Author: csDevTeam

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, often called “the Met,” is the United States’ largest museum of art. In addition to the museum’s large central location, the Met also maintains a smaller secondary location in Upper Manhattan. The Cloisters, which houses the museum’s collection of artifacts and art from Medieval Europe, is also a New York City landmark, as well as the site of a European herb garden based on historic landscape design.

The Significance of the Gardens

The gardens located at the Cloisters serve a unique purpose—not only are they a beautiful example of landscaping, they are also a historical exhibit in their own right. These gardens, as well as the other landscaping located on the Cloisters grounds, were planted according to the horticultural information found in several of the museum’s own Medieval manuscripts and artifacts. Thus, the herb gardens at the Cloisters serve not only to provide a visual complement to the building itself, which contains sections from five separate European abbeys as well as new construction in the same style, but also as an opportunity for visitors to experience a walk through an herb garden that would have been found throughout Medieval Europe as well.

The Plants in the Gardens

The herb gardens at the Cloisters are carefully cultivated to contain more than 250 plants that would have been found in European herb gardens at the time. Some of the plants that can be spotted in the gardens include Angelica archangelica, espaliered pear trees, forget-me-nots, coltsfoot, and rosemary. Throughout the year, the Met hosts garden events and exhibits that include talks and workshops on how these plants were used throughout history, as well as accurate Christmastide decorations made from fresh plants, often using those that grow in the gardens themselves.

You can find out more about the gardens at the Cloisters by visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s official website. We also invite you to check out the other articles in Santa Rita Landscaping’s blog series, The Most Spectacular Gardens in the World.

Image from http://www.cottages-gardens.com/New-York-Cottages-Gardens/May-2013/Middle-Ages-Spread/

Tucson homeowners are fortunate to have outdoor spaces that can be enjoyed all year long, so an outdoor kitchen may be a great addition to your yard if you find yourself frequently headed outside to entertain. As you plan your outdoor kitchen, consider these tips for incorporating the feature into your landscape design. While you will want the outdoor kitchen to stand alone as its own space, it should flow with the theme of your backyard design to create a cohesive space that adds value to your home.

Pave and cover the space

An outdoor kitchen can be fairly simple or elaborate, depending on how much you want to invest in the project. Even for more minimalist spaces, however, it is best to pave and cover the area so that it is comfortable and accessible all year round. Plus, a covered space with an awning or pergola will open up the possibility for hanging lights to add more ambience as parties go into the later hours of the evening.

Include outdoor furniture

Much like the kitchen inside of your house, your outdoor kitchen may serve as a place to gather while you entertain. As such, you’ll want to plan to incorporate plenty of seating space in the area so that guests can relax. Whether you choose built-in seating or outdoor furniture, you should account for these features as you plot out the space.

Create an external focal point

Ideally, your outdoor kitchen should have a view of a focal point within your landscape, such as the pool or outdoor fireplace. This will encourage leisurely relaxation as you kick back waiting for your steaks to cook on the grill.

Are you considering adding an outdoor kitchen to your existing landscape? If so Santa Rita Landscaping can help you create a beautiful design that offers the functionality you will want out of the space. You can contact us for a residential landscape design consultation by calling (520) 623-0421.

The Ascott Estate, located in Ascott, Buckinghamshire, England, is a 4,400-acre estate containing farmlands, grasslands, and woodlands, as well as more than 40 manmade structures. On the property lies the Ascott House and Gardens, which act as a museum and public landscaped garden that visitors can enjoy from March through September.

The Gardens’ Origin

The gardens located at the Ascott House date back to the turn of the 20th century. Based on the advice of the esteemed horticulturist Sir Harry James Veitch, the estate’s owner, Leopold de Rothschild, had the gardens constructed in 1902 as a wedding gift for his wife. As a testament to this purpose, the gardens contain a topiary sundial that features the words, “Light and shade by turn, but love always.”

