“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the next best time is today.” – Chinese proverb The benefits of trees are many: health, cost savings, increased property values, the well-being of mankind, to name a few. Trees are one of the first things to appear in little kids’ drawings, evoke a […]
Philosophical Notes on the Land and Landscapes
Reflecting
We all know how good being in nature can make us feel. We have known it for millennia. The sounds… the scent of the trees, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh, clean air – these things give us a sense of comfort. They ease our stress and worry, help us to relax and […]
The Healing Power of Your Own Landscape
In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks. – John Muir The landscape and gardens surrounding our homes can create a sense of wonder and be a daily celebration of nature. Our landscapes and gardens are also incredible healers for what ails us. You want to be in your landscape and […]
Landscape Trends for 2020
Some good news for the near future comes from Outdoor Craftsmen, who are keeping us abreast of landscape and gardening trends for this coming growing season. Outdoor Craftsmen is open for business and continues to spread their landscape magic throughout the properties of homeowners despite the coronavirus. For questions about the specifics of how we […]
The Beauty of Snow
About this time every year folks begin grumbling about winter and wishing for spring to arrive early. Not landscaping professionals. Snow has innumerable benefits to forest, parks, and landscapes. Big picture, snow is important for earth’s climate system. Snowcover helps regulate the temperature of the planet’s surface, and once that melts, it fills rivers, reservoirs, […]
Setting the landscape
We’ve discussed the importance of establishing the “bones of the landscape” before. Good bones in the outdoor environment are created through expert use of permanent landscape features such as boulders and rocks, pathways, fencing, water fountains/ponds/swimming pools, stairs/steps, patios, and walls. This is referred to as ‘hardscaping’ in landscape design. Outdoor Craftsmen is known for […]
