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FABULOUSMAKEOVERVALLEY HOME BACKYARD

UNDERGOES AN AMAZING

TRANSFORMATION

JUST ASK

DAVENATURAL

SOLUTIONS TO COMMON PROBLEMS

PEACEFULBY DESIGN

HOSPICE GARDEN CREATED FROM

THE HEART

PREMIE

RE ISSUE

ISSUE 1 | SPRING 2011 | $4.95

CANADA’S LANDSCAPE DESIGN BUILD MAGAZINE

NLD_Cover_Final_021411:Layout 1 11-02-14 2:49 PM Page 1

NATURALLANDSCAPEMAGAZINE.COM SPRING 2011 NATURAL LANDSCAPE | 1

he beauty of landscaping enriches the

quality of your life and enhances the value

of your property. Whether you choose to

entertain, exercise or simply escape, Beaudry

will help you achieve your outdoor sanctuary.

T

DeDicateD to the pursuit of excellence s ince 1976

Landscape. Design. Build.

905.639.65024031 Fairview Street, Suite 215, Burlington, Ontario L7L 2A4www.BeaudryGroup.com

The ArT OF OuTdOOr LivinG

Beaudry_IFC_Spring2011_v1.indd 1 11-02-12 9:47 AM

Promoting excellence in Landscape Design Build

throughout Canada.

PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF

Dave Maciulis C.L.D.

EDITOR

Steve McNeill | Mc Neill Communications

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Eric Pezik | Infinite Design House Inc.

CONTRIBUTORS

Denis Flanagan

Mark Kauk

Russell Springer

STAFF WRITERS

Christine Bosanac

Lori Sweezey

Chantel Pintos

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jessica Maciulis

Roy Timm | Roy Timm Photography

ADVERTISING SALES

Jessica Buchmuller

PUBLISHED BY NATURAL LANDSCAPE INC.

PRESIDENT Dave Maciulis C.L.D.

Phone: (905) 627-1466

FAX: (905) 627-9600

Email: [email protected]: [email protected]

Natural Landscape is published two times a year (Spring and Fall). Single copy price is $4.95. Subscription rate: Canada $9.95 + HST per year.

Mail payment to: Natural Landsape Inc. 103 King Street East Dundas, ON L9H 1B9

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Printed in

the USA. Reproduction without express written

permission is prohibited. Canada Post Mail

Agreement No. 00000000

Publisher reserves the right to change its advertising rate card at any time by giving 30 days notice in advance of the closing date of the first issue to which such rates apply.

Advertiser assumes full responsibility for all advertising content (including text, representation and illustration) submitted to the Publisher and agrees to indemnify and hold the Publisher and its affiliates harmless from any claims or suits for libel,defamation, violation of rights of privacy, copyright or trademark infringement or any other claims or suits based on the advertising content. All advertisements are subject to the Publisher’s approval. The Publisher may without notice and without liability, reject any advertisement with or without cause at any time. Publisher may insert the advertisement anywhere in the publication at its discretion. Cancellations or changes will not be accepted after the closing dates. All invoices are payable on receipt of invoice nd invoiced amounts are payable in Canadian funds. Publisher is not obligated to return any advertising material. Publisher is not liable for failure to publish or circulate all or any part of any issues because of strikes, riots, civil disturbances, actions or inactions concerning governmental authorities, epidemics, war, embargoes, fire, earthquakes or acts of God or any other circumstances not within the control of the Publisher. Advertiser agrees not to make promotional reference to the publication in any way without the prior written permission of the Publisher in each instance. This Agreement is governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein.

Canadian publications agreement #40032775Published February 21, 2011

2MEET DAVE MACIULISWhat Natural Landscape

Magazine is all about

4LANDSCAPE ONTARIO

How to choose a landscape professional

6JUSTASKDAVE.CA

Got a burning question? Help is here

13PERFECT PAVER

Couples’ coaching is first step to a project

BY RUSSELL SPRINGER

15

IDEAL GARDENA well planned landscape

can increase your homes value

17FAUX GREEN

What’s the deal with syn-thetic grass? BY MARK KAUK

19RAIN DRAIN

Practical solutions to serious backyard

flooding

20PLANT PICKS

Dave shares some of his favourite selections

32URBAN MYTHS

No matter the size, every yard can be a winner

31SMALL BUT MIGHTY

Tired backyard becomes stunning

party patio

25PEACEFUL BY

DESIGNHospice garden is

created from the heart

FOLD-OUTDREAM COME TRUE

Unique 8-page fold-out with plans,

plants and more

22KINGS AND QUEENS

Majestic courtyard entrances that provide

the royal treatment

FEATURES

CONTENTS MARCH 2011 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1


17

13

15

2519

FEATURE FOLD-OUT

Hello, I’m Dave Maciulis . Im thrilled and honored that you made the choice to pick up the premier issue of Natural Landscape magazine. There are so many home and garden magazines on the market today. A quick visit to your local book store, and you will find two full magazine sections devoted to the topic.

If you were to lay all these magazines end to end, they would wrap around the equator twice! (OK…so I made that up, but there are a lot!) These national and international

publications have some amazing features, but you will notice that many may not apply to our climate zone, or our pocketbooks!

Sure, those lush tropical gardens look spectacular, but the foliage just isn’t going to work here, unless you have a massive, heated greenhouse and can bring everything indoors for the winter.

So I began to think about something that is specific to the areas in which we live. Hence, this new local publication called Natural Landscape! This magazine is a celebration of excellent landscape design and construction by certified firms right here in our own backyard.

In this and future issues, we will bring you some incredible designs. Something for everyone… for those who want to dream, as well as landscape projects that the average homeowner can afford.

I founded Natural Landscape Inc. in 1993 and my experience is based on more than 20 years of public and private practice in landscape design and construction. I also carry the professional designation of a Certified Landscape Designer with Landscape Ontario. I have always been a hands on kind of guy, so not only do I bring design creativity to the

table….. I also have abundant knowledge of construction.

After more than 20 years in this business, I saw the opportunity to bring my passion to the people on a grander scale…..Everyone should be able to enjoy their outdoor space regardless of location or income. And everybody loves to dream. My hope is that this magazine will help you to realize that dream, just as I am realizing mine, as you hold this book in your hand! Innovative, engaging, educational and informative – this is what I hope Natural Landscape will be to you.

Enjoy your yard - naturally,

Dave Maciulis

MEET DAVE MACIULIS

Dave Maciulis

2 | NATURAL LANDSCAPE SPRING 2011 NATURALLANDSCAPEMAGAZINE.COM

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standards, bylaws and leading edge technology.

When you decide to landscape your property, you are really making an investment. How can you make sure that you are selecting the right com-panies to work with you on your special project and protect your investment?

- Sta r t w ith a profess iona l landscape designer who can work with you to create your dream garden.

- Determine which specific types of work are required for your project, such as grading, stone work, carpentry, water features, etc. The company you choose should be skilled in all aspects or have access to reputable subcontractors.

