Annie's Gardening Corner: August 2014

Friday, August 29, 2014

Relax Before the Labor

What are your plans for this Labor Day weekend?

Make sure you find a quiet spot to relax before the labor.

Relax before the labor - Landscape Design by Bilowz Associates Inc.

And if you need a few chores to labor over, you can always check back. Here's this month’s August Must Do’s or like always, you can just Enjoy the View.

Enjoy this other ocean view - Landscape Design By Bilowz Associates Inc.

On this holiday weekend, make time to relax before the labor. Remember, there are always beautiful spaces in nature. Need it instantaneously? Take a peak back at Nature’s Way and Nature’s Silhouette. Happy Labor Day to all who follow and make sure to share with a friend.

© Copyright note: all images and designs used in this blog have been developed by and are the property of Bilowz Associates Inc. and should not be reproduced in any manner nor are they to be assigned to any third party without the expressed written permission and consent of Bilowz Associates Inc.©

If you like this blog, hope you check in for your daily share's worth of inspiration, design, and garden tips; always original, not cookie cutter and copied. Just like our design work, we strive for unique! We invite you to contact Bilowz Associates, Inc., or to browse our portfolios for inspiration. Like our Facebook follow on Twitter or subscribe to the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. You can follow with visuals on Pinterest and find us on LinkedIn and Houzz, too. And you can also find us back on our Google+ Business Page. (Landscape architecture/Design/ Massachusetts.)

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Enjoy the View

On this #WordlessWednesday, it’s another angle; a different view.

Coastal property - landscape architecture/design

Landscape Design by Bilowz Associates Inc.

Compare it to last Friday’s image from our post, ‘Secret of the Sea’. Although you can detect some of the same components and design elements, it’s another angle; a different view.

Landscape architects/Bilowz Associates Inc.

A different angle; a different view.

As Mary Schmich points out, “Good art is art that allows you to enter it from a variety of angles and to emerge with a variety of views.” The same can be stated about good design. On this #WordlessWednesday, enjoy the view.

© Copyright note: All images and designs have been developed by and is the property of Bilowz Associates Inc. and should not be reproduced in any manner nor are they to be assigned to any third party without the expressed written permission and consent of Bilowz Associates Inc.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

#DYK + best bean & recipe attached

Did you know (#DYK) that Garden Design Magazine (@GardenDesignMag) reinvented itself. Taken over by a new publisher, Jim Peterson, the first summer edition just hit our doorstep. At a quick glance, we’re quite impressed. I can’t wait to dig into the articles; plus no advertisers so it’s all straight garden design talk. As Fine Gardening mentioned at last September’s Garden Blogger Conference (@GardenBlogConf), when the original Garden Design Magazine went by the wayside, there was a huge gap in the market. For the design industry, it’s great to see an empty space filling up. Log on to subscribe.

One other #DYK fact - Jewelweed, otherwise considered a nuisance for the garden, can be used if stung by a bee. It helps absorb some of the pain. It’s also useful with poison ivy – Jewelweed helps relieve the itch and rash. It’s a simple outdoor tip, specifically since late August, September can be the worst time for bees to appear a bit angry and give you a nasty stinger. Plus we all know poison ivy can be miserable.

One last tip, in case you want to know. One of our favorite pole beans we grew this summer - Northeaster (OG) from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. Jot it down in your seed journal. Set your winter reminder when you place next year’s seed order. You can click on the Johnny Seed link for specific info on the bean itself. Here’s why we love it - an ‘easy to grow’ veggie, takes up little garden space and check out these results. Plus you can pay a dear price at a farmers market or a local shop for these types of Roma beans.

Want to know how to serve them? For a simple summer recipe, wash and clean, then dice the beans in inch size pieces. Sautee with garlic from your garden, a little olive oil, a dash of salt and pepper and you can take this bean show on the road - perfect to serve as a side dish for the Labor Day barbeques.

That's it for #DYK Tuesday. Got to go. Enjoy.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Nature’s Way

It’s Monday morning #InTheMoment imagery.

