Jeff Halper's Articles in Gardening

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Pool Water Fountains If you are considering adding a custom swimming pool to your landscaping design, you might want to think about the addition of a pool water fountain We have seen pool water fountains turn an everyday swimming pool into a memorable work of art because they add movement, sound, shape and color to the landscape design Outdoor Swimming Pool Design Outdoor swimming pool design is one of the most exciting and fulfilling aspects of landscape architecture When guests come to visit, they almost always want to go to the pool Fire and Water Fountains Fire and water fountains place two opposing forces together to create startling and dramatic artistic statements in a landscape design If you were to rate the various hardscapes used by professional landscapers along a horizontal scale, fire and water fountains would be situated on the far right—where the big wow-factors live Low Voltage Landscape Lighting As low voltage landscape lighting technology has evolved over the years, it has come to enjoy a position of prominence in many aspects of outdoor lighting Its decorative enhancement of certain types of landscape forms is unsurpassed Contemporary Water Fountains In general, contemporary design means spare and simple geometries arranged in a pleasing, functional way Combining innovation and flair, these designs use dramatic shapes to create a point of view that is fluid and natural Garden Waterfall Design Garden waterfall design continues to gain increasing popularity all over the Houston Area Many of our citizens have become a bit bored with traditional swimming pool and garden designs Pool and Patio The relationship between the pool and patio begins with a relationship of duality that unfolds in multiple dimensions throughout the remainder of outdoor space A key determinant in the effectiveness of pool and patio design is the complimentary function these two structures serve as compliments to home architecture Patio Landscaping A patio is a form of architecture that creates a special area of interest Patio landscaping requires taking a number of essential considerations in mind when creating a new design Hardscape Design The term hardscape refers to landscaping structures constructed from inorganic materials that work toward sculpting the overall landscaping design These structures include many things such as driveways, patios, walls, fencing, and drainage Hardscape Design The term hardscape refers to landscaping structures constructed from inorganic materials that work toward sculpting the overall landscaping design These structures include many things such as driveways, patios, walls, fencing, and drainage Pool and Patio The relationship between the pool and patio begins with a relationship of duality that unfolds in multiple dimensions throughout the remainder of outdoor space A key determinant in the effectiveness of pool and patio design is the complimentary function these two structures serve as compliments to home architecture Contemporary Landscape Architecture Contemporary landscape architecture is characterized by a subjective determination to sculpt the landscape into spaces that reflect the human living experience It develops these spaces with respect to Nature, and in some way or another always works to create a relationship between architecture and the contemporary landscape Garden Arch A type of garden structure, a garden arch helps turn a mundane garden into a masterpiece It is one of the ways a homeowner-gardener expresses a belief that their living environment includes the sum total of their property—not just the four walls of the house Garden Design Plans Garden design plans are best developed with the help of a professional landscaping contractor with formal training in botany and landscape architecture Gardens are key components to any yard and contribute much more than color and greenery to the aesthetic of your home and your landscape Professional Landscape Service Regardless of whether it is a dramatic modern landscape design or english landscaping, a well-planned, well-maintained property says something about the owner The well thought-out landscape plan and profession landscape service conveys a message about who you are and can make the property stand out among all the others on the street Front Yard Landscaping Lots of all sizes look much better when portions of the front yard are differentiated with a number of individual landscaping design methods Entrances, transit areas, gardens, and seating areas all represent highly individualized elements that a professional landscaper will create and unify with linear progression and repeated aesthetic themes Landscaping in Houston Houston residents can expect a wide range of landscaping options when it comes to beautifying their properties Houston’s near-tropical climate provides an ideal growing environment for a plethora of seasonal and perennials that can make any yard vibrant and colorful Mediterranean Gardens The owner of Mediterranean-style home near Houston’s Memorial Park asked us to develop a garden and landscaping theme that would mirrir the architecture of his home This house was located on a very large lot of several acres and was characterized by a symmetrical, linear form that in spite of its two-story height appeared much longer than it was tall Deck Building When considering a deck building project, you are probably thinking about either a wooden deck, most often attached to a house, or the decking, usually made of some kind of masonry, around a luxury swimming pool Both types of decks add a special dimension to your landscape design, creating usable, safe spaces that are also pleasing to the eye Garden Arbors A garden arbor