Carlseng Designs

Small Backyard from Blah to Beautiful!

2022-11-14T12:37:00.000-08:00

These clients had a boring and not very inviting small backyard that they wanted to upgrade to better fit their style and needs.

Here are the before pictures:

Backyard East

Backyard West

My design included hardy, colorful and bee friendly plants to provide year round interest and for an extension of the paver patio for the BBQ area. The far corner of the west end we wanted to screen the view of the houses and initially planned for a small corner pergola but supply issues had the clients looking elsewhere and they found some gorgeous panels in an antique shop that really helps that corner pop!

After:

Here is the back corner, just perfect for a little getaway!

In the east side of the back yard I added a Hydrangea tree to anchor the corner overlooking a water feature surrounded by bee friendly hardy perennials. Within hours of installation the clients were happily surprised by how many bees and other beneficial insects were visiting, it really livened up their yard!

In the years to come the clematis vines will cover the trellis's and the plants will fill in to create a hardy but lush and inviting backyard oasis.

2019 Landscape Projects - Bend

2020-01-10T15:36:00.000-08:00

2019 Landscape Projects - Bend Backyard Make-over

During the winter of 2018/2019 a wonderful family contacted me to make-over their backyard, they had an old paver patio that had warped over the years and some lawn. The clients hired me to help them create a more functional, modern backyard with kitchen, fire pit, dining area and water feature.

Before: A tired backyard with a warped old paver patio and a not very functional lawn and surrounding beds.

After: A modern luxurious backyard with a large patio, Zen fire pit from Cement Elegance, bubbling boulder water feature, enticing outdoor kitchen and subtle lighting. The surrounding planting includes a layered selection of perennials, shrubs and trees that create seasonal interest and a lush paradise made for the Central Oregon climate.

After: The patio is now large enough to be multi-functional with fire pit, dining area and outdoor kitchen easily accessible from inside.

After: A modern, state of the art outdoor kitchen with grill and smoker, with integrated sink and counters custom made by Cement Elegance. The Light Smoke color of the cement counters and cladding complement the grey of the large pavers in the patio creating a unified color palette for the backyard.

After: The Zen firepit from Cement Elegance is the perfect size for the backyard creating a twilight gathering place for the family to enjoy their beautiful backyard and watch the stars twinkle.

After: The Bubbling Boulder water feature installed by Brian O'Keefe of Ripple Effect creates a soothing sound to the garden bringing in birds and butterflies who drink or bathe in the waters.

Frontyard Before: The family spends a lot of time in the front yard with the children playing on the sidewalk or in the street with the rest of the neighborhood. The homeowners desired a better place to sit, socialize and watch their children.

Frontyard After: Using the same large pavers from the backyard, we create a seating area with layered textural plantings to create an inviting and stunning front yard area that can now be used to socialize with neighbors, watch the children and enjoy a glass of wine.

Landscape designed by Carlseng Designs

Hardscape installed by Brian O'Keefe of Ripple Effect

Plants installed by Anna Vacca of Flower Power

Outdoor kitchen built by Sunset Outdoor Living

Outdoor kitchen cladding and counters by Cement Elegance

Irrigation and lighting by Miller Irrigation

2019 Landscape Projects - Tetherow

2020-01-10T13:19:00.002-08:00

Landscape Projects 2019

2019 was another year of wonderful projects and gorgeous landscape transformations and I continue to work with incredible clients and contractors. Following are pictures of some of my projects that got installed this year:

Tetherow Backyard Upgrade Extraordinaire!

Before: Most of the pre-existing backyard was a slight slope of native grasses.

After: A revamped, upgraded backyard for all sorts of enjoyment! A clean modern concrete wall contains a lush lawn with native perennials and grasses to soften the transition to the native landscape beyond. Good Life Landscaping found a stunning Juniper 'Ghost Tree' which creates a gorgeous focal point when viewed from the patio.

After: From the northeast corner of the property and the Tetherow Golf Course, the new perennials and grasses will soften the view. We can also see the landscape boulders creating additional interest and texture, unifying the modern patio/lawn area and the soft native landscape beyond.

