During the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we sometimes forget the best gifts are those that keep on giving. Whether its donating to a favorite charity or handcrafting a special something for a loved one, those are the gifts that really tug on the heart-strings. But if you looking for a unique gift that gives back, plant a tree.

Trees not only provide us with beauty, they provide our environment with fresh oxygen, shade that can reduce cooling costs and an aesthetic value to our yard that can be enjoyed by wildlife and people.

While wrapping up an actual, live tree might be a bit hard and very impractical, you can always visit a local nursery and pick up a gift certificate; just dont forget to include this list of 12 trees to plant.

1 Golden Raintree

(Koelreuteria paniculata)

The persistent showy pods and attractive summer flowers make this a stand-out tree in the landscape. The medium height (30-40 feet) and the large, yellow flowers in June-July, followed by the showy pods, help this tree live up to its name. When its in bloom, it looks like its raining gold.

2 Columnar English Oak

(Quercus robur Fastigata)

The upright, columnar growth of 50-60 feet and the narrow width of 10-15 feet make this a great tree for tight spaces. The rounded, blueish-green leaves turn yellow/brown in the fall and persist throughout the winter, providing excellent winter interest.

3 Chinkapin Oak

Original post:
Master Gardener: 12 trees for the nature lover on your gift-giving list

By Laurie Garretson Originally published December 12, 2013 at midnight, updated December 12, 2013 at 4:20 p.m.

Wet, cold, cloudy days are great days for garden planning. Maybe it is time for some landscape changes or additions. Maybe over the past few years, you've felt that there are some areas of your yard that just aren't "doing it" for you anymore.

So maybe it is time to come up with a new design plan. The best way to approach a new landscape change is to first draw a plan. Consider all the activities, interests and the overall look that you and your family will want from the change.

Having an overall plan to follow allows you the ability and freedom to accomplish this big picture all at once or to space the plantings out over weeks, months or even years.

In the long run, a good plan will also save you money. Think about all the times you've bought plants that you just couldn't resist and then realized you really didn't have space in your landscape for them.

When coming up with your new design, keep the growing conditions that you will be working with in mind as you pick plants. Texas mountain laurels would not be happy in shady, damp areas for very long.

Choose native drought-tolerant plants as much as possible. Overall, these plants will require less maintenance. One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when planting is to overdo it.

I realize it is easy to want all the beautiful plants you see at garden centers. But getting carried away with your plantings can mean more maintenance for you. Flower beds and vegetable gardens are wonderful and beautiful to have, but they require labor. That's time that most of us don't have.

Other ways to cut down on your routine yard maintenance is to utilize more ground covers. Ground covers, like Asiatic jasmine, are good, low-maintenance plants for difficult growing areas.

Shady and sloping areas are great candidates for ground covers. The less lawn grass you have in any landscape will always mean less water usage and maintenance. This should be a must in these times of drought and extreme temperatures.

Excerpt from:
Gardening with Laurie: Well-planned garden saves time, money

By Peter Rovick Guest Columnist

Stop by the front yard of one home in Wellesley, and you will notice that something is different. There are no sprinklers, and in fact, there is no grass. The front yard at my home at 12 Appleby Road, in the Wellesley Square and Dana Hall areas, consists entirely of carefully planned landscaping, consisting of trees, bushes, and other plants, including ferns.

A local landscaper from Sudbury has helped us to design and implement a low cost, low maintenance front yard that actually saves us money and helps the environment.

Which brings us to the History of Lawns in America.

We didn't always have a love affair with our lawns,'' says this history of lawns. "In fact it wasn't until the industrial revolution that lawns became practical for most Americans. Lawns were seen as a luxury expense for only the wealthy who could afford grounds keepers to maintain the fine bladed plants using scythes. Not everyone wanted cattle or sheep grazing in the front yard to keep the green stuff at a manageable height as did Woodrow Wilson while occupying the White House.

It was not until the Tudor and Elizabethan times that the garden and the lawn became a place to be loved and admired,'' says a Wikipedia entry. "Created as walkways and for play areas, the lawns were not as we envisage them today.In the early 1600s the Jacobean epoch of gardening began. It was during this period that the closely-cut "English" lawn was born. By the end of this period, the English lawn was the envy of even the French; it was also seen as a symbol of status by the gentry.Toward the end of the 19th century, suburbs appeared on the American scene, along with the sprinkler, greatly improved lawn mowers, new ideas about landscaping and a shorter workweek.

