Daily Blessing

Recently a client asked us to help her in designing a prayer garden.  This small circular space was tucked between a few pines and dogwoods.  We added a bench, a side table, a planter, and a small fountain.  For the plantings we used a simple color palette of green and white... white hydrangeas, azaleas, narcissus, and other white blooming bulbs and annuals.  The serene atmosphere was such a success!  I hate to say that I do not have any pictures to show you, but here are some other inspirational prayer gardens that I have found.

 

The Archbishop's prayer garden at the National cathedral in Washington D.C.

Prayer garden at Little Portion Monastery in Berryville, AR.

Prayer Garden at Cedarkirk Camp and Conference in Lithia, FL.

The next series of pictures below are from The Meteora in Greece.  These monasteries date back to the 15th century and are one of the most amazing things I have even seen.  Please  click on the links above for more information and the history.

As if the cliff top scenery wasn't enough, there are amazingly perfect gardens at the monasteries.

I wish I could say more about these monasteries and their gardens, but my writing skills are not sufficient enough to give it the justice that it deserves.  So look it up... you will be amazed!

Pool Structures

I love the images below of different pool structures.  They are all so different, but each perfectly stylish in their own way.

Which is your favorite?

Galvanized Metal Containers

As you can tell from previous post, we love galvanized metal containers.  There are so many uses for them from beer tubs to baby pools, but one excellent use for them is planters.  This is an inexpensive chic alternative to container gardening.

A couple tips that will make your life easier when using galvanized containers as pots:

1) Add drainage holes.  This is easily done by taking a hammer and nail and poking about 10 small holes in the bottom of the container.

2) Add a layer of newspaper around the edges before you plant.  Because the metal is so thin, the plants are more susceptible to heat and cold.  This will help protect them.

Good luck!

Window Boxes

I have had a couple request for a post on window boxes, and I love special request!  If you have any email me, and I will be sure to do a post for you.  Now, back to window boxes...

 

The picture below, of the store Lush Life in Buckhead, says it all.  What a great illustration of how window boxes can greatly enhance the look of your house.  

One solution to the planting design of a window box (or any planter) is to center the planter with an evergreen (or a series of evergeen plants) such as boxwoods.  Then plant seasonal color around the sides.  This has a great effect and you do not have to to replace as much seasonally.  The picture below is centered with three dwarf boxwoods with perennials and annuals surrounding.

Another solution is to hire someone to plant your containers for you, such as Container Gardening of Altanta LLC.  Below are some examples of window boxes that they have done.

Thomas Church (1902-1978)

As a residential landscape architect, I have always been intrigued by Thomas Church.  This photo of his design, known as the Dewey Donnell garden, is one that we studied in school and has always stuck in my head.  His designs seem to define the term "simply classic."

Thomas Church is known as the man who opened the door to the modern movement in Landscape Architecture.  He grew up in California, and after years of education, travel, and teaching, he opened his own firm in San Francisco.

Church's style soon began to redefine the California landscape by introducing the modern movement.  He understood that gardens should be an extension of the home and created outdoor living spaces and garden rooms.  He successfully merged the idea of "form follows function" with decorative style pleasing to those who use the space.  

In his career he designed more than 2000 gardens.

Not So Mellow YELLOW.

I am usually more of a green/blue/white kind of girl, but with all of this gloomy rain in Atlanta, we need a little bit of sunshine.  I love it when there is a splash of yellow to really make something pop.

Viceroy Palm Springs via Patricia Gray inc blogspot

This picture is from the Viceroy Palm Springs, a boutique resort and spa in Southern California.  The yellow works perfectly with the green backdrop and black umbrellas.

courtesy of Country Living

In Fung Shui the energy of your home begins with your front door.  This house has got to have great energy with an eye catching front door like this one.

courtesy of Architectural Digest

These two are photos that I love.  The yellow really makes the whole composition "pop" and adds such a fun element!

by designer Jan Showers

Daily Dreaming

With what seems to be never ending rain in Atlanta, we all feel as if we are swimming in an infinity of puddles.  This rain brings up images of infinity pools in my head and I am day dreaming that I am here right now...

This infinity pool is over looking the lagoon at the Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa.   Breathtaking!

Although you typically think of infinity pools along the coast they are beautiful in any setting.  This photo from Architectural Digest is a great example of that.

This is the infinity pool at the Alila Ubud boutique resort in Bali.  This hill side retreat is located in the Ayung River valley in the central foothills of Bali.

This image, courtesy of Architectural Digest, is the view of Cher's infinity pool from the loggia at her home on Malibu Bluff.

We have recently designed an infinity pool for a client in Virginia.  They have a steep sloping area in the back which makes for a perfect setting for an infinity pool.  Construction has not even begun yet, but I cannot wait to see the finished product.  I will post pics for you all when it is complete.

courtsey of Country Living

I have a couple friends going camping this weekend and this does seem like the perfect time of year for it. 

Have a great time this weekend with whatever you may be doing!

Door Decor

We are all definitely feeling a little fall in the air!  As the first official day of fall is less than a week away, it is time to fully enwrap ourselves in the season and get out the fall decor. Below are some fun examples of fall door decor.

Great color palette!  I love how the pumpkins, mums, terra cotta pots, and wreath all go together so well.

courtesy of Sunset

courtesy of country living

These are a great example of color alternatives.  Just because it is fall you dont have to stick to the oranges and browns.

courtesy of Sunset

So inviting!

courtesy of Sunset

Again, I love the color pallet, and the mix of potted plants with the pumpkins or gourds. 

courtesy of Country Living

This one looks more Christmas, but how lovely!

H a p p y   F a l l !

Daily Bloom

It is time to plant your Narcissus, more commonly know as Paper Whites.  These lovely white flowers have up to ten flowers per stem and bloom from early winter to early spring.  

These flowers are quite fragrant and are so easy to force indoors.  Place the bulbs on top of rocks in a glass vase.  As you water the Paper Whites be sure that the bulb is not sitting in water but just their beginning roots should be in the water.  

Tip:  As the paper whites begin to grow you may want to add a few drops of vodka to their water.  This will stunt their growth, keeping them straight and tall.

Planters Galore

I went to Birmingham, AL to see my oldest friend last weekend.  Both of our mothers came up and we had a wonderful girls weekend filled with shopping and fun dinners.  One of the best things we did was go to Tsitalia, a warehouse filled with imported mediterranean treasures.  Here are some of the fabulous finds ...

These huge copper pots used to be used for cooking, but now works perfect for a fire pit.  My bff, Lane got one for her back patio.

I want a copper sink like these in my next house.

These gorgeous urns are antiques imported from Greece.  These are beautiful, but pricey!

  

If you would like to get more bang for your buck, which we chose to do, you can go with these reproductions that have a great look as well.

I got these two pots to use indoors in my house.   

I love the effect when large urns that you typically find outdoors are used inside.  The images below are great example of this.  

Via Things that Inspire.

Planters indoors or out are such a great way to add some "pop" to your garden.   You will be amazed at the difference a few containers can make.  

All containers pictured above by Container Gardening of Atlanta

No time to do it your self?  There are people who will do it for you... Container Gardening of Atlanta is a great company that specializes in this in the Atlanta area.   Inside Out Designs, (229.226.1319) is another great company that will come design your containers in the South Georgia / North Florida area.