Holiday Cheer and New Beginings

I am so looking forward to this Holiday Season, especially some yummy Turkey and family gatherings. This will be the first holiday that I will be sharing with my new hubby. Yes, we tied the knot this month and it was amazing. Our wedding was a true reflection of the joy that we share with each other and our families.

I look forward to this time of year because it is time to get creative. This time of year I love to brag about my wintergreen containers and now I get to brag about the wintergreens I designed for my wedding. A little narcissism can go a long ways. I have obviously been looking forward to this November for 20 months! I can't wait for all the holidays to come.

As you may already know, I love to share my seasonal color ideas with all of you.

It's all about texture. Combine the fine needles of your arb boughs with the broad leaves of magnolias and seeded eucalyptus. There are so many varieties of evergreen boughs to choose from that it can become a little overwhelming. I would suggest sticking to the basics: pine, spruce, and arbs. A little sparkle is a must but lets keep it looking organic too. Please no painted eucalyptus, it screams FAKE. I added a little sparkle by crystallizing birch branches.

Keep a little sparkle in your life to carry you through these next bitter months!

Are We Being Green!

This past week I received an award for another fire wall but I feel extremely guilty for not sticking to my morals. I have been following my cheese in an effort to bring in more sales in a down economy. But I am compromising not only my beliefs but our environment. The landscape can be nurtured to accommodate the formal styles that we are accustomed to but they can also be native.

I am stuck between performing well for my company but am I really living up to my potential. I hope that in the future I can design unique entertainment spaces for my customers that do not involve foe water features and gas guzzling fire pits. What about bio swales and rain gardens for those who are seeking one of the three components of a zen garden? But how do I bring the fire element in without the actual fire?

Fire in July

Just a small update on the current conditions. July is usually a slow month in the green industry but this month is really starting to heat up, literally. Now if I can only keep this momentum going. Have you ever heard of fire walls? These are raised stone walls with natural gas lines running down the center. My customers are really hot for them. I am in the process of installing two and designing a few more. They are a great accent to your home, especially if you do not have a green thumb. They frame the outer edges of your patio without having to invest in a lot of plant material.

The hydrangeas are in full bloom this month as our grass is starting to burn out. Be sustainable and let it go dormant. It will come back as the temperatures drop and the fall rain comes.

Spring is (almost) here!

Now that it is the last week in February, I am looking back upon my New Year's resolutions. 2010 is going to be a big year for me. This is the year that I am getting married, moving back to Michigan, starting a new job, leaving a job that I have had since college and starting my new blog!

I am excited about what this year will bring.