Fresh Greenery for Wedding Decorations

Weddings, rehearsal dinners and outdoor bridal parties are all events needing decorations reflecting the essence of the wedding. This can be done with color, texture, flowers, hobby or another unique element of the wedding while using fresh greenery.

Fresh greenery is an affordable way to incorporate earthy elements and dress up the landscape, while having fun. Below on the front of the pergola hangs fresh greenery consisting of 4 plants; scotchbroom, magnolia, pink yarrow and oak leaf hydrangea.

These plants are simply tied together with twine and hung on the pergola with string and bound with pink ribbon on top.

These are great decorations for the homes where out of town guests will be staying too.

If you would like to decorate for the rehearsal dinner or before, look at the same fresh greenery 3 days after being in 90 degree whether here in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The trick is to combine different textures so there is an obvious contrast. Foliage from evergreen plants hold up quite nicely for days. The oak leaf hydrangea flower is very durable as well.

Fresh greenery for your weddings and other parties can be attached to candle holders, trees, pergolas, fences and doors.

Take inventory of the plants your family, friends and neighbors have before you plan the outdoor decorations. Iwould strongly suggest foliage from magnolias, pine, holly, scotchbroom, helleborus, lavender, osmanthus, rhododendron, ligustrum, gardenia, cypress or eleagnus.

When you have selected what plants you are going to use, incorporate elements of the wedding into them. Adding ribbon the color of the bridesmaid gowns, string seashells into the greenery for a beach theme wedding or glue craft butterflies onto them if releasing butterflies at your wedding is planned.

Fresh greenery is one element worth spending time assembling. Another idea is to have someone else put them together for you. Brides have enough on their plates.

I am just a phone call away to help you with your wedding decorations and photogenic landscape.

Divine Weddings and Beyond™!  www.dianadigsdirt.com

Diana Gardner-Williams

Landscape Design and Installation

White Wedding Flowers for Bouquets

Brides, if you are on a budget, why not cut fresh wedding flowers from your landscape for bouquets and centerpieces. Wedding flowers and bouquets can add serious dollars to your wedding budget, why not plan, plant and cut yourself.

White wedding flowers are very classic colors widely used by brides. Save some money and cut fresh flowers for your rehearsal dinner centerpieces.

In the late spring and early summer, many annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees are bursting with white flowers  for your wedding centerpieces.

Oakleaf hydrangea flowers are one of the largest offered in Greensboro, or zone 7. One of these flowers could yield several small vases of white flowers.

Oakleaf hydrangea flowers are very durable and can be cut a couple of days before a wedding or rehearsal dinner.

Another use for oakleaf hydrangea flowers is to float in water.

If you are giving earrings to your bridesmaids as gifts, insert crystal studs in the center to surprise your girlfriends at the rehearsal dinner. These are Sabika crystal earrings and a small amount of glitter was added for more sparkle.

Additional white wedding flower options are Natchez crape myrtle blooms.

Stokes Aster is a perennial having white flowers in late June. These are a great choice for modern weddings.

White Stokes Aster is accompanied by foliage cuttings of Amsonia and Sweet Potato Vine. Combining fine and coarse texture foliage adds more interest.

If you are on a very strict budget wanting to save money, try roadside wildflowers.

These fine textured wildflowers remind me of babys breath and minature daisies.

Add an Oriental Lily to the vase for some added vavoom.

Be creative with your wedding flowers and centerpieces. No need to break the bank and have a wonderful wedding.

Happy Planting!  www.dianadigsdirt.com

Diana Gardner-Williams

Landscape Design and Installation

A Guide to Installing Plant Material

The average homeowner may have questions about the best placement of plant materials. Not only is sun or shade a factor, so is the function of the plant. Let your landscape work for you and install plants where they will provide a function as well as aesthetics.

Specimen plants like Yoshino Cherry Trees can stand alone in the landscape because of their form, flowers, or other ornamental characteristic.

Even in the winter months Yoshino Cherry Trees make a statement because of the beautiful color of bark and the structure or growing habit.

Foundation plants are very functional because they should be used for year round interest in the front of your home. These are plants installed closest to your house. Foundation plants are the staple of curb appeal and 75% should be evergreen varieties. It depend on the style of your to determine what types of plants to use. Some excellent foundation plants I use are:

• Otto Luyken Laurel
• Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia
• Dwarf Hollies
• Indian Hawthorn

Anchor plants are those installed on the corners of your home. These plants are meant to marry or tie the home into the surrounding landscape. They have a taller growing habit and usually at neat in appearance. Some anchor plants I use are:

• Foster Holly
• Cleyera
• Emerald Green Arborvitae
• West Coast Schip Laurel
• Chindo Viburnum

Filler plants are those needed to fill in the bare spots after the staple plants have been designed into the landscape plan. Even though they have the name “filler”, they too serve other purposes. Filler plants can add needed color, a different texture or the purpose of  attracting butterflies. The yellow mums were obviously used as filler plants, adding color by the front walkway.

Happy Planting!  www.dianadigsdirt.com

Diana Gardner-Williams

Landscape Design and Installation

Buying Homes in Greensboro

If you are newcomer to the Piedmont Triad area or looking to purchase a new home, take a look at this lovely 2 story at 5132 White Horse Drive.

