Last week, Denver Water announced a Drought Watch (Stage 1) Response. Stage 1 is a voluntary call to their customers to reduce water use up to 10 percent and involves an advisory that continued dry weather could lead to a Stage 2 response with more constraints.

No surprise. It’s a warm, dry spring, and we’ve known for months the Colorado River basin is essentially a mirror image of what it was before the drought of 2002. Other water providers may follow with similar directions in days ahead.

So what does this mean for all of us who have a front lawn to mow, some veggie seeds in the ground and a few trees we love because their shade cools the hot side of the house? Can we tend to our plants and still save water?

Well, we did survive the bad drought of 2002, and if things do get grim this year, here are some things to consider.

No. 1 — While landscapes do take water, they also give back. Landscaping is part of our ecosystem that cleans the air, shades buildings, mitigates pollution in both the air and storm water, produces food and cools the urban environment. Landscapes give back to us much more than they take.

No. 2 — Water-deprived landscapes become unhealthy ones that are susceptible to weeds and disease. Even in dry times, we need to protect the long-term value of our landscapes while conserving water. Low water does not mean no water, but we need to water responsibly.

No. 3 — Now is the time to get busy and do the things that save water — such as simple and budget-friendly upgrades to the sprinkler system. Many municipalities and water providers offer rebates as incentives.

Remember the term Xeriscape? Now a globally known concept, it was invented in Colorado about 30 years ago and its principles still apply today. Xeriscape isn’t a “look” or a specific kind of landscape, per se. It’s a whole system that starts in the soil and ends with lovely plants.

What it looks like in your yard is up to personal preference and individual interpretation that comes about with a good design. If you’re renovating or installing a new landscape this year, check out what Xeriscape really means because that vision of rocks and yucca plants is nothing more than pure urban legend!

Need help with water-wise ideas to save water in your landscape? Find a pro from among Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado’s members in six chapters statewide.

Becky Garber is member of the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado, of which Neils Lunceford, a landscaping company, is a member. You may contact them at 970-409-8945.

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May 5th , 2012 15:17 pm

By Jason R. Mullins

Nearly 40 students at Hampton High School have taken part in a special project designed to beautify the exterior of their school. HHS Agriculture Teacher Gary Keith has been working with the students to complete the project in time for graduation.

Keith, who is completing his first year at Hampton, said the student response to the landscaping project has been overwhelmingly positive. Keith has been an educator in Carter County for the last 30 years. He has spent most of that time at Cloudland High School before taking the job at Hampton at the start of the school year.

The veteran educator commented, “I would like for people to say this is the most beautiful campus in Carter County. That’s what I talked to my landscaping students about when we first discussed this idea. We worked up a plan and then we talked to (Hampton High School Principal Jeff Bradley) about it. We then approached (School Board Chairman Kelly Crain) about getting the necessary funds to make it happen,” said Keith.

Crain was able to obtain approximately $1,800 in funding from the Carter County Board of Education to purchase the necessary items to start the landscaping project at Hampton. Keith’s 6^th period landscaping class was initially responsible for working on the project. “At first, I had that class handling all the work, but then I had other students ask to help us work on it. It wasn’t just the people who directly worked on the landscaping who have assisted us. We also had some others who volunteered to watch the greenhouse while we took care of the project,” he said.

A number of different types of flower bushes have been placed around the school. The flower beds are located along a large portion of the school. The students in Keith’s landscaping and agriculture classes have spent many hours planting flowers, laying mulch and placing edging along the sidewalks.

Keith has also worked on the storm water drains running on the walls of the school. The pipes now run underneath the flower beds, providing water for the plants.

In the coming years, Keith said he plans to continue to work with students on additional projects at Hampton High School. Some of those ideas include the construction of a gazebo and a gathering space with an area for staff and student picnics. “We have even talked about the possibility of adding a fire pit outside the school,” Keith said.

