Beautiful Gardens

Having a garden, even a small one, can add so much beauty to a home. The colours, the landscaping, the wrought-iron furniture all add sculptural and textural elements to an outdoor space.

Some garden ideas are:

Brick and green:

If you prefer stone to grass or plan to do a lot of outdoor dining then nice, large terracotta flooring might be a good way to go. For that hint of greenery every garden needs, try planting some trees and shrubs all around. They will not only offer green, but coloured flowers as well and possibly some nice overgrowth to create a bit of a secret garden effect. Levels work really well in stone gardens. A dug out area for a table, a Juliet balcony up above, and maybe a shaded love bench tucked away somewhere in the corner.

Perfectly manicured:

National parks, private courtyards and hotel lawns are places where one can always find the most beautiful, perfectly manicured gardens. The trees and hedges are sculpted into perfect shapes, the colours flawlessly organised according to palette, with benches and seating areas tucked away throughout the property. Pathways are often laid for guests to wander around and enjoy without stepping on and ruining the grass.

Water parks:

Where there's water there is ambiance. Having any body of water from a small goldfish pond to a large lake adds a whole new dynamic to your garden. Small ponds can be decorated with bright coloured water lilies while large lakes surrounded with a hybrid of trees. Weeping willows, ferns and maple trees all look beautiful around a swimming lake. If you aren't near a natural body of water but have a pool you can plant around that as well. For a more natural look why not build your pool out of real stone and surround it with large bolsters? You can have a rock for a diving board and maybe a low waterfall going into the pool or hot tub. Throw some wild flowers seeds in the surrounding land and watch to see what springs up.

Some nice touches to add to your garden include gazebos, hammocks or water fountains. A mix of green, flowers, water, seating areas and resting areas typically make for a well-balanced garden. Like any living thing, gardens require love and care to properly grow. They need to be nourished with water and sunlight, weeded and trimmed every so often, you can probably handle the small stuff, but for best results and to avoid a nature nightmare, it's best to call in the professionals.