Blues Ideas, Tips & Guides

JEFF HERR

Few plants generate more revulsion in the garden than junipers. The mere suggestion of planting one often musters a similar reaction to that of saying a dirty word. Maybe we’ve grown weary of their use as ever­green blobs in foundation plantings. Perhaps the thought of meticulously shearing them into the perfect shape sounds daunting (see pruning tips). It could be an early memory of an itchy rash from an up-close encounter with a juniper’s prickly branches. Or it could be boredom with the sea of creeping blue rug junipers (Juniperus horizontalis ‘Wiltonii’, Zones 3–9) planted in every big-box-store parking lot. Although junipers are a midcentury-modern garden staple, generations of gardeners have since decided they have had enough of these controversial conifers. While it’s easy to dismiss them for their deeply ingrained negative traits, junipers have many merits that make them worth reconsideration.

When I moved to Michigan 13 years ago, I was ­excited by the endless plant possibilities afforded by my new Zone 6 location. Compared to the secluded 5-acre garden I had left behind in southern Minnesota, however, my newly purchased corner lot surrounded by houses and neighbors felt like a fishbowl.

Bright, white kitchens have long been a classic design choice, but a new contender for kitchen trends is entering the scene in 2024. The dark and moody design trend isn’t stopping at powder rooms: we predict that dark-toned kitchens are going to be a hit next year.

Japanese holly fern

Deck the halls with boughs of holly—or don’t. Decorating for the holidays the traditional way, with lights, wreaths, and a tree full of ornaments, isn’t for everyone.  If you want to bring the seasonal spirit into your home without dragging boxes of holiday knick-knacks out of storage, you’re in luck. There are plenty of ways to get your home feeling festive, and not a single bough of holly is necessary.  To learn how to execute a holiday-inspired home design—one without Santas or stockings—we tapped designer Gideon Mendelson for his expert advice.

Blue moths are not just a mesmerizing sight in your backyard but a symbol of a thriving ecosystem.

These Succulents with Pink Edges offer you the best gardening combo – ease of maintenance and beautiful looks!

Juniper ground cover is a great way to fill in garden gaps around borders, patios, pathways and rockeries. Different juniper varieties offer a wide range of dense, mat-forming foliage in heights to suit any need. These plants come in steely blues, minty greens, cheerful golds and variegated options. In winter, juniper foliage takes on purple, burgundy and copper tones to add interest to quiet corners.

Countertops aren't something to overlook. A vital part of your kitchen's functionality and design, finding the right material, color, and design for the counterrs is so important. And while durability is a key factor, you also don't want your kitchen to look outdated.

With their vibrant red leaves, these plants are more than just a festive holiday decoration – they can be a gardening project where you can experiment with their leaves (bracts)!

Royal blue flowers can help create a stunning visual impact in gardens and homes. Popular for their regal hue, these blooms also attract various pollinators, enriching your garden’s biodiversity.

Natural swimming ponds serve a twofold purpose: not only can you (obviously) swim in them whenever you fancy a refreshing, chill dip, but they also look beautiful in a garden, replacing the luminous blue sterility of a normal chlorinated pool with a wilder look. As such, they are much in demand, though creating one requires a little forethought and consideration of a number of moving parts. With that in mind, we spoke to Tim Evans, owner of swimming pond specialists Gartenart, about how to make one work in your own garden.

Growing these Cold Hardy Vegetables in your garden will ensure you enjoy a fresh harvest in the midst of the chill, right from your backyard!

The holiday season has arrived, and it’s time to break out the holiday decor for all the upcoming festivities. While there are plenty of things on your plate to decide, selecting the holiday decor that fits your style, budget, and preferences can be a daunting task. Luckily, our zodiac signs can shed some light on which decor suits us best. 

Succulents That Look Like Flowers – these plants offer the best of both worlds: the resilience and low maintenance of a succulent and the colorful appeal of blooming blossoms!