Both Crain and Bradley had high praise for the initiative shown by Keith and his students. “I really appreciate the addition of Mr. Keith to our staff at Hampton,” said Crain. “He has some wonderful ideas. The kids have really bought into what he’s doing and they’ve taken a great deal of pride in their school. To be perfectly honest, I can’t remember when the school has been as pretty as it is now. This is the best that Hampton High School has ever looked.”

“All we had to do was provide him with the tools he needed. He got the job done,” Bradley said. “I know the kids really enjoyed getting to do this. I can’t say enough for the work that Mr. Keith and the students have done this year.”

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VAIL — If you put together a list of businesses that could have a tricky summer due to the state’s drought, local landscaping companies would be near the top of the list.

A group of representatives of those businesses — members of the local chapter of the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado — gathered Friday at Donovan Pavilion for updates about topics including this summer’s water supply prospects and drought-tolerant plants.

When Mike Earl, of Land Designs by Ellison, was putting the May meeting together in February, Diane Johnson, of the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District, told him she didn’t really want to talk about drought just yet.

After Colorado’s driest March on record, it was time to talk about water supplies, Johnson said.

The people gathered at Donovan Pavilion that day are responsible for maintaining and irrigating a big part of the landscaping from Cordillera east, from second homes to condo complexes.

Todd Fessenden, the district’s operations manager, said that for now, the standard outdoor watering regulations are in effect — people water every other day except Monday based on their street addresses.

If the district declares a “supply emergency” though, virtually all outdoor watering will be banned, whether in specific areas or across the entire eastern part of the valley.

No one wants to see that happen. Sarah Fleury, the district’s water conservation officer, told the group she can help landscapers make more efficient use of their clients’ outdoor water because the district will track customers’ water use every week this summer.

Some of that more-efficient water use could include the use of drought-resistant plants. That’s where Pat Hayward’s presentation could prove useful.

Hayward is the director of Plant Select, a joint project between Colorado State University and the Denver Botanic Gardens. That project experiments with plants from different areas and, working with different gardens across the Mountain time zone, sees how they work. The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens participates in the Plant Select program.

Hayward had a list of plants that work well at both high elevations and in dry conditions, including a handful of true survivors. Plants including the Russian hawthorn and Cheyenne mock orange were first planted at a biological research station in Cheyenne, Wyo. That station was shuttered in 1979, and those plants continue to thrive there, Hayward said.

Other plants Plant Select investigates can be surprising.

For instance, Hayward said the orange carpet, a flowering plant, is one of those surprises.

“It shouldn’t work in Vail, but it does,” she said.

The chance to learn about drought-resistant plants was part of the reason Gypsum Assistant Public Works Director Jeff Kingston came to the meeting. The town and Eagle Valley High School are going to start using the school’s greenhouse to grow plants, Kingston said, and Hayward’s presentation was a good chance to get some new ideas.

But should anyone plant anything new this year?

The answer depends on timing.

“We’re trying to scale back,” Earl said. “But if you tend to a plant correctly, it should be fine.”

Some of the perennial plants Hayward described could work very well, he added.

But those who want to plant something new should probably act quickly.

The upper valley’s outdoor watering regulations are in place now, although customers can pay for permits that allow daily watering of new landscaping. Kingston said Gypsum has voluntary restrictions in place now, and is likely to impose mandatory restrictions in the coming weeks.

“Get that sod in now,” Johnson said. “At the end of June, it just won’t work.”

PlanWorx℠, an innovative online landscape design service powered by national landscape architecture firm Knäak Design Group (KDG), offers homeowners and investors progressive solutions to improve their outdoor living space, allowing them to add beauty and value to their home at a fraction of the cost.