A Grass Alternative at 12 Appleby Road: The carefully planned front lawn includes a dogwood, a magnolia, and several pine trees to one side. These are complimented by rhododendrons, holly, small evergreens, and other small bushes bordering the front exterior of the house. Additional ground coverings include ivy, ferns, multiple wildflower perennials, and assorted plants. In sum, these plantings provide shade and a unique defining aesthetic quality to the front yard.

Low Maintenance: A local landscape specialist visits once each spring and autumn to prune, provide minimal amounts of fertilizer, to suggest additional landscaping options, and to help with general maintenance. In the meantime, a layer of mulch (added every two to three years) locks in moisture from the rain, which helps to prevent the need for watering and to inhibit growth of unwanted plants like dandelions.

Read the original here:
No grass, no sprinklers at this Wellesley yard

Salt Lake City, Utah (PRWEB) December 11, 2013

Two engineers from Utah have developed a smart new alternative to traditional yard lighting. GlowLytes allow homeowners to change their lights using a smart phone or tablet.

"They operate like normal yard landscape lights most of the time. Then, for a special occasion or holiday they become colorful, glowing lights. It all happens with just a few presses on a smart phone app," explains Josh Leavitt, co-founder of GlowLytes LLC.

The GlowLytes system includes a controller and up to 32 lights. Each light can be adjusted to any shade of any color and conveniently, lights can be controlled individually or as groups. Color configurations can be saved as scenes and recalled later. GlowLytes can be programmed to turn on and off on any schedule.

"The electrical cost savings are big because GlowLytes are almost free to operate. They're only 1 watt per light. Compare that to around 20 watts for traditional yard lights. Traditional landscape lights cost about $15 a month to operate, GlowLytes can reduce that to about $1," Ross Mann another co-founder pointed out.

Production funding for GlowLytes is being raised through crowdfunding site Kickstarter, where backers can order GlowLytes systems. The GlowLytes campaign launched on December 3rd and will run for 45 days. Funding on Kickstarter is all-or-nothing. GlowLytes must meet it's goal of $90,000 by January 17 or they will not receive any funding.

Watch the GlowLytes video on Kickstarter: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/glowlytes/glowlytes-bring-color-to-your-yard.

Follow @glowlytes on Twitter. For more information, visit http://www.glowlytes.com.

Go here to read the rest:
GlowLytes LLC Launches Kickstarter Campaign

As we move into December, I ask, Is your landscape ready for the cold season? Although the list could go on with an assortment of things to be done, I offer a final four list. These things should be done before temperatures drop permanently for the winter.

1. Water all your plantings thoroughly.

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Prepare yard, plants for cold weather

Following Auburn's win and Ohio State's loss, the final BCS matchup was met without controversy.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

A collective sense of relief seemed to wash over the college football world around 11:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night, when Michigan State tailback Jeremy Langford broke free for a 26-yard touchdown to ice the Spartans upset of previously unbeaten Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game. It wasn't so much that the Buckeyes lost -- though there are certainly plenty of anti-Ohio State zealots out there who took glee in Urban Meyer's misery -- but that the result spared us the headache of enduring one last BCS uproar.

For all the preemptive worrying and lobbying the past month -- first over the fear of there being too many undefeated teams; then over whether a one-loss SEC champion should potentially leapfrog the undefeated Buckeyes -- the final season of the BCS ended in surprisingly clean fashion. The national championship game pits 13-0 Florida State, this season's most dominant team, against 12-1 Auburn, the nation's hottest squad fresh off back-to-back victories over top-five foes.

"I've been saying all fall, hang on everybody, chill out, it's going to work out," BCS executive director Bill Hancock said on Sunday night. "I wasn't concerned going into this weekend. I just felt like we'd have the two best teams going into Sunday evening."

In fact, after years and years of maddening controversies, the soon-to-be-defunct BCS actually ended its run with universally accepted matchups in four of the last five seasons (Alabama-Texas in 2009, Auburn-Oregon in '10, Notre Dame-Alabama in '12 and Florida State-Auburn in '13). "We've gotten it right way more times than we've created controversy," said Hancock.

