A Cabin Christmas

November 18, 2008 by ark_admin

When she began creating the holiday décor for a relative’s river cabin, Jo Buttram, a certified Arkansas master florist and owner of Shirley’s Flowers in Rogers needed to look no further than the home’s beautiful setting on the White River for inspiration. Designed and built by Michael Johnson of MCR Enterprises, the wood and stone cabin is constructed of hand-hewn white cedar siding and custom beams. “The best spot is really in the living room, which has enormous walls of windows, so you can enjoy views of the river and countless deer and birds,” Jo says.

Planned as a getaway from the world, the home was also designed to be as maintenance free and ecologically responsible as possible. From the use of sustainable materials to a geo-thermal heating and cooling system, every effort was taken to ensure that the home would impact its wooded setting as little as possible.

…

A Hilltop Manor

October 28, 2008 by ark_admin

…

Diamond in the Rough

October 28, 2008 by ark_admin

…

Seasonal Changes

October 27, 2008 by ark_admin

November may seem like a questionable time of year as far as landscaping and plant upkeep. With the chill in the air and the approaching winter months, it’s difficult to know what steps to take to prepare and protect your garden. We spoke with Jennifer Gibson and the team of horticulturists and landscape designers at Good Earth Garden Center in Little Rock to learn a few of their tips.

Winterizing your lawn before the weather gets cold is crucial. “Winterizing should be done by early November at the latest,” says Gibson. Leaf removal is also important because leaf build-up could lead to bald spots on the lawn next spring, and trimming evergreens, planting new trees and shrubs, and transplanting perennials should all be done as fall proceeds. “In November, as plants go dormant, it’s a good time to look around your yard with a critical eye and see if you need more evergreen material or fall blooming plants like the Lenten Rose and camellia shrubs,” Gibson says. “November is actually a great time to work in the yard thanks to lower temperatures and fewer bugs, allowing for a more enjoyable time.”

A good idea to consider is to create container gardens to last through the winter months. “Container gardens can be a stylish way to add punches of color and interesting focal points anywhere in your landscaping—not just on patios and balconies,” says Gibson. “Whenever I’m designing someone’s landscape, I always try to include container gardens in strategic spots,” A grouping of three well-coordinated pots can be as beautiful as a traditional garden.”

The key to creating a good container garden is simple. Gibson suggests using plants with different colors and textures that complement and contrast one another. It’s also a good idea to begin with the largest plant and fill in from there, like the blend of Hicks Yew, mustard and Aztec grass in the blue and green cone-shaped planter. “The needle-like leaves of the yew are a sharp contrast to the broad, lush leaves of the mustard plant,” Gibson says. “The Aztec grass lightens everything up and adds color and visual interest to the overall look of the container.”

One of the best aspects of container gardening is that they can be much easier to maintain than a traditional garden. “Replacing and maintaining plants is at a much more manageable level. This makes it much easier as the seasons change,” says Gibson.

…

“We started with the spiral sedge in this container, and the upright and rigid texture of the leaves are a contrast to the loose spiral shape, which adds up to a contemporary feel. The sweetflag has a different use. It’s used more as a backdrop and filler, as well as a color contrast for the sedge, and the pansies and snapdragons offer this planter even more eye-catching pop.”

The yew in this planter is a great winter plant because its leaves and berries can be used as decorations for the holiday season, and the small needle-like leaves are a sharp contrast to the broad lush leaves of the mustard.

Creative Collaboration

September 22, 2008 by ark_admin

…

A Natural Compilation

September 22, 2008 by ark_admin

…

Harvest Time

September 21, 2008 by ark_admin

When the weather turns cooler, we look for the changes of colors and textures in nature to signal the beginning of fall. Landscape designer Chris Olsen with Botanica Gardens in Little Rock created an inviting harvest scene on his front porch to illustrate how a few simple techniques and choice supplies can make a beautiful autumn entrance way.

For inspiration, Olsen suggests beginning with what you already have. “I started with the door,” he says. “It’s a dark olive green and has an elegant style. The vine growing along the front of the house is Virginia creeper. It’s a native plant, and it leaves turn a fiery red in late fall. This all led me to imagine a harvest look.” He then chose the slate-colored planters and positioned them on either side of the door. “The planters keep the space from becoming too traditional,” he says. “They are big and bold, and since the porch is not very wide, they add a vertical emphasis on the door.” To increase the vertical lines, he potted agave plants in the planters, and their thin leaves and yellow and green hues accentuate the space.

Olsen chose yellow mums for fresh pops of color. “Yellow is one of the first colors your eyes notice,” Olsen says. “I love the bold hue of the mums, and I suggest replacing them every two to three weeks. The key to a great scene is to keep everything looking fresh.” Olsen filled in with gourds of every shape, color and size. “The pumpkins are perfect for fall, and they offer great texture and shape,” he says. “People often want to put out their pumpkins too early in September, including myself. That’s okay, but they have to understand they will lose several to rot before the cooler nights of early October reduce the heat stress.”

Amongst the pumpkins, Olsen placed straw pumpkins and terra cotta pots and saucers. “I don’t like to use too much of the same thing,” he says. “I spray the straw pumpkins with a water seal, and this helps them last a long time outside. The clay pots add a collective feel, and I enjoy stacking them around. When I think of harvest time, I think of a collection, and pots and baskets unify the feeling. What’s great about this setup is that I can reuse a lot of these items for winter and Christmas decorating. I’ll paint the pumpkins and pots and incorporate them into another setting. We don’t like to waste anything.”

…