garden design – Page 2 – MarvinGardensUSA

Decorate the Mantel of Your Outdoor Fireplace

outdoor garden decorating — Source: Marvin Gardens Facebook

Decorating the mantle on your indoor fireplace is a great way to establish it as a focal point within the living space. However, can you do the same with your outdoor fireplace? Of course you can! There are a few different ways that you can decorate the mantle on your outdoor fireplace that will help to create a focal point in your outdoor living area. The following are a few ways to do just that:

Natural Elements – Because your outdoor area is visibly surrounded by outdoor elements such as trees, plants, sky and more, the fireplace may stand out more than you want it to, especially if your whole outdoor living area is more of an extension of the indoors. By decorating the mantle with flowers, plants or even stone sculptures or pieces, you’ll help add balance to the space by complementing the surrounding environment.
Contrast – You can also go the opposite route by making your fireplace mantle stand out. For example, add bold colors, such as red or yellow, in the form of vases or other decorations in order to draw the eye.

Be sure to contact us at Marvin Gardens USA for garden design accessories today.

Create a Stunning Container Garden With These Tips

If you are looking for different garden design ideas, consider creating a stunning container garden to add new life to your existing garden. Container gardens can work both indoors and outside, and a well-designed container garden is like a miniature landscape of its own.

The first step is to get creative and choose an interesting container to act as your planter. The container just needs to be large enough to house your plants and give their roots the space to grow, and it needs to have a drainage hole to prevent over-watering.

The next step is to choose your plants and soil. You need potting mix for container gardens; regular garden soil doesn’t give your plants what they need when they are contained in a pot.

Select an interesting-looking taller plant to place in the middle of your chosen planter to act as a focal point. Choose trailing plants that can be planted around the sides to spill out of the planter. Lastly, select a filler plant that can cover the remaining spaces. Make sure all the plants you choose have similar watering and sunlight needs so the whole container garden can thrive.

For more interesting garden design ideas, contact us at Marvin Gardens.

Add Classical Beauty and Strength to Your Garden

garden accessories — Source: Marvin Gardens Facebook

Give your garden a classical Mediterranean look with stone and bronze sculptures from Marvin Gardens. These garden design accessories, which are inspired by ancient sculptures, are built to withstand severe weather while adding timeless beauty.

Add a statue of a strong Roman or Greek male on a pedestal base holding up an urn or column as a symbol of strength. This theme, popular throughout Europe for centuries, can also enhance your pool house as it once decorated the Roman baths.

A statue of a maiden balancing a flowering urn on her head can respresent the Caryatids of ancient Greece, who supported the columns of the Erechtheum temple at the Acropolis.

Statues and elegant Doric or Corinthian columns can be placed at the entrance to a garden, a courtyard, or near a water element. The classical statue can be included in a recirculating fountain design with water streaming from the hands of a young woman or Neptune.

Statues carrying urns or various urn-shaped containers on pedestals are garden design accessories that can hold flowering plants and trees. Urns, flowers and statues can be artfully arranged in groupings by professional landscape architects.

Find the perfect statue to accentuate your garden at Marvin Gardens.

Add a Touch of Woodland Whimsy to Your Garden Design

Many people are attracted to the tranquility and peace that can be found within the forest. The dappled light shining through the trees, the rustling sounds of branches, and the glimpses of woodland dwelling creatures create an almost fairy tale environment to enjoy on a warm summer morning. With some creativity, you can bring this same atmosphere into your own garden. Here are a few garden design accessories ideas to consider:

Use woven branches for your fencing rather than the conventional picket fence.
Add a bird’s nest, with or without eggs in it. This accent can be placed in a bird bath that is not being used, a young tree that has not developed full foliage, or hidden somewhere in a garden seating area for guests to find.
Place vine plants in strategic places such as winding around the trunk of a nearby tree or along fencing. Use flowering vines to add color to the area.
Select foliage to space along your garden to enhance the feeling of a woodland floor. Excellent choices are plants that are native to Connecticut, which are low-maintenance and hardy.
Choose your trees carefully. This important element can be used to set the tone of your garden as well as providing shade or privacy.
Our large wood mushroom carvings can be strategically arranged throughout your garden to add an enchanted atmosphere.

Share your own ideas on how you create your woodland garden retreat on our Facebook page, and be sure to visit us to find whimsical woodland accessories for your own garden.

Koi Sculptures Bring Beauty Without Hassle

garden decor — Image via Marvin Gardens Facebook

Many gardeners think at one time or another about including a koi pond in their garden, but keeping and maintaining these delightful fish can be a burdensome task. If you are thinking about adding one to your yard, there are some challenges to think about first.

To begin with, the initial investment for the design, materials and construction of the pond will run into the thousands of dollars. Later costs for fish, energy, food and maintenance will keep adding up as well. In addition, the time spent cleaning and maintaining a smoothly functioning pond can take away from the rest of your gardening, and enjoyment of your free time.