Richmond, VA (PRWEB) May 05, 2012

PlanWorx℠is a new concept in residential landscape design that gives homeowner and investor in the United States and Canada a variety of options to tackle their outdoor living project that fit their budget and time frame. Delivered by registered landscape architects, the virtual landscape design services are at a fraction of the cost compared to most custom designed projects delivered by the same professionals. Homeowners and real estate investors can reduce labor costs by up to 40% by buying the materials should they choose a do-it-yourself approach by handling the installation themselves. In addition to creating a custom landscape design that gives them guidance to plan their project, PlanWorx℠ helps the people avoid the common mistakes that occur during do-it-yourself projects that cause delay and waste valuable dollars. KDG will also provide homeowners with scheduling options to help phase various parts of the project over time due to life events and budget constraints.

“With the recession, many homeowners are not in the best financial situations when it comes to the values of their homes. Times are tough, and people need to find innovative and efficient ways to add beauty and value to their backyard, without breaking feeling like it isn’t worth the effort. We want to help restore the pride of homeownership that seems to have disappeared in the past few years,” says Robert Knäak, principal and founder of Knäak Design Group. “Landscaping is one home improvement that actually appreciates over time. Depending on the location of the home, high-quality landscaping can add from 5 to 12 percent to your home’s selling price.”

About Knäak Design Group, LLC

Knäak Design Group is a nationally recognized landscape architecture and planning firm, providing professional services to architects, engineers, builders, and homeowners looking for unique design solutions in the United States and Canada. To learn more about Knaak Design Group’s professional design services, please visit http://www.knaakdesigngroup.com or call 1-800-560-8361.

Knäak Design Group has offices in Texas, Arizona, and Florida and provides services to clients throughout the United States and Canada. For more information about our online landscape design services contact Madison McClain or visit our website at http://www.onlinelandscapedesign.com.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/5/prweb9478604.htm

On tour are six fabulous, privately owned gardens that feature creativity and great landscaping ideas that are “doable”. Five gardens will be shown that might not be seen otherwise. The gardens are located in Bossier City, Benton and Shreveport. The sixth garden included on this year’s tour is a professionally landscaped garden.

Tour Schedule:

May 5th: 10am to 5pm

May 6th: 1pm to 5pm

Tickets Prices:

$10 dollars prior to the tour

$12 dollars after

Ticket Location:

Any Citizens National Bank Location

Any Master Gardener

Randle T Moore Center (corner of Fairfield and E. Kings Hwy)

*Tickets feature a map showing the location of all six gardens.

*In addition to the six gardens on tour there’s a special FREE Garden Bazaar at the Pioneer Heritage Center on the LSUS campus.  At the Pioneer Heritage Center local and out of the town vendors will be selling accessories, plants of all types and ecology minded garden equipment for sale.

For more information call:

318-698-0010

PlanWorx℠, an innovative online landscape design service powered by national landscape architecture firm Knäak Design Group (KDG), offers homeowners and investors progressive solutions to improve their outdoor living space, allowing them to add beauty and value to their home at a fraction of the cost.

Richmond, VA (PRWEB) May 05, 2012

PlanWorx℠is a new concept in residential landscape design that gives homeowner and investor in the United States and Canada a variety of options to tackle their outdoor living project that fit their budget and time frame. Delivered by registered landscape architects, the virtual landscape design services are at a fraction of the cost compared to most custom designed projects delivered by the same professionals. Homeowners and real estate investors can reduce labor costs by up to 40% by buying the materials should they choose a do-it-yourself approach by handling the installation themselves. In addition to creating a custom landscape design that gives them guidance to plan their project, PlanWorx℠ helps the people avoid the common mistakes that occur during do-it-yourself projects that cause delay and waste valuable dollars. KDG will also provide homeowners with scheduling options to help phase various parts of the project over time due to life events and budget constraints.

“With the recession, many homeowners are not in the best financial situations when it comes to the values of their homes. Times are tough, and people need to find innovative and efficient ways to add beauty and value to their backyard, without breaking feeling like it isn’t worth the effort. We want to help restore the pride of homeownership that seems to have disappeared in the past few years,” says Robert Knäak, principal and founder of Knäak Design Group. “Landscaping is one home improvement that actually appreciates over time. Depending on the location of the home, high-quality landscaping can add from 5 to 12 percent to your home’s selling price.”