#InTheMoment Sunflower (Twitter followers already got a sneak peek.)

But this is a 'just in case'. If nature did not find its way into your weekend,
feel free to sit back and take a glimpse.

A contemplative place by the lake.

Garden Moments (FYI - Be on the lookout for a bean recipe later this week.)

And what's in season? It's U-Pick it time - Peaches! Who doesn't love a fresh Peach?

For anyone who missed out this weekend, it’s a quick glimpse at nature's daily performance of harmony and balance. It makes it easier to breathe in these last summer moments of August. And if you missed out on last Friday's design post, here's a retake - The Secret of the Sea. As was stated in the blog, 'To achieve the beauty of the design is creating harmony and balance with the sea.'

This quote from Charles Cook sums up Nature’s Way best. “Your deepest roots are in nature. No matter who you are, where you live, or what kind of life you lead, you remain irrevocably linked with the rest of creation.”

Friday, August 22, 2014

The Secret of the Sea

When developing a coastal property, understanding the dynamics of the site is critical to a successful concept and final end result - creating harmony and balance with the sea.

The coastline offers a natural setting and beauty indescribable to most. To describe the indescribable, let’s share Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poetic outlook from many years ago. “My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.” Longfellow’s observation touches upon the emotional tug; that indescribable reason properties along the water’s edge are often most desirable. When developing a coastal property, understanding the dynamics of the site is critical to a successful concept and final end result.

Developing a landscape design for any property requires a heightened sensitivity to its site dynamics and micro-climates. Coastal properties, however, can vary greatly. A home situated on an oceanfront bluff with highly exposed conditions requires a different strategy than one in a protected bay. These variations drive a design program as certain properties may be more subjected to the full brunt of ocean elements. Some coastal properties reside at ground zero while others are in protective areas. Land-forms or varying weather and wind patterns can change everything. How you navigate through these elements and tight tolerances require a skill-set and knowledge of coastal design. To achieve the beauty of the design is creating harmony and balance with the sea.

© Copyright note: this image and design has been developed by and is the property of Bilowz Associates Inc. and should not be reproduced in any manner nor are they to be assigned to any third party without the expressed written permission and consent of Bilowz Associates Inc.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

August is the time...


Sunset at Wachusett Mountain And if you missed this other August sunset, it's worth another peak at this past post, Influential Design Themes. Influential Design Themes

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Cool Days = Perfect for Planting Again

This South Shore riverfront property was recently designed by Bilowz Associates Inc. Although a spring phase planting, fall serves as an ideal planting time as well.

If you look at a calendar, there's a good 30+ days left of summer. But it's often the latter part of this season that we drag our planting heels. Time to set a snooze button – you don’t want to lose the perfect lawn seeding and planting time that’s just around the corner. As always, heed a few, simple guidelines to stay ahead of the landscape planting game.

For all the green grass lovers, now is the time to spruce up the lawn. Seeding, reseeding, thatching and aerating chores should be on your list. The end of August until mid-October gives you what seems a leisurely stretch of time but order what you need for equipment or get your help lined up. Capitalize on this season now and you’ll have a healthy lawn when spring rolls around, which means less watering. If there’s any bug up my shovel, it’s an overwatered lawn.

But let's talk about spring love – when the bulbs pop up from the barren ground. Just a small reminder - bulbs are a crop and only a limited number are shipped from Holland so order them now. Dragging your planting heels again? If you wait too long, expect the typical rather than the cream of the crop. Your bulbs should be planted by middle of November but for the best bulb choices, order now.

Just one more time-sensitive item to consider, plus it’s shopping related, which for most, should equal fun. Peruse your local nurseries as a first-hand visit proves plenty of fresh material can still be found. After a long winter, spring tends to be the mad-dash planting season but don’t overlook the fall. These upcoming months offer perfect planting conditions. Evergreens should be in the ground before mid-October while the deciduous woody plant materials can be stretched a tad longer. But move on getting your stock tagged now. Like most things if you wait too long, it's leftovers. So take heed to a few guidelines to follow here as well.