- Ask about the level of training and experience key personnel have that will be working on your project; university/ college training, apprenticeship and industry certified programs are all indicators that you will be working with competent people.

- Check out the legal side of things; make sure the company has proof of Workplace Safety and Insur- ance Board (WSIB) coverage. Ask to see a Certificate of Clearance. You, as the property owner, could be responsible if there is an injury and the company you have hired does not have current coverage. Contractors should also carry

By Denis Flanagan

I have been involved in horticulture/landscaping for more than 30 years and have been asked “what should I do in the winter?” a thousand times, so here’s the answer…

Professionals in the original “green” industry spend not only the winter but a great deal of time during all the sea-sons attending conferences, research-ing new products, plants, equipment and completing courses to upgrade their skills.

A modern landscape project often involves many components, starting with a professional design which can call for not only creative plant com-binations selected from top quality nurseries but also special effect night lighting, irrigation systems to reduce maintenance, exotic plant material that may need to be overwintered inside, turf areas for children to play, intricate patterned patios and outdoor kitchens.

As you can see, this is a very diverse industry and the professionals need to keep up with the new trends systems,

liability insurance to protect t hem a nd you f rom a ny unforeseen damage to the proper t y ; check that the certificate is current and is adequate for the size of project.

- Completing a written and signed contract before the work begins is important to avoid any future misunderstandings. The contract should detail the work to be done and may include points such as permits, locates, change orders, extras and payment schedules.

- Ensure you are comfortable working with the contractor; the best way to determine this is to ask for references and follow up w ith a phone ca l l to ask questions such as: Was the work f inished on t ime? Did the contractor return phone calls? Was the qua l it y of work acceptable? And any other questions that will put your mind at ease.

Membership in a Professional Asso-ciation is a very strong indicator of a company’s commitment to profes-sionalism. An accreditation proced-ure is part of the Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association membership.

Denis Flanagan is well-known for his gardening shows on HGTV and con-

tinues to promote the joys and benefits of horticulture through the “Green for Life” program for Landscape Ontario.

www.landscapeontario.com

How to choose A

landscape ProfessionalSome key questions will ensure the job is done right

CERTIF

IED

- Determine which specific types of work are required for your project, such as grading, stone work, carpentry, water features, etc. The company you choose should be skilled in all aspects or have access

to reputable subcontractors.

- Ask about the level of training and experience key personnel have that will be working on your

A modern landscape project often


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Have you ever had a burning question during a landscape construction project, but had nowhere to turn for an answer? Want to build a pool, deck or patio? Where is it best to put that flower bed or cabana? Or worse, are you in the middle of construction and questioning the judgment of the contractor you’ve hired? There’s good news: Dave is here to help. Just Ask Dave is a reliable independent source where you can ask any landscape or outdoor construction related question and get a trusted answer from an expert every time. Whenever you have a question, submit it to Dave and he’ll get back to you with his advice on the best approach to take for your specific situation. Dave Maciulis is a certified landscape designer with over 20 years of experience as a hands-on contractor, and is currently the principal landscape designer and owner of Natural Landscape Inc. based in Dundas, Ontario. When you’re not sure what to do,

Before you start your Outdoor Project

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After my last blog, I started to think about relationships. Relationships –in the context of my work. Like what kind of cheese I will have with my wine?

The longer I sat and thought about this whole idea, halfway through the bottle, the more similarities I discovered between my marriage and the relationships I develop with my clients on a professional level.

Now, there are obvious differences, and I’m sure I need not explain those to you…..but the similarities are prob-ably what makes working with my cli-ents easy and rewarding.

So, if I treat every client relationship with the same amount of dignity and respect as I do my own personal rela-tionships… would the experience and outcome always be positive?

I’m a relationship guy. Always have been. I mean let’s face it… they are what make the world go around. At any given moment, on any given day, we are interacting with someone! Some are great experiences….some not so great! The trick is to make each encounter work for you. Learn from it. Grow from it.

We all know that relationships require work. Some of us are only discovering this after many failed partnerships. We’re a little slower than the average Joe! (no offence Joe!) Ya know what they say though… it’s not the destin-ation that matters… it’s the journey.

Now that I’ve got this whole “love relationship” stuff all worked out… (for the most part)… I can apply some of the same strategies to my client relationships.

Marriage counsellors would soooo appreciate this…

First word of advice… You have to love what you do… with a passion!!!

We all know what happens when love and passion leave a relationship!

So I look at what works for me in my partnership at home. I’ve learned to be a good listener. To “hear between the lines,” look for subtle hints or infor-mation about wants, needs, likes/dis-likes etc. I acknowledge that I’ve heard them, because EVERYBODY wants to be heard.

TRUST! I think that once the client trusts me and can appreciate that I know exactly what I’m doing… a tight partnership develops. If you keep them abreast of what is hap-pening and what is going to happen,

their anxieties melt away! Imagine if you took off for a couple days without telling your wife/husband where you were and what you were doing?!?!?!? Ohhhhh the doghouse is not the most comfortable place to sleep!

Consideration and compromise… both very tricky when there are budgets to follow and tastes to appeal to. When a client has a particular desire, it can’t always happen the way they want it to. So here is where compromise comes in handy. If your communication ability is intact….there should be a happy ending. The customer is happy, and I get to do my job within the budget, and bylaw restrictions.

I like the fact that I develop relation-ships with my clients that allow them to feel free to ask questions, give input, accept feedback and tell me when there is something that they are not pleased. But by far, the best part of my job is the part where we stand in their gorgeous outdoor living space and toast it with a glass of merlot.

So back to the original question…I would not be able to sleep at night if the outcomes and experiences I had on a daily basis were negative. Like a marriage,…I work at it! The alternative? … Keep one eye open while I sleep.

This is a sample of my blog. Some of my comments are whimsical; some are direct answers to serious land-scape problems. You can find them all online:

http://landscapedesignforum.blog-spot.com/

&& By DAVE MACIULIS

RELATIONSHIPS

REDWINEREDWINE


Tired backyard becomes a stunning party patio

small butWhen the owners of this house on Bush Street in Ancaster sat around their back deck, they began to imagine a yard packed with family and friends. They did an admirable job making the yard functional. The dining tent was attractive, but it took up most of the deck. The grass around the outer edges of the property was a hassle to mow. There just wasn’t a well-kept feel to the property.

The bottom line was they wanted to spend more time entertaining and less cutting grass, trimming and maintaining the backyard. The challenge was to create a functional and modern outdoor entertaining centre in a backyard that had minimal space.

In the end, a lot was packed into this small enclave of a yard. It’s amazing how a few key features can transform a plain area into a spectacular multifaceted yard that will be used year-round.

It just goes to show that good things do come in small packages.

THE LANDSCAPE TEAMThe yard was designed by Chantel Pintos, senior designer at Natural Landscape, and built by Greentario Landscaping. Greentario grabbed the construction award at the prestigious Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence, which are held annually to celebrate the best of the best.

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THE CHERRY CHALLENGEA mature cherry tree sat virtually in the middle of the yard. It was in the way, yet, we’re encouraged to preserve nature not rip it out.

