Wednesday, June 5, 2013
If you’re like most gardeners who visit the RHS Chelsea Flower Show you wonder how you can make your garden look like a show garden. Wonder no more. Here are practical tips on how you can add fabulous features of show gardens to your own garden decor. RBC Blue Water Roof Garden This 2013 Gold Medal winning garden is a living roof that aims to attract wildlife, conserve water, and encourage biodiversity. With ponds, wetlands, and vertical gardens, it’s a perfect solution for an urban area where both space and greenery are in short supply. Within this hi-tech design is a low-tech living wall made of drought-tolerant succulents of various hues planted in recycled clay pots. Whether your garden is on a roof or on the ground, you can…
Read More
Monday, June 3, 2013
Undoubtedly gnomes made a strong comeback at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. The first time we saw these creatures wandering in a Chelsea Garden was 4 years ago when Jekka McVicar introduced Borage to us. Unfortunately Borage was banned, as according to the rules, garden ornaments were not allowed in the Show. This year the RHS Chelsea Flower Show decided not only to lift the 100-year ban but they also asked for celebrities to paint their own gnomes – Elton John, John Hurt, Helen Mirren and Julian Fellowes were among them. These celeb-decorated gnomes were auctioned to benefit the RHS Campaign for School Gardening. Influenced by this year’s incredible Show, this post is homage to some of the most famous garden gnomes. Let’s start with Borage who has his own…
Read More
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Chelsea Flower Show celebrates its centenary this year with celebrities from all over the world, garden designers, florists, gardeners, traders and garden lovers visiting the Show, since its official opening day, the 21st of May. The show becomes more and more famous every year and tickets are usually sold out. Just because of that, I decided to share my Chelsea experience with you by showing some of the best displays of the show below. View from our trade stand, WA9 – Western Avenue. BBC filming on our stand Thailand Display with flowers , deer , Buddha and other statues. So impressive. Stockton Garden , a beautiful sculpture made of natural stone barley yew and willow. One more interesting garden from the show The famous Marc Quinn Sculpture. Celebrity Gnomes…
Read More
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Despite the fact that most popular movies were filmed indoors, in a studio, using visual effects and motion graphics, some of their most famous scenes have been shot outdoors. Most of you should remember the romantic scene from Notebook shot in a boat in the middle of a lake, or the exotic garden of the luxury house where Tony Montana from the movie Scarface used to live. But where are all these beautiful places? Find out some of the most famous gardens shown in all-time-classic movies below. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Back before Harry Potter was as famous as it is now, do you remember the site of Madame Hooch’s flying lesson in the first Harry Potter film? Well that was at the Alnwick Castle - one of the most spectacular gardens…
Read More
Friday, May 3, 2013
Everyone knows that spending time in a garden renews body and mind. Whether you work in it, move through it, or sit it, a garden engages the senses and restores the soul. It’s easy to make a garden that anyone can enjoy. Accessible gardens are gardens for everyone; they eliminate barriers to enjoying gardens, providing spaces for people of all ages and abilities. Accessible Garden Paths Garden paths that are level, smooth, and firm provide good traction, making being in the garden safer and easier for everyone. A grade of between five and eight percent is ideal. Direct routes through the garden make the space easier to navigate. To accommodate the turning radius of a wheelchair, one-way paths need to be at least five-foot wide and two-way paths at least…
Read More
Monday, April 29, 2013
Pantone, a leading authority on colour, has designated emerald green as the Pantone colour of the year for 2013. Pantone describes this year’s favourite colour as lively, radiant, and lush, an elegant and beautiful colour that enhances well-being, balance, and harmony. According to colour psychology, emerald green is the colour of spring, symbolizing growth, renewal, and rebirth—a very positive and optimistic colour. If there’s any colour that belongs in an outdoor space it’s green. Let’s see how you can add emerald green to your outdoor décor. Paint your shutters, and don’t forget the garage door. And while you’re at it, add emerald green outdoor furniture to match. Paint your fence. If your fence is due for a facelift, why not paint it emerald green? Cover your garden table with a…
Read More
Friday, April 19, 2013
Mini gardens are in news as the US and the UK compete for the smallest garden in the world. Here are tiny but terrific ideas for your very own miniature fairy garden. Brighten up a the Pavement The edges of pavements can be drab and lifeless, but not after you plant a little fairy garden in the paving. Imagine shoppers’ delight when they come across a miniature London scene surrounded by blazing red cyclamen surrounded and other colourful flowers. Cheers to You! Having a dinner party? Your party will be unforgettable if you give your guests tiny gardens in champagne glasses. Layer the soil, use the tiniest of plants, and add minuscule pieces of shells. It Only Takes a Container A clay pot, ordinary or decorative, is a perfect container for a mini landscape….
Read More
Thursday, February 14, 2013
If you have a balcony, you can have a garden. Following are five great ideas to transform your balcony into a lush and comfortable outdoor space. But before you start the balcony makeover, take a few minutes to picture your ideal garden. What do you want to do on your garden balcony? What kind of plants do you want to grow? What furniture will you need? What style do you favour: formal, relaxed, traditional, contemporary? Now, measure and draw out your space, including windows and other fixtures. Arrange containers, plants, and furniture in your drawing. Figure out how much sun your balcony gets: full sun, part sun/part shade, or all shade. Maybe some parts of the balcony get more sun than others. Here are our ideas for turning your balcony…
Read More
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Wind, rain, ice, hail, snow, and lightning wreak havoc on trees. You cannot protect your trees 100 percent from the perils of the weather, but you take steps before the storm to help them survive. Following are a number of ways to prevent your trees from becoming badly damaged in a storm. Stake young trees. Staking and guying young trees helps the root systems establish themselves so they will be able to weather storms without uprooting. Gradually loosen and eventually (after five to seven years) release the ties. Prune forked branches. Branches that are forked at a wide angle can split the tree down the middle in a strong wind or ice storm. Prune off one of the forked branches to avoid losing the entire tree in a storm. Keep…
Read More
Friday, December 14, 2012
Garden design can be a very difficult and time consuming process. Not only do you have to create an innovative space which is customised to you and your family’s requirements, but you need to ensure that your garden will change favourably through the seasons. The best gardens look great whatever the month and require little maintenance to keep them looking in top condition all year round. And, if you want to design a garden that will withstand the harshest climates, then there are some important things to consider; Planting Planting, is of course, a number one consideration if you live in an area which has a harsh climate. In particularly hot areas you will need to ensure that there is plenty of irrigation so that you don’t spend every waking…
Read More
Bridgman Furniture & Outdoor Living Blog
...for the latest news & special offers