This home sits on almost 1/2 acre in Highland Meadows, off of Old Battleground Road.

It has clean curb appeal with the potential for more. This would be perfect for a 1st time homebuyer or an upgrade.

The front of the home faces west, which means the majority of sunshine will fall upon the right corner of the home. The homes dining area will benefit from the homes position because sunshine will illuminate and warm the room.

This is perfect orientation because the afternoon and evening hours will shade the outdoor living area in the rear of the home.

The spacious outdoor deck provides enough room for furniture, outdoor pots and a grill.

There is plenty of room to extend the outdoor living space by adding a stone patio.

A custom designed pergola can be added over the stone patio to provide instant shade for a morning cup of coffee.

The left side of the home is shaded and ideal for shade loving plants like:

• Hydranges

• Gardenias

• Ajuga

• Anemone

And so much more for the new home buyer.

If you are looking to buy a home in the Greensboro area, check out this home with Richelle Smart of RE/MAX. I would love to work with the new homeowners on customizing a landscape plan to reflect the family’s needs.

Happy Planting!  www.dianadigsdirt.com

Diana Gardner-Williams

Landscape Design and Installation

D.H. Griffin Recycles Building Materials

If you know me, I am a big fan of recycling building materials and utilizing in a non-conventional fashion. I took a trip to D.H. Griffin and WOW, I was amazed at all of the recycled materials. The hand-made bricks really caught my eye.

I could definitely use the recycled bricks in a landscape design needing an aged, old world charm. Because they are on the delicate side, I wouldn’t recommend too much foot traffic and more of a visual aesthetic in the landscape. Maybe installed as a secondary path as in the photo below.

The recycled bricks have history and adds a unique element to any landscape. Columns and walls can be constructed from them as well.

Many brick varieties.

D.H. Griffin even had square recycled bricks.

Several salvaged windows and doors could be used in pergola or trellis design. I also use them indoors for displaying pictures or just to add a cottage style element.

The window glass can be removed for safety reasons.

There were huge stones recycled from a prison.

The stones or boulders can be used surrounding a pond, incorporated into a waterfall, used as seating, or installed into a slope.

Other materials around the yard were grates of all sizes and shapes. Perfect for me to construct a one of a kind trellis.

They also had a great deal of steal and wood.

D.H.Griffin was involved in the demolition of the World Trade Towers and a piece of the ruins stands at the front entrance. I just sat and stared for a bit.

Let’s go shopping together and select recycled pieces for your landscapes.

Happy Planting!  www.dianadigsdirt.com

Diana Gardner-Williams

Landscape Design and Installation

Alzheimer’s Association in Greensboro’s City Park

Greensboro’s downtown City Park was the location for the Memory Walk for the Alzheimer’s Association. The turn out was fabulous.

The weather was perfect and people were sporting their purple t-shirts for the 1 mile Memory Walk.

The mist from the water feature was also popular for cooling off.

Snacks and refreshments were provided too.

We were invited by a volunteer for the Alzheimer event, Marty McFarling of Ameriprise Financial, who is now our financial planner.

I couldn’t help noticing the beautiful plant material within City Park. A Bald Cypress specimen caught my eye.

These trees grow perfectly pyramidal and are deciduous. the fine textured foliage adds grace to any landscape.

Several drought tolerate plants  throughout City Park provided color. Yarrow is a perennial and a great cutting flower for centerpieces.

Black-eyed susan is another drought tolerate perennial and also deer resistant.

A lovely surprise is this underused groundcover, creeping raspberry.

This full sun groundcover even turns red in the fall.

Blue Fescue (to the left) is a very small grass perfect for the petite, full sun landscapes.

Ferns are perennials which are either evergreen or deciduous. The Autumn Fern is evergreen and new growth has a copper color.

Autumn Ferns are perfect for woodland shade gardens and provide unique texture.

If you know of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, think about donating or participating in events raising money to find a cure.

Happy Planting!  www.dianadigsdirt.com

Diana Gardner-Williams

Landscape Design and Installation

Wedding Flower Bouquets & Jewelry for Bridesmaids

Did you ever think about incorporating your bridesmaid gifts into centerpiece flower bouquets? Did you ever think about incorporating jewelry into your wedding flowers? Have you ever thought about adding jewelry in vases and candle holders adding richness and sparkle to tables-capes? Have you ever thought about picking roses and other flowers for your centerpiecs right from your landscapes?

Many brides select beautiful jewelry pieces as gifts for bridesmaids. Present these beautiful gifts in a unique manner at the wedding rehearsal dinners. Select vases reflecting your wedding and pick roses and flowers from your own landscape.

If your wedding will occur in the month of May, many flower choices are available for you. Roses are in abundance and flower color is unlimited. Sabika jewelry is utilized because of the crytals and will twinkle by candlelight on tables.

Additional crystal jewelry is place directly into vases for additional sparkle.

The flowers and jewelry would compliment bridesmaid dresses of ice blue, royal blue or springtime green. Flower included in this bouquet are: white rose campion, snow in summer, lavender, dusty miller and daisy.