Chantel created two designs for the client – one concept with the tree and one without. “The client knew they would gain more space, but were unsure about cutting down a tree. It was quite pretty in bloom, but didn’t appear to be in the best shape or spot and presented a real dilemma for the owners.”

The key was bringing in an arborist to assess the tree. It actually made the decision quite simple. According to

the expert, the tree was going to be a safety hazard anyway. A large branch falling on a guest could be a real party-killer. So out it came.

THE DESIGN OBJECTIVE“The existing landscaping was getting tired-looking and out dated. The couple wanted to upgrade to a more current space and introduce elements that were part of the new ‘outdoor living’ experience,” Chantel explains. “I wanted to design a space where every corner had a purpose. They were like rooms within the yard with each room playing a specific role.”

COMPUTERIZED COMFORTThe backyard makeover was a major undertaking for the owners and they needed to be confident that they were doing the right thing and making the

right decisions. Through a detailed computer-generated landscape design, they were able to visualize how their new space would be organized and greatly aided in deciding how they wanted their backyard to look.

BUILT FOR BARFLIESThe bar is a centre of activity at any party, so it had to be functional as well as stunning. “The bar was built from the same material as the water features and the outdoor fireplace, and was topped with a high-end granite slab. This brought continuity to all the elements,” Chantel says. The bar has seating for four, plenty of countertop space for mingling and room for the barbecue. It is also accessible from two sides to make for easier serving, and to maximize its space when entertaining a crowd.

“The bar was built from the same material as the water features and the outdoor fireplace and was topped with a high-end granite slab. This brought continuity to all the elements.”

DESIGNER TIPConsider how you want to use your yard – now and in the future. Your current

and future wishes will guide the design.

DESIGNER TIPBefore cutting down a tree, seek the

advice of a professional arborist.


For easy access to and from the kitchen, Chantel created a space for the barbecue close to the back door. When those two-inch thick steaks are ready, it doesn’t matter if the cook is serving inside or out, dinner is served conveniently and with ease.

COZY BY THE FIREPLACEA focal point of the yard is the fireplace. This two-storey custom-built unit stands tall in the back corner of the yard so its warming embers can be viewed from all angles. Sitting under a wooden pergola, this is like having a living room in your backyard. It can be a cozy corner for two on a cool evening or a great backdrop as guests mingle around the patio. Fully equipped with a stainless steel firebox insert, the fireplace is sure to bring warmth on a chilly night.

FEELING THE CALMThe yard was too small for a pool, unless the backyard was going to be nothing but pool. Then again, the owners weren’t interested. They wanted a roomy party area. However, water is a key element for any landscape. The sound of water is calming. There is something peaceful about lounging beside a babbling waterfall or fountain. And it provides the perfect ambience in a crowd. So a stand-alone accent water feature was designed for the back of the property, in the centre of the yard. The sound of falling water can be heard from all

corners of the property as water spills out of a stainless steel rim into a still basin.

A NEED FOR PRIVACYNot that the neighbours are nosy, but the bedroom windows of the house directly behind them looked right into their backyard. This wasn’t so much of a problem when the large cherry tree provided a natural canopy. But with that gone, privacy was in order.

An arboured lattice screen behind the water feature provides an elegant privacy fence option that does not offend the neighbours and provides a great frame for the water feature.

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It’s a snowy morning and Sam and Liz are sitting at their kitchen table gazing out over their naked backyard. Liz quietly daydreams of strolling along stone paths, past a fragrant English garden to a tanning deck where she can stretch out and read her novel under a brilliant sun. Sam is daydreaming too. You can tell by the Cheshire grin on his face. He sees a putting green, a massive outdoor kitchen and bar with all his buddies over for an afternoon in the pool.

Sound like they will need couples coaching?

At Legends Supply, we want every homeowner to realize a landscape that meets their expectations. If that means telling them the truth at the start of the job, then so be it. Often the first five minutes spent with homeowners involves couples management. Husband and wife need to be on board with the job, from start to finish. Do they trust themselves to complete the job alone, or should they choose a landscape professional that is confidently recommended by our store? In couples management at the store, the following three questions become very important...

Am I capable of doing this myself or should I hire a landscape professional?

In Sam and Liz’s case, this is obvious. They need to get on the same page – or one of them will be moving out. And it won’t be Liz.

Sam states why hire someone when he can do it himself? He gets the evil eye. “And when do you plan to start? Right after you’ve fixed the shower faucet that’s been leaking for the past two years?” They definitely need some couples management.

If they don’t have the confidence to do it themselves, we tell them they should always do the job right from the start. Using a contractor will save them money, rather than paying later to fix a mess. How do I know what products are best for my job?

Now that Liz and Sam have settled on the English garden and stone paths, they must choose a “hardscape” product that

appeals to their taste. If they lack the flair or the time to make these choices, we recommend a reputable designer. Homeowners often try to save money on the design side of a project, when it can be the most important cost of getting what you want in a project. If there is no blueprint to the job, then it is not a vision of art – it is blind construction.

There are many manufactures of man-made “hardscape” products, and many types of natural products. The key to “hardscape” is picking a product that appeals to your taste, but has lifetime warranties. The key to natural products is to know the history of how they perform in our climate, and what they look like after being weathered.

When you come to our Supply Center you just don’t see small squares of product on a stand, you actually see the products used in a house setting. With courtyard patios and a front entrance step at a house facade. You can make choices that you both can relate to.

This is what I want. How do I get it in my backyard?

Trust is the key. We refer only qualified landscape professionals and designers to ensure that your job will meet your expectations. Using companies that network in the landscape industry will guarantee homeowners get an experience they deserve.

If you are doing it yourself, choose a supply store that will spend time with you. Tell them the size of your project up front. You should get the response you want right from the start.

You deserve quality products, exceptional advice, certified staff, trusted referrals and friendly experience when choosing a landscape supply store.

It’s what we can do for Sam and Liz. With just a little investment in time, they are now excited about their new backyard – and perhaps saving their marriage.

Russell Springer is president of Legends Landscape Supply Inc.

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* Consider the view. Is there a cer-tain room from which you tend to spend more time looking out at your landscape? If so, take the time to really examine what you’re seeing. Take note – literally – of anything that catches your eye, good or bad. Follow the sight-lines, and notice where they take your eyes. This will give you a better idea of what you want to accentuate, what you want to hide and what could be adjusted through simple changes such as pruning or minor transplanting.

* Collect inspiration. Flipping through magazines is fun and prac-tical. Pull out pages that feature ideas or plants that you’d like to incorpor-ate into your landscape design. Be sure to look at smaller photos, which often have a hard time standing up to full-page images, as they can be just as rich with ideas. Creating a file of images that inspire and excite you is a good idea, and it can be a great way to con-nect with your landscape designer when you meet.

“Consult a professional landscape designer who knows the ins and outs of when, where and how to plant and how to install hard-scapes,” Owen advises. “Design-ers can help you refine your plans now so you’ll have a head start as soon as the weather breaks.”

