James Rose House An East Coast Mid Century Gem

James Rose is rightly remembered as one of the most influential modern landscape architects coming from the Post-World War Two period. Modern garden design today owes much to his vision and accomplishments. His Ridgewood, NJ home continues to be a major source of inspiration for me.

Materials aside from plants included:

wood

glass

translucent and transparent plastic

cinder blocks

concrete

plaster

copper

stones

paint

steel wire

pea gravel

The following text has been lifted directly from the James Rose Centers website:

For its unique modern spatial language, its expression of an alternative approach to conventional post-war suburban residential development and as the constantly changing laboratory of one of landscape architectures most inventive minds, the Ridgewood, NJ home of James Rose is one of the twentieth centurys most important landscapes.

The Vision

Rose began the design while in Okinawa during World War II with a model he made from scraps found in construction battalion headquarters. "I wanted the spaces flowing easily from one to another, divided for privacy and for convenience." Rose wrote in 1943. "I wanted the arrangement flexible and varied. Most of all, I wanted all this integrated with the site in a design that seemed to grow, to mature, and to renew itself as all living things do."

The Reality

Constructed in 1953, Rose described his home as a "tiny village" built on an area half the size of a tennis court. It was a composite of three buildings - a main house for his mother, a guesthouse for his sister, and a studio for himself. This experimental landscape achieves a fusion of indoors and outdoors perhaps unequalled by other leading designers of this time. Rose later described it as "neither landscape nor architecture, but both; neither indoors, nor outdoors, but both."

The Metamorphosis

It was conceived to accommodate rapid twentieth century change. "I decided to go at the construction as you might a painting or sculpture." Rose wrote. "I set up the basic armature of walls, and roofs, and open spaces to establish their relationships, but left it free in detail to allow for improvisation. In that way it would never be "finished," but constantly evolving from one stage to the next - a metamorphosis," Rose wrote, "such as we find commonly in nature."

Consistent with this, the design changed dramatically during the almost forty years Rose lived here. From 1961, when Rose was invited by the Japanese government to participate in a World Design Conference (WoDeCo), he found a mirror to his modern American design sensibility in the ancient culture of Japan. In changes such as the addition of the roof garden and zendo in the early 1970s a fusion of ancient East and modern West is effected as Rose compares the filigrees of plant forms to the filigrees of structure. "In the bare architectural outline is a pattern of organic (rather than cosmetic) decoration and an integral division of space."

                                                    Click image to enlarge

Read More..

Decumaria

Vining relatives of the Hydrangeas, that most people never heard of but make excellent plants for the shady landscape.

Decumaria barbara

This evergreen climber in the hydrangea family is self clinging ( by means of aerial roots ) and can reach up to 43 ( rarely 60 ) feet in height. It is an excellent, fast growing climber for tall trees, walls and trellises.
It has elliptic, glossy deep green leaves up to 6 x 3 ( rarely over 5 )inches.
In summer it has slightly fragrant, white flowers in clusters up to 4 inches across.
The flowers on Decumaria are all fertile unlike on many Hydrangea. Only climbing shoots bloom meaning Decumaria does not bloom when used as groundcover.
Hardy zones 5 to 9, it becomes deciduous rather than evergreen at temperatures below 8 F. It is flood tolerant making it an excellent choice for floodplain and swampy sites. It is also rarely bothered by insect pests or disease.
As a woodland plant native to the southeast U.S. from Arkansas to Long Island ( NY ) and south. Not only is this an excellent vine for use in shaded areas but on such sites it usually remains dense with foliage from its highest reaches all the way to ground level. It prefers part shade but is adaptable to sun or shade; preferring moist, fertile, acidic soils.
Grows from seed and softwood cuttings, the second being quicker to bloom than seed raised plants.

* photos taken on May 5 2010 @ McCrillis Gardens, Bethesda, MD








Barbara Ann
Superior thick, leathery, glossy deep green foliage.