is a type of garden structure that invites and entices people into your home landscape design by giving vertical depth to your garden landscape As a classic element within landscape architecture, arbors provide a cozy feeling of enclosure without boxing you in Houston Garden The Houston climate makes it one of the best places to plant a garden in the United States Houston experiences a warm climate much of the year, and even though it is exceptionally hot in the summer months, the humidity latent in the atmosphere serves plant life very well Houston Landscape Architects Houston landscape architects are much more than gardeners and lawn maintenance professionals They are degreed professionals whose training includes botany, irrigation science, construction, and outdoor lighting techniques Professional Landscaper You are more likely to achieve your landscaping goals by hiring a professional landscaper—no matter if your project is a themed garden, like an English garden design or a Mediterranean landscape design, a small garden design that only encompasses landscape planting or a complex construction project A well-versed Houston professional landscaper will take into account not only your desires, but the specific challenges of this region: dense soil, weather conditions of the Gulf coast, drainage issues, and likely insect infestations and plant diseases Landscaping Design Ideas Most homeowners already have one or more Most homeowners already have one or more landscaping design ideas fixed firmly in their mind when they contact Exterior Worlds They may have seen visited our landscaping design portfolio and seen the work we have done for other homeowners in neighborhoods like West University, Bellaire, River Oaks, and Tanglewood Natural Landscaping Design If we were to have a truly native landscape in Houston Texas it would look like an abandon field of various grasses, a thicket edge of tangled vines, shrubs and underbrush or a mature grove of oaks with leaf ground cover underneath These landscapes are beautiful out in the countryside but in our suburban enclaves we seek some order and design Garden Gazebo Houston A garden gazebo is the ultimate garden structure within your landscape architecture It fits nicely into your home landscape design, whether your property is vast and varied or a small garden design Houston Paver Patio Prized for their durability, affordability and strength, patio pavers—or concrete pavers—have become increasingly popular among US Houston Texas Garden We were contacted by the owner of a Houston, Texas home who asked us to design a series of gardens and landscaping features that would compliment and expand the Mediterranean theme of his house into the surrounding landscape This house sat on a very large lot of several acres in a secluded Memorial Drive neighborhood located near the 610 Loop Houston Landscape The Houston landscape today is very different from the landscape that European settlers found when they first arrived in Texas At that time, the areas around Buffalo Bayou and its many tributaries was a dark swamp populated by cypress and magnolia trees Houston Deck Design Decks add form, texture and interest to your landscape The most common deck design attaches the deck to the house, although freestanding decks can be quite dramatic Outdoor Rooms An outdoor room uses the basic design principle of harmony It is where your interior space and the exterior can harmonize most beautifully Retaining Walls Representing both form and function, a retaining wall in your landscape garden design solves problems, adds interest and creates space A retaining wall addresses drainage issues and, with some of today’s attractive products, can serve in that function while still looking quite beautiful Xeriscaping Xeriscaping is form of landscaping intended to reduce water and fertilizer consumption Slow-growing, drought tolerant species are introduced alongside of indigenous vegetation already accustomed to the annual rainfall levels of a particular area Swimming Pool Construction Many people question why they would hire a landscape firm to handle their swimming pool construction rather than going directly to a pool contractor They assume that a pool contractor will naturally have more expertise when it comes to needed materials and design options Knot Garden Design In a knot garden, low-growth plants intertwine in intricate patterns that resemble embroidered stitch work or knots They were developed during the English Renaissance at the time of Queen Elizabeth I and William Shakespeare Green Garden Design “Green” is an interesting word these days It, of course, still means the primary color green Southern Garden Houston is a unique year round southern garden Houston is a unique style of the southern garden because of our location to the Gulf coast Our climate is a mixture of the hot humid south and the tropics of Mexico Stone Landscaping Stone is a naturally durable substance that you can use to decorate virtually any landscape It can work as a supportive element of a garden or ornamental feature, or it can work as a primary element to a special style or earthwork Residential Landscape Designs Maybe you’ve been collecting residential landscape designs for a while Perhaps you saw a Japanese garden design at a friend’s house that captured your imagination Professional Landscape Maintenance Professional landscape maintenance is the systematic growth management of the organic synergy of your property All vegetation ultimately works together to both the foundation for and keynote elements of every traditional-style landscape Landscape Garden Design If you’re thinking about some new ideas for your landscape garden design, Exterior Worlds has plenty of good ones to get you started Just dive in and start