In the meadow
I haven’t done a very good job in my career when it comes to keeping my opinion about lawns under wraps. I’ve been pretty vocal about trying to get homeowners to look at other options instead of going with the default lawn in the yard, not because grass is bad, but because most homeowners default […]
A loving hand-up
Remember way back when I wrote about mental health? Yeah, you do. I’ve been thinking about mental health a lot, recently. A few weeks ago I was reminded of the fragility of a person’s mental health when a young friend told me he was working to stay clean and sober. He has embraced religion as […]
Making a splash
While water in the garden is always fashionable, I’ve noticed a big movement away from ponds and into self-contained fountains, urns and water features. These units may range in size, shape, colour and volume but they have one thing in common; the irresistible sparkle of water droplets in the sun. As a designer, I always […]
You are the Sunlight (Soap) of my Life
Brr, June. You made me dig out the warm fuzzy socks and snuggly sweaters. Is this normal? It doesn’t feel right to me. I don’t remember hearing the faint hum of the furnace at this time of year in the past. Every time I hope to get outside and do something in the back forty […]
Flagstone patios
Consistently, natural flagstone is one of the most sought after items for outdoor renovations. Homeowners still gravitate to the look of real stone pathways and patios, myself included. Natural stone is special in part because every single stone is unique. With different shapes, colours and grains, natural stone is a feast for the eye. Unfortunately, […]
The naturalized landscape
One of the biggest challenges any homeowner or landscape designer will ever face is to create harmony between a home and a naturalized outdoor space. Frank Lloyd Wright has always been praised for his natural gift to do just that. This is even more evident when trying to manipulate the area around a cottage so […]
Wine facts
The first long weekend of the spring-summer season is in the books. From what I’ve heard, it was busy. Really busy. And people are already talking about how busy it’s expected to be through the summer. In an effort to help prepare you while you’re talking to strangers on the street, waiting in line at […]
Ice Cream and Old Age
Don’t you just hate it when you wake up and realize you’re old? That’s it. I woke up. I’m old. That’s all I’ve got. And then? Well, and then I figured it could be a whole lot worse than realizing I’m old. I could be old and cranky. I could be old and ugly. I […]
Riesling
Many people will refer to Riesling as too sweet and often overlook its charm and character. The word itself may conjures up Blue Nuns and Black Towers, but the truth is, riesling is one of the greatest grapes. Part of the reason most rieslings are sweet is because without the sugar, the high acid in […]
Curb appeal
People start to assess your house based on the very first glance they get of your home. Even if you are not selling today, tomorrow or in five years, making the best first impressions will ensure that you get top dollar when the time is right! We are currently in a buyer’s market, so maximize […]