Decumaria sinensis
Native to China and less vigorous, only reaching about 20 feet with evergreen shiny green, narrow foliage up to 3.6 inches in length. It is profuse blooming with slightly fragrant, creamy white clustered flowers. Hardy north to zone 7

Pileostegia viburnoides
A moderate growing, evergreen, woody vine, reaching a maximum height of 82 ( usually under 45 ) feet, that is a widespread native to India, southern and eastern China as well as Japan and Taiwan. It climbs by means of aerial roots and reaches massive proportions similar to that of Hedera helix on forest trees within its native range.
This beautiful evergreen vine graces the walls of many old mansions in southern and western Europe.
The leathery, entire, oblanceolate leaves are up to 7 x 2.5 inches in size.
The thick foliage is brilliant bronze-red at first, turning to polished glossy, rich mid to deep green. The luxuriant foliage is very tropical looking.
The frothy, creamy-white flowers are borne in dense panicles, up to 8 x 10 inches, during late summer into early autumn.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 in sun or shade ( but prefers its roots in shade ) on moist, fertile, well drained soil.
Cold winters in zone 7 may cause damage but plants should recover if cut back in early spring. It is a spectacular climber that thrives in both the Pacific Northwest as well as the humid southeast.
Propagation is from cuttings taken late spring into early summer as well as seed sown during autumn. Rooted shoots near the root crown of the plant can also be detached and grown on their own.
Pileostegia tomentella
A southeast China native that is similar except for having red-brown, densely-woolly undersides of the leaves.

Read More..

Fire Pit Tables Hearths

Hi all, so we have focused on fire pit design, fireplace design, tiki torches, safety, recipes and more. But today, I want to bring up something I feel we have overlooked thus far; fire pit tables, sometimes known as hearths.

What is the difference? Well, to be quite honest, not a whole lot if you are a fire pit expert, but the common misconception is that fire pits are just that, a pit, in the ground, or an above ground pit with fire. While this can and is true for the most part, modern designs have incorporated many style which include a table or mantle surrounding the fire pit frame itself. Some people call these hearths, as they should, but the only distinction is that you can rest a beverage, or gather around the hearth and enjoy some food, while not having to eat out of your lap, you can rest plates, drinks, etc on the hearth.
These table tops are made of durable material, variations of stone, granite, marble or even porcelain. Custom sizes and shapes or hearths and fire pits can be fabricated, along with a custom burning system to fit perfectly.

Make sure to take into account, when deciding on a hearth or fire pit, the size and scope of the area in your backyard or patio so that it fits appropriately. You dont want something too overwhelming in size that you have to move everything around just to fit it in, then youll be bogged for space when moving around your entertainment space.

We here at Warming-Trends.com can help you create the perfect fire feature for your backyard or patio, so come check us out!

Read More..

Arizona Pool Builder And Architectural Landscape Designer Bianchi On Outdoor Living As An Artform

Arizona Pool Builder and Architectural Landscape Designer - Bianchi on Outdoor Living as an Artform

www.BianchiDesign.com Master Landscape Architectural Designer, Kirk Bianchi discusses the Serenity in your Own Backyard. This Award Winning Pool ...

Read More..

Fire Pit Design Ideas Which have Names

I have often viewed, looked at, studies, reasearched...whatever you will, different fire pit design concepts for backyard landscapes, but I have never come across a site that named their fire pit designs.... "Ron," "Alley," "Juggler" and "Jarvan" just to name a few. But then I came across this website which tragically did. The names were derived from the people who actually created them (I still think they could have been a little more creative) and offer step-by-step instructions and blueprint layouts for how the fire pit will transcend from an idea on paper into a manifestation of reality into the new outdoor landscape.



Although, the fire pits are rather mundane and ordinary, the benefits of the step-by-steps are that you can actually see the landscape prior to the digging, installing and then the inclusion of shrubs, plants and trees which bring these ideas to life and complete the plot of land.

Its nice to see that yes, you CAN conceptualize, build and enjoy a custom fire pit all on your own, but make sure you are thinking about the entire landscape design plan and not just putting up a fire pit for the sake of it. Think about how the fire pit can be incorporated for entertaining guests, how far away is the space from your patio, grilling area and obviously (but not always to most) your home or other structures that could receive damage from an open flame.

