Author: csDevTeam

Nestled in British Columbia is the lush landscape of Abkhazi Garden. This small garden makes a big impact with its unique design and colorful array of plants. The garden is home to ponds where you can see birds and turtles relaxing, and it’s maintained following organic practices. When you visit Abkhazi Garden, you’ll see swaths of heather, dramatic hedges, mature conifers and oaks, and a variety of native plant species. Continue reading to discover more about this garden and its colorful history.

The History of Abkhazi Garden

It’s no surprise that such a unique garden would have been created by a truly special pair of gardeners. Prince Nicholas Abkhazi was part of a royal Georgian family and met his future wife, Peggy Pemberton Carter, in Paris prior to World War II. During the war, they were both imprisoned in war camps. After being released, Peggy made her way to Victoria and purchased a beautiful, one-acre lot of land. The pair reconnected through letters, and eventually married. Together, they chose plants to enhance the natural beauty of their land, which features unique rocky slopes and large native oak trees. They cared for and loved their garden as if it was their child, and dedicated over 40 years to refining its beauty. The garden is designed to provide a sequence of different views and experiences, from the Rhododendron Woodland Garden to the Yangtze River lawn. Today, Abkhazi Garden is owned and maintained by The Land Conservancy.

Visiting Abkhazi Garden

From October through March, Abkhazi Garden is open from 11 am to 5 pm, Wednesday through Sunday. During the rest of the year, you can visit the garden from 11 am to 5 pm on any day of the week. In addition to a stunning horticultural collection, Abkhazi Garden features a teahouse where you can enjoy afternoon tea and light refreshments. The cost of admission is a suggested donation of $10 per person, and dogs are allowed to visit the garden if kept on leash.

Having a lush, green lawn offers many benefits—it looks beautiful, it’s perfect for playing games and relaxing on, and it feels soft underfoot. However, keeping your grass healthy and maintained can take a lot of work—and in Arizona, it also takes a lot of water. If you’ve been contemplating making the switch to artificial grass, right now is the perfect time to do it. Continue reading to find out more about converting your lawn to artificial grass.

The Benefits of Switching to Artificial Grass

One of the top advantages of synthetic grass over live grass is how much easier it is to take care of. You won’t have to worry about seeding, fertilizing, mowing, and watering throughout the year, so you’ll get to spend more time relaxing in your yard rather than caring for it. In addition, you won’t have to worry about your grass becoming unsightly and brown in winter, or struggling to stay lush during the hot summer. Instead, your artificial lawn will always look great, no matter the season. You’ll also be able to conserve water—which is crucial when living in a desert—and enjoy lower water bills each month.

The Process of Switching to Artificial Grass

If you will be replacing live grass with artificial grass, the first step will be to apply an herbicide to kill the existing grass. Your landscape design company can perform this task for you. Once the lawn has died off, your landscapers will remove it and prepare the area for artificial grass installation. First, the ground will be leveled to eliminate any bumps or dips that could affect your new synthetic lawn. Next, the artificial grass will be rolled out onto the ground, secured in place, and trimmed to fit the space. For a polished look, ask your landscape designer about adding a stone border to the edges of your artificial lawn.

The Maintenance Needed for Artificial Grass

Unlike traditional lawns, your new artificial grass will be very easy to maintain. Rinsing down your synthetic lawn once a week will keep it clean and ready to enjoy. You should also rake your grass periodically to remove debris and help the grass fibers stand up. If you have pets, be sure to remove solid waste right away and use an enzyme cleaner to keep your artificial grass odor-free.

Are you ready to make the switch to artificial grass? Santa Rita Landscaping is ready to help! Late summer is the perfect time to start the installation process, so don’t hesitate to give our landscape company in Tucson a call at (520) 623-0421.

Your landscaping inspiration may come from a variety of places, but few gardens can compare to the manicured and pristine beauty of the formal gardens at Afton Villa. This historic plantation site in St. Francisville, Louisiana is worth a visit to explore the unique design features that sprawl 20 acres on the site of the former residence of The Barrows Family, who purchased the property in 1820.

