7 Gorgeous Gardening Trends

Realtor.com. May 17, 2019. By Jennifer Kelly Geddes: Just the way fashion hems rise and fall and the color of the year switches from a zesty green to a provocative purple, trends in the gardening world are ever shifting. More formal designs with monochromatic flower beds might be tops for several years, only to be followed by wild grasses and leafy plantings the next. So what’s in this summer?

5 Ways Your Outdoor Space Is Secretly Stressing You Out

Realtor.com. May 16, 2019. By Lauren Sieben: Your outdoor space should be your sanctuary: a chill spot for relaxing with a book, enjoying a glass of wine, or hosting a barbecue with friends.

But even if you scored your dream balcony or a sprawling backyard, there are ways your outdoor oasis could actually be stressing you out. This is not only a potential bummer, but also a wasted opportunity: Research shows that more time outdoors can have a therapeutic effect—if you’re doing it right.

14 Thoughtfully Designed Cities

Your Green Pal. May 10, 2019. By Gene Caballero: It is no secret, that the American Landscape includes a lot of amazing cities. So we picked a few select cities which really stood out above the rest.

Here are s ome very thoughtfully designed cities and their stories, as told by the people that live there.

8 Houseplants That Clean the Air, Make You Happy

Realtor.com. May 8, 2019. By Jennifer Kelly Geddes: Houseplants, lovely as they are, can be the bane of a homeowner’s existence. They collect dust, outgrow their containers—and then they die. But if you cultivate the right kinds of greenery, you might just garner more happiness, cleaner air to breathe, and other cool benefits.

8 Smart Choices for Curb Appeal

HouseLogic. By Jamie Weibe: Improving your home’s curb appeal brings immediate satisfaction. Plus, the financial benefits can be fabulous, too.

The challenge? Spending too much limits your ROI, yet going cheap could cost you more in redos. The key is to choose durable materials that’ll save you money over time while making your house look fab.

10 Trees Designers Love

Houzz. April 26, 2019. By Annie Thornton: Consider how beneficial planting a tree can be. Trees shade and cool our homes and streets, helping to mitigate the heat island effect and reduce reliance on air conditioning and other energy consumers. Trees also provide food and habitat to wildlife, capture carbon dioxide from the air, provide natural play areas, enhance curb appeal and add beauty and a feeling of place to gardens and communities.

Lessons from Australia’s Fires

The Malibu Times. April 17, 2019. By Jimy Tallal: Whereas the Woolsey Fire of 2018 was considered to be one of the worst fires in LA County history, it didn’t occur until nine years after the worst wildfire ever to hit Australia. The folks Down Under have had much longer to think about how to do things better in the future than we have, and one of them came to Malibu last week to share what his country has learned.

Natives Show the Beauty of Sustainable Landscaping

San Gabriel Valley Tribune. April 22, 2019. By Kathie Bozanich: A bee-busy, massive California lilac bush in Santa Monica, the floppy, Dr. Seuss-like dune sedge in La Canada Flintridge, the mountain-inspired mix of California buckwheat, sagebrush and black sage in Pasadena: It’s the riot of colors and diversity of plants that leaves a lasting impression from the Theodore Payne Foundation Native Garden Tour.

Top Outdoor Kitchen And Living Room Trends

Forbes. April 12, 2012. By Jamie Gold: Outdoor kitchens topped the project trends list in the latest American Institute of Architects’ survey, which is not terribly surprising, given people’s love of living outside. But the survey didn’t go into detail on what homeowners are putting into those spaces. As we move into the warmer months, it’s worth looking at what’s popular for outdoor kitchens and their related living areas.