When you are ready to upgrade your backyard, let us know and well be happy to help you with any of your landscape design and outdoor fire burning system questions.

Read More..

COLOR IN THE GARDEN

"Color directly influences the soul. Color is the keyboard, the eyes are the hammers, the soul is the piano with many strings. The artist is the hand that plays, touching one key or another purposively, to cause vibrations in the soul."
-- Wassily Kandinsky, Concerning the Spiritual in Art

 Kandinsky, "Autumn in Bavaria" 1908; 

Oil on cardboard, 33x45cm; Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris 

 Kandinsky, "Composition IX" 1936 

Oil on canvas, 113.5 x 195 cm; Musee National dArt Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris

In describing “pictorial composition” in Concerning the Spiritual in Art, Kandinsky advocates for disharmonious combinations of colors and forms in a new harmony for painting. He explains that the effect of any particular color is influenced by the colors and forms with which it is juxtaposed and asserts that “the incompatibility of certain forms and certain colors should be regarded not as something ‘disharmonious,’ but conversely, as offering new possibilities – a new form of harmony.

“Kandinsky uses color as a tool to add depth, dimension, and complexity to a two-dimensional composition.” (Reds and oranges to bring things in closer or blues and purples to add distance.) ”This is a prime example of just how color can tease the eye.  He proposed that color, like sound, evokes emotions. Along with other formal elements, such as line, shape, and form, color (like music) is a language that communicates to all. The main focus of his exploration of color was how it could be employed as an expression of the spiritual, he imagined it to act as a kind of intermediary between the viewer and the spiritual world.”1

The most common theory of color harmony is based on the mixture of pigments. This is of assistance to the landscape designer, but it does not take into consideration the visual aspects of color. Another theory based on the spectrum and the length of light waves is less applicable to the garden, where color must be considered in relation to environment. The "psychological theory" of Faber Birren is related to gardening. It is based on the effect or sensation of color on the eye.

“Faber Birren (1900-1988) was a leading authority on the effects of color on humans. Birren believed that colors influence extended beyond simply being a source of mere pleasing perception to having a fundamental influence on artwork, human psychology and the workplace experience. He believed that color was a primary tool of expression, communication and self-identification. In his introduction to "The Elements of Color," Birren wrote that "Expression should come from within," albeit from a conscious, informed perspective.

Birren links the human perception of color to the emotional response it evokes in the viewer. He explains, in his 1961 publication, "Creative Color: An Approach for Artists and Designers," that people associate color with other senses. He writes, "Good smelling colors are pink, lilac, orchid, cool green, aqua blue," and goes on to describe the associations of other colors with corresponding senses. The association of one sense with another is known as synaesthesia. In "Color Psychology and Color Therapy," Birren observes that introverts tend to be unresponsive to color, and that emotionally responsive people react more readily to color.”

Faber Birrens Color Wheel

For a more detailed discussion of this see Birrens Color Dimensions, Color Equation, and the comprehensive color charts in The American Colorist.

If the effect of color is largely psychological, and since it is influenced, as it appears in the garden, by light, shadow, climate, and humidity, it is nearly impossible to lay down rules for its use.

Christopher Lloyd was considered to be an inspiration to gardeners. He was famous for his bold gardening with strong use of shapes and colors that gave interest all year. To him, colors work with and against each other, and must be viewed as relationships. Colors strike powerful emotional chords and Lloyd knew how to wring the most out them. “Christo” as he was affectionately called, stated, “plants grown close to one another, need to help one another.”

A visit to his gardens is an emotional experience, an overload of the senses, a magical drug-induced trip of color that sends one wondering if they have been transported to Oz.  Blogger Margaret Roach writes ….. "No garden in the world ever WOWED me like Great Dixter."

He debunks color wheel and other theories. “Limitations imposed by rules are a safe haven.” So to the adventurous designer, colorist and gardener, he advocates breaking them!

1. -Kandinskys dissonance and a Schoenbergian view of Composition VI

Shannon M. Annis

University of South Florida, -2008

2. –Cynthia Reeser, ehow.com

Read More..

