Don't let water use restrictions or a lack of rain put a damper on your garden dreams. Create a gorgeous, water-saving yard with these drought-tolerant landscaping ideas.
A permaculture swale is a technique for capturing and storing water in a garden. Learn how to build a swale in the home landscape.
Get inspired drought-tolerant xeriscape design ideas from this exclusive interview with landscape designer Tish Treherne, who walks us through this lush, meadow-inspired low-water landscape.
Don't let water use restrictions or a lack of rain put a damper on your garden dreams. Create a gorgeous, water-saving yard with these drought-tolerant landscaping ideas.
Whether you have a modern landscape, or just a bit of patio space, you can incorporate some kind of corten steel element to make your outdoor space more interesting. From planters and retaining walls to beautiful water features, the possibilities are almost endless!
In the face of drought danger, this lady decides to 'go native.'
There is a lot of Ted Harrison love at the school these days. Both Grades 2 and 3 are completing art projects based on his work. Ted Harrison is a well known Canadian artist famous for his use of line and color in his landscape paintings around his beloved Yukon home. This is an easy art project based on his work. MATERIALS REQUIRED: - watercolor paper or heavy weight sketch paper - watercolor, tempera, or acrylic paints - black paper - glue - scissors - reference photos (there are lots of images of Ted Harrison's work online) - oil pastels or wax crayons I like to tape off my paper and then draw in your line design. You want to discuss the way Ted Harrison uses a strong line to show shape or contour of the landscape, how the line is just as important as the color. With younger kids you may want to use pastels or wax crayons and draw those heavy lines. I'm using crayon here and they resist the paint allowing you to keep those heavy lines, oil pastels work even better. Start painting. It's good to start with the lightest colors first and then work your way to the darkest. Although the crayon or pastel resists the paint you still want the kids to stay within the lines if the can so you have those separate areas of deep color. With older kids you can get them to conserve that white line. When painting with watercolors you'll want to leave some space between the colors any way so they don't mix together before drying. Another option is to try the stained glass method. I've mixed a couple of squirts of acrylic paint into a bottle of white school glue. I then use this to mark my heavy lines, lie flat and let dry. (about 12 hrs.) Once the glue is dry paint in your strong color. They glue helps to corral the paint in each area for easier painting. Now you can add an Inukshuk if you wish. Cut out individual stones out of black paper. Then glue down on top of your painting. Place a sheet of wax paper on top and rest a heavy book on top of that to help it dry flat. The paintings also look great just on their own. Here is some work by Grade 2. They used their twistables for this and it turned out terrific but I think they are ready to try the painting option. Great work grade 2!
If there's an area of your yard that is collecting water, a french drain is a a great solution to redirect the water to a different location of your property. Here's a step by step tutorial for getting this done!
Coming off of their autumn-y landscapes dotted with Aspen trees , fifth graders have moved on to seascapes. I've done seascapes for a few ye...
With colored felt tip pens we have drew these landscapes, starting from a stylized drawing of a simple landscape (rocks, grass, hills, a tree, a lake with boats, some other hills and mountains in …
It has been a weird week. I am running up against the deadline for finishing the "Elements" pieces and I essentially lost two days this week. Monday morning I woke up with a stiff neck and by bedtime I was in a serious amount of pain. Did not sleep and by morning I was in such pain and fear of what might be causing it that I went straight to the Urgent Care Clinic near us. It was a strained trapezius muscle in my neck, making my neck impossible to move without screaming, hot pain and sending tentacles of pain winding up around my skull. The recommendation was rest and drugs and sleep and a soft cervical collar to support the weight of my head. So I lounged around all day on Tuesday reading and sleeping, felt a little better on Wednesday and much better today. So I was back in the studio this afternoon. "Water" should have been easy (that's why I left it for last), but I had a hard time settling on an idea. Close to my heart is the wetland area where we walk, so that began to take shape in my head. I started with an assortment of blue, gray and tan fabrics and fused some strips to form a base. At the end of today I had this: I think I am nearly there. A few additions, then I will trim it to size and bind it. Speaking of the wetland area, we had a surprise when we walked last week. Sofia was with us, and as we came around the corner near the Fanno Farmhouse, Beth and I were talking away and Sofia piped in "look at the turtle!" There, studiously digging in the dirt at the side of the trail, was a large turtle. I took its picture with my phone. That evening on the local news was a story of another turtle that was captured in a backyard several miles away. They are snapping turtles that have invaded the wetlands and creek. They are not native to the area and are thought to have been pets, originally, that were released into the creek and have bred there for years. This is the season when they come onto land to dig holes and lay eggs. They are quite destructive, eating the native fish, frogs, even baby ducks and can take a finger off if you are dumb enough to offer it to one. We found this one pretty interesting and were happy to have encountered it until we learned later what pests they are. If we see another we are advised to call the Parks department or Fish and Wildlife, who will come and take it away. Wish I had known. Now I am on the lookout when we walk.
