Go Out To Play!!

Gardens are not just flowers and shrubs anymore.  People are expecting much more out of their gardens than ever before.  Just like in the last 20 or 30 years people were creating "entertainment centres" in their homes….now they want to entertain in the outdoors too.

So, that means a patio area for dining with friends, outdoor built-in barbeques, pools, ponds, sitting areas, etc….We not only want everything to work together….ie: the flowers with the plants but they should also be very minimal upkeep.

The trends in the past few years has been to not just "spruce up" the back yard but to create "living space" from it.  TVs, kitchens, bars….even heaters for cool nights. Flowers, shrubs, and trees are being used as outdoor room dividers, curtains etc….

Healthy living has been a theme for quite some time and it only makes sense that we would want to be outdoors much more.  This goes hand-in-hand with the healthy lifestyle.  But with this comes a no-nonsense attitude as well.  People nowadays want to be living life to the fullest every single moment of their lives. 

Whether they are at work and just experiencing things in a more positive perspective (after enjoying a night with friends in their garden) or when they are having friends over for a barbeque/surprise birthday party for their best friend.  People want a more enjoyable life but they don’t want to spend a lot of hours "tending" to the garden.

Now, for those who love gardening, they would choose flowers and plants that would allow them to do the gardening they love… but for a lot of other people….they want a little piece of paradise in their very own back yard that won’t take that much time to maintain.

With that in mind, garden furniture manufacturers have complied with the wishes of today’s entertaining families.  From the "easy-grow" plants, all-weather furnishings with fabrics and waterproof entertainment units to the any-weather lamps, rugs and tables.

The trend is multi-tasking gardens…meaning that the garden will contain flowers and plants that are decorative but also ones that are edible.  People don’t want just to work in their gardens, they want their gardens to work for them.

The other trend is environmentalism.  So, if you have a garden that needs to be chemically treated, this is "out"!!  One of the products that is both organic and great for the plant is something called "Zeba"…which is biodegradable cornstarch granules that hold up to 400 times it’s weight in water upon which it releases 95% back to the plant when it needs it.

Foliage is in this year also.  Big leaves, greener grass, and for some reason annuals that  do not blossom. Subtle gardens are popular as well and overwhelming gardens are out.  Using pots and containers etc…
(be creative)…give opportunity to have different sizes, shapes and textures in the garden. 

I once saw an old bike with the basket in the front doubling as a pot for flowers.  They cascaded down the front of the bike. It was really the "showpiece’ of the whole garden!!

The new choices for easy-to-grow flowers and/or foliage are the Drift shrub roses, Baby Wing Begonia and Easy Wave Beachcomber petunias which create an oasis without having to do too much work in the garden.  Also, Bahama Bay hibiscus gives you the color and feel of a tropical paradise without ever having to leave your own backyard.

So, next time you are thinking of converting what has been up until now "Fido’s domain" intoan "outdoor entertainment" area….start by visiting gardening or flower sites online to get some ideas and pointers on how to create your private "retreat’ in your very own backyard. 

Before you know it, you will be eager to get the project started and done so you can enjoy your friends and family in a completely new realm!!