A Historic Plantation

The Afton Villa was the residence that once stood at the site of the gardens, and the ruins can still be seen today. However, the residence itself burned down in 1963. This was just shy of two decades after the home was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Percy, who had completely restored the home to its original Gothic revival style.

Restored Formal Gardens

Though the home was destroyed, the gardens were seen by the Thimble family as a site worth preserving. The Thimbles purchased the property after the villa burned down and were able to make living quarters in the pool quarters. They began an extensive restoration project to bring the formal garden back to life, all while preserving its iconic original features and character. Today, the gardens feature a daffodil valley, pleasure grounds, ruins gardens, formal parterre garden, and a family cemetery. Even driving to the garden entrance is a uniquely beautiful experience, as you will be surrounded by huge old-growth oak trees lining the road.

Visiting the Gardens

You can visit the gardens in the spring or fall. They are open seven days a week between March 1st and June 30th and between October 1st and November 30th. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under 12.

Have you ever wondered why your lawn turns a dingy brown in the wintertime while your neighbor maintains a lush, green lawn year-round? The answer involves one simple practice, but it’s something that many homeowners neglect in the early fall (generally September 15th through October 15th) — overseeding. Overseeding simply means spreading ryegrass seeds over your lawn to encourage new growth, prevent thinning, and keep that beautiful green color you envy in your neighbor’s yard. We’ll take a look at how to use this practice properly to keep your lawn looking great until spring.

Cut grass short and remove the clippings (dethatching).

To ensure that seeds make their way to the soil, you must first cut your existing lawn. You should set your mower with no more than two inches of clearance and remove the clippings and dead thatch from the lawn as you mow.

Test soil in problem areas.

If you notice patches with consistently brown or thinning grass, the soil may be a problem. Before applying new seed, test these areas to ensure that the soil is healthy and ready to grow healthy new grass.

Seed and fertilize evenly.

Once your lawn has been adequately prepared, you will want to evenly spread seeds over the grass and then fertilize with starter fertilizer in seeded areas. For small patches, you can seed by hand. In larger lawns, a broadcast spreader may be needed.

Water your lawn regularly.

With newly seeded lawns, you need a consistent watering schedule. Light, frequent waterings are ideal, as you don’t want too much moisture wilting the new grass.

For custom residential landscaping to keep your Tucson lawn looking great, contact the experts at Santa Rita Landscaping. We have been serving Southern Arizona for decades, and we understand the unique climate and soil in the area, so we can create a lawn and landscape design that looks great in every season. To schedule a consultation with our team, visit us online or call (520) 623-0421.

Located in the city of Marrakech, the Jardin Majorelle is one of the most popular tourist sites in Morocco. It was created by French painter Jacques Majorelle, who spent 40 years designing the lush gardens and villa on the property. The garden is also home to the Berber Museum and a memorial to Yves Saint Laurent, who became the owner of the Jardin Marjorelle in 1980.

History of Jardin Majorelle

Jacques Majorelle was an amateur botanist who found himself in Morocco after his health forced him to leave the military in 1917. He initially settled in Casablanca, but found the area too humid, before making a home in Marrakech. He was inspired by the rich and vibrant colors of the city and devoted much of his time to painting his surroundings. In 1923, he bought four plots of land and named the property Bou Saf Saf. There, he indulged his interest in botany and carefully expanded the gardens while adding neighboring pieces of land to the domain.

During this time, Majorelle also added a Cubist villa near the main house, and ultimately found that he couldn’t sustain the property on its own. He opened up the gardens—which by this point boasted plant life from five continents—to the public in order to earn money to maintain his home.

Visiting the Jardin Majorelle

Guests flock to the Jardin Majorelle from all over the world. The two-and-a-half acre garden features exotic plants from around the world, as well as a café, a gallery of artwork by Yves Saint Laurent, and much more. The gardens and the Berber Museum are wheelchair accessible.

The gardens are open every day of the year. Hours vary, depending on the season. Reduced admission prices are available for students and Moroccan citizens.