Mespilis

Mespilis

Mespilis canescens ( Sterns Medlar )
A medium-sized shrub, that is native to Arkansas where it is highly endangered with extinction with only 25 plants left in the wild. Some records include: 3 years - 8 feet.
The white flowers are borne during mid spring.
They are followed by glossy red fruit.
Hardy zones 7 to 8 ( possibly even 6 or lower though more testing is needed ) in full sun to partial shade on fertile, moist, well drained soil.

Mespilis germanica ( Medlar )
A slow growing, picturesque, dense, broadly-rounded, small tree that is native to mountainous areas from southeastern Europe to soutwestern Asia. It is often considered to be native to the British Isles but was actually introduced there by the Romans centuries ago. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 2 feet; 20 years - 27 x 27 feet; largest on record - 60 x 50 feet with a trunk diameter of 2 feet. It is rarely seen in the U.S.; in the DC region it can be found at the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, MD.
The alternately-arranged, finely-toothed, oblong leaves are up to 7 x 3 ( rarely over 5 ) inches in size. The foliage is waxy deep green above, felted beneath, they turn glowing orange and red in fall.
The abundant, white, 5-petalled, single flowers, up to 2 inches across, are borne during late spring.
The very tasty, fleshy, rounded fruit are up to 2.7 ( usually under 1.6 ) inches in length, or about the size of a plum. They can be eaten fresh, stewed or made into jelly. For soft tasty fruit, most cultivars are best harvested just after the first fall frost or otherwise they will have high malic acid content and wont taste as good.
The young stems are hairy and brown. The stems on wild plants are often armed with small thorns, though most of the cultivars are thornless.
The grayish-brown bark is smooth on young trees, later becoming thin plated and flaking off to expose fresh orangish-brown bark beneath.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 ( tolerating -25 F though a Russian strain is reportedly hardy to -35 F ) in full sun on just about any moist, fertile, well drained soil. It thrives in midwest North America and is rarely bothered by insect pests or disease. Transplant while small as they do not like root disturbance. Young trees should be pruned to a single leader, thinned and feathered.
Older trees need little pruning other than removing dead wood or the occasional shortening of overextended limbs.
Propagation is from seed sown during autumn, however cultivars can also be bud grafted during late summer.

* excellent videos found on Youtube



Breda Giant
A very attractive, broad-crowned tree with large tropical-looking foliage. Up to 20 or more pounds of the fruit, up to 1.7 inches in length, may be borne in a year on a single plant.
The large flowers are pinkish-white.

Dutch
A very attractive, thornless, broad-crowned tree with large tropical-looking foliage.
The large flowers are pinkish-white.
The fruit are large.

Large Russian
A very attractive, broad-crowned tree with large tropical-looking foliage.
The large flowers are pinkish-white.
The fruit are large.

Nottingham
Thornless with great tasting, large fruit. The leaves are also large, it is also otherwise similar.

Stoneless
The fruit are seedless but unfortunately very small.

Read More..

5 Landscape Design Software Features That Can Help You Design Your Yard

If youre considering getting a Landscape Design Software program, there are a number of Features you have to be aware of. With these Features, you will be able to come up with all sorts of Design possibilities for your yard without having to make any physical modifications to the Landscape just yet. Get to know these 5 common Features you will see in the majority of Landscape Design Software programs.

Templates

Most Landscape Design Software programs have templates, or gardens and other terrain layouts that can stimulate you or guide your thinking as you plan your own yard. You may either just use these Design templates as they come or you can modify them to fit your Design preference.
Element Manipulation

Novice and experienced Landscapers will find this feature impressive and handy. With the element manipulation tool, you will be able to drag and drop many Landscape elements in and out of your virtual terrain. The elements involved might be vegetation, shrubs, water Features, gazebos, etc. Good Software will have incredibly high numbers of sample elements that you can select from and put in your Design.

You could easily create your very own virtual yard and give your creativity free rein. Other element manipulation Features include modifying the seasons and conditions in your virtual yard. You can also enter the kind of soil you have into the computer and see how well the virtual yard is just like the real thing.