What to do? Where to start? There are so many details involved in cre-ating the landscape of one’s dreams that it’s easy to become confused. A landscape designer, Owen says, will be experienced in taking on the unique challenges that every property poses. “In the long run, hiring a profes-sional, who will get it done right the first time, can save money. That pro-fessional will keep you from making expensive mistakes.”

Here are some tips that hopefully will inspire you to get started:

* Think curb appeal. Having a beautiful backyard retreat is often the goal of a landscaping project, but the view that guests and passersby have is just as important. A well-designed landscape can emphasize your home’s beauty and diminish any potential eyesores, making it more appealing to you, your neighbours and any poten-tial buyers. According to the Journal of Environmental Horticulture, it’s been shown that well-designed landscapes can increase home sale prices up to 10.8 percent, compared to homes with simply average landscapes.

Thinking about spring is easy in the middle of winter. Instead of just day-dreaming about spending warmer days in a beautiful garden, start plan-ning to make that dream a reality.

The chill of winter winds might have you wishing for the first buds of spring, but you don’t need to let the cold season get you down. Start planning now, says Owen Reeves, manager of Connon Nurseries in Waterdown. Leaving the work until the last minute, when plants are starting to push up through the ground, will only delay your enjoyment. So harness your excitement for spring and prepare a plan with some expert help.

A well-planned landscape can increase your home’s value

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Design, Create, Maintain, Sustain …Design, Create, Maintain, Sustain …

WaterWater


Today’s residential product is amaz-ing. The blades are tight and at the optimal length for a great looking lawn. You can even order different grass types such as Fescue or Bermuda to completely blend with your neigh-bourhood. Some product types have threads of brown to provide a very nat-ural look. Seriously, I’ve looked along a street for a client whose lawn we’ve laid and have driven right past the house. I couldn’t tell.

Our business has doubled each year as area residents discover the benefits of a synthetic lawn. It might cost four or five times more than natural turf itself, but when you fact in the return on investment it is certainly some-thing to examine.

Put aside the money or time saved for a moment. To just consider the fact that you are able to conserve energy and water is pretty remarkable. Conserv-ing water, for example, has become such a hot button topic. We might

You might be surprised to learn just how environmentally friendly artifi-cial grass can be. The bottom line is that keeping a healthy lawn costs you money and time – no matter how you look at it. For example, watering your lawn accounts for a significant por-tion of your water bill, usually more than 50 percent of your total water use is for irrigating natural lawn. Fer-tilizers feed your lawn but drain your wallet. You consume gas (and create harmful carbon emissions) or electri-city mowing the lawn once a week or more. If you farm this service out to the local lawn company, this expense is usually over $100 per month alone for six to seven months a year!

And look at all the free time you can enjoy by not having a lawn to slave over. While your next door neigh-bours are out pulling weeds, mowing the grass, baking in the hot sun, you’ll be on the back deck soaking up the rays and enjoying a glass of iced tea. Having the best lawn on the block was never this easy, and this added time to spend as you wish must be considered.

We’re not talking Astroturf here. The stuff that is used in stadiums is a short synthetic pile filled with rubber crumb that provides an economic and durable surface that can withstand the pounding taken by behemoth line-backers or soccer players. Some com-panies, however, have actually tried to lay this stuff down on residential properties. No, no, no.

still have an abundance of water around us, but we’ve faced watering restrictions during hot dry spells in the summer. Our recourse is to either violate the ban on watering at a detri-ment to our community water supply or watch our lawns turn into a sea of beige. The government is also clamp-ing down on golf courses and bot-tled water companies drawing from the underground aquifers. This is a critical issue.

So go green. You’re not alone. We are seeing artificial grass being used for roadway beautification projects, on rooftops and decks of high-rise con-dominiums, common pet areas, yards and even Disneyland of all places. You can even find more than six acres of synthetic lawn on the grounds of the world famous Wynn Las Vegas resort. Let your imagination be your guide ... sit back and enjoy that iced tea.

Mark Kauk is with SYNLawn.www.synlawn.ca

Talk about the grass being greener. Have you ever seen a lawn that looked so immaculate you would think it wasn’t real? Well, maybe that’s the case! More and more homeowners are discovering the benefits of synthetic lawns.

FAUXGREENWhy more homeowners are turning to synthetic grass

By Mark Kauk

GREEN

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The Big Rain Drain?

Surrounded by the Niagara Escarpment, with the Bruce Trail and conservation areas nearby, you’ll find the Petrisor family home. But if they want to enjoy a beautiful, natural environment they don’t have to travel any further than their own backyard. They simply open the door and step out into their own personal resort – with something for every member of the family to enjoy.

Read about the design process, the project build and see the award-winning design, along with its key elements, in this feature about a family home in our local valley. Enjoy the thoughtful design encompassing key elements the family wanted, along with others that they hadn’t realized were possible, culminating in a place that provides a tranquil setting that “feeds the soul.”

PETRISOR RESIDENCEBY Christine Bosanac • PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA MACIULIS

DREAM COME TRUEPrivate Residential Design

5,000 sq ft or more | Outdoor Living Experience!

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OFC2 | NATURAL LANDSCAPE SPRING 2011 NATURALLANDSCAPEMAGAZINE.COM

Having water in the landscape is important because it complements the natural theme that is so important to the overall Petrisor design.

They chose a 16’ x 34’ lagoon style, vinyl liner pool. Lagoon-style pools have curves that flow naturally and so this matched nicely with the grade of their land. To creatively use the space, the pool was built on a secondary level, into the existing slope of the hill.

Iron fencing encloses the pool area, adding safety and keeps it visible from all areas of the yard. Making the backyard safe for their children was a primary concern for Brad and Lisa.

The sloping area was used to its best advantage by adding a natural stone waterfall that cascades down directly into the pool, as if it were a natural body of water.

Use wood elements in your landscaping primarily for structure and to provide privacy or shade.

A wood fence was used at the Petrisor residence to complement the water and stone elements, add a feeling of seclusion and act as a visual background for the various plant materials used.

The Petrisors’ cabana is custom built and constructed from cedar wood. The inside roof is artistically constructed to reveal the detail of the truss and beams. A built-in serving bar provides a ledge to prepare and serve drinks.

The structure features an open-walled roof overhang that provides a place to add furniture and gives shade and shelter. You can make the building more home-like by adding a ceiling fan, lights, or even a television.

Lisa’s favourite chair sits under the sheltered roof overhang, where she can relax and watch the kids in the pool.

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NATURALLANDSCAPEMAGAZINE.COM SPRING 2011 NATURAL LANDSCAPE | OFC3

An outdoor fireplace can really kick up the entertainment appeal of a landscape. If you enjoy sitting in your backyard adding these to the landscape creates a wonderful conversation place.

Outdoor fireplaces can be nothing more than beautiful things to look at. With most regions now having restrictions on wood-burning fire pits in residential areas, using natural gas allows you to incorporate a CSA approved fireplace and enjoy a backyard fire in a safe way. With a simple flip of a switch you’re ready to pull up a chair and enjoy the warmth and flames.