After: Previously this area was bumpy dirt and grass from the rain and snow melt from the roof-line above. Now it is a modern and stylish path down into the landscape that will stand up to any rain or snow storms.

After: The landscape contractor Good Life Landscaping installed these large boulders as seating surrounding the Desert Stone gravel patio and path area. The boulders are actually quite comfortable and provide a great somewhat tucked away area for the teenagers to gather.

After: The pre-existing patio was already cut at an angle and so we played with those lines to make the new lawn with diagonal lines to keep it fresh and interesting. The home owners now enjoy a lush, level lawn to further enjoy the outdoors and the gorgeous views from their Tetherow home.

Landscape designed by Carlseng Designs

Landscape installed by Good Life Landscaping

More New Landscape Design Projects in Bend!

2019-08-05T15:01:00.002-07:00

Another gorgeous project creating a patio using New York Bluestone pavers for clients wanted a low maintenance, easy, elegant and beautiful landscape. It is so fun working with clients with a strong sense of what they want, we worked together creating many different renditions of the plant to finally create something that balanced the off center backyard with the pavers.
Surrounded by evergreen trees for a sense of place and privacy, complemented by choice deciduous plants for a seasonal effect.

The clients had selected these ornamental evergreen trees to create a stunning effect in their front yard. To work with the slight slope we used more New York Bluestone to create a low terrace.

Cottage Style Garden in Central Oregon

2018-09-20T18:13:00.000-07:00

A few years ago a client approached me needing help with her rectangular backyard. It was straight and narrow and not at all appealing.
This is what I started with:

The client wanted an interesting, lawn free backyard to sit and enjoy the sun with a lower patio area with color, texture and year-round interest.
Whenever I am dealing with a narrow yard I add curves and hidden paths with overflowing plants to disguise the shape.

Here is the jewel out of the rough:

Wow what a difference a good design can make! It doesn't even look like the same yard!

Here is how it looks when entering from the alleyway, hmm I wonder what is behind that gate?

Open the gate and you see.......

Oh yes I want to travel down that path! Curving paths encourage exploration and can help to screen the destination making it more exciting and revealing as you get closer to the end.

Textures:

A variety of textures create texture no what is in flower.

A view of the classic white stone stone bench in the shade of the Crabapple tree surrounded by garden phlox and backed by Hydrangea.

Certified Wildlife Habitat at Deschutes Brewery

2018-08-17T18:35:00.001-07:00

What a garden! I have been honored this year to upgrade the flower beds at Deschutes Brewery's brewing facility on SW Simpson in Bend, Oregon. It had been cared for previously by Maureen Klecker, one of Bend's long time amazing gardeners and many of the plants there were planted by her. When I took on the design work to upgrade the gardens Deschutes stated they wanted to make the gardens more sustainable which sounded great to me! I took that idea and decided we could create not only a more sustainable landscape but a Certified Wildlife Habitat at the same time!
To create Certified Wildlife Habitat garden I added old logs for habitat, a "puddling bath" for the bees and butterflies, a Mason Bee house for habitat and lots of native plants and other important plants for pollinators species as well as plants that are crucial hosts for butterflies.

Habitat Log

Pollinator Garden

Pollinating Bee on Liatris at the Deschutes Brewery garden

Puddling Bath for bees and butterflies

Relevant plants got labels indicating their purpose in the garden.

Gorgeous Narrow Yard Update!

2018-05-16T15:01:00.000-07:00

Last post about a narrow backyard makeover needs to be updated as the house is for sale and new pictures are posted! A garden usually looks better after a couple of seasons so check it out now:

What a difference a professionally designed landscape can make, this house has fantastic curb appeal!

A narrow backyard can look beautiful and be functional when designed well!

Narrow Small Backyard Make-Over

2018-04-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

Some years back a client moved into a new home with a small rectangular backyard. He wanted to be able to use the space and to create a welcoming environment to enjoy. The challenge was the yard was only 15 feet wide and 45 feet long, that is quite the narrow rectangle!
I overcame the bowling alley effect with creating a curving path that allowed for deep beds on either sides with small trees and plants that spilled over. This gave the eye something to rest on instead of going directly to the fence. The path curved slowly through the space allowing one to take in a bit at a time, ending in a small paver patio to sit and enjoy the space.
The yard had definite sunny and shady areas allowing for different areas that blend very well.
Tell me what you think!

