up, mall Santas are arriving from the North Pole, and the holiday parties have begun! Whatever you celebrate this time of year, there is a consistent feeling of togetherness and cheer that really makes this, as the songs say, the most wonderful time of the year.One of our favourite ways of decorating for the holidays is with a wreath. What could be more west coast that bringing a little bit of the...
In the garden: A pre-planting pep talk
The calendar said it was spring over a month ago...
Placemaking For Your Backyard BBQs
Placemaking For Your Backyard BBQsSo often our backyard BBQ placement is an afterthought. We put money and energy into designing our interior space and even our garden, but summer comes along and we then remember the BBQ. So what can you do to make your outdoor BBQ more of a feature and a more useful space than just putting a freestanding BBQ on your back deck or patio?This image below is a perfect example of a very thought out...
Create An Oasis With Water Features
Create An Oasis With Water FeaturesWater features are a great way to make your backyard into an oasis. In our city environments, traffic and urban noises can be masked by the sound of running water. There are so many variations-from a very simple container fountain to something much more complex.Check out these images to give you some inspiration!Vancouver Zen Garden by Joost Bakker Architect.Contemporary Patio by Berkeley Architects & Building Designers WA Design ArchitectsContemporary Landscape by Newport Beach Landscape...
Friday Finds: Garden Crawl in Southlands
Friday Finds: Garden Crawl in Southlands Last Week was Heritage Vancouverâs 4th Annual Garden Tour. My husband Graham and I spent 2 days touring the unique and beautiful gardens that were part of this wonderful design tour. What a privilege to see the range of gardens that Vancouveritesâ have designed and developed in their yards. Some are large and some are very small but each one tells a story about the homeowner. For today's Friday Finds, we are going to explore a large garden in Southlands,...
DIY: Planting Bulbs
DIY: Planting Bulbs Itâs the end of April and the sun is shining more regularly now. There is a definite warmth to the air and shadows are getting shorter and the days are longer. The garden has been hibernating for the winter but is now starting to burst forth with new leaves and Spring colour. So how can you prepare for the gardening season ahead?Now is the time to plant summer bulbs-Ranunculus, Lilies and Gladiolas will offer beautiful summer display.Bulbs...
Spring Garden Planter Design Workshop
Our Spring Garden Planter Design Workshop last week was a total success! It was creative, hands-on, informative and everyone had a great time putting their own planters together.Our beautiful studio was the perfect setting for special guest Diane Bridges, of DB Gardens, to share her expertise and design ideas. Everyone had a chance to get in touch with their creativity while enjoying good company, conversation, and wine.Our swag bags included of course gardening gloves, a Garden Iris bulb to plant...
Spring Garden Planter Design
Time to get ready for our Spring Garden Planter Design Workshop coming up next week. Yesterday I went to Southlands Nursery with our landscaping expert, Diane Bridges. We were looking at supplies and discussing our upcoming Spring Container Garden workshop. In the short while, we were exploring the nursery, I learned a few things. Itâs interesting to me because a lot of how we decorate or design for the home can be carried out in the garden as well. We...