The first step was to take the floor plan the builder provided us and much like a layout for the interior we laid out the exterior landscape. Sidewalks and lampposts were drawn in and then various varieties of plants, shrubs, and perennials were placed where they would thrive best for the amount of sun the area receives throughout the day.

Since most of the areas are shaded there were some choices for plants that grow well in this environment. Some of them include Hostas, Bleeding Hearts, Vinca, and Ferns. Trees and shrubs that thrive in shade are Dogwood, Yew trees and Azalea bushes.

Hostas are a perennial and are best known for their colorful foliage. They grow well in a shady garden and come in over 500 varieties. They can range in size from 2 inches to over 6 feet. The leaves also come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. It is important when you plant Hostas that you know how large they will grow and leave enough room for them to spread out without taking over your other plants.

Bleeding hearts are a traditional favorite in shaded gardens. The flowers that they produce resemble a heart and at the bottom of the flower a “drop of blood” dangles. These perennials come in white, pink, purple and red. Once the plants are done flowering the foliage dies and leaves behind an open place in the garden. In order to fill this void, Hostas or other shade-loving perennials usually surround Bleeding hearts.

A wonderful ground cover or trailing vine is called Vinca vine. It has green and white leaves and violet trumpet like flowers. It won’t climb surfaces but can be strung along trellises. It is very fast growing and can spread quickly throughout the garden so care needs to be taken so that the vine does take over the entire garden.

Ferns are another great choice for a garden in the shade. They do not produce flowers but are definitely an ornamental plant. There are many varieties but many hardy Ferns grow great in a moist shady climate and can withstand cold winter temperatures. Their leaves create a great addition to any landscape.

Dogwood trees are very popular and are planted throughout the country. They are very adaptable to all types of soil and water conditions. Because they remain relatively small they are a good fit as a flowering tree. They bloom in red, white and pink and they look nice year-round.

A type of evergreen that looks good in both summer and winter is the Yew. It in considered an evergreen for the shade. Yew trees and shrubs are shade-tolerant and produce little red berries. They have short flat needles that are dark green on the top and light green on the underside. Their new foliage is bright green and soft creating a great contrast.

One of my favorites while researching shade gardens would have to be the Azalea bush. They are called the “royalty of the garden.” There are thousands of varieties and are both evergreen and deciduous. They produce many flowers and their blooms are fragrant. They come in a variety of colors including white, lavender, bright orange, gold, red and the most popular color is purple. Some grow tightly creating a flowering bush and some open up like a tree.

Now that I have done my research I am ready to begin. With all the windows in our Prairie style home we will soon be able to look out and the surrounding landscape will really bring the outdoors in. A trellis and gazing ball from our previous home will add nostalgia as well as color and texture to the landscape. Down the road I would like to add a nice bench and birdbath that will make our shaded garden a place of refuge on hot summer days.

For more great article on outdoor areas, visit House Plans and More.

We are finally at a point in our lives that we are ready to build a new home. We started out years ago in an apartment garage, moved up to one of those small ranch house plans and are now ready to take the leap and build a new home design. With all the buzz about building green and our responsibility to lessen our ecological footprint we have decided to build one of the beautiful log home plans available out there today. We recently attended a local home show and found an abundance of information regarding this style of home.

Building the perfect home for us means carefully planning it inside and out. Not just thinking about the bedrooms, baths, home office, kitchen layout and storage spaces but how the home will be finished on the exterior, from roofing all the way down to the foundation wall.

Not too long ago log and country home plans were considered simplistic and unappealing. Today they are at the cutting edge of style, creativity and technology. Log homes are the only self-renewing building resource found in nature today. The logs have a thermal mass that creates a higher R-value. R-value is an insulation’s resistance to heat flow, the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. This style of home will save us when it comes to heating and cooling bills.

Because it is a different style of building it is important to find an experienced builder that is familiar with all the nuances of building a log home. The logs are very strong and can bear the entire weight of the home so that we can have a very open floor plan. The logs will need to be treated properly so that they are durable against weather damage. Log homes “breathe” keeping moisture and mildew away.

Another great thing we found out at the home show is that because of their strength and durability finding financing and insuring our new log home will not be a problem.

We also found many great tips when it comes to landscaping our new home. The natural beauty of a log home makes landscaping a breeze. Plants and hardscapes need to blend in with the exterior, not overpower it. We also visited our local nursery to find out what type of native plants grow well in the area, what type of blossoms are blooms are produced during certain seasons and what type of plants are low maintenance.

We know we want to add some hardscape objects such as a wooden bench, a birdbath and a stone path leading to the side of the house. We also want to accent our landscaping with some container gardening using large jugs and cans that add to the natural landscape of the home. The nursery told us to carefully place these items before planting anything so they can be easily moved around since they will be hard to move once plants and vines start to grow.