Always keep a keen eye for structure. Assess any damage to the root ball and trunk. For container stock, avoid root bound plant material and check for diseased leaves etc. Why? There’s limited time for the plant material to acclimate to its new stomping grounds. Don’t start with less than par stock.

While there’s plenty more guidelines to consider for the cooler days ahead, what should have been a #WordlessWednesday turned into a tickler for perfect planting times ahead. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Lost time is never found again.” Heed these guidelines to stay ahead of your landscape planting game.

© Copyright note: this image and design has been developed by and is the property of Bilowz Associates Inc. and should not be reproduced in any manner nor are they to be assigned to any third party without the expressed written permission and consent of Bilowz Associates Inc.

Monday, August 18, 2014

Nature’s Silhouette

Nature's Silhouette

A silhouette often pertains to the fashion world but did you notice nature’s silhouette this morning? No matter how many times you walk down the same path, if you look closely, there’s always something different and changing.

A Spider's web - if you look closely, there's always something different and changing.

Nature offers that daily performance of harmony and balance but too often we miss its subtle cues. It’s always there for the taking though most days it’s a scramble just to make it to one’s destination.


Always there for the taking

Enjoy a piece of nature’s silhouette.

Friday, August 15, 2014

True Creation of Harmony & Balance

Railing detail - Harmoniously working with the landscape

In the American Heritage Dictionary, one of the definitions of balance is ‘A harmonious or satisfying arrangement or proportion of parts or elements, as in design.’ However, achieving balance does not occur from simply designing the ordinary. As in the case of one of Bilowz Associates Inc. recently completed projects, both the hardscape and the railing detail create balance in such a way; it harmoniously works with the surrounding landscape.

As you can see in the image above, the set of steps with the railing provide an aesthetic and functional element. In the image below, the steps are completed but it is this sleek railing detail that offers a much easier approach to and from the beach; unobtrusive yet tastefully designed. It is important to note that very few flat pieces for stone steps were brought in – most were culled through and reused from the site. It was originally just ocean rip rap.

Rocks without the Railing Detail

From beginning to end, it is the flow that is proportionally arranged to create harmony and balance.

Take a peek back at our July post, ‘Stately It Is’ where this coastal project was recently highlighted in the summer issue of Home Remodeling Cape Cod, the Islands and the South Coast. The design 101 lesson this Friday - when designing your project, from beginning to end, it is the flow that is proportionally arranged to create harmony and balance.

© Copyright note: All images and designs have been developed by and is the property of Bilowz Associates Inc. and should not be reproduced in any manner nor are they to be assigned to any third party without the expressed written permission and consent of Bilowz Associates Inc.

If you like this blog, hope you check in for your daily share's worth of inspiration, design, and garden tips; always original, not cookie cutter and copied. Just like our design work, we strive for unique! We invite you to contact Bilowz Associates, Inc., or to browse our portfolios for inspiration. Like our Facebook follow on Twitter or subscribe to the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. You can follow with visuals on Pinterest and find us on LinkedIn and Houzz, too. And you can also find us back on our Google+ Business Page.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

August Must Do’s

August Must Do List

If you’re looking at the calendar, you might realize that the half-way point of August is upon us. Like so many things in life, it’s all about timing. Are you letting August drift away? Set the reminder button. There's still time to update some important outdoor items. Plus in Massachusetts, this upcoming Saturday and Sunday is tax-free weekend.

While some of you may be on top of your summer game, here's the short and skinny on ‘What to Buy in August’. Consider purchasing your patio furniture as this is the time for huge clearance sales. As Sakraida points out, some of the deals began earlier than usual this season. But there's still time left if you get out there soon.

Are you into the barbeque and outdoor kitchen scene? Take advantage of the last minute red hot grill deals. It's worth checking out Lindsay Sakraida’s tips including many that go beyond the landscape and outdoor space scope.

