A Mountain Landscaped home is very Inviting.
A good design takes into consideration the size of the home or facility it is being planned for. It is a combination of science and art. The science should of course fit the climate and the area for which it is planned. Designing a good landscape is also like art, in order to be visually pleasing. You can use plants that have complimenting colors and textures for your environment. In Colorado these could of course include, Blue Spruce, Rocky Mountain Maple, Baby’s Breath, Western Sagebrush are a few.
A good way to start is with pencil ad paper. Simply draw out different designs. First place your facility or facilities – the structures on your property that don’t move and then draw complimenting lines and pathways. You might mark colors on the the drawing as you go along. A professional landscape designer is proficient at this as they have the experience and should you get stuck they can make suggestions.
In Colorado a landscape should be a xeriscape, which simply means that it is a type of landscaping around homes and businesses that uses a limited amount of water. As we all know water is precious and Colorado does have its dry spells.
the stately Colorado Blue Spruce
The Colorado Blue Spruce is a beautiful tree about 65 to 115 feet tall, They grow slowly but can live 600 to 800 years! In Colorado they are best planted in the spring. When you get one from your local nursery – check to see if the plant was raised in a northern climate as some are grown from seed in California, in a warmer climate and do not adapt as well. They require full sun and do not tolerate shade. They are a conifer – Trees that are conifers reproduce by forming a cone rather than a flower as a container for their seeds The Blue Spruce can be planted in rows to form windbreaks It is the official state tree of both Colorado and Utah.
Johnny Ups, a beautiful small hardy mountain flower
Viola cornuta, also known as Johnny Jump Ups are native to Spain and the Pyrennes Mountains. Easy to grow, you may find them growing in the wild in fields, and along the road. This beautiful little flower actually grows in our mountains, very early. I planted mine in a flowerbox outside in early April, on the front outside porch. Yes, they have been snowed on, several times. It has been below freezing, but not five degrees overnight. This is a amazing plant. They like full to partial sun.
They are small, compact flowering plants that grow to about 8 inches in height. They produce bright purple flowers with white and yellow patches.
Boulders can make a pathway look cool
Boulder hardscaping has dual purposes. Boulders can be used for erosion control, and for retaining walls. They can be used for aesthetic appeal via rock gardens. There is nothing more beautiful then a rock garden in your yard planting along side flowering plants.
Popular boulder types in our area are moss rock, granite and gold ore. A choice on which of these to use on your part involves budget and natural settings.
But I think we can all agree boulders, in the landscaped yard, can make a mountain home really stand out.
one great looking patio
Adding a patio in your home enhances the overall beauty of your residence.
This project isn’t technically difficult, but be prepared to devote a big chunk of time and energy to it, should you decide to do it yourself. You’d haul many tons of dirt, gravel, stone and brick before you’re done. With a small crew of strong and ambitious helpers, you could finish this project in two or three weekends, but working alone at a leisurely pace, you’ll spend the better part of a summer. Then it will snow, and you’d have to wait to next spring to enjoy it.
The material is also pretty heavy. One-in.-thick bluestone weighs about 14 pounds per square foot. That means that a 1-in.-thick, 2-ft. 6-in. square piece tips the scales at about 87 pounds, and a 2-in.-thick piece of the same dimensions weighs about 175 pounds. For most patios, 1-in. stone is fine. But if you plan to drive over the stone, you’d have to use material that’s at least 2 in. thick. If installation speed and light work are important to you, then bricks or concrete pavers are probably the better choices.
Stonework can certainly be beautiful and can add value to your property. Unfortunately, it’s not very easy to install. Our crew can usually install a 9 foot by 12 foot patio in a couple days or so. Giving you the summer to enjoy your patio.
Flagstone Patio
Flagstone is sedimentary rock.
Sedimentary rock is the type of rock that is formed by sedimentation of material at the Earth’s surface and within bodies of water. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause mineral and/or organic particles to settle and accumulate or minerals to precipitate from a solution…. that is cut or split in layers for walkway
A patio is an outdoor space generally used for dining or recreation that often adjoins a residence and is typically paved… It typically contains types of the mineral feldspar
Feldspars are a group of rock-forming tectosilicate minerals which make up as much as 60% of the Earth’s crust…., which gives it its bluish hue. Flagstone is form of a sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains. Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth’s crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any color, but the most common colors are tan, brown, yellow,…, which makes the rock essentially a type of quartz
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth’s continental crust . It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon-oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of…quartz.
The material that binds flagstone is usually composed of silica, calcium
Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft grey alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth most abundant element by mass in the Earth’s crust…
Iron oxides are chemical compounds composed of iron and oxygen. Altogether, there are sixteen known iron oxides and oxyhydroxides.-Oxides:* FeO, iron oxide, * Fe3O4, iron oxide,…
. The color of the rock usually comes from the cementing material. Typical colors of flagstone are red, blue, buff, and there are exotic colors like chocolate. It is often used for patios, walkways, steps, fences, housing, fireplaces, and many construction projects.
Spring brings all types of weather conditions to your landscape.With possible heavy spring rains possible ….proper seeding and erosion control methods are essential to minimize damage.Installing erosion blankets are cost effective in establishing new seeding germination.They also retain a lot of the moisture needed for more effective germination of seeds. Did you know snow is actually a great insulator in protecting plants from the cold???? It is true…..a natural blanket indeed!!!!
Being in the Rockies in the spring requires patience when planting. Evergreens and deciduous trees and shrubs can handle the adverse conditions.
Seeds growing inside the house
An old wise tale quote is to NOT plant those tender perennials or ground cover plants until after Mother’s Day. Ground tarps (preferably white) can be used as protection from the cold and hail…..Patience!!!!
Seeds can, of course also be started in pots inside.
Natural hardscaping is a great way to bring the beauty of “mother nature” to your home.Using large granite or mossrock boulders provides a mass appeal of size and beauty which also provides a natural setting for new shrubs and planting beds.
arranged boulders
Also kids love to climb and play on the boulders. Combining large boulders with smaller “L” size blend to create a wonderful natural rock garden anxiously waiting for its new plantings.
Retaining Walls control erosion
Retaining walls are an important aspect of landscape design.They are necessary for erosion control and as an asthetic appeal as well with its terracing style.Rock retaining walls can be composed of granite rock or mossrock veneer stone.Granite boulders are also used as a wall material.RR tie and 6×6 treated timber walls are also popular materials used in the building of retaining walls.
Running Water is beautiful
Installing a water feature creates a pleasing and soothing aspect to your home.It provides a “noise buffer” from unwanted noises such as highways/roads …barking dogs yet running water always provides a soothing natural setting which is always enjoyable year around
. Did you know your water feature will attract birds and all sorts of critters for their needed watering hole?A very popular style of water feature is the “pond less” water feature.It does not have a water holding area which is a maintenance issue and child safety issue as well. You achieve the noise and the authentic beauty of the traditional waterfall but with less headaches.Call Kenny for all the details for a water feature at your home