Sunny southern end of the yard before:

Shady northern end of the yard before:

Southern end of the yard with the curving path leading to a sunny intimate patio. The small trees will grow to add additional interest and some shade.

Shady end of the yard with some lovely plantings that ease the client into the landscape encouraging one to relax and take a stroll.

Tree from the Pleistocene Era - Yellow Cedar 'Aldrich Mountain'

2018-03-23T12:53:00.000-07:00

I was researching evergreen trees for a client and came across one I hadn't read about before, the Yellow Cedar 'Aldrich Mountain' or Chamaecyparis Nootkatensis 'Aldrich Mtn'. I read about it in the current Iseli Nursery catalog and it doesn't have a picture so that is why I've missed it before.
This tree is normally found in wet coastal climates but there is a small population near John Day in Central Oregon. Back in the Pleistocene era Central Oregon was wet but after the uplift of the Cascade Mountain range this area became the dry side of Oregon. I love the geologic history of this area!

According to Conifer Country blog by Michael Kauffmann, there is a 26 acre population in the Cedar Grove Botanical Area in the Aldrich Mountains in the Malheur National Forest. The normal range of Yellow Cedar's is Alaska, British Columbia and into Northern Oregon with a few isolated groves in the Siskiyou Mountains of Northern California (an ecologically diverse environment I need to explore more!)

Michael's blog is an excellent and very informative read, he goes into much more depth and I highly recommend you read it.

Since this tree can survive out near John Day I would like to try it here in Bend, Oregon. A tree with such an interesting history should be the focal point of a landscape!

Yellow Cedar 'Aldrich Mountains' in a small nursery pot

Trunks of mature Yellow Cedar 'Aldrich Mountains' by Dave Powell USDA Forest Service taken in the Aldrich Mountains of Oregon.

Looking Back at 2017 - Landscape Design Projects

2018-01-18T10:50:00.000-08:00

2017 was a stellar year! As soon as the piles of snow melted the season went off with a bang and I didn't stop running until November. I enjoyed many diverse landscape design projects from re-doing an elegant entry patio for a gorgeous river side home to landscaping the entire yard near Pilot Butte with edible, native and beneficial plants and then winning the High Desert Design Council's competition for Landscape Design!
Some projects are waiting to be installed while others look fantastic already! Here are some of the highlights of 2017 landscape design season - enjoy!

Drake Road Remodel -
The clients were lovingly remodeling a home on the Deschutes River in Bend and had a couple of small areas of landscaping to be refined. There was a very small "window courtyard" viewed from the master bath and bedroom that needed to be planted before the outer walls were finished and closed in the area. With existing mature trees created quite a shady spot, and considering the small size I went with a Japanese themed planting. There was a mature Vine Maple adding great structure and with a planting of a Weeping Japanese Maple, Moss and variegated Sedge grass there is fantastic texture and a peaceful vignette.

Before:

After, viewed from the Master Bedroom. The exterior walls have yet to be finished. The moss will cover the ground in a nice soft green carpet.

After: The view from the Master Bath, which is still under construction. It is a very peaceful and calming view.

Northwest Crossing Backyard Upgrade -

I am very proud to be the 2017 winner of the High Desert Design Competition for Landscape Design. This project was an excellent example of the benefits of working with a landscape designer. I turned a neglected and awkward corner into an area that invites the entire family to come together and enjoy being outdoors.

Before:

After - A modern low maintenance paver patio with a central gas fire pit that brings the whole family together. This design completely changes the backyard into a stunning area that makes the family feel as if they are on vacation with lush plantings and ornamental grasses.

After - The journey to the patio through ornamental grasses that will partially hide the patio to give it an inclusive feel. The Belgard pavers are laid in decomposed granite to add a warm color and to make the patio area more permeable.