Seasons

A really visionary part of some examples of landscaping Software is the seasonal feature. With this particular feature, you will see how your yard appears like as it mimics the changing seasons in your region. This feature will replicate crops growing throughout the seasons -- leaves turning golden in the fall, trees shedding their leaves in the wintertime, and flowers turning green once more at the first sign of spring. You can Design your yard according to the seasons and how theyll influence the look of your yard.

Editing

The capability to modify your plans is essential. If its your first time looking for a Landscape Design Software, look for the editing Features of programs youre considering and test it out at the store. You wouldnt want to buy a program that doesnt have this very important feature. You do not want to get something you arent comfortable using.

Design Layering

This is a really useful feature, especially when you use it along with the element manipulation tool. Design layering helps to keep the entire Design or picture in its place as you mess with a single piece. You can specify one object for manipulation and keep the remainder of the yard Design steady.

Read More..

Got Milk End Powdery Mildew!

One of the most common problems this last growing season was Powdery Mildew! We had quite the wet growing season in 2006 making it difficult for many of our favourite plants to thrive.

Throughout the latter part of the season I watched as one by one my vegetable plants withered away due to either powdery mildew or some other fungus.

The main cause:

One of the main causes of powdery mildew is over-watering. Leaves on either trees, shrubs or perennials remain wet for long periods of time. Usually plants that exhibit powdery mildew the most will have poor air circulation around their branch structure. There is a tendency for the leaves to trap humidity in the air and cause the perfect growing environment for the airborne fungi spores to fester and spread. Suddenly the leaves develop this white haze look to them.... youve got powdery mildew!

The Solution:

Earlier this fall, my Uncle down in Florida asked me what to do for powdery mildew growing on his Zucchini plants. He is into organic gardening...in one of the toughest environments to avoid chemicals...Florida! As he calls it, the land of pestilence! Everything is fair game in the garden.... Anyway, in my researching, I found someone that discovered spraying milk on plants killed powdery mildew!

He also described using powdered milk (15 grams) to 1 liter of water... the powdered milk kept the smell of old sour milk down once you applied it as a foilar spray. Get Milk info !!!

So if powdery mildew has had its way with your garden, consider an organic solution rather then a chemical attack. Its the enzymes in milk that attack the powdery mildew and break it down so that it does not function.

Some of the most common plants that exhibit powdery mildew in Ontario; Phlox, Tomato vines, Zucchini plants, Roses, Azaleas, Dogwoods and most popular....the ever invasive Norway Maples. (and yes, Poplar trees as well in case your wondering if I made a spelling error....though they are not popular landscape trees)

Read More..

Designing With Plants Shape and Form

Designing with Plants using their shape or form can be an excellent way of creating structured and interesting focal points within a landscape and garden design. Some Plants have naturally interesting shapes with interesting leave patterns. Others can be pruned creating simple to interesting shapes, to contrast against adjacent wild and sprawling varieties.

Natural Shape and Form (Sculptural)

Sculptural Plants with naturally interesting and striking shapes can be best used as focal points within a garden design when used adjacent ordinary groundcovers and shrubs. Sculptural Plants can also have impressive impact within a landscape design when planted on mass over an area. The repetition of the sculptural Plants striking form can provide a strong geometric and structured design to a space. Some layout ideas are as follows: For a strong geometric pattern, plant at regular intervals based off the spread(diameter) from the centre of each plant. Keep Plants aligned as straight as possible. For a more naturalistic appearance plant in clumps spaced at similar spaces as above but this can vary. To use sculptural Plants as focal points, the use of singular specimens on their own in a smaller garden will be adequately effective but occasionally in a large garden or landscape they can fade into the background too much. To reduce this problem just minimise other planting surrounding it or add a few more so the focal point ends up being a clump.
Some examples of sculptural species are as follows:

Macrozamia communis - Burrawang
Lepidozamia peroffskyana - Scaly or pineapple zamia
Cycas revoluta - Sago Palm
Asplenium nidus - Birds Nest Fern
Doryanthes excelsa - Gymea Lily
Dicksonia antarctica - Soft Tree Fern
Xanthorrhoea spp - Grass Tree

Prune to create form

Pruning shrubs, groundcovers or even trees to shape is another option to create a feature or style a garden.