At Marvin Gardens, our folk art koi fish sculptures seem to swim through the flowers and plants of your garden. These pieces will add whimsy and fun to your gardens while saving you the hassle of a full koi pond commitment. Contact us to talk about this and other ideas for creating a beautiful and unique low-maintenance garden design.

Mini Plants for Mini People: Gardening With Children

Custom gardens — Image via Marvin Gardens Facebook

Gardening with children is a great way to keep them active during the summer months, and it can also be an opportunity to teach valuable life lessons. But, just as plants need room to grow, so do your children. Watch your children thrive this summer by giving them a garden of their very own.

When planning your garden, leave a special piece of land just for each child. The area can be as big or small you like. The point is to give them their own place to grow their own plants. This will not only help teach them the importance of responsibility, but will also foster creativity when it comes to unique plant combinations and locations.

As the season progresses and your garden grows, your children will learn the importance of proper care to ensure that their garden grows as lavish as possible. Though some mistakes may be inevitable, you can help your kids succeed by growing a variety of very low-maintenance succulents available at Marvin Gardens.

Kids love to get dirty. Indulge them with a shovel, a plot of dirt and plants from your local nursery, then watch as your children blossom with excitement at the sight of their own garden growing. Feel free to share photos of their gardens!

Why a Firepit Is Still Useful in Warm Weather

There is something very communal and almost tribal about gathering around a fire. Our ancestors did it, and there’s a reason we still enjoy doing it so much. In addition to being able to use a fire pit for cooking, it’s a great focal point for a gathering.

Just because the weather is getting warmer doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from having a fire pit in your yard. Not only are they pleasant to look at, but they can also add an extra level of relaxation to your space.

What you want to use your fire pit for will help determine which one is right for you. There are the open fire pits in which you can cook or roast marshmallows over. There are pits which are large and surrounded by brick and stay in one place, which are great for entertaining guests. You can also get fire pits which look like old wood stoves, bringing a very homey feel to your outdoors. These are great for relaxing next to while reading a book or spending time with your family.

Make the most out of your summer nights with a fire pit! Contact us for more information or inspiration for adding a fire pit to your home in Connecticut.

Garden Seating: How to Stay Creative

outdoor furniture accessories — Image via Pinterest

If you want to spend hours of comfort in your garden, having proper seating is a must. We’ll look at some unique options to keep your garden creative and a fun place to relax.

We’ve all seen the typical patio and lawn furniture, but why settle for that? Waterproof fabric is available in an array of styles and options. Get yourself an outdoor couch that can withstand the elements and not only look great, but is incredibly inviting. Why not place it on your back lawn under a large tree to relax on those hot summer days?

You can also incorporate nature directly into your set-up by creating chairs out of logs or finding large flat stones and covering them in pillows. You can even create indoor rooms outside by getting yourself a large waterproof fabric mattress and dressing it in pillows. You can hang sheets around it or even a mosquito net to keep away the pests.

Consider placing pairs of chairs all throughout your yard so your guests can relax in a number of spots. You can mix and match chair styles for an eclectic appearance.

These are just a few of many options for seating arrangement in your yard or garden. For more helpful tips and ideas, contact our knowledgeable staff at Marvin Gardens.

Feung Shui Tips for a Spring Garden

Feng Shui is all about organizing objects to get the most positive energy out of a space as possible, also known as Chi, which helps to bring harmony and balance into your life. Placement is key to a successful Feng Shui design both inside and out, not only what you place, but where you place it and why.

The more disconnected from the rest of the world your Feng Shui garden is, the better. Large shrubs or trees are ideal for concealing your space and giving you peace of mind while you relax. Running water is one of the leading features you can incorporate into your outdoor space, this can include; fountains, ponds, reflecting pool or even a waterfall.

If you’re designing your outdoor space with Feng Shui in mind, note that straight paths should never be used. Let the path take its time and curve and flow through your space instead of running straight through. This is a space that should be relaxing for yourself or for your guests. Nature lends a huge inspiration to these arrangements and should be carefully considered while doing so.

Marvin Gardens can help bring more peace and tranquility into your life. Make your outdoor space much more than a scenic location and consider adding Feng Shui design principles to your garden.

Gorgeous Picks for Hanging Garden Plants

When adding hanging plants to your garden, you want to include those that bring something unique to your space. Nearly any type of flower can be placed into a hanging basket, but it’s important to choose ones that are right for your garden.

Begonias can withstand a variety of conditions and come in a vast array of different colored flowers such as red, pink, yellow & white. The flowers are very full and will hang slightly below the edges of your basket.

Ivy is always a great addition to a hanging basket, whether it be on its own or arranged with other plants or flowers. Ivy flourishes and will easily grow all around your garden, walls, pergola or any other structure you want to incorporate it into. Licorice Vine is another similar plant that is great for trailing and growing around structures. Other great additions to your hanging gardens could include Fuchsia, Lobelia, Golden Pothos and Spider Plants.

Spice up your garden with some unique hanging basket arrangements. For more information on additional plants and tips, contact us at Marvin Gardens!