For a more natural or bohemian wedding, try neutrals and cremes.

Creme colored seashells and oakleaf hydrangea flowers were placed into the vase. A Sabika necklace cascades along the glass.

 

These neutral color crystals and beads would harmonize beautifully with bridesmaid dresses of creme, brown, taupe or amber.

Another affordable idea to add sparkle within the vase would be to add glass beads, broken glass or marbles.

Crystal necklaces and bracelets can be used to accompany flowers or even candle holders. A floating candle illuminates the jewelry inside and outside or the vase.

Wedding flowers and centerpieces for your wedding or rehearsal dinner do not have to break the bank. Use your landscape flowers and bridesmaid gifts to adorn your tables, while creating something completely unique for your special day. Click if you are interested.

Congradulations on your engagement and happy planting!

Diana Gardner-Williams  www.dianadigsdirt.com

Divine Weddings and Beyond™

Landscape Design and Installation

Foundation Landscaping for Small Plant Beds

If the area in front of your home is on the small side, there are solutions to these landscaping issues including espalier. We are lucky in Greensboro, NC to have such a large array of plants growing in our plant zone. Whether you live in a town home, condominium or a small lot, you too can have a lush and floriforus foundation planting. For newcomers, we are in zone 7.

Espalier is a technique where the plant is manipulated or pruned to the desired shape. Below is a loropetulum plant espaliered into a front foundation bed without support.

Pruning  just the branches that face outward will decrease the size needed for the plant. Loropetalum and others will not attach themselves to structures.

Another great espalier plant is the Leatherleaf Viburnum pictured below.

Espalier plants are very easy to care for and only need pruning during the growing season to restrain outward growth.

Camellias and Star Magnolia plants are additional plants to experiment with. Below is the magnolia growing to only 8 feet, perfect to espalier.

With the addition of potted and petite sized plants your front foundation garden can have texture, color, variety complimenting the exterior of your home. Have fun with the art of espalier.

 Happy Planting!  www.dianadigsdirt.com

Diana Gardner-Williams

Landscape Design and Installation

Mothers Day Gifts-Landscape Plants

There are so many beautiful landscape plants providing optimal blooms during the mothers day season. Why not purchase a plant she can place into her garden for years of enjoyment. Greensboro, NC has many plant options for moms.

One of my favorites is Iris. They come in an assortment of colors and are perfect cutting flowers to bring indoors for your bouquets. They will keep producing more plants to divide in order to create swaths of iris fields.

Behind this beautiful iris are Dianthus “Baths Pink” variety. Not only does it yield a wonderful display, they are highly fragrant. This plant grows in full sun, bluish evergreen foliage and looks great in the front of plant beds because of it’s petite growth habit.

One plant that desires some attention is soapwort. Yes, soapwort. The botanical name is Saponaria.

This is another low plant looking fabulous in the front of the flower bed. Soapwort loves full sun and will thrive in rock gardens. Try planting soapwort on a retaining wall to enjoy the masses of cascading flowers from afar. you might even mistake this plant as creeping phlox because of its similar form.

Another fragrant plant to give as a gift to your favorite mother is Lilac. “Miss Kim” is a variety of Lilac more compact in size than the parent plant, growing to about 6 feet.

What about Snow in Summer? This perennial has frosty foliage and white flowers through summer.

Snow in summer or the botanical name, Cerastium is beginning to bloom now and will continue into the summer.

Lastly, if your mother has a bit of shade in her landscape, try Phlox divaricata or Sweet William Phlox. Violet/blue blooms emerge from this little pretty serving as a great perennial to plant over spring bulbs.

Have fun choosing just the right landscape plant for your mother on mothers day.

Happy Planting!  www.dianadigsdirt.com

Diana Gardner-Williams

Landscape Design and Installation

Natural Science Center of Greensboro & Weddings?

Could this be true? The Natural Science Center of Greensboro, NC may be added to the venue list for wedding locations. Let the wild side come out and rent the entire center with lions, tigers and bears, oh my!!

Glenn Dobrogosz, Executive Director of the Science Center spoke at the Perfect Wedding Guide Networking luncheon today. He enlightened us on the possibilities for wedding parties to enjoy this vast facility filled with wildlife, this tickles my fancy.

 

Not only is this a new and innovative idea, it is very affordable. What a unique experience to wander the facility with a dinosaur, bear or tiger staring you right in the face as you turn the corner.

Glenn even stated the outside grounds are lit up in the evening hours with the animals left outside for viewing. What a beautiful experience, especially for those who LOVE animals, like myself.

The bride and groom along with the entire bridal party can have their pictures taken with a tiger in the background, hold a python snake or cuddle up with a turtle.

Another unique feature is the Omnisphere. This is a total immersion theater featuring a forty foot dome with 3-D effects. Glenn stated that a groom proposed to his bride in the Omnisphere. How romantic.

The bride and groom that decide to have their wedding at the Natural Science Center will most definitely have photographs that roar!

Welcome to the World of Weddings Glenn and the Natural Science Center.

Happy Planting!  www.dianadigsdirt.com

Diana Gardner-Williams

Landscape Design and Installation