The Petrisor family is able to extend their outdoor living well into the evening, and loves having fireside coffee and dessert – even in the fall. It’s a great time for them to share family stories and a little backyard fun can make for some great memories.

Stone serves both a structural and aesthetic purpose; especially in a multi-level backyard.

The sloping yard at the Petrisor residence provided the opportunity to create a natural stone retaining wall. The tiers that resulted enabled the creation of gardens. The elevated pool area is surrounded by pockets of beautiful plantings between the pool and stone walls.

The front drive and walkways are done in exposed aggregate concrete (natural stone embedded in concrete), with a hint of cappuccino colour added for definition. The front porch is capped with square cut flagstone. The earth tone colours of various stone elements create cohesiveness with nature and tie into the home’s colour scheme.

Brad and Lisa love how the stone varieties and shapes created the natural feel and flow they wanted to achieve overall.

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The property sits at the base of a natural woodland slope which, although beautiful, presented many design challenges. The couple had never undertaken a landscape project, other than “digging a couple of holes once and planting a few trees,” says Brad. So it was fortunate that Lisa found a voucher for a landscape design consultation at a school auction.

That lead to a consultation meeting with Dave Maciulis, a CLD Certified Landscape Designer, and started a process that resulted in an outdoor oasis that they “absolutely love and spend as much time as they possibly can in,” says Lisa. And it’s an award-winning design too!

The Petrisors immediately liked Dave’s easy going, professional manner, and the hand-drawn sketch he prepared on the spot. It showed how he would lay out the backyard and incorporate so many things while still keeping it very natural.

The main requirements for the design included: a pool with a cabana; an entertaining area; a fire pit; and areas where the children can play - including a clear section of the sloped hill for tobogganing in the winter. “Our thoughts

were just the basics, and Dave came up with all these other really cool things,” says Lisa.

Dave returned to his design studio and prepared a detailed computer-rendered drawing, which helped Brad and Lisa see the scale of things. It enabled them to see not only where various elements would be placed, but how much more room they really had to work with. The concern that the pool would leave no grass for the children to play on was alleviated when they saw the drawing.

Dave quoted the price for each design element individually, along with multiple choices where appropriate. This gave Brad and Lisa the “big picture;” the opportunity to focus on elements that were really important to them and reduce costs by removing elements or using less expensive options.

They felt no pressure. Dave simply provided a complete architectural design to scale and presented their options. It gave them the information they needed to make the right decisions for their family space.

Once the design was complete, the next

When Brad and Lisa Petrisor purchased their newly-built family home in a beautiful valley, they found a landscape that was a “blank canvas” ready for them to paint their dreams upon. That “painting” had to have their family as the focal point, including room for kids to play and adults to relax and entertain friends. It also had to encompass the natural environment that surrounded it.

CABANACabanas have practical purposes, such as providing shelter, storage, or housing pool equipment. They can also be so much more by adding a poolside bar with an area to sit and serve your guests. A covered roof extension provides a shaded area to get a break from the sun or rain.

FIRE PITAdding a fire pit to your landscape provides a secondary seating area for conversation. They can also extend your outdoor season, as they can be used year round. Natural gas fire pits are virtually maintenance free and easy to turn on and off. Check your local area regulations before investing in any fire element.

How the dream became

a realityFeature ELEMENTS

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important decision was choosing a project manager. The Petrisors knew they didn’t want to manage the build themselves and had no interest, or time, to shop around for all the contractors. The logical choice was to use their designer. “Who is going to be more vested in putting it together the right way than the person who designed it?” says Brad.

Using the designer for their project paid off, in so many ways. “He walked us through the whole thing, so we completely understood any decision we were making,” says Lisa.

“He did it all,” adds Brad. “We didn’t have to deal with any problems since he guaranteed the work.”

Landscape professionals bring highly skilled knowledge to a project. They are trained to understand the importance of slope, grading and drainage, plant choices, scale and all landscape materials.

When you’re investing in something that you’re going to live with for a long time, you want to make sure you make the right choices. Things such as stone type and placement can make the difference between a great landscape and a mediocre one. Varying the types and colours of stone will add that interesting contrast that’s found in nature.

Once the material choices were made, it was time to assemble the contractors and build the design. Scheduling the contractors can be a very time consuming process. It takes industry experience to know how to organize the proper order and to coordinate all the skilled professionals on the same job site.

Projects of this scale can take a long time to complete properly. The landscaping took about six months from start to finish. Brad and Lisa were originally going to wait to do the front landscaping, but decided they “didn’t want to go through another season of construction.” Looking at the colour-rendered design, during the process helped to remind them of what the finished product would look like. “We were excited,” Brad says about the end result.

Now that the project is complete, they couldn’t be happier with the family-friendly, outdoor living environment. The “painting” that they envisioned is realized and the focal point is clearly their family. Brad loves the calm feeling he gets after coming home from work and jumping in the pool with their children.

“It looks like a resort,” adds Lisa. “Who needs a cottage when you have a backyard like this? It is a dream come true!”

“There was no opportunity to create space for a family wanting to fully enjoy every inch of their property - not without removing that slope. Which is what we did,” Jay says. When Jay Gustin, president of Gustin Landscaping walked into the backyard of the Petrisor home, he immediately thought what a shame. Here was a beautiful home that had an unusable backyard. The property was all slope – descending from a berm behind the property and running towards the house.

DRIVE & WALKWAY

The front driveway and walkways are the first contact with your home, so having them meet in a harmonious way creates an impressive entrance. Be creative by using a variety of “hardscape” materials and colours. These can be combined to create interesting shapes and a unique appearance, resulting in great curb appeal.

Pool & Waterfall

Pools come any shape or size today. They can meet any taste, as there are no limitations to pools made with steel-wall construction and vinyl liners. Attaching a waterfall creates a complementary visual effect to a pool. The sound of falling water can block out less desirable noises and create a tranquil environment.