Of course, the one exception -- the widely panned LSU-Alabama rematch after the 2011 campaign -- was one of the instigators behind the sport's eventual move to a playoff format.

Which brings us to the irony of 2013. Two teams proved plenty in the final season of the BCS. Four teams, on the other hand, would have been an absolute mess.

BOWL SCHEDULE: Matchups, dates for every 2013-14 college football bowl game

Put yourself in the forthcoming selection committee's shoes. Who do you pick? The final polls and BCS standings are in agreement that the top-four teams, in order, are Florida State, Auburn, Alabama and Michigan State. There's no question, that field would make a lot of sense. The Seminoles and Tigers would be no-brainer selections, while the Crimson Tide were the season-long No. 1 until they lost the Iron Bowl in dramatic, unprecedented fashion. The 12-1 Spartans just knocked off an undefeated team to win the Big Ten.

Read the original here:
Stewart Mandel: Final season of BCS brings questions, not controversy; Overtime

Following Auburn's win and Ohio State's loss, the final BCS matchup was met without controversy.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

A collective sense of relief seemed to wash over the college football world around 11:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night, when Michigan State tailback Jeremy Langford broke free for a 26-yard touchdown to ice the Spartans upset of previously unbeaten Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game. It wasn't so much that the Buckeyes lost -- though there are certainly plenty of anti-Ohio State zealots out there who took glee in Urban Meyer's misery -- but that the result spared us the headache of enduring one last BCS uproar.

For all the preemptive worrying and lobbying the past month -- first over the fear of there being too many undefeated teams; then over whether a one-loss SEC champion should potentially leapfrog the undefeated Buckeyes -- the final season of the BCS ended in surprisingly clean fashion. The national championship game pits 13-0 Florida State, this season's most dominant team, against 12-1 Auburn, the nation's hottest squad fresh off back-to-back victories over top-five foes.

"I've been saying all fall, hang on everybody, chill out, it's going to work out," BCS executive director Bill Hancock said on Sunday night. "I wasn't concerned going into this weekend. I just felt like we'd have the two best teams going into Sunday evening."

In fact, after years and years of maddening controversies, the soon-to-be-defunct BCS actually ended its run with universally accepted matchups in four of the last five seasons (Alabama-Texas in 2009, Auburn-Oregon in '10, Notre Dame-Alabama in '12 and Florida State-Auburn in '13). "We've gotten it right way more times than we've created controversy," said Hancock.

Of course, the one exception -- the widely panned LSU-Alabama rematch after the 2011 campaign -- was one of the instigators behind the sport's eventual move to a playoff format.

Which brings us to the irony of 2013. Two teams proved plenty in the final season of the BCS. Four teams, on the other hand, would have been an absolute mess.

BOWL SCHEDULE: Matchups, dates for every 2013-14 college football bowl game

Put yourself in the forthcoming selection committee's shoes. Who do you pick? The final polls and BCS standings are in agreement that the top-four teams, in order, are Florida State, Auburn, Alabama and Michigan State. There's no question, that field would make a lot of sense. The Seminoles and Tigers would be no-brainer selections, while the Crimson Tide were the season-long No. 1 until they lost the Iron Bowl in dramatic, unprecedented fashion. The 12-1 Spartans just knocked off an undefeated team to win the Big Ten.

Read more from the original source:
Final season of BCS brings questions, not controversy

home section Interior Design Housekeeping Entertaining Home Improvement Gardening & Plants Landscaping eHow Home & Garden Landscaping & Outdoor Building Overall Landscape Planning Landscape Ideas for a Small Front Yard

Marie Lenahan

First published in 2001, Marie Lenahan writes about horticulture, food and green living. Her work has appeared in gardening magazines and academic journals. Lenahan holds a Ph.D. in horticultural science.

An appealing front yard welcomes guests to the front door and looks attractive from the street. Maintaining a welcoming yet uncluttered feeling in a small front yard seems like a challenge, but it takes only a few design techniques along with proper selection of plants to perk up your yard and turn a small space into an airy, diverse garden.

A key feature of the front yard is the path that leads to the front door. A walkway that's at least 4 feet wide allows two people to stroll side by side. A path lined with vegetation is attractive, and one that curves around a bird bath, a tree or even a garden gnome gives a sense of flow. Any design, however, should have meaning, especially in a small yard, and sometimes a straight path works best. The front door is a great focal point in a small yard; enhance the space with a nearby cluster of bright containers and cheerful flowers.

