A really big pet rock.

Water Features make great companions.

Adopt one today. There are many boulders out there looking for a good home. Nothing is better than the sound of water in the garden. Especially on a nice summer night. This particular stone is a basalt column which is a very dense volcanic rock.

A recirculating bubbling boulder really does make a great companion to any landscape. They are great as welcoming accents or clustered together for a very full sound. If you are using just one make sure to place it close to where you do most of your outdoor living. If it is placed too far away it might get lost in the rest of the garden. All that is needed is a nearby power outlet and enough room to dig a basin to hold the water.

Bubbling boulders fit into almost any space. If you have a open space, a larger and more prominent stone is preferable. If your space is more intimate, a smaller boulder with nice subtleties is probably best. Your local stone supplier should have a selection of pre-drilled stones to choose from, or you can pick your own and have them drill it for you. The character of the stone will determine the amount of noise it will produce. A smooth stone like the one above has a very consistent bubbling sound, while a rough stone will have a inconsistent splashing sound. If you already have a space in mind these characteristics will help you pick your new garden companion.

Here is a picture of basalt before it is harvested.

Columnar basalt at Sheepeater Cliff in Yellowstone. pic. from wikipedia

A Master Plan for the Garden

This is an example of a detailed master landscape plan. There are many ways of shaping an outdoor living space. For many, it happens over years of hard work and a few mistakes and victories along the way. (That is how my wife and I do it). For others, a major overhaul may take place in one season. They want it done so they can spend their time enjoying their space. We design master plans for both types of people.

Often, a client wants to chip away at their yard over the years, but they need a plan to guide them along the way. They will be able to refer back to the design whenever they want. Having a design done with their specific needs in mind will help to ensure proper plant placement and hopefully save them some time and headache in the future.

For those that are professionally installing a landscape in one season, it is crucial that a professionally designed plan be followed. The above plan includes many different elements including a paver patio with an outdoor kitchen and firepit, a kid's play area, a driveway with coordinating paver banding and, of course, several perennial gardens. Having a plan helps the homeowners and the different companies involved in the installation to be on the same page at all times. It also helps the landscape installation company work more efficiently. If the homeowner is concerned with plant placement (one would hope..) a design will keep things on track.

Most gardeners love the process of planting and working the garden over a lifetime. I love to experiment with plants and see what works and what doesn't, but a landscape design sure does help to visualize a project and keeps one from making a potentially expensive mistake.

Backyard Pathway

Here is a smattering of images taken of the "wedding" project we completed last week. A big thanks to VIP Outdoor Living and David Jordan Remodeling for the amazing work they do implementing our designs. We had a very important deadline on this project and due to rain, we were pushed to the wire. We completed it Friday afternoon, a few hours before the wedding rehearsal. phew. It is good to be challenged and know that we can accomplish quality work in a limited amount of time.

There were many big decisions to be made by the homeowner and she didn't have the luxury of time that most people do for such a large project. She did a great job and has great taste. She has a unique home for small town Nebraska. She is inspired by all things Asian which was fun to include in the design.

The pathway and the fence include bamboo pieces from CaliBamboo. This is the first time I have edged a garden with bamboo and I think it does it's job beautifully. It won't be the last. The homeowners also love copper (notice their copper windows) so we decided to include copper panels on the fence. These will patina naturally over time. The fence and pathway were designed to direct visitors to the homeowners garden which includes a beautiful pond and waterfall. Previously, people would just walk straight across the lawn, bypassing much of the plantings and garden space along the way to the pond. Now they will have to slow down and enjoy the journey!

A Multi-Level Backyard Project

This project was a challenge, but also very rewarding in the end. The yard had a unique slope that wasn't really user friendly, so we made it a multi-level garden space with a spot for eating dinner, a spot for the hot tub and the crowd-pleasing fire pit. It is the ultimate party spot (for suburban America anyway)!

This is the view from the fire pit. There is an upper level patio for dining and also the empty space to the left probably has a table on it by now. We used a variety of materials, including flagstone, boulders and stamped concrete.

Here is the focal point of the yard, the fire pit. There is a flagstone seat wall surrounded by grasses. It was a fun project.

View from the upper level dining area.

Live your Life Outside

A deck doesn't have to be boring. Too many backyards go unused simply because they don't have an inviting transitional space. This deck is inviting and multi-functional. The main area is ideal for dining and everyday use. The pergola provides shade and the fan keeps you cool in the summer heat. There is a secondary, functional landing as well that is perfect for when entertaining a crowd. Finally, there is a rustic, flagstone patio with a fire pit to warm you up doing the colder months. This deck increases the usable space in the homeowner's backyard and invites people to sit and stay awhile... no matter what time of year. We love to design something that looks good, but also truly enhances the functionality of your outdoor space.

A transitional space doesn't have to be a fancy deck either. An herb garden right outside the kitchen is functional and invites us out daily during the growing season. A small patio with some seating and perhaps a fire pit would also do the trick. It is nice if these spaces relate to the adjacent indoor rooms such as a small and private patio for two off of a bedroom or a larger patio designed for entertaining off of the kitchen or living room. There are small things we can do to really increase our homes living spaces and encourage ourselves to step outside!

Take a look at a few of our other decks, patios and structures for some ideas.

Visit our website for more information about our company and what we do.

Flagstone Pathway

We installed this flagstone pathway recently to add functionality to a do-it-yourselfer's garden. The client does a beautiful job taking care of his favorite plants and keeping a tidy little garden, but just needed some help adding a flagstone path through his yard. We love improving an outdoor space whether the project is large or small. A path is a nice way of drawing people away from the home and into the garden. Why not invite people to explore your plants and appreciate all of the hard work that you've put into your garden?

Backyard Oasis

This beautiful backyard was designed with entertaining, outdoor living and gardening in mind. Actually, it was one of our first completed projects here at Olive Branch. The perennials have had a several years to get established so I snapped a few photos the other day. The perennial garden includes hydrangeas, hostas, iris, allium, penstemon, wild geranium and daphne shrubs. We also plant up their containers each year. This year we filled them with cosmos, zinnias, impatiens, cannas among other tropicals. The plants are only a small feature of this versatile garden. There is also a spa and water feature that accompany the space and make it usable year round. We have had a lot of fun working on this project and watching it grow.

Garden Party

It's funny how when you're working on someone's outdoor project, they often say they will have a party and invite you as a thank you... most of the time that doesn't happen... but last week it actually did happen! This was a complete outdoor living renovation featuring a built-in grill, several water features, a fire pit and plenty of space to entertain. The kids love it so much they actually do their homework out there now! The client also said that she has to keep the ingredients for s'mores stocked in case of a sudden craving. These clients were great to work with and had this party to thank all who were involved in creating this space. This patio is one of my favorite projects and I will be sure to post more pictures of it in the future.

Don't you love a beautifully planted container? We do. They do so much for an outdoor living space. They soften corners, invite butterflies and provide fragrance. Not to mention they are fun to watch as they grow. I am always looking for an opportunity to get the most out of my container gardens. The Mexican heather pictured above will actually last indoors over the winter in a sunny spot and winter hardy succulents such as a sedums or hens and chicks can be planted in the ground in the fall. This way the plants don't have to go in the compost pile, but can be enjoyed next year!

Welcome!

Welcome to our new blog about anything related to landscapes, gardens and their design.  At Olive Branch Integrated Outdoor Design we love outdoor living and we want you to take it outside! We will be posting gardening tips and ideas, local garden-lover events, happenings here at Olive Branch and anything else that inspires us! We hope that you will find something here that inspires you to get outside and make a space of your own!