planning French Garden Design French garden gardens use the same of geometry and symmetry that André Le Nôtre established in the 17th Century The Lodge at Versailles had originally been a quite retreat used for royal hunts, but Le Nôtre turned it into a palace that became the envy of the European Elite Urban Landscaping The overall objective of any landscape design, including urban landscaping, is to create a space that breathes with the home and has a relationship to its surroundings It should reflect your visual desires and function together in every aspect Ranch Landscaping The Ranch landscape appeals to our senses of rural beauty, nature and living in a slower time Ranch properties usually have vast acreage, old buildings that might have been built at different times and land uses that have changed considerably over time Professional Landscaping One of the main reasons people should go with a professional landscaping company is the scope of service that an established and reputable firm is able to provide People do not always realize in advance just how many details will be needed to fulfill their expectations Parterre Garden Design A parterre garden is a type of formal garden created by 16th Century French nursery designer Claude Mollet Mollet based his design on the square boundaries and elaborate interior patterns of English knot gardens Natural Lagoon Swimming Pool Six years ago, Exterior Worlds was contacted by a couple by the names of Rick and Susan Ashcroft They asked if we could do something about the lagoon-style swimming pool that had been built behind their house in the late1940s Houston Concrete Patios Concrete has been given new life in the last 10-15 years It has become a viable aesthetic, especially in contemporary and urban designs Houston Tropical Landscaping The fascination with tropical landscaping makes sense in Houston because of its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, cultural influences of the tropics, subtropics of Spain and Latin America which provide plenty of local inspiration for creating the tropical landscape design Houston’s architectural styles now popular including New Orleans plantation, Spanish, and Mediterranean all lend themselves well to tropical landscaping Running Bond Brick Walkway Built in Tanglewood Front Yard Landscaping Project- We were contacted by a Tanglewood resident who was unhappy with the appearance of her front yard The existing drive was nothing more than a massive concrete slab that left little room for any vegetation other than small patches of San Augustine grass and a magnolia tree that was very close to cracking the back wall next to the house Outdoor Design Projects Outdoor design is a highly specialized form of residential landscaping While paying close attention to standard landscaping elements such as fountains, gardens, and ornamentation, outdoor design creates a much more sophisticated aesthetic that actually extends residential living space from the house into the surrounding greenery Zen Garden Design Zen gardens are very unique landscaping designs that are also known as “Japanese Rock Gardens” Flagstone Patio The patio is a nearly always present feature of the Houston home By enlarging your living space, patios make the house feel bigger and unite the interior and exterior spaces River Oaks Stepping Stone Patio We were contacted by a family in River Oaks who requested that we completely remodel their pool and the yard that surrounded it They wanted to get rid of the pool’s “L-Shape” construction and have it redesigned with a curved, linear structure and rounded ends Garden Water Fountain Last summer, a Houston couple by the name of Turner called us and asked us if we could design a landscape out of natural materials that would also reflect their passion for collecting abstract and contemporary art They wanted a garden water fountain and colorful vegetation that also combined certain aspects of the irregular geometry that characterizes abstract art Outdoor Fireplaces Project in Houston Texas A couple named Rick and Susan Ashcroft contacted Exterior Worlds back in the spring of 2000 They told us that they had always wanted a fireplace, but knew the winters in Houston were too mild to justify having one installed indoors River Oaks Italian Garden Design A well-known resident of River Oaks contacted us and asked us if we could harmoniously blend the organic and inorganic components of her landscape into a design that would complement the classical architecture of her house and exterior masonry We immediately noticed that the symmetry of her three-story house, and the fine linear designs of the yard and surrounding stonework, were also two very key elements used in Italian gardening River Oaks Corner Fountain One of our more reputable achievements in recent years was a project in River Oaks that involved replacing a fountain that stood in the corner of the large brick wall While only one of many elements that we added, this new corner fountain played a significant role in transforming the entire landscape French Morning Garden Landscaping Project Ten years ago, a Memorial-area couple by the names of John and Jennifer Randall contacted us They had just bought a beautiful lot located off of Piney Point drive Environmentally Tree Friendly Stone Work in River Oaks Landscape Whenever we are working on a property distinguished by large, stately trees, we have to sometimes use very innovative landscaping strategies to protect tree roots Structures built too closely to the trunks of trees require a certain amount of digging to be secured to the earth, and the sheer force of gravity will settle any structure of significant weight even further into the ground Pool Design and Grass Patio in River Oaks A very private River Oaks couple