Vicksburg Front Slope - This was an exciting project and so fun to work with clients who wanted something more bold. The front slope of their property was overgrown with juniper and oregon grape shrubs and weeds. First task was to remove everything and start with a blank slate. To add retention and strong interest I designed horizontal Steel Panels for the focus of the slope. Interplanted around the panels are hardy low maintenance plants to complement the steel and add pops of color and texture.

Before:

After - The steel panels really add definition and interest to the slope, so gorgeous now!
The plantings are all hardy perennials or textural ornamental grasses that make this once ugly slope into a beautiful site to see!

View of the top of the slope from the sidewalk made from Decomposed Granite for a low maintenance, permeable warm colored surface. You can see two of the three types of grasses used in the landscape. The tall one is 'Shenandoah' Switchgrass and the smaller one is Tufted Hair Grass which is native to Central Oregon. The steel panels complement the modern architectural features of the home.

Detail of the 'Shenandoah' Switchgrass, one of my favorite grasses to use in landscape design.

More projects to come so stayed tuned!

High Desert Design Competition 2017 Landscape Design Winner

2017-11-06T14:51:00.000-08:00

I am very proud to be this years winner of the High Desert Design Council's design competition for Landscape Design! The project was a backyard upgrade for wonderful clients in Northwest Crossing in Bend, Oregon. They had a corner of their backyard that was unsightly and under-utilized. The lawn was removed and replaced with a gorgeous square paver patio and fire pit. It is so wonderful and the clients love it! Here are some pictures, enjoy!

Before

Modern Patio

Belgard Plaza Pavers

Cove Fire Bowl fire pit

Path to fire pit patio

Carlseng Design wins 2017 High Desert Design competition!

2017-10-27T16:45:00.000-07:00

I am very pleased to announce that my landscape design entry "Northwest Crossing Backyard Upgrade" won the landscape design category of the 2017 High Desert Design competition!

Central Oregon High Desert Garden Tour 2017

2017-07-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

The High Desert garden tour this year was inspirational! I saw many great plant combinations, low water landscapes, listened to beautiful music in garden #2 and enjoyed the Artisans Market at garden #7. I took many pictures, some as reminders of plants I saw, others to record the styles and materials. This is just a snippet of all I saw, I hope you enjoy!

Garden 3 had a section of Fescue Grass by the sidewalk, very low maintenance and beautiful.

A large part of Garden 3 were deer resistant, hardy and xeriscape type perennials.

The Threadleaf Coresopsis was spreading nicely in Garden 3 to fill in.

Garden 3 also had many xeriscape plants tucked into pockets in the very rocky landscape.

Garden 3 made great use of all the pine needles as a path material, also know as Pine Straw.

Though most of the paths were pine needles in Garden 3, there was a section of Decomposed Granite, one of my favorite materials for paths and patios because of it's hard, porous and easy to maintain surface plus the lovely tan color.

I didn't notice these statues at first, they played so nicely with the trim and accent pieces already on the porch. I love how these frame the entry steps at Garden 2.

Garden 2 had a patio painted in a lovely pattern plus live music.

Garden 2 had the painter John Hillmer painting an original. Two other of his paintings hung in the garden and really made the space come alive in a different way than plants could.

Garden 2 here is one of John HIllmer's paintings creating a lovely space beyond a covered swing.

Garden 5 was a real treat as it exemplified what can really be done with good planning and plant placement! They have a pond about 30'x12' which did not seem overly large at all, surrounding it were a perfect blend of perennials, shrubs, trees and deciduous and evergreen plants. They also made good use of their space for two shaded patios, shown here is one with an excellent view of the pond.

A close-up of the ponds water feature. This garden backs up to Bear Creek Road and there is considerate road noise, but this water feature does a great job of blocking that out, creating instead a white noise peaceful water falling.

Walk around the back of the pond at Garden 5 is a lovely shade garden, very peaceful and inviting. Notice how the curve of the path invites you to explore around the bend?

Garden 4 right next to #5 had an excellent shade garden under a Serviceberry Tree.

