landscaping

community

Assisted Living: Ideas For Covering an Exterior Wall

CasaSugar Community member The Grizz posed this question to the Assisted Living group: We recently bought a foreclosure for a great deal but of course, it needs tons of work.

CasaSugar Community member The Grizz posed this question to the Assisted Living group:

We recently bought a foreclosure for a great deal but of course, it needs tons of work. You can see where the garage was converted to a den. That door will be replaced and the exterior will be painted probably a cream with black and white accents. The problem is that after we get rid of the door shutters, we will be left with a boring wall with just a door. What are some options to cover this wall? I am not sure if there are any. But I thought perhaps some sort of vines or greenery. Also, any other suggestions or ideas you might have are welcome and much appreciated. By the way, the house is brick and it was painted.  The garage/den in question and the side wall are the only walls with siding. We will also be doing lots of landscaping!

Want to hear my thoughts for The Grizz and offer your own?

Before and After: A Brooklyn Backyard Gets Beautified

When homeowners David and Vivian bought their brownstone, the backyard wasn't attractive in the least.

When homeowners David and Vivian bought their brownstone, the backyard wasn't attractive in the least. A decrepit deck, falling-down retaining walls, and exposed soil made the whole space unappealing and uninhabitable. But with some gumption and planning, the husband-and-wife team took the yard from desolate to delightful. To see what they did, read more

goat

Casa Verde: Google Rents Goats For Lawn Mowing Alternative

Lately, I've been showing you ways to go green without spending money, since being eco-friendly isn't always about dollar bills.

Lately, I've been showing you ways to go green without spending money, since being eco-friendly isn't always about dollar bills. Sometimes, though, all it takes to get into the earth's circle of friends is to spend your money differently.
Google knows what I'm talking about. The Internet monster has switched up its lawn maintenance routine by abandoning a lawn-mowing service for a more holistic approach — the service of goats. To trim the fields at its Mountain View, CA, headquarters, Google has hired the folks at California Grazing to bring about 200 goats and goat-herding border collies to the office for a week to clear weeds and eliminate brush-fire hazards. The service costs about the same as mowing, curbs air and noise pollution (except a few bahhhhs), and eliminates gas usage. Would you consider doing the same at your home?
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eco living tips

Casa Verde: Attention-Grabbing Explanation of Water Conservation

As I've mentioned before, the shows and hosts of the DIY Network always bring a smile to my face, and that's definitely true with Desperate Landscapes host Jason Cameron, who transforms scrappy-looking lawns into things of beauty, often while wearing a tight t-shirt.

As I've mentioned before, the shows and hosts of the DIY Network always bring a smile to my face, and that's definitely true with Desperate Landscapes host Jason Cameron, who transforms scrappy-looking lawns into things of beauty, often while wearing a tight t-shirt. I don't know about you, but there's no better way to have mathematics explained to me than by a cute, congenial guy. To find out how much water you can save by using rainbarrels, check out the clip below.

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clocks

Cool Idea: Topiary Clock

I've shown you a horse topiary outside of Stella McCartney's Beverly Hills store, but I've never shown you a topiary clock.

I've shown you a horse topiary outside of Stella McCartney's Beverly Hills store, but I've never shown you a topiary clock.

Who would settle for a sundial when they could clip their shrubbery into numbers? This reminds me of something you might see in a children's park, though in reality it was found on the campus of a major university. I love any example of playful landscaping, and this definitely fits the bill. Would you ever attempt something similar?

celebrity homes

Coveted Crib: Gwen Stefani's Old Digs (Part II)

I recently took you on a house tour of Gwen Stefani's former home in Los Feliz, and I promised there would be more to come — the exterior, specifically.
Coveted Crib: Gwen Stefani's Old Digs (Part II)

I recently took you on a house tour of Gwen Stefani's former home in Los Feliz, and I promised there would be more to come — the exterior, specifically. Well, since I am a woman of my word, and since it's Good to Grow month, I'm back to show you the exterior of the magnificent Mediterranean, which has equally wonderful landscaping. So check out this slideshow for a sneak peek, while I sit here and contemplate why anyone would ever want to leave this house.

gardens

Coveted Crib: A Lush LA Garden

Actors Brenda Wehle and John Carroll Lynch recently shared their backyard garden retreat with the LA Times.The Sherman Oaks, Calif., home's garden features a lovely pool, grapevines that form a canopy over a breakfast patio, an infinity pool, and native plants.

Actors Brenda Wehle and John Carroll Lynch recently shared their backyard garden retreat with the LA Times.The Sherman Oaks, Calif., home's garden features a lovely pool, grapevines that form a canopy over a breakfast patio, an infinity pool, and native plants.

When Wehle and Lynch moved into the home four years ago, they were confronted with a less than thrilling prospect for outdoor living, including a leaky, outdated pool that was surrounded by concrete, a tall wall along the property line, and a monoculture, water-heavy lawn. Working with Marilee Kuhlmann of Los Angeles-based Comfort Zones Garden Design, the couple transformed an uninspiring lawn and pool into a serenity-filled lush garden. Ornamental grasses, Mediterranean olive trees, native shrubs and perennials, and low-water, low-maintenance ground covers replaced the lawn, while an infinity swimming pool took the place of the leaky old one.

Check out a few of the pictures below, and then read the whole article here.

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