Chasing a Beam of Light

When we miss the summer light.

So many people dread the coming of winter because of light deprivation. More than the sound of the surf, summer breezes and being outdoors, lack of light drags us down. So on this Thursday, here are a few quick light bulbs to turn on when you’re feeling light-deprived. Despite if these suggestions may seem common sense, try just one and see if you light up or if it helps you out of a pre or post-holiday slump.

Look for the natural light in the sky – on this chilly December morning, the stars were absolutely stunning. Also look for the moon and watch it change from half to whole. There’s nothing more amazing than a full  moon on a crystal clear winter night.

Take a nature break when the sun is out. Rather than stuff oneself inside a gym, find a quiet path or park and bask in the winter sunlight. This is a must for anyone who does not work in an office with a lot of natural light.

Decorate a tree in your landscape that you can see from a window or drape an indoor plant with light. Turn it on and watch that living tree or plant becoming more alive. Then do a quick self-test and see if that decorative light brought a helpful lift to you.

One quick point if you are choosing and/or considering outdoor lighting for your landscape - remember ambiance and functionality may not be found all in one light. Use this coming winter season to fine-tune or address your outdoor landscape lighting plan. Determine what might be lacking or what you could have too much of - is it ambiance you need or functionality and safety lighting or both?  Then you can start your light shopping or in some cases, you might need to weed a few things out. Speaking of outdoor lighting, take in one of the many holiday tree festivities; free and fun.

That’s it in a light beam. Share your favorite places where light exists for you during these light-sensitive months.  As this Irish proverb reminds us, “A light heart lives long.” Now that winter is soon upon us, start chasing your beam of light.

© All Images – Property of Bilowz Associates Inc.© Copyright note: the above 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. 

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.)

The #November Design Challenge

An example of a Bilowz Associates Inc. Landscape Lighting Plan

The month of November can bring its challenges when it comes to the outdoors and our landscape, at least if you live in a region where the most beautiful season of color and foliage is now at its passing point. So rather than simply tuck away the outdoor furniture and call it garden and design quits, here are a couple ways to consider challenging yourself 'design-wise' in the month of November.

Natural light is the number one element that diminishes during the late fall and winter months. If you're in the planning stages of construction and design, consider incorporating a well-thought out lighting plan into your overall landscape budget. As has been mentioned in a past blog post, ‘Falling for the Landscape’ , lighting, which often comes last, well, you guessed it. It can end up cheapened or axed in an overall design. But it’s the backlash that ends up being more expensive down the road. Lighting is best done during the construction phase of the project versus when it's buttoned up and complete.  And if you live in a high-impact zone, choose fixtures that can withstand those types of harsh elements. Retain a portion of your overall design budget for lighting, which often comes at the tail end. It makes for better planning plus an ambient, safer landscape for all seasons, especially months like November.

And one last challenge as we edge into the winter slumber. Water conservation should be an all-year topic, not just summer banter. November is the perfect month to review your overall landscape. Consider additional places to conserve and address your water usage. This can be one of the unsung heroes of a well-thought out landscape master plan. 

Do not let November be the month of goodbyes. Let this be the month of bringing light and conserving water while launching your landscape design. 

© 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. 

 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.)

Falling for the Landscape

What draws you into a beautiful home? A well-thought out design inside and out. 

Making your landscape stylish and welcoming is a selling feature for your home.

What draws you into a beautiful home, especially when you haven’t seen its interior, its inner structure and bones? It's a Monday morning, fall wake-up call for anyone putting a home on the market. There's a lot of planning involved in successfully selling a home.

What's first on your agenda? The landscape should reflect the wonderful features waiting to be discovered inside the home. Your potential buyer might envision certain rooms before entering but it’s the architectural lines and the well-designed landscape that define a home's welcome. And while beautiful, pristine locations can be an easy sell, this recent article from Ball Publishing’s newsletter Buzz spells out why it is that perception, that first impression of what you see on the outside first, that setting, the landscape that can often sell your home.
 
If you live in New England, fall is an optimum time to market your home. Think foliage, pumpkins and apple pie as helpful selling features but if certain outdoor curb appeal is lacking, there could be lots of potential buyers taking that infamous U-turn before one even sets foot inside your home.

Take a few tips from this Ball Publishing article – fall for the landscape and then the home. And one big P.S. - never underestimate the value of a well-thought out landscape lighting plan. Light is a welcoming element and it should not get the axe or cheapened out when lighting your home. 

© Copyright note: this image and design 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.)