who loved the simple life purchased a lot and decided to construct a house that reflected their ideals They wanted the home to be surrounded by as much greenery as possible, with the lawn itself forming a sort of grass courtyard on both sides of the house A Wood Deck For Your Home There’s just something about wood By its very nature, it has a friendliness and hospitality about it, which surely goes back to it being one of our first building materials in the earliest days of human development Memorial Flagstone & Pool Renovation Project A couple in West Houston by the name of Murphy commissioned us to renovate their pool and build a flagstone patio around it They wanted new landscape pathways installed that led up to and away from the pool, and they also wanted something added that would allow them to enjoy their back yard throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions Contemporary Landscape Design on a 1960s Houston Home We were contacted by a family that had just moved into a home built in the 1960s The house had that classic “space age” look that was popular in the years that America ran the Space Race with the Soviets French Landscape Design In 2003, we received a call from John and Jennifer Randall of West Houston They had decided to build a French-style home just off of Piney Point near Memorial Drive Modern Landscaping Design A Memorial-area art collector residing in a chic modern home wanted his house to be more visible from the street His yard was full of trees, and he asked us to consider removing them and developing a more modern landscape design that would fully complement the exterior of his home Garden Structures Garden structures represent classic focal points within a landscape Ranging from a simple antique column to an elaborate garden gazebo complete with spa and outdoor fireplaces, garden structures create visual interest and a point around which your landscape can develop How a Contemporary Garden Was Designed Around a Central Koi Pond and Lite Fountain A River Oaks couple contracted Exterior Worlds to design a contemporary garden behind the gym in their two-story home The original garden was very traditional in both style and function, and was used exclusively as an area to plant foliage and various species of flowers Italian Garden Design A client in the Heights contracted Exterior Worlds to create an Italian garden with a number of complimentary, classical elements to the front and rear of their home Their house had a classic Old World appearance to it How an Iron Arbor and Gate Added an Old World Element to a New Swimming Pool and Patio Area At face value, many might assume that an iron arbor would clash with vegetation and other natural features In fact, the opposite can often be true Contemporary Landscape Designs Create Movement and Form That Compliment Architecture, Sculpture, And Art on Display A local Houston art collector hired us to create a low maintenance, sophisticated, contemporary landscape design She wanted her property to compliment her eclectic taste in architecture, outdoor sculpture, and modern art River Oaks Landscaping Arbor In the recent past we undertook a very complex and multi-dimensional landscaping project in River Oaks that involved the replacement of an old outdoor kitchen with a new landscaping arbor This new structure was very technically and aesthetically unique in several different ways West Houston Memorial Area Outdoor Room and Swimming Pool We were contacted by a family named Pesek who lived near Memorial Drive on the West side of Houston They lived in a stately home built in the late 1950’s Unique Landscape Design What is a unique landscape Our definition of a unique landscape would be a landscape that elicits a mental/emotional response that normally would be observed with no notice River Oaks Landscaping Services When River Oaks comes to mind, you think—upscale, discriminating, high quality, impeccable taste, attention to detail These qualities are also applicable to the River Oaks landscaping services supplied by Exterior Worlds River Oaks Pool Remodeling We recently completed a major landscaping project in River Oaks which involved a significant amount of pool remodeling Originally, the swimming pool had been constructed as a simple rectangle set into the patio behind the home Landscape Plans Landscaping is more complex than it appears, and requires foresight and strategy to be correctly executed Attempting to coordinate the many elements of landscaping without a professional landscape contractor and a landscape plan can result in delays in services and very costly mistakes that fail to meet expectations Commercial Landscaping Commercial landscaping is an integral part of a commercial property It makes the initial impression on prospective tenants—and you know what they say about first impressions and the number of chances you get Houston Landscape Designers, Landscape Architects, Landscape Plans Houston Texas is one of the most difficult and challenging climates to design and build landscape gardens in the country We have heavily compacted soils that when inundated with torrential rains suffocate plants and low lying flood areas that if not installed with a proper drainage system could flood a house Lawn Service Design and installation are the first steps in your landscape design Then comes the week-in, week-out care and consideration of the landscape Houston Storm Drainage Storm Drainage We are barely into the 21st century and already the Houston area has dealt with Tropical Storm Allison and Hurricane Ike—not to mention other countless, nameless storms This reality means that a Houston landscape design pretty much demands a well-thought-out storm drainage system Memorial Landscaping Services In large city like Houston it can