While I was whiling the days away with friends on my recent vacation, two readers had questions that I haven't yet answered! What kind of garden advice blogger am I? Puhleez - Germinatrix indeed.
Head over to Domino to steal these secrets from top garden designers and add earthy polish to your outdoor space.Please forgive me, Grippyrigos and Emotionalmullet - here are the answers to your queries:
Grippyrigos had a question about the depth of built-in seating - see, too shallow and you have a teensy uncomfortable perch. For this, I turned to my colleague, Michael Kirchman, Jr - Elysin Landscapes Project Manager. Without Michael, the world falls apart. And he says 21" - 23" is standard for our built-ins. This allows room for pillows and / or a bolster to make the seating even more comfy. But don't go overboard with depth! If the seating is too deep, then you and your guests will have to perch anyway, because you won't be able to lean back into pillows - the back will be too far away. It is a delicate balance, this outdoor living stuff. Like most things!
More from Domino: The handsomest sofas to turn your backyard, deck, or patio into the ultimate relaxation zone.
Emotionalmullet wants a book - THE book that has all the answers for a beginning gardener. Like a Dr. Seuss or a Dick and Jane? I won't say a 'Gardening for Dummies' because of course there is a 'Gardening for Dummies' and, well... I don't want to be unkind, but, well - ... you know.
E-mullet, I am a HUGE advocate of the Sunset garden books. The Sunset Western Garden Guide is THE book - I learned how to garden by reading it cover to cover twice, like a novel. It was scintillating and absorbing. The great thing about Sunset books is that they have more than just the Western Guide, they have one for the Northeast - which I have used on far flung projects, and it is wonderful - a Midwest book, and a National Garden guide. In these books, you'll find everything you need - encyclopedia like plant entries that illuminate the needs and background of each plant, and then a section that tells you everything you ever wanted to know about the how- to's of gardening. Okay was that a crazy run on sentence or what? I was about to rewrite it, but I decided to just let it flow.
If you're a gardening newbie, then check out these expert tips on getting a garden started, from where to buy plants to budget landscaping ideas.
It is just too hot and my nose is too stuffy (don't you just hate a summer cold?) to do anything much more than enjoy the beautiful shade of burgundy my Chianti sunflowers are displaying today.
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Steal these secrets from top garden designers and add earthy polish to your outdoor space. - Decorator tour: Thom Filicia
Decorator Thom Filicia rescued his '70s-marooned fisherman's cottage with glossy paint and nautical accents. - Subscribe to Domino right now and get an exclusive TOTE BAG FREE!