Annie's Gardening Corner: July 2015

Friday, July 24, 2015

Maximizing Coastal Beauty


A recent Bilowz Associates Inc. Landscape Design Project. One of our specialties - coastal properties.

Exterior spaces tell a powerful story. At first glance, what might immediately catch your eye is this breathtaking setting. There's no denying this exquisite point surrounded by open water with its own boat dock would be a perfect dream spot for most. But can you guess what that raised grass area is on the right? Follow our design story in the coming weeks to find out this and more. A close up image with details of this area will be revealed to give you a sense of how unique this truly is.

The design point of the story - if you want to maximize a coastal property, it means thinking outside the cookie cutter design box. At Bilowz Associates Inc. we realize that each client's story is different; uniquely its own. With 35+ years of proven experience in the landscape design industry, our company offers a distinctive style to high-end residential projects throughout New England and beyond.

© 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.

If you like this blog, check in for your daily share's worth of garden inspiration, landscape architecture and design 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. Like our Facebook follow on Twitter or subscribe to the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. 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 architects/Landscape Design/serving Massachusetts and New England.)

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Flower Break Message

©Property of Bilowz Associates Inc. Challenging Conventional Landscape Design

When the Daylily blossoms begin to fade...

Replace them with Dahlias.

Adore Dahlias in the garden or cut them for your summer flower vases.

Monday, July 20, 2015

Hot Monday Tropics

With the weather feeling quite tropical, the title is just a play on words. But there is a hot Monday topic to discuss and it's worth a repeat summer performance. Before the segue into microclimates and why it's important to understand them as they relate to garden and design, there's another quick message - pay attention to the nature of things. What's the best way to do that? Expose yourself to nature everyday if you can and pay attention to the process occurring as you take it all in.

Where did your paths lead you this weekend?

© All Images – Property of Bilowz Associates Inc.

Somewhere in nature?


To beautiful and contemplative spots like this.

But onto the hot Monday topic - microclimates. Why is this topic so important? Because there are layers to microclimatic conditions, some more predictable than others. The best way to understand these layers? Take a peek at this great Cornell University link. Sometimes we try to beat the odds but microclimates play a huge role in our gardens. I especially love this Charles Mazza quote. "In the real world, we garden in microclimates, not hardiness zones."

With this oppressive heat, now is a good time to research, plan and even redesign certain areas on your property based on your microclimates rather than just your hardiness zones. The best way to create a beautifully designed landscape is to understand the microclimates. But always enjoy nature, which is often your best teacher for so many important garden lessons. Or you can just return each semester to the 'College of Hard Knocks'.

Why a fig to end this post? Besides the fig fact shared last week on our FB page, we use our stone wall and terraces to get the best figs even if the season is short. Then off to cold storage during the winter months.

As Charles Mazza stated, "In the real world, we garden in microclimates, not hardiness zones." And sometimes we'll do whatever it takes just to grow a fig.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Where Quiet Meets Creative

© Copyright note: this image & design 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.

Completing the finishing touches on a quiet garden space - designed by Bilowz Associates Inc.

Longing for a contemplative outdoor garden space? The most intimate of garden rooms aren't necessarily large and expansive but small and quaint. Plus, garden rooms offer the best of both worlds - it's where quiet meets creative yet this contemplative space above can easily be party overflow and entertainment area. So always make your outdoor rooms functional - not just aesthetic.

Similar to your indoor living space, creating that perfect size room can often be the biggest challenge. One tip - make the area sufficient for your lifestyle needs yet always shoot for intimate. Then add in those unique design details. That's what makes the space truly yours. And don't forget the most important part - enjoy what you create. There's nothing worse than unused rooms - indoors or out - design tip for the day.

© All Images – Property of Bilowz Associates Inc.

Monday, July 13, 2015

Hot Weather Sizzling Garden Tips

The color of the sunrise this morning - red hot over the lake, not a ripple or wake

At 5:20 AM, (the only time to take in a quick cycle) this red hot sunrise over the lake is more than a telltale sign of a sizzling day in store. It's also an alert to what can raise havoc in the landscape. Hot weather has a way of bringing out the worst diseases and insects. These buggers can adversely affect the home and garden. Best way to stay on top of it all - sign up for alerts from your local extension program or check the homepage of the American Phytopathological Society (APS). Top on your lookout list should be the squash vine borer simply because it can obliterate an entire garden in no time at all plus it typically hits this time of the season. This great link from the University of Minnesota extension program gives you the skinny on everything you need to know - how to spot, treat and deal with a squash vine borer infestation.

And for all the green lawn lovers, be on the lookout for Pythium blight, which can hit when temperatures stay above 68 to 70 degrees for more than 3 consecutive nights. Here’s a quick link from the APS site to give you all of the symptoms and signs. Remember, July is #Smartirrigationmonth so lighten up on keeping your lawn wet during this warm, humid weather. Be smart with your watering during the heat of the summer.

But before we wrap up, let's add some additional summer sizzle. These early morning shots capture the beauty of what's in blossom this summer.

Silphium perfoliatum – Cup Plant bright and cheery in the meadow

This Silphium perfoliatum – Cup Plant is just stunning in the early morning sun. We tried to grow this in our own garden but it was too lanky and not happy in the place we found for it. But in one of my favorite walking spots with the dogs, this Cup plant seems quite content. Another garden lesson - save some things for enjoyment in the meadows and in nature. But let's get to some Dahlias. Are you ready for some instant beauty?

Dahlia Karma Chocolate can be combined with so many plants but simply stunning on its own.

Just starting to blossom in our own garden - this spring's planted Dahlias. The first of the varied and different colors to pop is this chocolate colored beauty called Karma Chocolate. Can you think of some stunning plant combinations? We can but all by itself, well, in our book, it's simply amazing. This leaves me with one last thought - all these reasons to wake so early. How else can you capture all the beautiful moments in nature and the garden before the sun starts to sizzle?