Gardens of Rest

The English are nothing if not practical and this is aptly reflected in the English Cottage style of decorating. That's not to say that things aren't pretty, even beautiful, in this style. It's just that practicality comes first.The contemporary English Cottage decorating style offers a casual, eclectic and quite personal home decor. It carries its owner's personal stamp, whether it be old family black and white family photographs, crocheted doilies or a big bunch of garden flowers in a blue ceramic jug.This decor style harks back a century or more ago, when an English cottage would have been a small dwelling occupied by local craftsmen, farmers, herders and the like. These hardworking people wanted little more than comfort in their homes after days filled with physical labor, and so this decor style combines rustic elements with pure comfort.To start, the color palette in English Cottage style is governed by the .. more»

Do you have a garden that is crying for help? As the weather changes each season it is nice to have something in your garden which remains there throughout the year. A hand painted stone is a wonderful addition to any flower garden. They come in a variety of designs and can also be custom painted to fit your needs. If you love flowers, sayings, or maybe even animals or houses, all of these can be painted for you. Your garden can actually tell a story! They are versatile and up to you how you would like them to be displayed in your garden. You can create interest with just one or two, or go crazy with several throughout the different sections of your garden or flower bed.If you have a beloved pet whom you would like to remember in a special way, the garden rocks make nice pet memory .. more»

The trend towards going green is now extending to thumbs. More and more people are turning to gardening as a way of contributing to a sustainable Earth, whether they are growing their own food, planting trees, or simply beautifying their neighbourhood. There is an ecological downside to the boom in planting, though. An increase in planting also means an increase in water usage.The month of July starts out with a bang and things will continue to heat up as summer makes itself at home. July is generally the warmest month of the year and it is best spent relaxing and staying cool. Yet, there are still plenty of gardening tasks that can be done now that your garden is in the height of bloom.Make flower cuttings to bring inside. Cutting your flowers encourages healthy plant growth and it brings the beauty of your hard work indoors. The night before you .. more»

As the credit crunch bites in earnest those with homes & steady incomes are deciding to 'improve not move' and one of the first places they start is the garden. A well designed garden, with the right outdoor furniture can literally add an extra room to a home and of course there is no need to bring in builders, plumbers or electricians to create an outdoor space.But what do you do when winter arrives and the garden furniture needs to be bought in from the cold, rain and maybe even snow?Over the last two years a quiet revolution has been happening in garden furniture. Synthetic rattan furniture, designed to last forever & called All Weather furniture, this garden furniture won't rot or fade & can withstand even the most extreme weather conditions. Designed to be left outdoors all year round the new weatherproof furniture designs really are investment pieces as .. more»

When solar garden lights were originally used they were quite disappointing - they were not bright enough and would not give the effect that the purchasers has been expecting they could not hold a charge long enough to achieve the brightness required to show off the garden, deck or path.I am happy to say that today all that has changed.Today solar lighting uses LED lights that do not need much power and are much brighter.These lights are not limited as the older style were in design and colours and now come in a range of colors and styles to suit everyone.Solar lights have many uses and some of the best areas to place your light in are around your garden, your decking and other areas of landscaping.You can make your garden look wonderful just by placing the lights in strategic places to accentuate a specific look you are trying to .. more»

Creating your own private garden is not only fun but offers years of pleasure and enjoyment as you watch nature come together. Private gardens in reality create almost an outdoor room extending the home outdoors. It becomes almost a sanctuary to get away from but also a great place to spend time with friends and show off! The garden gives a place to get away from the daily grind of life.I've had the pleasure of visiting a truly private garden, however this tropical palm garden is over 160 acres in size and finds itself nestled along the coast of south Florida hugging Biscayne Bay. Your garden does not need to be acres in size to provide enjoyment. Private garden spaces usually tend to be small where a small backyard patio or gazebo is the place of refuge even when the sun goes down by adding landscape lighting fixtures. Large or .. more»