Whew…it has been an exciting month at the Live Outside the Box House! In addition to the regular hustle and bustle of spring, we hosted three events: a VIP client party and two home and garden tours. Needless to say, we have been extra busy making sure everything was in tip top shape, and I am happy to report that everything has gone off without a hitch.

In the garden, this first year’s tulips were spectacular. I chose a blend of 3 different white varieties that bloomed at slightly different times. This provided the maximum amount of bloom time, and the tulips lasted at least a month.

The dogwoods in the front garden were also beautiful and were kind enough to hang around for all of the special events we had over the past month!

Near the front door, the giant urns received their seasonal plantings, as well. I decided to anchor the urns with a central boxwood topiary. The triple standard forms give dramatic height to the arrangements and also a bit of added formality. They are under-planted with a simple mix of white scaevola and asparagus fern…one of my all-time favorite mixtures.

Around the corner the perennial garden is filling in nicely, despite the fact that all the butterfly bushes died back to the ground during the harsh winter storms we experienced.

Also, as you can see, there is a new addition to the garden…a fountain! I have always wanted a fountain in this location and have been counting the days until it could be installed this spring. It is a wonderful, geometric vessel I commissioned from concrete artist, Jason Pledger of Forever Designs, LLC in Fayetteville. I am so excited to have it in and am enjoying the splashing sounds of the water as they waft throughout the garden and into the house!

The most exciting aspect of the past month, however, was all the wonderful visitors who came to share in the garden and outdoor living spaces. As I mentioned, we had several groups come by, including some lovely ladies from the Little Rock Garden Club. They were in town to visit several gardens, and it was an honor and a thrill to have lunch with them at the house. Even though the morning started off looking a bit stormy, the clouds parted just in time, and it was a beautiful and fun-filled visit!

We also had a garden party for our VIP clients this month, which was a huge success. Here is a centerpiece I made for one of the food tables that was super easy to do. I just cut succulents (echeveria) and placed them strategically on a pile of sandblasted grapevine…simple as that! I love the sculptural simplicity of the arrangement, and the succulents have already lasted a month with no care. My plan is to start misting them to extend the arrangement even longer.

In the kitchen garden, the Arkansas-native Cynthiana grapevines we planted last fall are leafing out vigorously. As they mature, we will trim and train them to grow all along the fence in the garden, and I can’t wait until they are laden with gorgeous, plump fruit!

And, as promised…here is your Nourishmat veggie garden update: I am happy to report that all the seeds seem to have germinated and should soon be yielding their delicious bounty!

Exterior designer Daniel Keeley is an Arkansas native and founder/principal of DK Design. His work has won numerous awards and accolades and is featured regularly in various publications. For more information visit dkdesignoutdoor.com.