| Gardening is a very popular hobby, and one that | | | | long rectangles. Depending on the shape, and the |
| can be enjoyed by young or old, whole families, | | | | amount of space, you'll have lots of scope to |
| someone employed outside the home, and those | | | | create a multi-level riot of color. If the garden |
| who are self-employed or stay-at-home parents. | | | | faces the house, you'll want to plant your longer |
| Getting outside into the fresh air, and exercising | | | | flowers to the rear, and then "step down" in size |
| your creativity on floral, herb and vegetable | | | | to border plants. With ovals and circles that can |
| gardens is not only healthy, but will bring pleasure | | | | be appreciated from all sides, the taller plants |
| to your family and visitors. Whether you devote | | | | should go in the center, and work your way to |
| hours every day to your efforts, or concentrate | | | | the shortest ones from the center, outwards. |
| all your talents on weekend binges of planting and | | | | These larger, display gardens are the perfect |
| weeding, it's possible to create just the look you | | | | place to put focal decorations such as birdbaths, |
| want, from old English country gardens, to the | | | | or sundials. In a smaller garden, one bird bath |
| carefully organized "wild" look. | | | | would be sufficient, but in a long strip garden, one |
| The first thing you'll need to consider before | | | | near each end, with perhaps a sun dial in the |
| starting on a grand plan for revamping your yard, | | | | center, will make an outstanding display. |
| is the type of soil. If you don't know what you | | | | Gardens that are closer to the house, and which |
| have, for example the level of acidity, check with | | | | are seen from the windows, are usually where |
| your local garden center for test kits before | | | | people choose to add those extra special touches. |
| investing in plants and bushes that won't thrive in | | | | An herb garden that gives off delightful scents in |
| what you can offer them. Once you know what | | | | summer, is made more charming with flat garden |
| you're working with, you can go ahead and decide | | | | stones placed at intervals. These come with |
| what to plant, and how you want your gardens | | | | pictures, mottos, quotations and even Bible |
| laid out. | | | | verses. |
| No matter what the topography of your yard, | | | | Another highly popular item to tuck in amongst |
| e.g. completely flat, dotted with trees, undulating, | | | | the blossoms, are decorative figurines. The |
| or sloped, you can find just the right plants to | | | | durable construction in long-lasting vinyl or |
| brighten up a dark corner, or fill in a bare space. | | | | alabastrite, offers years of enjoyment from |
| Areas which get a lot of shade are often dark, | | | | squirrels, rabbits, fairies, and the always amusing, |
| but that doesn't mean they have to be dull. This | | | | gnomes. |
| can be a great place to install an in-the-ground | | | | You can also extend your outside décor |
| lined pond for goldfish. Or how about a rock | | | | from the house to the garden, by matching |
| garden, and let the kids help you collect the rocks | | | | garden flags to the design of flags you have |
| that will elevate the level of the plants, and give it | | | | mounted in brackets on your home. These come |
| that "natural" look. For a touch of the whimsical, | | | | in seasonal and holiday designs, and can be part of |
| place something like a bear figurine with a gazing | | | | an overall theme that would include things like a |
| ball, right in the center, where it will be the focus | | | | lady bug house flag, garden flags, garden stones, |
| of attention. | | | | and key hider! |
| Wide open spaces, such as along the edge of a | | | | Imagination is the only key you'll need to designing |
| lawn or yard, are the perfect place to plant a | | | | a garden that will enhance your property and be a |
| large, "graduated" garden in the shape that fits | | | | pleasure to work in. When you're done, make |
| the surrounding area, including wedges, ovals, and | | | | time to sit back and enjoy what you've created. |