The pond at Garden 4 was also stunning with a beautiful plant palette surrounding it.

Garden 6 is truly a masterpiece and incredibly most of it was accomplished in just 13 years!

This beautiful little Buddha statue sat within a peaceful fountain off the rear covered patio. And yes that is bamboo growing next to it. Bamboo can grow in Bend giving the right conditions and winter watering.

The other side of the Buddha water feature was a lovely shade garden with a good selection of Hostas.

Beyond the shade was a vegetable garden secured by an electric fence. Notice how they have a diversity of flowers surrounding it? That encourages a host of beneficial insects and encourages pollintators.

The other side of the home featured a good sized gazebo next to the pond in the middle of the expanse of lawn. The combination of the pond and shaded area created a nice and cooler micro climate to relax in.

They planted a Chinese Wisteria back in 2015 and it is doing very well. They said they were going to plant more since the Honeysuckle they have planted is not fairing nearly as well.

Water Lilies sitting beautifully in the pond.

Garden 7 had extensive structures over their raised vegetable bed for grapes and it looked like they were going to have a good harvest this year!

Just beyond the vegetable garden and under two large apple trees was a simple patio table. Many of the gardens I saw on the tour had many such places to sit and admire the garden.

Here was a lovely desert bed with Decomposed Granite as mulch, such a fantastic use of the material! I love the color. Also notice the artwork off to the side....

A very large pond sits on the outskirts of the lawn with a firepit surrounded by Decomposed Granite. Love the simple chairs in the shade of the Mountain Ash tree in the left fore ground.

Whimsy in the garden!

This home was also the site for the Artisans Market with some lovely artwork!

I was very struck with the artwork by Maya Wolf, especially this painting of a pet dog.

Gorgeous stepping stones by Step On This. If you need stepping stones, these would bring so much life and beauty to your garden.

Thank you to OSU Extension Service and Master Gardeners for another fantastic tour and thank you very much to all the home owners who opened their homes and gardens for all to enjoy!

Iron Mountain Wildflowers

2017-07-15T20:10:00.000-07:00

I hiked Iron Mountain and the wildflowers were going off!!! The literature says there are over 300 species of flowers on Iron Mountain and I was rubber necking like crazy on the hike.

We drove up road 35 which is now called Civil Road, to the trailhead for Iron Mountain, a shorter hike instead of starting at Tompstone Pass. Next time we will start from Tombstone so we get to see even more flowers! Needless to say, I think it took us five times longer to hike it since we stopped so many times to admire and identify the flowers. I highly recommend this hike, it is one of the best wildflower trails in Oregon!

View of the Three Sisters

Hillside covered in amazing diversity of wildflowers

Lupine and Western Columbine

Lupine in one of many the wildflower meadows

Northern Buckwheat was seen all over the trail

Ultimate Wood Burning Fire Cooking Grill Table!

2017-06-20T19:25:00.000-07:00

I just spent the evening with the High Desert Design Council - HDDC - learning about the products at Patio World off Reed Mkt Road in Bend. Wow, so many awesome products!
One of my ultimate favorites is the OFYR wood burning grill table. You have to take a look at how it operates, so cool!
Take a look at the video:

It is beautiful in person and would be a gorgeous addition to anyone's outdoor living area, a one of a kind outdoor cooking experience!

The grill table is made of steel and gets quite hot so cannot be used for your cocktails but can grill up your salmon perfectly!

Projects in Process

2017-05-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

Projects in progress! I love this project, I get to do some different things than the typical Bend landscape and the clients are just wonderful people. They are beautifully remodeling a home on the river in downtown Bend with mature landscaping that has been well cared for providing a gorgeous backdrop for a new planting design.
One section recently planted by Flower Power gardening is a tiny walled-in courtyard viewed from the master bath and the master bedroom. The views here are key, the plantings need to look exceptional from two different angles and I do believe we achieved it. When thinking of tiny walled-in courtyards I always think of Japanese gardens. They Japanese are unrivaled in their understanding and respect for space and I strive to implement the same philosophy in the gardens I design.
The wall enclosing this courtyard still need to be finished and we are working on designs that will enhance the space. Once the wall is finished and the windows cleaned I will post more pictures but enjoy what we have so far!