About Knäak Design Group, LLC

Knäak Design Group is a nationally recognized landscape architecture and planning firm, providing professional services to architects, engineers, builders, and homeowners looking for unique design solutions in the United States and Canada. To learn more about Knaak Design Group’s professional design services, please visit http://www.knaakdesigngroup.com or call 1-800-560-8361.

Knäak Design Group has offices in Texas, Arizona, and Florida and provides services to clients throughout the United States and Canada. For more information about our online landscape design services contact Madison McClain or visit our website at http://www.onlinelandscapedesign.com.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/5/prweb9478604.htm

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From Plant to Plate

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Everyone’s desire to dig in started in March with our record high temperatures. After seeing what happened in April when the thermometer dropped, we were reminded not to put our tender plants out quite yet.

In about two weeks we should be prepped and ready to put our winter ideas to work. Various organizations’ plant sales around town will offer remarkable savings and new plants to try.

If you have not yet started growing vegetables due to your lack of desirable space, we have a couple of great tips. Last year our staff and Master Gardener volunteers added demonstration gardens to our property at 5526 W. Bancroft St., where we experimented with different types of alternate gardens.

Our first new garden was a vertical hydroponic system in which planting containers were attached to vertical poles. When I first saw this system installed, I was skeptical due to the small amount of growing space. Three containers were stacked onto each other at an angle, leaving only the corners as the growing space, except for the top container.

I am now a true believer, given the yield from this vertical system and recommend any of you to visit our property later in the month to see the garden when it’s planted.

We planted another alternative garden system which was basically a tube of landscape fabric, closed at each end, filled with compost, with holes cut into the top for planting. These were designed to be used on decks, patios, driveways, or wherever poor soils were present. These unfortunately did not perform nearly as well as we had hoped.

This year we will be planting a raised bed demonstration garden. Raised beds were created to allow a dense yield in a smaller space. Rather than have rows of vegetables, and rows of paths, raised beds are usually made so that we may harvest from every side, and even be able to reach across, rather than walking the rows and compacting the soil.

Raised bed designs allow you to add soil and amendments in one specific area, instead of in your entire vegetable garden.

Options for apartment balconies, patios, or decks include container gardens, using any container with proper drainage, straw bales, and the newly popular wall-pallet gardens.

With straw bale gardening, no soil is required because when the bale breaks down, it produces its own composted growing medium. Straw bales need to be conditioned before adding plants which takes a few weeks. It’s important not to plant when the bales are decomposing, since they will be “hot” and will damage tender plants. You can grow almost anything in a bale that you can grow in your garden.

Pallet wall gardens are a great reuse, recycle, refurbish project. Basically, it’s an ordinary wood pallet, covered on three sides with landscaping fabric. Once the covering is in place, potting soil is added, and the pallet is set up vertically. Plant your plants between the wooden rows, and place the pallet upright against a wall, anchoring may be required if a wall is not available.

In all of the instances above it is required to keep all of these alternative type gardens watered, as they will dry out much quicker than plants in a standard garden bed.

On May 15 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. OSU Extension Lucas County will offer a workshop covering raised beds and vertical systems. Information: Northrup.10@cfaes.osu.edu, or call 419-578-6783.

Barbara Northrup is an information associate with OSU Extension Lucas County. If you have questions, call the OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Horticultural Hotline at 419-578-6783. Volunteers are on hand Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Questions also may be e-mailed to mghotline@ag.osu.edu and possibly answered in a future Plant to Plate column.

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Facing a park and the St. Lawrence River, this long and boxy home must have one of the most inspiring views. Facing the house is another story. The facade is flat and bland. Because of the huge unattractive hill, a visitor would almost need to bring his climbing gear to get to the door. There’s no overhang or porch nor any architectural elements to suggest a three dimensional feel. The landscaping would be non-existent if it wasn’t for the sad and butchered apple tree.

