If there was a beauty contest for flowering shrubs, surely the hydrangea would come in first place. In recent years, many new hydrangeas have appeared in garden centers. Breeders have been busy developing and introducing new varieties, especially those of the “panicle” hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata). They are named for their upright cone-shaped flowers. Panicle hydrangeas make […]
Category: Features and Details
Garden Ornaments
A garden can have the best plants, the most pristine paths and a fabulous layout, but something may still be missing. Garden ornaments—from benches and fountains to sundials, mobiles and sculpture—are the elements that complete a setting and reflect the owner’s style. “Think of your outdoor spaces as garden rooms—places you move through just as […]
Water Features
Liquid Assets Earth. Fire. Wind. Water. Our ancestors were fascinated by those elements and they continue to captivate us in gardens today. Water is often an overlooked feature for residential gardens, but the sound of trickling or cascading water can be very relaxing. It can also mask some of the street noise in urban areas. […]
Butterfly Gardening: Here’s How to Attract Winged-Wonders to Your Landscape
Of all the creatures that visit gardens, butterflies are perhaps the most exotic and magical. On warm summer days they sail from one flower to another in search of nectar. In sunlight, the shimmering wings of the red-spotted purple appear iridescent. And, while the large, brightly colored swallowtails, monarchs and painted ladies tend to grab […]
4 Ways Gardening Helps Kids (And Grownups, Too)
Why do so many us of love working in the garden? Why do we give plants and flowers as gifts? There’s a pretty good reason! Plants have the power to bring smiles and a sense of well-being to those who interact with them – in fact, the positive effects of plants are so powerful that […]
Gardening with Children
Big surprises often come in small, special packages. “One year for Robbi’s birthday, my son Scott and I gave her a gift certificate for a class at The Morton Arboretum,” says landscape architect Bob Hursthouse of Hursthouse, Inc. It turned out to be a great adventure.“Scott was a preschooler and we went to the “Salamanders […]
Lights, Camera, Action: Landscaping Lighting
Spring is many weeks away and the nights are still dark and cold. Some homeowners look out their window in the evening and all they see is their reflection. That’s a shame because a landscape should be one of the loveliest and most distinctive features of a home. But for many, it’s often hidden from […]
Hummingbirds Are Here!
The cool nights in early September remind me that summer is slowly giving way to fall. Right now, our gardens are experiencing some incredible visitors. Monarch butterflies are floating overhead and popping in for a drink. They spend time at late-season flowers like zinnias, lantana and other annuals and perennials because they need plenty of […]
Landscaping Materials: Where Do They Come From?
Hardwood and natural stone, tall trees and flowering plants – these are just a few of the materials that may end up in your yard if you’re building a landscape with Hursthouse. After we’ve presented the Conceptual Designs and you’ve made specific choices about what you want in your landscape, we’ll prepare your Final Design. […]
3 Materials for Your Retaining Wall
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