Rose Cottage Ltd

This lone tree – hiding in the woods, is one of the most elusive bloomers to catch each year. The blooms come out quickly and unfortunately disappear just as fast. My more difficult problem is to find it each year since I only have one or two on the entire 7-acre property.

So here it is for 2013…

On the other hand is the Persian Lilac which has copious blooms and an incredible scent. That should be just about ready for photo-ops this coming weekend! Or you can get a peek at last year’s Persian Lilac show!

If you want to get a quick fix on the personality of any garden, or on any gardener for that matter, have a look at their selection of garden planters.

Other than some desert-type gardens where you can almost plant and walk away, it takes work and consistency to keep a garden alive. I always feel bad when I see small plants sitting in someone’s yard, still in the small plastic containers they were sold in – usually with the plants showing great signs of distress. So for those who take an active role in their garden, planters – which can be moved to adapt to weather and sun requirements – are a good half-way measure between backhoe-level landscaping and those little plastic pots.

Here are a few I really like for 2012…

This Weathered Rust Brunello 26-inch Planter is a lightweight planter hand crafted through an exclusive eight-step process. Using only the highest-grade resin and innovative technology makes these planters lightweight and incredibly durable.

The exclusive anti-shock manufacturing process provides years of enjoyment. Weatherproof & UV-Protected deep inner lip enhances durability.

Lightweight and incredibly durable with a 10 Year Warranty to never Fade, Crack, or Chip.

The Victorian Parasol Hanging 20-inch Bronze Planter is sure to be a point-of-interest wherever it hangs with its elegant design that will bring a touch of sophistication to your patio or deck area.

For a unique accent piece, this planter will accommodate a variety of flowers in its 14 or 20″ inch pot. The design of this planter has a basket, surrounded by curved metal finished with an upside-down parasol base.

This Victorian Parasol Planter can be hung from the three attached chains.

This Aged Moss Arbor Bowl Planter would fit in well on my rather rustic country property.

The Wildwood Collection features large and free tree leaves that wrap around the pedestal and bowl, mirroring the environment that surrounds us. The relief is touched with a mossy green compelling your eye to blend the sculpture in the foreground with the leafy growth in the background.

The expert finish given the Arbor Planter Bowl and Pedestal allow it to blend naturally with its surroundings.

Handcrafted and made in America from high-fired Terra Cotta. Outdoor use – but bring inside before freezing temps hit.

The Thames Bowl Planter was originally created as a special commission for London’s County Hall.

For more than twenty years, skilled designers, craftsmen and engineers have been producing decorative plant containers and architectural features for homes, gardens, hotels and public buildings around the world.

High Quality Fiberglass planter – 40″ in diameter; 20 inches high.

Maintenance Free Material: Fiberglass Frost proof, but not “freeze-proof.”

Over a 1,000 possible choices from large square planters to amphora planters….wine not included…

Here’s a good place to do some research for new ideas and new plants for your 2012 garden!

You can take a walk through an entire nursery-worth of products without leaving your chair! And through February 11, 2012, find out how to get all orders for only $5.95 shipping from Nature Hills Nursery…

I wrote a post about the benefits of mulch early last year.

Here’s a not-great image of the mulch I used in 2010. It did an excellent job of laying a good base and in discouraging annoying and stubborn weeds. But I needed something more to tackle these areas near and around the house itself.

This year, I’m using a slightly different mulch and going back after those “tameable” areas of my 7 acres and I will be providing some better “before” and “after” photos.

I think you might be surprised at the improvement.

Today, the 12 yards of Pine Mini Nuggets mulch was delivered and placed exactly where I plan my base of operations! To get some idea of the actual size of this pile – my Mini Cooper is parked right behind it!

The mulch I chose this year was less fine than what I used prior. In fact, some of that mulch is still where I’m headed again this year. But the nugget mulch will have a better chance of staying where I put it – even in areas that tend to runoff towards the lake.

Here’s an up-close picture of the new mulch.

I am very lucky to have a company nearby that has mulch I can visit before I buy. Quite often this is the best thing to do before deciding what type of mulch is best for your landscaping efforts.

As I also mentioned in the prior post, having a large quantity of mulch delivered is the only practical and affordable way for me to plan and complete my landscaping project. I can’t carry more than a few bags of mulch from Lowe’s in a Mini Cooper and by the time I’ve loaded and unloaded them just to and from the car – I’m exhausted.

Tomorrow I will just head out and be able to start working.

From a cost standpoint, I estimate I will be saving somewhere around $700 by purchasing this mulch in bulk. $700 savings means maybe I can afford to add a new fountain or birdbath to the equation. Or I can just leave it as “savings” – not a word you hear too often in the world of landscaping.

Happy Weekend!