The Gardens’ Features

The Ascott House Gardens contain several features, including pavilions, fountains, and a rock garden and grotto. Sculptor Thomas Waldo Story created several of the gardens’ bronze statues, including its largest, a depiction of the goddess Venus riding her chariot made of seashell. Story also created a fountain depicting the god Cupid, as well as the fountain featured in the Dutch flower garden. Throughout the gardens are neatly-clipped hedges, beautiful topiary displays, and a variety of flowering shrubbery, particularly along the footpaths. Near the front entrance lies a lily pool, originally designed for skating, as part of a garden patterned after Monet’s home and garden in Giverny.

The Gardens’ Plant Life

Planted inside the Ascott House Gardens are a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and flowers. Some of the gardens’ most striking plants are its large oak and cedar trees, as well as several well-established horse chestnut trees. The flower gardens are adorned with large beds of tulips and daffodils, which are a popular draw when the Ascott Estate opens to the public early each spring.

The Ascott Estate’s main website has more information on the Ascott House and Gardens; you can learn more about some of the world’s most amazing landscaping in the other articles featured in the Santa Rita Landscaping blog series, The Most Spectacular Gardens in the World.

Image from http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1321999

The Mottisfont Abbey is a popular historical priory in Hampshire, England, which is located in the River Test Valley. The lands are operated by the National Trust, and they are visited by about 200,000 guests each year. In addition to the beautiful historic home, guests are welcomed by the manicured lands surrounding the abbey, which include fairytale-like wooded areas, riverside gardens, an extensive lawn for picnicking, and a romantic rose garden. Read on to see the extraordinary features of these famous lands, which may serve as inspiration for your own garden at home.

Walled Rose Garden

The walled rose garden houses many different rose species in an old fashioned landscape designed by Graham Stuart Thomas. The garden is maintained by a dedicated head gardener, who ensures the health and beauty of a wide range of stunning rose varieties.

Riverside Walk

Guests can easily stroll down to the River Test, which is lined with a gorgeous river walk featuring a rustic fishing hut tucked away in the lush natural landscape. There is a dedicated River Keeper among the landscaping team, who helps to preserve the natural beauty of the wooded area for years to come.

Winter Garden

The winter garden showcases the beauty of the colder season with a variety of shrubs and perennials planted in unique ways and blended with rare specimens for a distinctive aesthetic. The garden showcases a surprising amount of color and is lined with a path that guides visitors through the unique landscape.

More information can be found on the Mottisfont website at http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont

This article is part of our collection of The Most Spectacular Gardens in the World!

Image from http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont

When it comes to the aesthetic appeal of your home or business, your landscaping in Tucson makes a substantial impact. This is why it is important to consider the look of your landscaping, the maintenance it requires, as well as the service you will use to install it. Read on for a closer look at these factors to consider for your customer landscape design.

Aesthetics

You might think of plants and shrubs when you think about landscaping; alternatively, you might think about walkways and hardscape features. Both of these are aspects of landscaping, so they should both be considered when you formulate your design. Try using your hardscaping features like stone pathways and walls in conjunction with your flowers, plants, and other softscaping elements. A tasteful combination can boost your curb appeal and give your neighbors a nice view to admire.

Maintenance

It is easy to get carried away when you plan out your landscape design, but remember that it is your responsibility to make sure it is cared for. If you plan on maintaining your landscaping yourself, try not to bite off more than you can chew. On the other hand, you might create an extensive and elaborate landscape design to be maintained by a professional.

Company

Whether you hire a landscaping company to help with your design or to keep it maintained, it is important that you work with trusted professionals. Research local landscaping companies, find reviews for their services, and choose a team that offers quality work for their price; going with the first or cheapest company you find could leave you spending extra money in the long run.

If you are interested in creating a custom landscape design, please do not hesitate to call Santa Rita Landscaping at (520) 623-0421. Our goal is to help home and property owners craft the perfect landscape design in Tucson. Feel free to visit our website or stop by and meet us if you live in the area.