So what’s left on your August must do list? If it includes gardening, it’s always fun to check the Farmer’s Almanac. One word of caution, as is pointed out, all information is based on the phase and position of the moon. Like so many outdoor activities their timely advice is weather permitting, which all well-versed gardeners know can change on a dime. Best case scenario? Let the almanac serve as a guideline to follow while putting to good use your own common sense. And always seek out advice from your local growers and farmers. No one knows every twist and turn in the book better than them.

What’s in store for the rest of your August? It's the back to school month - a reminder to all that learning is part of the growing process. As always, keep your social media dial set here; plan on plenty of blog posts in the months ahead. As Eden Phillpotts, the English author once wrote, “The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.”

© Image by Ann Bilowz

If you like this blog, hope you check in for your daily share's worth of inspiration, design, and garden tips; always original, not cookie cutter and copied. Just like our design work, we strive for unique! We invite you to contact Bilowz Associates, Inc., or to browse our portfolios for inspiration. Like our Facebook follow on Twitter or subscribe to the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. You can follow with visuals on Pinterest and find us on LinkedIn and Houzz, too. And you can also find us back on our Google+ Business Page.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Influential Design Themes

Mark Harrison Hough recently penned a very thought provoking piece. In his post, ‘DoesBeauty Still Matter’ he shares his thoughts on what he sees influencing landscape architecture and design in the years ahead. But my question is when you clicked on this post, ‘Influential Design Themes’, was it the text you noticed first or was it the image of water with a beautiful sunset that first drew your eyes to the page? To answer Harrison Hough’s question, beauty still matters when the expectation is to draw us in.

Water is something that flows throughout many design themes. It is an element that people love and are truly drawn to but to appreciate the sustainability and resiliency aspect, do we lose its aesthetical value in the process? How it is implemented into a design theme offers much to a successful landscape plan. The points that Harrison Hough touches upon are certain, without question, to influence design in the coming years ahead.

Now that the question, ‘Does Beauty Still Matter’ lingered and simmered for a bit, one might draw the conclusion that the answer lies in the best designs achieving both. An aesthetical value should be weaved in while implementing sustainability and resiliency. The goal, a critical one remains - to draw people in. To answer the question, ‘Does Beauty Still Matter’, the best designs will provide the experience, appreciation and the value of one’s surrounding landscape.

© Image by Ann Bilowz

If you like this blog, hope you check in for your daily share's worth of inspiration, design, and garden tips; always original, not cookie cutter and copied. Just like our design work, we strive for unique! We invite you to contact Bilowz Associates, Inc., or to browse our portfolios for inspiration. Like our Facebook follow on Twitter or subscribe to the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. You can follow with visuals on Pinterest and find us on LinkedIn and Houzz, too.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Wednesday’s Words

A native Dusty Miller growing in the beach sand

It could be a #WordlessWednesday with just this image of a native Dusty Miller growing in the beach sand. But when you see something living in such austere conditions, it’s a perfect opportunity to pull from the trusty, dusty archives again. So pull up your beach chair and peruse through these two posts - Plants for Sizzling Occasions and Five tips for the Heat. Sorry to burst the summer bubble but fall planting weather will be coming up before you know it. So think drought-tolerant, resilient, sustainable plant material yet beautiful…while you enjoy the rest of these hazy summer days on the sand.

As Jorge Luis Borges once said, "Nothing is built on stone; all is built on sand, but we must build as if the sand were stone." When considering your fall plantings, drought-tolerant, resilient, sustainable it should be.

© Images by Ann Bilowz

If you like this blog, hope you check in for your daily share's worth of inspiration, design, and garden tips; always original, not cookie cutter and copied. Just like our design work, we strive for unique! We invite you to contact Bilowz Associates, Inc., or to browse our portfolios for inspiration. Like our Facebook follow on Twitter or subscribe to the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. You can follow with visuals on Pinterest and find us on LinkedIn and Houzz, too.