Master Bath View

Master Bedroom View

Hardy Native Clematis Vine

2017-04-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I was visiting a consultation client out near Alfalfa on a very hot, dry, exposed site. She wanted to create a more water-wise, low maintenance and beautiful landscape that was deer resistant and was being challenged by the task. I came up with some really great ideas for her but as we were walking around the landscape I spotted a vine running twenty plus feet around between some trees and an old structure. We could not identify it at the time but later I learned it was Western White Clematis. No wonder clematis do so well in Central Oregon! What a hardy, tough, beautiful, valuable vine!

Western White Clematis or Clematis lingusticifolia in its habitat. Quite tough and beautiful!

Looks at these beautiful flowers! Growing with Sagebrush here.

Look at these gorgeous seed heads! So much interest and value for one vine!

It is valuable for bees and attracts birds and hummingbirds.
It is a green deciduous vine growing 12-36' and is noted to like well draining moist soil but I found it growing in an area with minimal moisture, I would say it is adaptable but is healthier and more lush with moisture and certainly needs irrigation to get established.
For more information visit Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Great news! Our local native plant resource for Central Oregon, Wintercreek Restoration and Native Nursery currently has this plant in stock. Did you know you can check their availability online?
Wintercreek Nursery - what a great resource!

I am going to get one or two and plant them growing up the stairs to my rear deck, looking forward to trying it out!

Designing a Landscape with Chickens in Mind

2017-03-27T16:19:00.000-07:00

Clients are always giving me interesting projects. Last year was a backyard upgrade for a couple whose small dogs nibbled everything and so all plants had to be double checked on two lists of plants dangerous to dogs. And the landscape still turned out fantastic!
This year I get to do a mid-town landscape upgrade for a couple who want chickens. There is a separate area fenced off from the main yard for the chicken coop and chicken run area and I intend to make this area just as lovely as the rest of the yard.
In my research I came across this great website, Nifty Homestead, they have a great list of plants healthy for chickens in addition to a list of plants that are dangerous to chickens. Some of the healthy plants listed are:

Comfrey
Fennel
Thyme
Sunflowers
Amaranth
Most fruit trees
Raspberries

Some of the dangerous plants are:

Daffodil
Daphne
Hydrangea
Rhododendron

Another good site is Backyard Chickens.

Photo from Family Food Garden

Evergreen Trees for Small Yards

2016-07-05T12:46:00.001-07:00

I was browsing at Schultz Farm and Garden nursery a couple of weeks ago to see what cool trees they had in and found one I had never seen before. It is a Tolleymore Norway Spruce tree supposed to get 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide and it looks beautiful!

Evergreen Trees for Small Yards

2016-07-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

Fun with Fences

2016-05-12T14:51:00.001-07:00

Fences are always a little difficult for some, we need them, but don't want them, or don't want to see them.
Some HOA's won't let you put them in, some require them to look a certain way or not exceed a certain height. As a landscape designer I do my best to abide by the rules (most of the time) and to soften the fence with plants.
This year I have two separate clients needing fences but want them to be interesting and artsy - cool! I have been having fun looking at different ideas and some of my favorite's I've posted to my Pinterest board Fences/Walls. I really like the idea of patch working together rusty steel and reclaimed barn wood, or embedding colored glass into the fence like a window.

Here is an idea I saw in Bend a couple of years ago on the West side of Pilot Butte, simple but very effective:

Isn't this a great idea? I love that the fence is different heights and has the wriggly line running down the center of each board. It probably added much time to the project but is a fence worth looking at.

Inspiring Garden Photos

2016-03-07T12:03:00.000-08:00

I was renewing my subscription to Garden Design magazine this morning and had to take a side trip through the photos. Wow! One of the reasons I love this magazine is the phenomenal photos.

Take a look and be inspired: Garden Design magazine

Here are some of my favorites:

I love the lines and shadows created here.

Lisa Roth Landscape Architect

I always love grasses spilling over paths and the textures created by

a tapestry of green.

