Author: csDevTeam

When it comes to gardens that combine rich history with gorgeously lush growth, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens are near the top of the list. These gardens put plants and fungi in the spotlight, and they represent the incredible diversity of plant life. Attractions like a tall treetop canopy and a few areas that are designed for children make the trip even more fulfilling, so keep reading to learn about the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens.

Plants and Fungi
If you’re looking for diversity, the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens will not disappoint. The Gardens have a wider variety of living plants than any other botanical garden, so you’ll have to spend quite a long time there before you get bored. You’ll find plants from all different kinds of climates, from tropical to alpine. In addition, there are thousands of trees to admire during your visit, and some of them are too rare or old to find in many other areas.

Treetop Walkway
With so much to see, you may be wondering how you can feast your eyes on all that Kew Royal Botanic Gardens has to offer. The Treetop Walkway gives you a breathtaking vantage point and allows you to walk amongst the trees for an up close look. The Walkway is 200 meters long and 18 meters off the ground, making for an exhilarating experience.

Kids’ Areas
Kew is for kids and adults alike, but some areas are specifically geared towards children. There are several play areas, a natural area, and glasshouses to enjoy.

The Southwest desert is filled with color from beautiful cacti to green trees to blooming plants. You can add this color to your property with a few hardy plants that do well in Tucson’s sun and water conditions. Here is a brief look at some colorful and beautiful desert plants for your garden:

Yellow Columbine – Salvia Greggii
Yellow columbine flowers are dainty in appearance, but they are tough against Arizona’s heat. These pretty, yellow flowers can grow to about three feet tall, and they attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden. Your landscaper can also encourage year-round blooms by deadheading the dead flowers.

Lantana Montevidensis
Lantana Montevidensis are a type of groundcover plant that produces dark red blooms. Groundcover plants are a great choice for your desert garden if you frequently have encroaching weeds. Even when the Lantana Montevidensis are not blooming, the groundcover foliage is still attractive and productive in your garden.

Bunny Ears Cactus
There are many types of flowering cactus that will add color to your garden. If you typically stay away from cactus due to the spines, then bunny ears cactus is the right choice. This evergreen cactus rarely has spines, and it produces large yellow flowers throughout the spring and summer.

Agastaches – Red Yucca Hesperaloe Parviflora
Agastaches can add a variety of colors to your desert garden throughout the summer. This plant is drought-resistant, and it can produce orange, red, and apricot colors in its tubular blooms. Agastaches may grow to four feet tall, and they thrive best in full sun.

Indian Paintbrush – Baja Fairy Duster Calliandra Californica
Indian paintbrush plants can keep your garden colorful from spring into the winter frost. They attract hummingbirds with their bright red blooms, and they do well in full sun and low-water conditions.

Work with Tucson’s best landscapers by calling Santa Rita Landscaping at (520) 623-0421. We can help you design a beautiful desert garden to add color to your property. Visit our website and give us a call to learn more about our extensive history and relationship with Tucson and the Southwest.

Designing a beautiful and functional landscape for your commercial property is critical for maintaining positive client perception, because your landscape will be visible to clients before they ever set foot in your door. Whether you manage an office, retail space, or commercial warehouse, there are some key landscaping upgrades you might consider to make the space more attractive, welcoming, and professional. Let’s take a closer look at some elements to include as you renovate your commercial property.

Hardscaped Walkways and Benches
Though you might think strictly of plants, grass, and gravel when you picture landscaping, you should also think about hardscaping elements with poured concrete, brick, or stone. With hardscaped walkways and integrated seating areas, clients and employees will be better able to tour your commercial property and enjoy the outdoor scenery. In addition, these features will make the property more accessible, especially when you add ADA compliant ramps and railing.

Shade Trees
The Arizona sun can be brutal at times, especially if you do not have any shaded areas in the landscape surrounding your building. By planting carefully placed shade trees, you can cool down your property and even save on monthly utility bills to drive down your overhead expenses.

Natural Desert Vegetation
As you consider the details for your landscape, such as flowering plants or fruit trees, you should think about plants that are native to Arizona or those that are more fitted to a desert climate. With low-water, heat-resistant options, you will have fewer landscape maintenance needs, and you can showcase a greener image with less environmentally impactful landscaping.

To begin designing a beautiful, functional, and inviting commercial landscape in Tucson or Southern Arizona, be sure to contact Santa Rita Landscaping. We offer both commercial landscape construction and maintenance backed by years of industry experience in the area. You can learn more about us on our website or call us directly at (520) 623-0421 to set up a landscape construction consultation.

Tucson summers can destroy certain plants and landscapes with the excessive heat and damaging sun rays. Your plants may start wilting or even look “sunburned” if they are not cared for properly by a professional landscaper. To prevent the disappointment of a burned summer garden, here are some quick tips to help your plants recover from heat and sun exposure:

Find Some Shade
Sun sensitive plants need immediate shade after overexposure to the sun. If the plants are potted, then move them to a covered porch or indoors. If the plants are in the ground, then cover them with a fabric sun screen that is rated for landscaping. Watch the plants over the next few days to see how well they respond. They may soon need to be placed back into indirect or minimal sunlight.

Water the Soil
Give your plants plenty of water throughout the day during their recovery period. The soil may have hardened due to excessive drying, so you may need to soak the ground a few times to hydrate the roots. Add water to the entire plant to cool it off. Ensure the water spray is light and will not damage any sensitive foliage.

Trim Dead Leaves
Dead or scorched leaves and foliage take a toll on your plants. They require the plants to spend more energy that could otherwise be dedicated to healthy remaining parts. Use gardening shears to cleanly cut off these dead and dying areas. This will allow your plants to focus their energy on staying healthy.

Spread Some Mulch (Decorative Rock or Wood Mulch)
Mulch is a crucial element of plants and trees that are growing outdoors. Mulch helps contain the moisture in the soil and protects the plants’ surface roots from the sun. Ensure you have sufficient mulch covering the entire watering basin of each plant.

Don’t let this summer’s heat destroy your yard. Trust the expert landscapers of Santa Rita Landscaping to keep your yard healthy and beautiful year-round. Call us at (520) 623-0421 to schedule a consultation right away.

Kenrokuen Garden is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, because it is so beautiful and carries so much history. This garden features a vast artificial pond, a storied history of its creators, and six important characteristics of a garden. Read on to learn more about Kenrokuen Garden.

The Maeda Family

The Maeda family, or clan, were the original developers and keepers of Kenrokuen Garden. It is believed that the garden was in development from the 1620s to the 1840s alongside the construction of Kanazawa Castle. The Maeda family lived in the Kanazawa Castle and used it for defensive purposes. It was burned down, but other important and cultural buildings—such as the Ishikawamon Gate—have been constructed in its place.

The Six Characteristics

Kenrokuen stands for “having six factors,” or “having six characteristics.” These characteristics are attributed to bringing out the garden’s perfect landscape. The six characteristics are: spaciousness, tranquility, artifice, antiquity, water courses, and magnificent views. All of these different characteristics lend themselves to the garden’s look and feel, which attracts viewers year-round and from around the world. These characteristics come from the garden’s large pond, rolling hills, extensive history, and beautiful views.

The Kasumigaike Pond

One of the most famous structures in the Kenrokuen Garden is the big, artificial pond called Kasumigaike. This pond is so large that it has often been compared to a vast, open sea. An island was constructed in the middle of the pond, and there is a legend of an immortal hermit living on the island. It is believed that this hermit grants long life and eternal prosperity.