THE TEAMFeature ELEMENTS

Pool &

BACKYARD PLANTING LIST

PERSPECTIVE OF POOL AREA

PERSPECTIVE OF PERGOLA PERSPECTIVE OF CABANA PERSPECTIVE OF BBQ ISLAND

QTY COMMON NAME BOTANICAL NAME SIZE 10 MORNING LIGHT MAIDEN GRASS MISCANTHUS SINENSIS 'MORNING LIGHT' 2 GAL 3 HOSTA PLANTAGINEA 'GRANDIFLORA' HOSTA PLANTAGINEA 'GRANDIFLORA' 10 CM POT 5 HOSTA 'GINKO CRAIG' HOSTA 'GINKO CRAIG' 1 GAL 5 JAPANESE PAINTED FERN ATHRYIUM NIPPONICUM PICTUM 1 GAL 15 PALACE PURPLE CORAL BELLS HEUCHERA MICRANTHA ' PALACE PURPLE' 10 CM POT 10 HOSTA 'FRANCEE' HOSTA 'FRANCEE' 1 GAL 240 PACHYSANDRA PACHYSANDRA TERMINALIS PLUGS 14 OSTRICH FERN MATTEUCCIA STRUTHIOPTERIS 2 GAL 5 JAPANESE BLOOD GRASS IMPERATA CYLINDRICA 'RED BARON' 1 GAL 3 HOSTA 'BLUE WEDGEWOOD' HOSTA 'BLUE WEDGEWOOD' 1 GAL 15 HOSTA 'FRANCES WILLIAMS' HOSTA 'FRANCES WILLIAMS' 1 GAL 5 PORCUPINE GRASS MISCANTHUS SINENSIS 'STRICTUS' 2 GAL 10 PURPLE CONEFLOWER ECHINACEA PURPUREA 'MAGNUS' 1 GAL 12 IRISH MOSS SAGINA SUBULATA 10 CM POT 6 AUTUMN JOY SEDUM SEDUM X 'AUTUMN JOY' 10 CM POT 5 DWARF DAYLILY 'HAPPY RETURNS' HEMEROCALLIS 'HAPPY RETURNS' 1 GAL 5 SUNSPOT EUONYMUS EUONYMUS FORTUNEI 'SUNSPOT' 40 CM 3 GAL 5 CUTLEAF STEPHANANDRA STEPHANANDRA INCISA 'CRISPA' 50 CM 3 GAL 1 INABA SHIDARE MAPLE ACER PALMATUM 'DISSECTUM INABA SHIDARE'/ 125 CM B&B 1 LILAC 'CHARLES JOLY SYRINGA 'CHARLES JOLY' 80 CM 3 GAL 5 HUGES JUNIPER JUNIPERUS HORIZONTALIS 'HUGHES' 50 CM 3 GAL 6 COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE PICEA PUNGENS 'GLAUCA' 225 CM W.B. 3 WHITE SPRUCE PICEA GLAUCA 275 CM W.B. 5 COLORADO SPRUCE PICEA PUNGENS 225 CM W.B. 10 CALGARY CARPET JUNIPER JUNIPERUS SABINA 'CALGARY CARPET' 50 CM 3 GAL 6 FAIRVIEW YEW TAXUS X MEDIA 'FAIRVIEW' 50 CM 3 GAL 5 IVORY SILK LILAC SYRINGA RETICULATA 'IVORY SILK' 50 MM W.B. 1 KATSURA TREE CLUMP FORM CERCIDIPHYLLUM JAPONICUM 250 CM W.B 3 SHUBERT CHOKECHERRY PRUNUS VIRGINIANA 'SHUBERT' 60 MM W.B. 1 SHADEMASTER LOCUST GLEDITSIA TRIACANTHOS VAR.INERMIS 'SHADEMASTER' 60 MM W.B.

QTY COMMON NAME BOTANICAL NAME SIZE 150 PACHYSANDRA PACHYSANDRA TERMINALIS PLUGS 5 PALACE PURPLE CORAL BELLS HEUCHERA MICRANTHA ' PALACE PURPLE' 10 CM POT 5 ELIJAH BLUE FESCUE GRASS FESTUCA GLAUCA 'ELIJAH BLUE' 1 GAL 5 HOSTA 'FRANCES WILLIAMS' HOSTA 'FRANCES WILLIAMS' 1 GAL 3 HOSTA 'FIRE AND ICE' HOSTA 'FIRE AND ICE' 1 GAL 3 JAPANESE BLOOD GRASS IMPERATA CYLINDRICA 'RED BARON' 1 GAL 5 HOSTA 'PATRIOT' HOSTA 'PATRIOT' 1 GAL 12 IRISH MOSS SAGINA SUBULATA 10 CM POT 5 HOSTA PLANTAGINEA 'GRANDIFLORA' HOSTA PLANTAGINEA 'GRANDIFLORA' 10 CM POT 5 JAPANESE PAINTED FERN ATHRYIUM NIPPONICUM PICTUM 1 GAL 5 HOSTA SIEBOLDIANA 'GREAT EXPECTATIONS' HOSTA SIEBOLDIANA 'GREAT EXPECTATIONS' 1 GAL 3 CHRISTMAS FERN POLYSTICHUM ACROSTICHOIDES 1 GAL 5 HOSTA 'FRANCEE' HOSTA 'FRANCEE' 1 GAL 3 SUNSPOT EUONYMUS EUONYMUS FORTUNEI 'SUNSPOT' 40 CM 3 GAL 15 KOREAN BOXWOOD BUXUS MICROPHYLLA KOREANA 40 CM 3 GAL 1 CLIMBING HYDRANGEA HYDRANGEA PETIOLARIS 50 CM 2 GAL 1 INABA SHIDARE MAPLE ACER PALMATUM 'DISSECTUM INABA SHIDARE'/ 125 CM B&B 3 PINK BEAUTY HYDRANGEA HYDRANGEA MACROPHYLLA 'PINK BEAUTY' 2 YR 2 GAL 3 OAKLEAVED HYDRANGEA HYDRANGEA QUERCIFOLIA 3 GAL 1 JEDDELOH DWARF HEMLOCK TSUGA CANADENSIS 'JEDDELOH' 40 CM 3 GAL 5 HUGES JUNIPER JUNIPERUS HORIZONTALIS 'HUGHES' 50 CM 3 GAL 5 CALGARY CARPET JUNIPER JUNIPERUS SABINA 'CALGARY CARPET' 50 CM 3 GAL 6 FAIRVIEW YEW TAXUS X MEDIA 'FAIRVIEW' 50 CM 3 GAL 3 RIVER BIRCH CLUMP FORM BETULA NIGRA 50 MM W.B 1 BRADFORD PEAR PYRUS CALLERYANA 'BRADFORD' 40 MM W.B.

FRONT YARD PLANTING LIST

FRONT YARD NORTH SIDE YARD REAR VIEW NORTH FACING REAR VIEW WEST FACING SIDE YARD SOUTH SIDE

BEFORE PICTURES

OF SOIL TEST APPLY FERTILIZER ACCORDING TO RESULTS

NOTE: SET TREE AT GRADE ORIGINALLY GROWN IN NURSERY.

ON SLOPE TREE PLANTING

ARMOUR STONE RETAINING WALL

BACKFILLED WITH 60CM OF SELECT GRANULAR FILL

BOULDERS 60CM BY 90CM IN SIZE. ALL STONES ARE TO BE THE RETAINING WALL SHALL BE MADE OF LIMESTONE

SET ON 20CM BASE OF COMPACTED GRANULAR FILL AND

PERFORATED PIPE 100mm PLASTIC

BACK FILL (TYPE'A') COMPACTED GRANULAR

FILTER FABRIC

DESIRED SURFACE MATERIAL

EXISTING SUBGRADE

ROUNDED ARMOUR STONE (2' BY 3')

DETAILS

PERSPECTIVE OF FRONT COURT YARD

TOP DRESS AREA WITH TOPSOIL AND SOD

6" SOCKED PERFORATED PIPE

12 18" TRENCH CLEAR STONE

CONSTRUCTION DETAIL OF A SOCKED DRAIN

AGGREGATE COMPACTED 4" TO 6"

CONSTRUCTION DETAIL OF PAVED SURFACE

OR UNDISTURBED SOIL COMPACTED SUBGRADE

.5" LAYER OF SAND X X

PAVER MATERIAL

4" REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB

X

JOINTING SAND (2 3/8", 6Omm) UNILOCK PAVERS

* DO NOT SCALE *

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Remember the rhythmic sounds of rain dancing around your yard last summer? As you stood under the back porch or at your picture window thinking how magnificent your lawn and gardens will be, the rain intensified and the distant drumming sound grew louder.