If you love cedar trees and have a large space for growing one, an atlas cedar tree (Cedrus atlantica) is a fine ornamental choice. One of the true cedar trees, it takes its common name from its home region, the Atlas Mountains in northern Africa. It is an evergreen conifer with a pyramidal shape when young, but it develops spreading branches and becomes more flat-topped as it matures. 

If you're lucky enough to have a fireplace mantel in your home, you won't want to miss out on the opportunity to decorate it this holiday season and create a beautiful display that the whole family will enjoy.

Caught out yet again by the sudden descent towards darkness, I had to quickly pluck a few things from the garden to make a posy for my lift-giver to choir early last week. Having been working in the greenhouse, I snipped a few blooms from the overwintering Salvia ‘Mystic Spires’ and plucked greenery from some ivy on the way back to the house. Back inside with my cup of ta and cake, I found my friend had messaged me to say she was unwell and not going after all, so the posy was no longer required. Rather than keep it in its interim jam jar, I sought a vase with a degree of sultriness to match the dark moodiness of the salvia blooms and deep green of the ivy and its curious flowers, coming up trumps with a blue hyacinth vase.

Angelonia is primarily native to Mexico and the West Indies, with a presence in Central and South America.

After a few days of clear sunny days and blue skies, even with a hint of warmth in the sun on Thursday, it was almost inevitable that we would soon be seeing our first frost of the season – and so it was, arriving like a thief in the night. Temperatures dipped to -2°C in the early hours, and haven’t risen above 5°C for the rest of the day, finally putting paid to autumn for this year.

Along with every new year come new home design predictions, and Houzz’s predictions are everything we thought we’d see, plus a few fun new forecasts that will be a delight to see come to fruition.

In this era of evolving tastes and trends, we’re curious to know what holiday decor trends are a big no for interior designers this 2023.

Join us as we share some amazingPansy Flower Tattoo Ideas! These cute floral designs are more than just drawings on the skin – they’re like secret messages, too! Let’s explore this in detail!

From ancient myths to modern-day interpretations, peacock feathers carry a rich history of meanings that resonate deeply with gardening enthusiasts. Let’s dive into their significance and find out What is the Meaning of Peacock Feathers.

It’s little wonder people find it hard to pick their favorite salvia varieties. The choices are seemingly limitless, even if you can narrow it down to a particular color. As well as being vibrant and cheerful, their tall spikes of easy-to-grow flowers are often fragrant. This makes them irresistible to pollinators, bringing in butterflies and hummingbirds.

With 2023 drawing to a close, interior designers and design enthusiasts alike are already looking ahead to the New Year and the trends that are expected to be big. From trending colors to lighting trends, living room trends, bathroom trends, and more, design experts are excitedly preparing for what 2024 will bring.

When it is full of newly-planted bulbs, of course!

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Imagine your home graced by the captivating hues of deep purples, striking pinks, and even electric blues. These not-your-average, Houseplants of Unusual Colors, are more than just a visual treat; they’re a conversation starter and a testament to the incredible diversity of nature’s creations!

These Partial Shade Perennials are the perfect choice for those garden spots that enjoy the dappled sunlight of a canopy or the gentle shade of a building.

As these beautiful creatures flutter through the Great Lake State’s varied habitats, they bring a splash of color and melody to the gardens. Let’s discover Blue Birds in Michigan!

A solitary feather lying amidst your blossoms can spark a sense of wonder and curiosity as you wander through the lush greenery. This seemingly small discovery may lead you to ask: What Does it Mean When You Find a Feather? Is it a mere coincidence or a sign from nature? Let’s find out!

As you prepare to decorate your home for the winter holidays, keep in mind that there are a few common mistakes that interior designers witness year after year, and urge you to avoid at all costs.

This is Julie Prince (Julie’s Georgia Garden), with a few pictures from the late summer and fall garden. The pool garden was started in the summer of 2020. The front-drive garden was started in 2021. Both are still “works in progress”! Things are changing constantly as I try to give the garden more height and winter interest.

Make the best use of available space by growing plants in hanging pots.