home and garden

by
GI Designs

Copyright 2007 GI Designs All rights reserved.

"Garden design expert offers advice on planting trellises and arbors to help you make sure that the trellises, arbors and gazebos you buy now, not only fit your landscape design, but that they also fulfill the future needs of your plantings while also enhancing the style and value of your home."

Denver, Colo. (PRWEB) -- Landscaping elements can enhance the style of your home and also serve as a smart investment. A recent study by Michigan State University shows that a good landscape design can add 6 percent to 12 percent to the base value of a home.

"Choose your garden structures wisely," said Wayne Lewis, president and head designer of GI Designs. "Make sure that the trellises, arbors and gazebos you buy now, not only fit your landscape design, they also should fulfill the future needs of your plantings."

"Study the entire landscape before you begin your project," said Lewis. "This helps to ensure harmony and flow."

Lewis knows about metal garden accessories. Through GI Designs he has provided sculptures, arbors, tripods and the entryway to the Children's Garden in the Denver Botanic Gardens, arbors for the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Mich., and tuteurs to the Chicago Botanic Garden.

"Garden structures like arbors or trellises must complement your home's exterior and landscape design as well as fit the growth requirements of the vines or plants you are planning to use," said Greg Isabel, vice president and founding partner of GI Designs.

Keep your plant materials in mind when choosing landscape elements. Many arbors and gazebos simply aren't strong enough to support the weight and abuse that a mature wisteria or grape vine can bring, said Isabel. Structures that look great the first year or so after planting are later overwhelmed by the heavy, woody vines.

"It's a shame that a favorite plant may have to be severely cut back or even removed because the gardener didn't plan ahead and pick the right trellis or arbor to fit the future needs of the plant," said Isabel.

"Think of your garden structures like furniture," said Isabel. "Spend a little more on the big pieces to guarantee many years of enjoyment. Then spend less on accessories such as garden stakes and yard art to easily update the look of your garden."

Isabel recommends selecting metal garden structures that are easy to assemble, yet have strong welds and a substantial feel to the supports and cross-members.

When deciding on an arbor, look for one that serves more than one purpose. Some newer arbor designs feature integrated side planter boxes for easy planting and can be placed on decks or patios without having to be permanently mounted, as well as used in the landscape.

Combining a garden trellis with a planter box is one of the new trends in products for landscape design. Some units feature casters to allow easy movement around the porch or patio. Hotels and restaurants can use these planters and their trellis screens to separate parties and areas, or create a temporary wall and move it back as the party grows.

"Few items of home or garden decor are as versatile as this all-in-one planter and trellis. Use indoors or out for large house plants or climbing, flowering vines," said Isabel. "You can also utilize arbors with integrated side planter boxes for easy planting on decks, patios or in the landscaping."

To find examples of metal garden structures and landscape décor, visit the GIDesigns web site.

By: Victor Epand


Fall is a time of year when color is all around us, because the leaves are turning yellow, orange, red, and crimson, while the grass is fading from brilliant greens to varying shades of yellow, orange, and brown.

Let natures palate serve as an inspiration for your fall home decorating by bringing a taste of the outdoors in. You do not need to change your paint color or bring in new furniture to update the look in your home this fall. There are so many beautiful things you can do with natural materials like grasses, leaves, twigs, and flowers. You can make a centerpiece for a table, a natural wreath for the doors and walls, or put seasonal grasses and flowers in vases scattered around the house.

It is easy to look like a pro and impress your guests this season with an easy, free standing chrysanthemum bouquet that inspires the senses and delights the eye. To create this bouquet you will need about fifteen stems of mixed colored chrysanthemums, waxed florist string or raffia approximately two feet in length, and one inch wide complimentary colored wired ribbon, approximately two feet in length.

Begin by stripping and cleaning the leaves off the chrysanthemums, removing foliage that will fall below the thumb while making the bouquet. Gather three to five stems of mums in your hand. If you are right handed hold the flowers in your left hand and vice versa. Hold them vertically between your thumb, index finger, and third finger. The lower you hold the flower stem, then the longer and larger in circumference your spiral bouquet will be.

Begin the spiral placement by placing additional flower stems at a forty five degree angle against the rest of the bouquet. Do not lay the stems on top of each or let them cross, instead, lay them next to each other. After three to five stems have been added in this fashion, twist the bouquet either clockwise or counter clockwise, depending on what feels comfortable in your hand. Add additional flowers using this same method. You will be creating a spiral of flowers. Keep all the heads and blooms of the mums at the same height and if desired add foliage.

Bind the flowers by wrapping the florist string or raffia several times around the flower stems at the point you held the flowers. Leave several inches of thread to tie off the bouquet. Bring the thread through the center of the flowers and pull the thread tightly. Cut the thread and tie it to the loose end. Cut the ends of the flower stems very straight and finish the bouquet off with a complementary ribbon if desired. To make the bouquet literally stand on end, by itself, gently spread the stems and if necessary, trim the center stems slightly shorter than the rest of the bouquet.

For people who like to entertain, use seasonal place cards that can be set on the table for party guests. Miniature pumpkin vases inscribed with your guests' names look perky when placed on the dining table as seating place cards. These miniature personalized vases will make a big statement and a lasting impression. Plus, they can be used as a festive and seasonal take home gift for each party goer.

By: Connie Raines
Word Count: 454

Create a showcase of warmth and personality to any room by changing your wall decor. Adding an arrangement of framed photographs, mirrors, wall sculptures, and collectibles is an affordable way to transform any room in your home. Here are some tips for arranging and hanging your wall art with confidence.

Arranging Your Art: The goal when arranging wall art is to create a pleasing visual display that showcases it.

* To plan your layout, cut out butcher paper templates the same size and shape as the wall decor you want to hang. Tape them on the wall with masking tape, moving them around to your liking. Mark the positions lightly with a pencil on the wall. You may also arrange your artwork on the floor to your satisfaction before nailing to the wall.

* Group your art according to theme.Create a display by grouping the items by theme repeating colors and styles of the room's interior.

* Group similar items and create a symmetrical shape. The secret to arranging wall art is to achieve balance. For example, small pictures hung on a large wall can look out of balance and will appear lost in an open sea of space. If you have a larger painting or mirror, it has enough presence to stand alone on a large wall. Symmetry adds balance and is generally very pleasing to the observer.

* If you have to take down your artwork to repaint, take a photograph of your arrangement so you can put it back just the way it was.

Hanging Your Art: Tools you will need are a hammer, level, tape measure, picture hangers or nails.

* You've probably always heard that artwork should be hung so that the center point of the picture or grouping is about eye level for the average height of a person. A good place to start is to hang the piece approximately 60-65 inches from the floor to the center of the art. Pieces should be hung approximately 6 inches over a mantle or shelf. Don't leave a large empty space between art and furniture. There should be a 10 inch clearance above sofas and headboards.

* When hanging art over a piece of furniture, it should not be longer than the width of the furniture.

* If the art weighs five pounds or more, use two wall anchors per painting to distribute the weight evenly. The picture will hang more evenly, also.

* To protect your wall and prevent the picture from shifting, attach felt pads to the bottom corners on the back of the frame.

When done correctly, hanging wall art is a quick, easy and affordable way to add impact and breathe new life into your home.