Before long, the gentle rain was an intensive downpour – gardens turned to swamp, a lake began to take shape in the bottom of the yard, pools formed on your patio and the solid curtain of water knocked out your satellite signal.

Stepping back inside the house, there is a sound of running water. Perhaps you carelessly left a faucet running? No such luck. The basement is quickly becoming an indoor swimming pool.

Melting snow and rainfall shouldn’t be a problem, unless it’s a 100-year storm, or your property isn’t allowing the water to go where it should – away from the house.

Flooding, unfortunately, has become a common occurrence, especially with climate change in recent years which seems to have produced more water than Niagara Falls. And that spells trouble.

Today, we’re talking more than just soggy backyards. Under normal circumstances a wet yard should be no more than a nuisance. But the intensity of our storms can ruin gardens and patios or reduce the area available for entertaining. Solving drainage problems is not difficult if you understand the underlying cause of the problem and you are able to redirect the excess water to a lower area such as a drainage ditch, dry well or catch basin, says Gerald Marshall, president of Martek Supply, a Burlington company that supplies landscape and construction products (www.marteksupply.ca).

The more critical issue, of course, is the leaking basement. Creating a gradient away from the house is the key to resolving this serious issue, Gerald explains.

But let’s look at why so many properties are prone to flooding. When homes are built, the grading of the lot is done to allow water to flow away from the home. If the earth around the home has not been compacted sufficiently, it eventually settles and provides an invitation for water. And as yards are built up, they alter the path for water flow. Perhaps you once had a swale in the backyard, but neighbours have built up their backyards and filled in those swales, which blocks the natural flow of water away from your property.

In addition to the slope of your property changing over time, spring brings soil conditions that encourage flooding. While snow is melting and rain is falling, the ground below the immediate surface is still frozen, not giving the water an opportunity to soak into the ground.

It has to go somewhere … and that somewhere is the path of least resistance. If that path leads to your home, you have trouble.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Gerald offers some solutions. First, before considering expensive solutions such as catch basins or sump pump solutions, there are some simple alternatives that will help reduce the buildup of water around your foundation and in the yard, he says.

Rain barrels are a great environment-ally friendly solution to reducing flooding. They divert all the rain water from your roof away from your property – preventing your yard from becoming a mud pit. The collected water can later be used to water your lawn and gardens. Water conserva-tionists love these.

French drains require a bit of work to install, but they are effective at keep-ing your yard from flooding. Such a drain is composed of drainage pipe surrounded by gravel and filter fabric or a geotextile, or just gravel with filter fabric. The drain directs water to a more suitable area for drainage. A word of advice – get help from a pro-fessional. How the water is directed can lead to more problems.

Rain gardens are an easy and colour-ful option to control flooding. Built slightly below grade and designed to absorb excess water, these gardens fea-ture plants that love water and are an attractive solution to a serious problem.

When in doubt about how to solve your flooding issues, consult with an expert to ensure you are addressing the problem adequately and that you are not creating more headaches for yourself.

The Big Rain Drain?Practical solutions to serious backyard flooding

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Take a stroll down the garden path and check out some of the popular plants that can turn any landscape into a real stunner. Dave Maciulis of Natural Landscape highlights some of his favourite picks.

HOSTA ~ HOSTA SPP. Love this plant. Many varieties with so many uses. Used in groupings to create a bold look or as a single accent specimen. Not limited to just shade only, although predominately grown for shade use, there are some sun-tolerant varieties. With such a diversified range, Hostas are popular perennial plants with decorative and often colourful, variegated foliage. Hostas are extremely easy to grow, require little care and are hardy.

DAVE’S FAVOURITE

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CORAL BELLS ~ HEUCHERA SPP. When I want to create a dramatic border display I love to use these little babies. Coral bells are ideal for the eastern and western exposures of buildings and homes since they will receive a fair amount of sun but be shaded out for part of the day. The foliage colour ranges from purple, peach, green, burgundy, chartreuse, browns and rusts.

Coral bells attract hummingbirds and butterflies. With foliage almost as attractive as the flowers, coral bells will add textures in groupings; the bold colours add interest as well.


GOLDEN FOREST GRASS ~ HAKONECHLOA MACRA ‘AUREOLA’

A graceful, colourful groundcover for shady areas. Slender stems hold bright yellow-green foliage with thin green stripes having the effect of a tiny bamboo. I usually use this plant to add a dramatic contrast under red foliage trees like Japanese Maples. It’s a ray of sunshine in shaded or dark-coloured gardens. A great accent beside water gardens or at the base of arbour posts. An excellent Asian-garden plant.

DAYLILLY ~ HEMEROCALLIS SPP. Every garden, whether big or small, can include daylilies since there is such a vast selection of types, sizes and colours. With their different blooming periods and re-blooming characteristics, you can, with some planning, have blooming daylilies in your garden from spring through fall. I like to design them in a garden planted singularly as specimen plants or in masses or in mixed border arrangements. They work well to deter erosion and can help establish banks or in areas where erosion is a problem.

HEARTLEAF BERGENIA ~ BERGENIA CORDIFOLIANice dense growth and interesting leaves. A natural tolerance of wet ground therefore popular close to water features. Favoured for edging walkways, lawns and where a dense perimeter of low growing plants is desired. The large flat leaves make a great tool for contrasting against feathery or lacy foliage

in woodland and shaded borders. It has also found a home in rock gardens.

JAPANESE PAINTED FERN ~ ATHYRIUM NIPONICUM ‘PICTUM’When I design a woodland garden or Asian influence style I always have these plants in my lineup. The Japanese painted fern makes an outstanding combination plant for adding colour, texture and habit to the shade garden.

The dark, blue green central rib of each frond fades to silver at the edges. Short habit and spreading form is excellent as foreground foliage along the edges of

a shade garden.



Just as you are saying farewell to your guests, everyone is putting on their coats and walking out the door, you say: “Bill forgot you gloves…oh, and Sally, remind Jim to watch the roads tonight; it’s slippery out.”

Then, another couple pauses to thank you for that wonderful meal you and your wife had put together. Out of the corner of your eye you watch the whispers and giggles of your daugh-ter and Jim’s son sitting rather close on the stone wall that defines the main landing in front of your home. Laura and Sally are sitting on the stone bench exchanging the recipe for that broccoli salad and Bill and Jim stand patiently beside the flower-filled urns like guardsmen waiting for their Queens to finish the last goodbyes with the royal wave. You stand in the middle of your courtyard to watch the guests leave your driveway; you turn, pause to look at your home, smile and walk through the main front door and close it behind to conclude the night.

