Design Water Gardens - $350 Per Hour

Design Water Gardens - $350 Per Hour

If you have read any of my articles before, you know I specialize in sharing my knowledge and experience in the water garden business over the past 26 years. I have shared with you before about the incredible financial benefits of offering clients digital designs. It is the most important first step of any water garden project.

Googling "digital design ponds" or "digital design water gardens" will result in seven cad cam or 3D-type design programs. These types of software produce stilted, unnatural, unrealistic results. In the past 26 years I have designed and constructed well over 1,900 water gardens for commercial and residential clients. Until recently, most of these designs were produced the "old fashioned" way, by hand drawing them.

Designing Japanese Gardens

Designing Japanese Gardens

A frequently asked question that readers of my blog ask is 'What type of Japanese garden can I design?'.
Japanese garden snobs may frown upon it, but don't let it cloud your desires or vision. Perhaps, the best way forward if you are interested or about to start designing Japanese gardens is to visit a good example near where you live (there are excellent designs of Japanese gardens in most countries in the world) OR have a good rummage around on the internet for photographs of gardens that catch the eye and are great examples of this form of 'garden art'. The oriental garden in Portland Oregon in the United states is a good place to start. There are many styles to choose from when planning and designing. Average sized yards or gardens are ideal for a Japanese garden. For a realistic and true to the 'rules' design you have numerous choices with many historical and design facets. There are for example 5 types of Japanese gardens and depending on which type you prefer will dictate it's location and make up. If you have a smaller area a 'Zen' garden may be more in keeping with the aesthetics of your space. Zen gardens were designed and used by Buddhist monks and in general comprise of boulders and rocks and gravel/ or sand. Zen gardens are supposed to be places of tranquility and help 'clear' the mind. Meditation is common and effective in a Zen garden which should be viewed from one place. Meditation is a common feature of both varieties of these gardens.

Introduction to Herb Garden Designs

Introduction to Herb Garden Designs

Designing your very own herb garden does not have to be a difficult task. Designing an herb garden can be lots of fun and you can customize it to your particular needs. Butterfly Garden Design

If you love butterflies and want to attract them to your garden then you want to design your garden with this theme so that you can attract them. Zen Garden Design

A zen garden would be a great garden to design for those who love meditating. The monks used and cultivated a zen garden for this purpose. Zen gardens should bring oneness and harmony to the individual that is using it. Rocks are a very essential element for a zen garden as it represents energy and time and adds depth to your garden. Cottage Garden Design

A cottage garden can be cultivated around just about anything. This type of garden can bring beauty, serenity, comfort and romance to ones mind. A cottage garden is very unorthodox and requires more planning and maintenance than the aforementioned garden designs that we have discussed so thus far.

Better Homes & Gardens Architectural Home Designer

Better Homes & Gardens Architectural Home Designer

Whether you are considering a quick and gentle garden makeover or a total home design, the Better Homes and Gardens Architectural Designer package from Chief Architect will be of great use to you. The Better Homes and Gardens Architectural Designer has been compiled by people who are very experienced in the world of property design and the concept has been taken from professional design software. The software is easily installed and within no time at all you will find that you will be able to draw the basic walls and home design. With the Better Homes and Gardens Architectural Designer you will be able to use one of a number of templates to create your ideal home. Even if you use a template you will be able to personalize your design and make adjustments. Kitchen planning, room arrangement and bathroom facilities are straightforward to add and then alter. Better Homes and Gardens Architectural Designer does not expect you to come up with a perfect design with your first ideas. You can imagine the time and money that you can save by using Homes and Gardens Architectural Designer for the initial design work of your new property.

Connecting Garden and Home-Multiple Levels of Meaning

Connecting Garden and Home-Multiple Levels of Meaning

A meaningful setting for the home grows both from a particular place--created from elements in the regional context--and from the mind and artistic desires of the owner. The nature of the site must be studied and organized--into plots and subplots, into centers and dualities, boundaries and paths--before building can take place.

The first step in understanding and working with a building site is the recognition that there are three types of assemblies possible on any lot; built form--house, garage, shed; man-made gardens; and the unstructured landscape.

Home Gardening Tips

Home Gardening Tips

Its certainly no suprsie that the popularity of gardening both as a life-style and as a hobby, continues to grow. In the United States 8 out of 10 households participate in some type of home gardening activity. Obviously from the number of people that are doing it, home gardening is one of the most popular recreational activities in nation.

What better way to achieve all this and ome than with gardening. The majority of home gardeners look to planting a variety of plant types including flowers; at least they usually begin by planting flowers anyway. Homegrown kitchen produce is another big thing in home gardening.

5 Tips to Save Money on Your Home and Garden Purchases

5 Tips to Save Money on Your Home and Garden Purchases

Everyone likes to have a beautiful home and garden; however, paying for all the best decorations and extras is not always easy. There are many things you can do to save money on home and garden items; you just have to know where to look and what strategies to use. Mix It Up - When you are designing your home and garden area, use a variety of colors and patterns. Instead of a matching set that costs hundreds, buy individual plates along the same theme.