The siding is made out of white vinyl. Although this material can be painted, I decided to leave it as it is. The current metal roof is turquoise and needs to be repainted. A versatile very dark grey with no pink, green or blue tint is a good choice. If, in the future, the owners decided to warm up the siding, they could choose from many colours like taupe, kaki, beige, sand and more. All these tones would blend well with charcoal shutters.

Now, let’s tackle ‘the bump’. We could add soil on each side to raise the level around it. This would only contribute to emphasize the length of the facade. After removing the embankment and painting the concrete roughcast in matte white, an illusion of a taller house will appear.

All the windows should stay white, as well as the vertical gutters. With the current siding, wider and more on-trend dark grey shutters will enrich the look. A warm burgundy painted door in a semi-gloss finish would effortlessly spruce up the entry.

To break up the exaggerated long-wideness of the home, a large, raised, covered porch with stairs will be built to give depth and a three dimensional quality to the residence. In the triangle on the front of the overhang, a simple smooth medium grey moulding will give definition around the white interior shape. All the wood trims, beams, hand rails and stairs ought to be stained opaque grey. The metal cornices and the dark horizontal gutters should be sanded and refinished with an exterior acrylic grey paint in a matte finish.

There is an existing paving stone pathway leading to the driveway. Another walkway will be added going towards the doorway. Two new bigger light fixtures in silver or black would be the finishing touch to the entrance.

We’ll keep the honeysuckle hedge on the right, but the pruning is all wrong. Narrow on top and wide on the bottom is the required form. This inhibits shadows from being cast on the base. A pyramidal angle will encourage even foliage density.

On a trellis, the clematis The President with its abundant blooms throughout summer doesn’t require pruning in the spring. A hedge of Shirobana spireas will tantalize the observer with its individual pink and white flowers sharing the same plant. Two pyramidal evergreens Taxus Capitata will hug each side of the porch near the wall. They will be standing behind the small rhododendrons decorated with pink blooms in May. A mix of purple, pink and white colours of some plants complemented by the beautiful leaves of the tall deep burgundy Cimifuga and the variegated silver euonymus are a happy marriage with the evergreens. Both the stream lines of soft green and white perennials that will be bordering the walkway, along with the bark of the birch, will echo the snowy tint of the house. All the flower beds and natural borders will need some type of divider between the lawn and the planted vegetation.

If the apple tree, not seen here on the photo, needs to be salvaged, try to saw the severed trunks in an angle for a more aesthetic look. For better proportions, let the branches grow larger.

Vegetation (from left to right):

– Spirea Japonica Shirobana (shrubs, hedge, pink and white)

– Clematis The President (on trellis)

– Rhododendron Canadense (1+1 persistent shrubs, pink)

– Taxus Capitata (1+1 pyramidal evergreens, sides of porch)

– Hemerocallis Stella de Oro (5to7 perennials, pink, middle)

– Salvia Superba (perennial, reddish purple)

– Cimicifuga Ramosa Atro-purpurea (perennials, burgundy, white)

– Astilba Taquerii Superba (3 to 5 perennials, pink feather-like)

– Euonymus Emerald Gaiety (persistent shrub, variegated)

– Taxus Hicksii (evergreen, corner)

– Geranium Sanguineum (perennials, pink)

– Honeysuckle (owner’s hedge, right)

– Betula (tree, three stumps)

– Lamium Maculata White Nancy (perennials, white, walkway)

HOUSEWARMING

Most homes can use a little help when it comes to warming up their curb appeal. If you’d like some inexpensive ideas on how to improve the appearance of your home, send a clear photo of your house with your commentary to: Suzanne Rowe, Designer, suro@bell.net. Because of the volume of email she receives, it is not possible for her to individually reply to each correspondent.

On Friday, PGAV Planners presented downtown Cassville building and streetscape design concepts to 30 community members. PGAV Planners has been hired by the DREAM Initiative to work with downtown revitalization groups, such as the Downtown Cassville Partnership.