A few design tricks make small yards look bigger. In an article published in "Fine Gardening" magazine, landscape designer and author Rosalind Reed shares a few tips. For example, make use of the entire yard by extending the garden to the curb. Dividing a small yard into diverse areas, such as a water feature, elevated plantings, and a segmented patio area for eating and relaxing, adds depth to the space. Also, positioning parts of the garden at a 45-degree angle to the house counterbalances the size of the house in a small yard.

A garden style that matches the architecture of the house creates unity and is an effective landscape design for yards of all sizes. In her "Fine Gardening" article titled "Front-Yard Gardens Make a Strong First Impression," garden designer Jeni Webber writes about designing yards for a variety of house styles. For example, to complement a cottage, Webber added a low picket fence to allow for neighborly conversations, as well as an arbor, a birdbath and an herb garden. Webber suggests extending elements of the house, such as brick or stone, to the garden walkway and mailbox, as well as to other hardscaping elements of the yard.

Take care when selecting plants for a small front yard. For example, installing a tree that grows too large will cause problems down the road. Before planting, understand the height, spread and cultural requirements of the tree. From a design standpoint, improper selection and placement of trees and shrubs blocks the front door and walkway and clutters a small space. Karen Ellersieck of the University of Missouri Extension recommends selecting plants with at least 2 seasons of interest, such as bright fall foliage, intriguing bark, or cheerful spring or summer blooms. A balance of deciduous and evergreen plants also creates visual interest in the yard.

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Landscape Ideas for a Small Front Yard | eHow

Before you contemplate specific backyard landscaping designs, you have to ask yourself some basic questions. What are you looking for from your yard? Are you trying to create an entertainment area where you can host friends for cookouts? Or is kicking back and relaxing in a meditation garden more your style? If you have kids and/or pets, you'll have to take their needs into account when designing your yard.

In presenting the 12 design tips below, I treat all those issues and more. As food for thought before you begin, consider some DIY landscape design basics, such as the difference between designing for real estate value and designing for your own needs. Also browse my landscape design photos to get your creative juices flowing.

Above, I began by asking you about your expectations for outdoor living. Do you see yourself using your yard to:

But the reality, for many people, is that they will be using their backyards for a combination of such pursuits. So is there a way to "have it all"?

You bet! But to achieve a multi-functional space, you'll have to get used to the concept of outdoor living spaces. The idea is to create outdoor rooms that serve distinct purposes -- just as the rooms inside your house are designed for different kinds of activities.

Often, a critical component of achieving an effective design is maximizing the amount of usable space available. You may have a huge lot in back of your house, but if it's all on a slope, the space may be unusable (at least for some of the activities you'd like to use the area for). In such a case, building a deck may be the solution, whether it be attached to the house or a floating deck. View these deck pictures for some ideas.

An alternative to a deck in such a case may be to terrace the land -- perhaps by building small retaining walls -- and build a brick patio. Consult my resources on patio ideas for information on styles, materials and overcoming challenges.

Swimming pools, despite all the upkeep and special considerations they demand, are very common components of backyard landscaping. They are especially popular with those who wish to utilize their space for:

One special consideration for swimming pool owners is the necessity of surrounding the pool with a structure designed to accommodate foot traffic safely. So called "pool decks" must be durable and slip-resistant.

You also need to pay attention to your selection of plants to use around swimming pools; that's one of the issues I explore in my article on designing around swimming pools.

See original here:
Backyard Landscaping Designs - 12 Great Ideas

Front yard landscaping ideas can include many areas. Planting beds, driveways, walkways, privacy, and types of plants to use are just a few. Here you will find many ideas and tips to help you with your design.

Front Yard Landscaping Ideas For Color

Your front yard presents to the world your home and a bit about you. It is the one people see as they walk and drive by. It is the one you see each and every day.

It also presents itself to your family and guests. So it is important to have it make you feel good and smile. When you drive up to it or walk outside your door it should look great to you. Your landscape should welcome you with attractive plantings, a nice driveway, and a comfortable walkway.

Slideshow

Please Enjoy These Front Yard Designs

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Adding color along driveway entry

Colorful front plantings viewed from street

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Creative Front Yard Landscaping ideas - Landscape Design Advice