I know we won’t begin building for a couple of months but I feel we have done the research and are going to take an active role in managing and reducing our energy cost while building a truly unique home in the process. I can already picture my family sitting on our porch of our log home enjoying the outdoors. I can see my parents walking through the front door at holidays and being amazed at how we turned our dream into reality.

Some of my fondest memories growing up were visits to my grandparent’s home in the country. As I grew up it never changed, it was one of the cozy country home plans you often see in rural areas and I will always remember that feeling of safety and warmth when I entered it.

We just bought a home outside the city limits with some acreage and it definitely fits into the rustic home design category. We want to keep the style, but have hired a professional contractor to update the finishes, door and windows. While they are working on that I have began putting pen to paper and drawing up what I want to do with the landscaping. I want the landscaping to tie into the overall look and feel of the home design and appear that it has been there for years.

The first thing to do is decide where I want to put the hardscaping objects. These are objects that I do not plan to move. I have some iron fencing and gate, a stone bench and a birdbath. I would also like to add a garden shed but for now I have just drawn the exterior dimensions on my layout. I don’t want to use store bought pavers because they just don’t fit into the overall natural look. I would love to use some of limestone rocks that are on the property. If I cannot find enough I will have to visit the local nursery to see what type of natural materials are available.

Another thing I want to recreate from my grandparents is the use of native plant life for an informal natural landscape look and feel. These plants will require little or no maintenance other than pulling weeds and watering when the weather doesn’t cooperate. Mixed with the native plants I plan to add some perennials that will come back each year and will form deep roots to stop the soil from eroding. Purple coneflowers, alyssum, butterfly bushes and sunflowers will complement each other and also attract some beautiful butterflies. I also want to add native grasses and hardy mosses but will add a mini iron fence to ward off any unwelcome wildlife that will want to nibble.

For some special touches I have kept some antiques from my grandparents that I also plan to add. I have an iron trellis that will be great for climbing vines, an old wheelbarrow will serve as a birdbath, and a watering can will serve as a planter. There are also some neat little statues and signs that will bring smiles to everyone that enters our home.

I can’t wait until the contractors are done with the renovation of the exterior so that I can begin on the landscaping. With all the memorable antiques, beautiful flowers and vines, and using the natural plant life and hardscaping objects our landscaping will be sure to welcome guests and every time I walk by I will once again get that feeling from long ago.

We have lived in our two-story home design for over two years now and have decided it is time to add on a cozy outdoor patio. We need a place to relax, unwind and enjoy the outdoors. The ground has finally settled around our home and I have been researching what type of materials to use, what are the latest trends in patio living and how to accessorize it so that the entire family can enjoy it.

I have found that pavers would be the least expensive and easiest to install and stone or flagstone would probably be the most expensive. Stone and flagstone can be pre-cut for a more finished look or can come in random pieces for a more rugged and rustic look. There is also the option of stone veneer which offers the same benefits of real stone, except for durability. Veneer is typically lighter in weight and definitely less expensive than the real thing.

The decision that has been reached and the entire family has decided that would be the best fit for our contemporary home is a mixture of brick, concrete and also stamped concrete. Brick is timeless and with the huge selection of shades and colors I know the patio will be lively and colorful if we use it as a border. Concrete will be the main surface of the patio and by adding stamping we can customize the design for an affordable patio with a unique design. We have not yet decided what type of stamping but the options are so broad we need to do a little more research. We would even like to “stamp” the families footprints in a creative way and then add the date. This will definitely give our patio a custom look.

With our home design only being two years old there is not much vegetation around the area where we plan to add the patio. I would like to add some plants and flowers that have bold colors that will liven up the area and create a jungle type of atmosphere. From our old ranch home design we brought along some treasured wind chimes and also a couple of hammocks that we would like to incorporate into the design. We do not have any patio furniture so look forward to purchasing big, comfortable chairs with bright cushions that will not fade in the weather. I have seen many options at all the stores and all of the fabrics are designed to handle the wind and sun without showing wear and tear. We just haven’t found the perfect pattern yet but I know we will.

As a family we love the water and find the sound of it very relaxing. Once we finish the patio we would love to add a water fountain. To keep the expense down, we will probably just add the type that you pour water into and plug in so we need to make sure there is electric access. Outdoor lighting is also a must. We are going green with the lights and have chosen some great solar powered lights that just stick into the ground.

After putting all the ideas down on “paper” I can visualize our perfect outdoor patio and can’t wait to get started. With careful planning we are not going to spend a lot of money and will have a new outdoor living area that will be a great addition to our home and will not require much maintenance. I know it will be used year-round and will soon be the gathering spot for our entire family.