“The intent of DREAM is to provide you with a good, sound planning recommendation so that when you reach the point where you talk about funding you will have a plan,” said Mike Hemmer, of PGAV Planners. “DREAM is a planning resource that facilitates intense planning over a three- to four-year period.

“We want to provide you with a good road map for what is needed in downtown over the next five to 10 years,” said Hemmer. “We will recommend what is needed. This might not be what is popular or well liked. You are still in control. We are just providing our best recommendation.”

Hemmer began his presentation by giving an overview of the DREAM planning goals. In addition to the building and streetscape design, PGAV Planners is currently working on a web survey. A land use, building and infrastructure survey, a focus group survey report and a stormwater analysis have either been completed or are nearing completion.

Other goals include: an organizational structure review; a residential demand analysis; a retail market analysis; a financial assistance review; marketing; and a downtown strategic plan.

The building and streetscape concepts focus on three areas of downtown Cassville, the northern gateway, the square and the southern gateway. Information for the concepts was gathered through meetings with city and county officials, city code staff and downtown property owners.

PGAV Planners recommended enforcement of building and streetscape guidelines through ordinances, codes and procedures, including inspections and incentives. Guidelines could be used on a voluntary, mandatory or conditional basis using an incentive district.

Hemmer pointed out the following issues, which are common in many Missouri communities: metal siding, improper awnings and damaging alterations; overhead electric lines, poor drainage and curbing and utility deficiencies; Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) noncompliance; upper levels underutilized and inappropriate ground floor uses; not attractive to pedestrians or bicyclists; and lack of greenery or generally aesthetically desolate.

Some of these issues can be addressed through a public investment, including planting trees and shrubbery, installing vintage lighting and park benches, and making sidewalk and infrastructure improvements. The public investments are designed to inspire property owners to make private investments.

The presentation included a recommendation for a gateway park near 10th and Main streets. The park would include a central plaza, a playground, picnic areas and sidewalks leading to the downtown retail area. Currently, property owned in the identified area is privately owned.

Sidewalk improvements were recommended for the downtown square. The improvements would make the area ADA compliant and offer a plaza feel by expanding the width of the pedestrian walkways.

PGAV Planners recommended a roundabout for the southern gateway to the downtown area. The roundabout would replace the current stoplight at the intersection of Main Street and Highways 112/76/86.

Community members attending the event were invited to make comments regarding the recommendations. Other Cassville residents are invited to visit www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22FF8PRSS3D to voice concerns or give feedback regarding the recommendations.

Artist drawings and information about the PGAV building and streetscape design concepts will be available at the Cassville City Hall. Downtown Cassville Partnership members also hope to have the information available at several community events this summer.

The DREAM Initiative is a partnership of the Missouri Development Finance Board, Missouri Department of Economic Development and the Missouri Housing Development Commission.

You now have no excuse for waiting till next Saturday to pick up a Mother’s Day card at the supermarket and a gift card from the carousel by the checkout to give Mom on May 13.

Do you really think that’s payment for services rendered?

As a mom, and the daughter of the best mom ever, let me assure you: It’s not. I could go on (and on) about 3 a.m. stomach bug cleanups and white-knuckle drives with drivers in training. But I wouldn’t want to make any kid, age 6 or 66, feel guilty. We moms don’t play that. (No, we don’t. No arguing!)

So, it’s my mission today — more than a week before Mother’s Day, plenty of time! — to give you some ideas. If your mom lives within driving distance of Tampa Bay, this is for you. If she’s farther away and you plan a visit, you’re off the hook; your gift is your presence. And if your mom is no longer with us, how about planting a perennial or tree in her memory? Take care of it as she took care of you, and she’ll feel the love. (So will you.)

For those of us lucky enough to be with our mothers next weekend, here’s a gift idea from readers. They suggest I visit Julie Lohoefener, co-owner with husband, Chad, of Bloom Garden Shop, 3005 S MacDill Ave., in Tampa, for tips on creating the container gardens that are the shop’s signature dish, so to speak.

