Friday’s Flower Thought

Let's kick off today’s post, 'Friday's Flower Thought' with this quote from Betty Sue Flowers. “We have to be present, because our footprint on the world is so large.” Now that’s a big blanket of ‘green’ and ‘sustainability’ for a Friday morning but let's focus on that flower thought instead. This is a repeat message with a different twist; similar to an archived posting last January called 'Planting for the Birds'.

Just a quick heads-up; this Friday flower thought requires planning and planting come spring. While feeding suet and seed to the birds can attract many sightings, including some unwanted visitors like squirrels and bears, a natural way to entice and introduce birds to your landscape is through native plantings and housing. Plus there’s such beauty that comes from these plantings when you create a tasteful bird habitat. It sounds like a simple flower thought but planting for the birds is often overlooked.

Don't forget to ‘be present'. Birds come unannounced, ready to enhance a cloudy winter morning. Get ready for your incoming flights of various bird sightings with this simple Friday flower thought - plant for the birds.

© 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! 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. Contact me direct at Annie You can follow with visuals on Pinterest and find us on LinkedIn and Houzz, too. Don’t forget Google+ where you can find us under Ann Bilowz and Bilowz Associates Inc.

Patterns

Cadence, rhythm, or algorithms can fall under the category of ‘patterns’; something repeated or formed that detects flow. Because we aren’t talking music or big data but landscape design, let’s look at the word ‘pattern’ and how this would apply to a paved surface (i.e., terrace or pathway).

First, let’s talk materials and paving patterns. With a multitude of options on the market to choose from, what you use for your material and paving pattern should be an expression of your personality. Although it may seem daunting at first glance, let’s take a peek at some important factors to balance into your decision process. The material you choose (i.e., type of stone or masonry material) has to be aligned with the style you want to create within your proposed budget. You should review as many materials and paving patterns as possible. Determine the ones that most resonate. When you boil it down to the last few finalists, it’s time to do the mock-up samples. This step, too often overlooked  is crucial in making an intelligent and informed decision as well as establishing a standard for workmanship.

Not to deviate too far into design theory, or worse, fall under ‘TL; DR’, (internet lingo for "too long; didn't read") let’s leave the design differences between manufactured, fabricated, mosaic etc. for another day. But one more thought to wrap up this post - the difference between good (so-so work) and outstanding is the successful collaborative between the client, the designer and the craftsman. Great details are not just drawn, printed and built. There is a certain connection throughout the course of construction that lends itself to good versus outstanding design. 

So here’s a curve ball thrown on the last pitch. This should give you a perspective on patterns overall. As Chuck Palahniuk points out “What we call chaos is just patterns we haven’t recognized. What we call random is just patterns we can't decipher.”

© Copyright note: the above images 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, 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! 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. Contact me direct at Annie You can follow with visuals on Pinterest and find us on LinkedIn and Houzz, too. Don’t forget Google+ where you can find us under Ann Bilowz and Bilowz Associates Inc.

Inside Out

On this chilly January morning, most of us may not be mulling around enhancement thoughts for our exterior spaces. But think about it, just for a minute. Your point of view from the inside out is critical during these winter months. We forget how much time we actually spend inside looking out.

Here’s a quick litmus test. Stand or sit next to a window in your home. What you see from the inside out can be a reflection of yourself. Does your window have a vase with fresh flowers or a houseplant thriving inside the warmth of your home? Small or tall it doesn’t matter. A houseplant can breathe in life. It takes away your focus on the cold outside. Speaking of that cold outside, let’s not ignore the exterior portion of your view.

Is there a structural planting, i.e., a tree or shrubs? Maybe there’s a wall, a terrace, a distant view or just some empty space you’ve been mulling around. What you see from the inside out matters more than you can imagine on these winter days. Even if it is the simple structure of a tree, your focus shifts to its limbs, its branches rather than the frozen ground.

Living in an urban apartment or setting? Place a houseplant or a vase of fresh flowers in the window you use for checking the morning weather for sun, clouds, ice or snow. It’s a simple home improvement to make during these winter months.

Steve Jobs stated it best. “Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”

One more Wednesday observation - place your strawberry order now. Fill those voids, those empty spaces by planning ahead during these winter months. What tugs at the heart of your home from the inside out?

© 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! 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. Contact me direct at Annie You can follow with visuals on Pinterest and find us on LinkedIn and Houzz, too. Don’t forget Google+ where you can find us under Ann Bilowz and Bilowz Associates Inc.