By MIX

I love cor-ten steel in the garden!

By Landwest Design Group

Homemade natural pest repellent spray

2016-01-10T13:47:00.000-08:00

I typically only garden with plants that are quite hardy and suitable for my local environment, but every now and then pests still pose a challenge.

Last year we had such a mild winter that it was a very bad year for bugs, at least bad for us gardeners but good for the bugs. My hardy Rugosa Rose bushes got infested with aphids in what appeared to be an overnight explosion of them. I couldn't just pick them off or hose them off like I usually do. I had previously had good luck with a homemade garlic dish detergent spray and decided to try it again. Needless to say, even though I know it works, I was completely and pleasantly surprised when the aphids totally disappeared.

Check out this cool photo diagramming the aphids and ants on this rose bud:

The way this winter is progressing I don't think we will have a repeat of last years bug explosion but that doesn't mean we won't have any bugs. I found this super cool recipe for a stellar bug spray and wanted to share it with all of you: Rodale's Organic Pest Spray. Rodale's Organic Life is such a great site for so much helpful information, I am constantly checking for new articles. Here is their recipe for homemade pest spray:

Precautions
The ingredients can cause painful skin and eye irritation. When preparing and applying, wear rubber gloves and keep the mixture well away from your eyes and nose.

Ingredients
1 garlic bulb
1 small onion
1 teaspoon of powdered cayenne pepper
1 quart of water
1 tablespoon liquid dish soap

Chop, grind, or liquefy garlic and onion. Add cayenne pepper and mix with water. Steep 1 hour, strain through cheesecloth, then add liquid dish soa. Mix well. Spray your plants thoroughly, including the undersides of the leafs. Store the mixture for up to a week in a labeled, covered container in the refrigerator.

One thing to remember before your each for that bug spray, how bad is the infestation? Is it just a few bugs that you can wipe off or live with? Any pest spray will work on all pests, good or bad and most bugs in the garden are actually beneficial. Make it a habit to walk through your garden on a regular basis and check the health of your plants and if there are any bugs you can deal with them easily before they get out of hand. Happy Gardening!

One of my favorite plants for the High Desert of Central Oregon, the Hardy Rugosa Rose:

Plus they are deliciously fragrant! Enjoy!

Senescence - Winter Garden Beauty

2015-11-04T12:38:00.000-08:00

I was inspired by a recent article in Horticulture magazine by Caleb Melchior called 'A Celebrated Senescence: Dried flower heads, curious seedpods and withering leaves can carry a garden through winter'.

I often talk with clients about proper pruning in their gardens and I let them know that they do not have to cut all their perennial plants back in the fall. Allowing some plants to stand tall through the winter adds structure, interest, seeds and habitat for wildlife.

In my garden I let the Black-eyed Susans stay uncut and though it is not a large swatch of a planting as you might see in Piet Oudolf's garden in the Netherlands, when the ground is covered in snow and those dark eyed beauties poke through, it is beautiful.

Piet Oudolf's garden Hummelo during Winter

Senescence - the natural process of decay. I find that I am attracted to that word, it flows off the tongue and brings to mind ethereal unworldly things.

In nature it is the seed heads of plants or flower heads. One of my favorite plants is the yellow lantern Clematis because after the yellow flowers, the seed heads are gorgeous:

Imagine these covered in frost?

One last photo to encourage your appreciation of senescence:

Echinacea in the winter garden at Hummelo, Piet Outdolf's nursery garden.

Water Feature Fun!

2015-09-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

I am designing a back yard for clients on the East side of Bend that includes a water feature. Water features are a great addition to any landscape, they add the beautiful sound of water, create a cooler environment on hot days and can encourage birds or butterflies to visit if designed correctly.

When designing a water feature visual aids are crucial so I always include photos to accompany the design so the clients and builders know what exactly we are going for.
My pinterest account has lots of gorgeous water feature ideas - check them out!

For my current project designing a pondless water feature these are the photos I am printing for the client so far:

The water feature will be surrounded by trees, shrubs and perennial flowers to complement the scene.