Plants should be chosen that can be shaped, hedged into simple forms that can create contrast within the garden design. Many Plants can be shaped including some Australian Native Plants. A small list of Plants has been provided below. Designing a garden where Plants are to be regularly pruned to maintain form will require a successful maintenance regime. The Plants will require pruning from early on, to start shaping and improve foliage cover over the plant. If early pruning is avoided some shrubs can become open and woody which is undesirable. There are many ways of using pruned Plants within a garden design. There is the typical formal clipped hedge garden where basically everything is clipped apart from possibly the groundcovers. Then there is the more wild and sprawling planting style with regularly clipped feature Plants formed up in shapes as focal points in the landscape design.

Some good Plants for shaping are:

Buxus microphylla - Japanese Box (Dense growing, prune to shape)
Westringia species - (Native - prune regularly as it can become woody)
Murraya paniculata - Orange Jessimine (fairly forgiving for forgetful gardeners)
Syzygium spp - Lilly Pilly (Native - Good hedging plant)
Trachelospermum jasminoides - Star Jasmine (can be grown as a climber and clipped and also as a low hedge, fast grower)
Dietes iridioides (Grass style plant - can be clipped into a ball)
Lomandra species (Native - Grass style plant - can be clipped into a ball)
Photinia species (good hedging plant)
Michellia figo (good hedging plant)
Callistemon species (Native - prune after flowering as it can become woody)
Melaleuca species (Native - prune after flowering as it can become woody)

Read More..

Updating original juniper planting at a townhome

Low water requirement, shade loving plants provide an easy maintenance and aesthetically pleasing look. After the removal of an overgrown juniper which encroached on the sidewalk, more appropriate plantings for the size of the space were added.

Read More..

Springtime Traditions From Around the World

Ok Spring, you are officially here! About time too, cuz I was growing sick and tired of the cold weather. How do we here at Warming Trends ring in the new season? We go golfing and sit around the warm flame of our custom fire pit afterwards and enjoy adult beverages.


We are not the only ones who have springtime traditions, turns out there are several interesting traditions from around the world that different cultures enjoy.


For example, in ancient Mesopotamia they holiday Akitu, which comes from the word "barley" was an annual spring festival marking the two halves of the year, the first in the fall, where they sowed the barley seeds, and the spring, where they harvest and cut the barley.

Also, "in Babylonia, it started on the new moon closest to the spring equinox to honor the sky god Marduk; the Akitu nearest the fall equinox in Assyria honored the high god Ashur; and Akitus were held on both dates each year in Uruk to honor the sky god Anu." (See reference below)


Also, down under in Australia, since the seasons are reversed, spring falls in November which is also when the The Melbourne Cup is held. The first Tuesday of November is a public holiday in the state of Victoria when Australias premier horse race is held. It is also referred to as "The race that stops a nation."


In many countries, May Day, is celebrated and is synonymous with International Workers or Labor Day. In Celtic tradition, this day signifies the end of spring and start of summer.


In India, Holi, the festival of colors, is celebrated marking the end of winter and the start of spring. This tradition entails a vibrant colorful display where where people throw water and colored powder on each other in celebration.


Finally, in Vietnam, they follow the traditional lunar and solar calendar to mark the beginning and end of seasons. The lunar calendar is primarily used as a way to divide the agricultural processes and late January and early February marks the Vietnamese New Year as they ring in spring.


So no matter what traditions you enjoy, we highly recommend our spring tradition of extending our time spent outdoors on the golf course and then relaxing next to the warm flame of a custom fire pit. Let us help you "bring a warm glow to your patio."

Visit us online or call today! 1-877-556-5255

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_%28season%29
http://festivallover.hubpages.com/hub/Ancient-Akitu-Festival-of-Mesopotamia

Read More..