These drought-tolerant plants will add life and color to your garden, even if you live in a hot and dry desert environment.
To mark the release of Mr Turner we look at the landscape painter’s ten essential artworks
I never knew how photogenic Albania was until I visited it last summer. From incredible mountain landscapes to UNESCO towns and beaches with crystal blue water! Albania is an absolutely beautiful country and a must visit in Europe. If you love to take photos then make sure you add the 21 most instagrammable photo spots
Water (or a lack thereof) is never an issue for these 25 hardy, drought-tolerant shrubs. Find the best water-efficient shrubs for your landscape.
Need a gorgeous fall project that is sure to brighten your classroom? Georgia O’Keeffe: Falling into Nature is a must have in your library of lessons. O’Keeffe is famous for her …
Add some houseplants that grow in water to your home decor. Green, leafy, lush plants will add life and vibrance to every room.
Dealing with drought conditions? These drought-tolerant ground covers can thrive in your yard with less water.
All the essential tips for Slovenia's Soča Valley: Discover top attractions, insider secrets, beautiful photos, and the best places to stay.
Beneath the bustling streets and historic buildings of Bologna lies a hidden world—an intricate labyrinth of tunnels that stretch out in all directions below the city. These subterranean passages have…
Here's a little inspiration to transform your outdoor space (or even just get started gardening).
The best way to water raised-bed gardens provides consistent and even watering, is easy to use and maintain & is simple to install.
Thirsty for a jaw-dropping landscape that won't guzzle all your water resources? Check out the top drought tolerant landscape design ideas.
One of the Easiest (and coolest) DIY pondless water feature yet. Make this invisible fountain bubbler in an afternoon and enjoy it for years to come!
Learn how to care for your potted Mums this Fall with this helpful care guide! You'll learn how to keep your chrysanthemums looking fresh all season long!
Want to plant hydrangeas, but not sure how? Hydrangeas are hardy shrubs that produce some wonderful clusters of flowers. This informative guide will show you tips, tricks, and methods to easily grow this beautiful ornamental plant.
There are plenty of gorgeous drought tolerant perennial plants that waste our water resources. These are some of our favorites!
Planting and growing caladium bulbs make adding color to the landscape an easy task. They like warm weather, rich soil, and water [LEARN MORE]
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is an ancient plant species that has been harvested for millennia not only for medicinal purposes but in many Asian cuisines as well. It is a tropical/subtropical plant...
Do you have a few favorite "go-to" herbs? Why not grow them in water and keep them close at hand on the kitchen window sill or right on the counter? Water-grown herbs are just as
My recent obsession has been nature: spending time in nature, painting nature and everything in between. Sometimes painting it can be rather overwhelming as
The beautiful canna lily, Canna indica, is a perennial favorite in the garden. This plant provides an excellent show of colors. Here's how to grow and care...
Slopes come with a list of challenges for gardeners. They're always prone to erosion, making them difficult to access. Additionally, water carries the topsoil
Henchion + Reuter is a contemporary architecture practice with offices in Dublin, Ireland and Berlin, Germany
Watercolor Christmas cards are a beautiful and personal way to spread holiday cheer. These unique cards are perfect for sending to loved ones, decorating
Things to do in Marseille, France We recommend spending two or three days in Marseille. Read about the best things to do in Marseille, France. 1.
It might be called the Peak District, but you definitely don’t need to break a sweat in order to see some of the area’s most beautiful landscapes. Whether you’re looking for fabulous photography spots, quiet dales that avoid the crowds, or simply the well known showstoppers, we have you covered in o