Author: csDevTeam

Built between 1745 and 1747, the Sanssouci Palace served as a summer retreat for Frederick the Great. The palace, located in Potsdam near the city of Berlin, is said to rival the French palace at Versailles. In addition to the ten-roomed single-story villa that served as Frederick’s summer home, the property also contains terraced vineyards as well as an ornamental garden, a functional kitchen garden, and a large central fountain. Read on for a closer look at the features of this amazing garden in Germany.

The Vineyards

In 1744, Frederick the Great ordered the land behind his villa converted into vineyards. The final vineyard design was comprised of three large curved terraces to maximize sun exposure for the plants, which included vines from Italy, France, and Portugal. Between each terrace lies a strip of cultivated lawn, as well as several ornamental yew trees.

The Baroque Gardens

In 1745, Frederick added a Baroque ornamental garden to the property. This garden, which was designed to mimic the parterre of Versailles, contains flowers, shrubs, and statues, and is designed for aesthetic enjoyment during leisurely strolls or picnics.

The Great Fountain

The Great Fountain, located at the center of the ornamental garden, was constructed in 1748. However, due to a lack of knowledge regarding hydraulic design, the engineers had trouble activating the fountain itself. Regardless of its lack of play, the Great Fountain remained a centerpiece of the garden, and contains several marble statues presented by King Louis XV of France.

Living in Tucson means that homeowners need to take extra care with their water use, especially when it comes to landscape maintenance. One of the best ways to reduce your water use is to take advantage of natural rainfall with rainwater harvesting system, which allows you to water your plants for days or even weeks after a storm. Continue reading for a few tips on how to collect the most rainwater and use it efficiently.

Use the Right Equipment

Building a rainwater harvesting system is not as simple as placing a bucket on the side of your house or in the middle of your yard. To collect rainwater, you need a large barrel that will resist leaking water and will not contaminate your water with toxins. You will also need a spigot to release water, along with a hose and hose adaptor to water your garden. You should also consider installing mesh over the barrel to filter the rainwater and deter larger animals and insects from crawling in the barrel.

Keep It Covered

With standing water in your yard, it may attract mosquitoes, frogs, and many other insects and small creatures. To keep these annoying pests from your rainwater harvest, install a hose from the gutter directly into the barrel, and keep the barrel closed at all times. This will keep bugs from getting in your system, and it will make your system more efficient at collecting rainwater runoff.

Consider Professional Installation

Hiring a professional landscaper to design your yard is essential to gaining the look and feel you want on your property. Consider hiring your landscapers to build a properly-functioning rainwater harvesting system. These professionals can ensure your property is level, the system is efficient, and that your landscape is receiving the best amount of water possible. When they come back for landscape maintenance, they can check on the rainwater system for possible repairs and upkeep.

Are you looking for the experts in Tucson landscaping and rainwater harvesting? Call Santa Rita Landscaping, Inc. at (520) 623-0421. With over 30 years in business, we know how to landscape for success in the Southwest.

The right landscaping will enhance the value of your property by offering an appealing setting for outdoor activities and providing a gorgeous backdrop for your home. Landscaping a large yard requires a different approach to design and maintenance than developing a landscape design for a smaller property. If you are looking to create a great outdoor space in Tucson, working with an experienced landscaping service is the best way to achieve the beautiful and long-lasting results you want quickly and with less stress.

Fitting the Design to the Property

The design of your landscaping should suit the size and style of your property. Thus, larger yards require a larger overall landscape design than smaller yards. A landscaping design for a large yard typically incorporates larger plants to ensure they fit with the size of your yard and your home. Features, such as fountains, ponds, and sculptures, may be added to a large yard landscape design to create visual interest points throughout the space. Large yards are also perfect for division into several different rooms or living areas through landscape design to accommodate activities such as swimming, grilling, socialization, and outdoor games.

Meeting the Needs of the Plants

The key to beautiful landscaping is ensuring that every plant in your yard gets exactly what it needs to thrive. A large yard can accommodate several different smaller environments with varying amounts of sun, shade, and moisture. Your landscaping service will evaluate the environment in each area of your yard to ensure that the placement of plants and irrigation systems reflect the needs of each species to reduce maintenance and minimize replacements over time.

At Santa Rita Landscaping, we can help you design a customized landscaping layout that will suit your budget, your home, and your property’s size. You can learn more about our company history or check out our gallery of past landscape design projects on the web, or reach us by phone at (520) 623-0421 to get started.

Hidden among the busy streets of Tokyo, Japan, lies the Nezu Museum. Previously known as the Nezu Institute of Fine Arts, this museum features the private collection of Japanese artist Nezu Kaichirō and was first opened in 1941, one year after Nezu’s death. In addition to the prized collection found inside the museum’s newly-renovated building, visitors can also enjoy the grounds’ breathtaking Japanese-style garden, which showcases some amazing landscape design.

The History of the Nezu Museum Gardens

The land on which the Nezu Museum sits was purchased by Nezu Kaichirō in 1906. Nezu fell in love with the area’s terrain, particularly its hills and dales. During World War II, the garden and the museum grounds were burned during bombings in May of 1945; however, the collection itself remained safe in storage, and was put back on display in 1946. Since then, the garden and grounds have been restored one small area at a time, with modern renovation efforts focusing on improving the garden’s accessibility for visitors.

The Goal of the Nezu Museum Gardens

The Nezu Museum gardens are meant to provide visitors with a natural urban oasis in the middle of Japan’s busiest modern city. Inside the garden, the traditional Japanese landscaping design aims to create small scenes that depict the beauty and serenity of nature as it changes through the seasons. As visitors wander the stone-paved paths, they can enjoy not only the verdant plants, but the grounds’ beautiful teahouses, stone lanterns, and two ponds as well.

The design of your landscape should complement the design of your home and suit the function you want your yard to serve. An experienced landscape design company can make any landscaping project proceed smoothly and ensure you get the finished landscape you desire. When hiring a landscape design company to undertake this project, it’s important to ask a few vital questions to assess whether the landscape designers you’re considering are the right fit for you.

Evaluate Communication Skills

Communication skills are vital to maintain a positive relationship with your landscape design company, regardless of the scope and scale of your planned landscaping project. Clear communication shows that your landscape designer respects your opinions, your budget, and your time. Thus, it’s important to choose a landscape designer that responds to your communications and queries within a reasonable amount of time, answers your questions thoroughly, and treats you respectfully and professionally during both phone and in-person conversations.  

Look at Experience

Experience is a valuable trait in the field of landscape design. Before choosing a landscape design company, ask about their experience with the type of property you own, whether you are landscaping your home or your commercial property. If you have a pool or other special considerations, ask whether they have dealt with landscape designs that incorporate these features as well. Finally, ask to see a portfolio of past work so you can get an idea of your landscape designer’s style and ability level. Seeing your landscaper’s work for yourself is one of the best ways to determine whether the designs a company creates mesh with your needs and your personal style preferences.

Santa Rita Landscaping has been proudly serving the Tucson area since 1985. Our services include custom residential landscape design and commercial landscape maintenance; we can take on projects of any size and scope to ensure you get the personalized results you’re after. Please stop by our website to learn more about us and our dedication to top-quality landscaping services, or call (520) 623-0421 to discuss your next project.