be challenging to find landscape companies that deliver all-inclusive landscape solutions Since 1987 we have been serving the Memorial Villages, installing landscape projects and providing landscape maintenance in Bunker Hill Village, Hedwig Village, Piney Point Village, Hunters Creek Village were discriminating clients have impeccable taste Houston Patio Design, Harscape Design, Harscape Contractors A patio is a transition space between the house and the yard Depending on your preference, your patio design can run the gamut from an elegant open-air greenhouse to an outdoor living room Landscape Design For Difficult Spaces Many clients find themselves in a difficult position trying to integrate a remodeled home with new elevations, entrances and windows that no longer have a good relationship with the existing landscape design A new home on a cleared lot that has no landscape design can be even more overwhelming with endless possibilities and viewpoints from which to consider a new garden, pool, arbors, pathways and landscaping Landcsape Design and Entertainment in Houston Texa Hou What is designing for entertainment It is creating ambiance and a wonderful mood Landscape Design After a Hurricane in Houston Texas Hou When a Hurricane like Ike blows through your neighborhood and 100 mile an hour winds destroy your prized trees, maybe you loose several tall pines or have a prized oak that gets uplifted The loss of large trees, storm debris and the damage they do are horrific but as the sky clears there are possibilities to make the new landscape design better than before Houston Annual Flowers, Seasonal Flowers, Annual Color Annual flowers bring beauty and mark the change of seasons in both the residential and commercial landscape Annual flowers bring to life the front entry of a home, create light and excitement to shrub boarders or can accent a water feature or restful area in the yard Houston Landscaping In metropolitan cities like Houston it can be challenging to find landscape companies that deliver comprehensive landscape solutions We have been serving the greater Houston area for over 2O years installing landscape projects and providing landscape maintenance in River Oaks, Bellaire, West University and all the Memorial Villages were discriminating clients have impeccable taste Landscape Business Houston These companies offer a full range of landscape services including consultation, design, installation and maintenance A landscape business will usually specialize in one or more areas and subcontract related installation elements such as outdoor kitchens, swimming pools, water fountains, outdoor fireplaces, and landscape lighting Solving Residential Drainage Problems and Installing Residential Landscape Drainage Systems Throughout the Houston Texas Area According to the US Tree Preservation, Tree Protection, Root Protectiong, Residential in Houston Texas Humans have an innate love for trees We love them for their beauty Houston Swimming Pool Builders and Landscape Pool Designer For Residential Homes in Houston Texas Swimming pools complete and enhance a great landscape design Within a landscape design plan, the biggest, and often the most impressive, hardscape is a luxury swimming pool Equal parts lifestyle, enjoyment and elegance, a luxury swimming pool is the choice of a homeowner whose goal is to maximize leisure time and to create a backyard retreat or family center Houston Pool Design, Spa Design Water Features, And Water Fountains, Pool Builders When it comes to your swimming pool design, varied geometries, materials and plantings can be used to create the style that suits you—from the most dramatic play of water to the most fun playing in the water Usually designed by a landscape architect who manages the construction and oversees all the details and nuances, swimming pools come in all shapes and sizes Houston Landscape Pathways, Pathway Design Pathways are both object and metaphor within a landscape design Functionally, they are the way in—into the landscape, the house, the property Landscape Lighting and Residential Design in Houston Texas Let There Be Light The basics of landscape lighting Landscape lighting is all about the artistry of light Whether subtle or dramatic, it creates a different kind of beauty, one built on the way light and shadow play together Hardscape Installation, Patio Design, Pool Decking, Retaining Walls, Fireplaces in Houston Texas Hardscapes—the non-plant material of your landscape design—play a critical part of any garden landscape project When combined with green, growing plants, they create an outdoor living environment that invites you, your family and friends to come in, to sit and enjoy, to meander and explore Houston Landscaping and Design Just as the right frame showcases your favorite work of art, a well-designed landscape shows off your house to its best effect The green, growing garden surrounding your home—sets the tone, creates an ambiance, invokes certain emotions Landscape Contractors, General Contractors and Landscape Installers in Houston Texas It’s a common dilemma: you have an outdoor project and you don’t know whether to use landscape contractors or to do it yourself Are landscape contractors worth the expense Irrigation Systems, High Quaility, High-end, And Well Designed Sprinkler Systems in Houston Texas Water, Water Everywhere Irrigation systems turn a chore into a breeze Imagine this scene: it’s August, in Houston Temperatures have been hovering around 100 degrees for days and there is no forecast of rain Outdoor Water Fountains, Garden Fountains and Water Features The Murmur of Water Outdoor water fountains can transform you and your environment The mesmerizing sound The transparent movement
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