If we have learned anything over the past few years, it is that it feels good to be home. Our home is our own personal oasis to escape the crowds and stress of a work day. It is our sanctuary to relax and recharge or to enjoy family and friends. Bring the luxury of your home outdoors into the garden with these five popular landscape design trends from Hicks Landscape Design, the award-winning landscape design arm of Hicks Nurseries in Westbury, New York.
Self-Care
Create a space outdoors where you can become one with nature. For peace and relaxation, consider a yoga and meditation space. Include a water feature such as a fountain, pool, or pond. Your guests will enjoy a cool summer dip in a pool with an integrated slide. In addition, it will enhance the pool’s appeal to guests looking for a place to cool off. Anyone of any age can use the slide, which can be set up on the ground or on top of the pool. For more robust activities, consider a tennis court or putting green. Having your favorite sports and hobbies at your fingertips will provide you with joy and happiness.
Create a Flower Cutting Garden
A cutting garden is a place where you grow flowers and plants to ensure you have plenty of beautiful options on hand for floral arrangements in your home. For example, in the spring you can grow tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. For summer, try a combination of early, mid and late blooming plants such as delphinium, coneflower, daisies, lamb’s ear, dusty miller and dahlias. Fall grasses, mums, cabbage, kale and Montauk daisies create beautiful, easy to grow options for your autumnal arrangements. Remember that this type of garden is for production only – it is not necessarily meant to look pretty, so place it in a sunny area out of the way if you have the luxury of space.
Enjoy Your Culinary Delights Outdoors
An outdoor kitchen makes entertaining poolside a breeze! Solid stone countertops and high-end appliances create an inviting space for dining alfresco in the summer months. Consider adding a bar for easy cocktails day and night. Love pizza? An outdoor pizza oven is a wonderful luxury for entertaining. Upgraded, quality outdoor furniture that compliments your indoor furniture adds to the allure of a larger space that is not defined by doorways and walls.
Warmth & Lighting
Create the perfect ambiance for late night ‘smores and summer evening cocktail parties with outdoor lighting. Craig Donley, a seasoned landscape designer from Hicks Landscapes says, “We create custom lighting plans that will complement the way you plan to use the space.” Extend your time outdoors into fall and winter with a custom fire pit, chiminea or outdoor heater.
Plant a Kitchen Garden & Orchard
Growing your own food is a fun and rewarding experience. Have your favorite fresh herbs on-hand for special meals and cocktails. Grow your own lettuce for salads and your favorite veggies for grilling. Additionally, an orchard allows you to grow your favorite fruits from cherries and apples to peaches and figs. Fresh, organic food from your own garden always tastes best!
Make the outdoors an extension of your home, for a place you will never want – or need to leave.
Thanks to hickslandscapedesign.com for consulting.
