Are you looking for a great way to spruce up your backyard? Maybe you want to find some yard décor that will add a pop of color or a centerpiece that will tie your other design elements together. If that sounds familiar, you may want to consider buying a bird bath. The benefits of bird
Water features, such as ponds and fountains, are usually located outdoors. However, a greenhouse water feature provides the opportunity to enjoy these elements indoors. Greenhouses are typically used to grow plants and flowers year-round, and a water feature adds a unique element to a glazed structure or polycarbonate hothouse. These features come in the form
Pleaching is a method of planting trees in rows and training the side branches to meet in horizontal, parallel lines. Other growth is cut back or interwoven to form a vertical screen. Beech, lime, hornbeam, and plane trees are some of the best trees for pleaching. This technique is particularly effective in a formal setting and is often used to
Hebe plants are attractive and versatile landscape shrubs that produce flowers in a wide range of colors. Along with their fragrant flower spikes, the foliage is often tinted with color or variegated, making them even more useful in any garden plan. Hebe shrubs are mostly native to New Zealand, although there are a few varieties
Sparmannia africana is a fast-growing plant that would normally grow into a small tree or large shrub in the wild. It features some amazing flowers, as they move whenever touched. Sparmannia africana is also known as African hemp, African linden, house lime, or Cape stock rose. Originally from South Africa, Sparmannia africana grows in damp places on forest margins,
Mikania is a quick-growing trailing house plant that entered the market in the 1980s. There is a single species of Mikania plants sold as house plants: Mikania ternata. The palmate leaves are green with a purplish sheen, slightly hairy above and densely hairy below. Mikania plants sold as houseplants are often called “Plush Vine” because of
Bertolonia, or Jewel Plant, is a genus of mainly evergreen plants. All species of this genus are small, even dwarfed, with a creeping growth habit. They’re tender perennials, known for the exotic coloring of their leaves. These plants are native to the tropical forests of Brazil, although a few have been found in Venezuela. These
Umbrella Palm (Cyperus alternifolius), also known as umbrella papyrus, is native to Madagascar. It grows in the form of shrubs and in most cases, these are wrongly mistaken for grasses. Both are monocots, but the umbrella palm tree is a sedge. In fact, one common name for Cyperus alternifolius is “umbrella sedge.” Umbrella palm has
Pear trees (Pyrus communis) bear sweet fruit with crisp, white flesh. Many gardeners tend to shy away from growing fruit trees due to their delicate and temperamental nature. However, it’s quite easy to grow a pear tree from seed —you just need a little knowledge, patience, and careful planning. Typically, pear trees need at least
There are several reasons why growing espalier tomatoes in courtyards or on patios is desirable. Primarily, it’s because they take up very little space in a small garden. Another benefit of growing your tomatoes climbing up walls and trellises is that by spreading the branches out, the fruit receives maximum sunlight. The warmth from the
Indoor plants are a vital feature of the well-furnished hall. It is here that guests gain their first impression of the inside of your home. Beautiful foliage and flowers are an immediate indication of a well-tended house. The best indoor plants for hallway spaces are large, architectural specimens. If your entryway is large, well-lit, and
Blasted by the sun and battered by the wind, roof gardens, or roof terraces are prime examples of exposed sites. They are not the best places to grow garden plants, but if you live in a city apartment, a roof garden can make a useful, extra room, bringing greenery closer to the urban home and