Bloom draws gardeners from throughout the Tampa Bay area for its unusual inventory, including plants — I spotted rex begonias, Amaranthus caudatus (love lies bleeding), and African blue basil last week. It’s also well regarded for its accessories and garden art. In addition to the shop, Chad, Julie, her mom and dad, Evie and John Burks; sister, Jill Burks-Sanders; and a half-dozen employees offer landscaping and decorations for events, including weddings.

But what they’re best known for are innovative container gardens filled with unexpected plant combinations.

“We can’t keep them in stock,” says Julie, 42, who grew up in Dade City, where a park bears her great-grandfather’s name, and her parents owned Casa Verde wholesale nursery. Her dad is a past president of the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.

“My mom is really the innovator. I learned it from her,” Julie says. “She waves a magic wand and makes everything pretty.”

Ready-made “pickup-and-go’s,” as Julie calls them, are available throughout Bloom. Or, customers can drop off their own containers — called check-ins — for custom creations.

“The check-ins are a huge part of our business,” Julie says. “People bring in all kinds of containers, including gorgeous old antiques.”

How does she keep all those customers coming back? Julie gave me a demonstration — and tips for you.

• Choose an unusual, whimsical container or one with special meaning. For her how-to, Julie chose a funky metal faux birdbath topped with a removable birdcage-type dome. If your container doesn’t have drainage holes (like the birdbath), you’ll need to warn Mom to water judiciously. “You can always add water — you can’t remove water once you’ve added it,” Julie says. Before watering, stick your finger in the soil, all the way to the bottom if you can, to see if it’s wet or dry.

• Use a light, airy potting mix. Fafard Organic Potting Mix is the official Bloom dirt. “When you pick up a bag of potting mix, it shouldn’t feel like you’re lifting a dead body,” Julie says. “I like Fafard because it’s nice and light.”

• Choose your centerpiece plant, which will guide the rest of your selections. Julie started with two miniature phalaenopsis orchids sporting fuchsia flowers. Behind these she inserted a silver lace pteris fern; the light-colored foliage makes a dramatic backdrop for the power-pink blooms, she says. She added an heirloom miniature African violet with dainty, pale pink blossoms; a peperomia with deep rose-colored veins; a miniature caladium; and pink splash — Hypoestes phyllostachya. “I looked for touches of pink to complement the orchids,” she says.

• Finally, moss, moss and more moss! “People are nuts over moss. We use a boatload,” Julie says. “If I were going to rename this store, I’d call it Moss.” Treated sheet moss — it’s not living — finishes most of Bloom’s container gardens. It’s available in a variety of colors, from deep forest green to popular lime green. Use fuzzy green moss wire, if necessary, to subtly hold things together.

Julie’s finished birdbath garden will be priced at about $75. If you were to create it, using your own container, it would cost you about $45, she says.

Other container garden ideas:

“Fairy gardens are really, really popular now,” she says. “Growers have renamed their 2-inch ‘terrarium minis’ — they’re calling them ‘fairy garden plants’ now. Add dollhouse furniture and other miniatures.”

As Tampa heats up, so do sales of succulents, she says.

“People like cactus, agaves, stuff that can handle the heat. They make beautiful container gardens.”

Finish with monochromatic stones or sea glass.

So, what does Julie plan for her own mom for Mother’s Day?

“My mom is definitely my role model. She has always been so supportive and inspiring,” Julie says. “For Mother’s Day, I love to pay a surprise visit to her courtyard garden, adding new plants and perhaps a new garden ornament.

“A good mom is all about the time she gives, so I want to give her something unique and thoughtful. I try to give her my time.”

Ahem!

Penny Carnathan can be reached at penlyn1@tampabay.rr.com. Find more local gardening stories and photos at digginfladirt or join the chat on Facebook at Diggin Florida Dirt.