You probably don’t spend too much time in your front yard so you might be tempted to think that the landscap-ing is not as important as your back yard. But that would be a mistake.

When I meet clients for the first time to discuss their front yard ideas and listen to their wishes, I see if they are open to the idea of a courtyard setting.

“I love the concept of courtyards and if I had it my way, I would design every home with a courtyard.”

The front entrance to your home is often where a visitor to makes a first impression of your entire home. Land-scape design for your front entrance should complement the exterior fea-tures of your home through the use of flowers, shrubs and greenery leading

from the walkway to the front door.

“Every time I look at the front of a home, I look at the style of architec-ture to determine what is going to be a good fit.”

Consider your front door as the focal point for this project. You can either work with the natural symmetry of your front entry or choose an

KINGS & QUEENS

EVERY CASTLE SHOULD HAVE A COURTYARD ENTRANCE

By DAVE MACIULIS

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Beautiful spaces are just the beginning

asymmetrical landscape design. Dif-ferent balance choices still have one concept in common – your design should lead the viewer’s eye to your front door.

“It is a warm and welcoming feeling that can be created. It duals as the wel-come foyer to the home and focuses attention to the front door. It can be a meeting place to greet and wel-come your guests and it can be the last moments of conversation as an even-ing comes to an end.” If a home that seems high out if the ground has a series of landings in front, it would seem like the house was standing lower to the ground. It connects the large span of the drive-way to the front door; a place to pause and look at the welcoming bench and flower-filled urns.

Your walkway provides a natural

avenue to the front door, and so com-plementing this feature improves the entire landscape. Instead of simply creating a garden that lines the walk-way, consider creating wide gardens on each side of the walk that extend slightly down the sidewalk. Choose plantings based on height, with the tallest in the back of the garden, grad-ually lessening the plant height when moving closer to the walkway. This planting design draws the eye to the front entryway of the home.

The walkway should eventually come to a main area of the “courtyard,” typ-ically an area that is 25 percent to 30 percent the size of the front space vis-ually from the garage corner closest to the front door to the outside corner of the house. It can be outlined with a stone “kneewall,” which is a wall 24 to 36 inches high and complements the stone or finish on the house. For those who have a modest budget the neatly

trimmed line of boxwood hedge can create this look.Incorporate large boulders or rocks into your landscape to soften the look of many plants. Consider different textures of leaves to create even more interest in the entryway garden. Don’t add a wild array of flowers in this area, since that will draw the viewer’s eye to the flowers instead of the front door.

“Imagine having a morning coffee while watching the kids at play or a glass of wine after dinner with your neighbor, watching the kids expend their last ounces of energy in a final game of road hockey before they are exhausted and ready for bed.”

Not only will a beautifully designed courtyard in the front of your house give a good impression to people who are visiting, but it may also increase the appeal of your house to potential buyers if you are thinking of selling.

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The perfect garden for those seeking spirituality and solace

Peaceful by Design

The Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice is one of those special places; a place where people with life-threatening illnesses can spend their final days in peace and with dignity. The late Dr. Kemp was a family physician who campaigned tirelessly for such a facility. What he accomplished in 1997 was to create the first hospice in Hamilton.

And so it was an honour to be chosen to design a garden that would be a tranquil retreat for patients of the hospice and their families, says Chantel Pintos, an award-winning senior designer with Natural Landscape in Dundas.

In fact, it became a personal quest for Chantel. “During the time I was designing The Meditation Garden for the hospice my very close and dear Aunt Mary Anne was fighting breast cancer. My relationship with my aunt presented a very personal inspiration for me in the creation of the design.



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“My experience with her cancer and seeing firsthand her need for peace and tranquility as she fought her ill-ness brought the project full circle in a very real way for me.”

A centrepiece of the garden became the labyrinth – a circular maze in which a person is able to lapse into deep thought and contemplation or prayer; a place that removes one from the outside world and encourages them to look into themselves.

The labyrinth therefore played a key role in the creation of a garden that would be both a relaxing retreat and a place of meditation for those of the hospice community. “The circle has always been considered a symbol of a sacred place and so I incorporated a circular

design by illustrating a classical-style labyrinth,” Chantel explains. “It is accessible from the natural stone steps into the upper part of the garden and also by the ramps provided for wheelchair access. The single pathway made from crushed gravel and brick edging creates spiral lines that lead guests slowly into the centre of the circle.”

It is said that the paths of a labyrinth can help reduce anxiety by prompting one to breathe deeply and slowly while walking along the “circle of life.”

Water also plays an important role in any garden. There is something about running water that infuses peace and tranquility into our lives. Watching the flow of water, the changing patterns, listening to the soothing babble of

running water or the splash of a waterfall has a calming effect on the soul.

And so, water became another critical element in the hospice garden. How the waterfall and pond were positioned was important in that they had to be visible from the main lounge and residences to provide a constant source of peace for residents.

The pond follows an irregular free-form shape that fits naturally into the curve of the existing escarpment rock retaining wall. Large, natural, limestone rocks were positioned around the pond to form the waterfall. One of the rocks was used to form a ledge from which the water cascaded into the river rock bed of the pond below to create the tranquil sound of falling water.

THE DR . BOB KEMP HOSPICE


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In order for the waterfall and the labyrinth to work harmoniously, Chantel needed to maintain the natural surroundings of the existing site. This was achieved by preserving 90 percent of the existing native trees and under-story shrubs located on the property.

By introducing a mass of lush groundcover plantings that connect the new landscaping with the existing landscaping she was able to create a simple yet monochromatic feeling of being one with nature.

Greentario Landscaping had been selected by the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice to build the garden and they in turn approached Chantel to design it. “What is amazing about this project was that an unusable part of the property became

a powerful place in which to reflect and soothe the soul,” says Carmine Filice, a partner with Greentario.

What Chantel and Greentario created was exactly what the doctor ordered, says hospice executive director Beth Ellis.

“The outside of the hospice plays just as critical of a role as the inside of our house when creating the warm, inviting feeling we offer to our clients and their families,” Beth explains. “It is a feature of the hospice that is used and appreciated by all; our day hospice clients, residents, families and even volunteers use this space as a place to simply relax and meditate. The tranquility found here has allowed us to use the garden as a place to celebrate life and reflect.

“The way both landscaped and natural features work together to create this beautiful retreat also echoes the philosophy of hospice, which seeks to provide whole-person care to clients by meeting their spiritual, emotional and physical needs,” Beth concludes.

Sadly, Chantel’s aunt passed away, but Chantel strongly believes she has honoured her aunt’s life and memory by creating something special for people who are experiencing what her aunt went through.

“As a designer, finding the personal connection to any project not only increases the creative process, which in turn results in a better design, but gives me a sense of gratification. Designing is not just a job to me, it’s my life.”


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Scale 3 32" = 1'0"

Ex. Conc. Retaining Wall

AWARD-WINNING DESIGNER

Chantel Pintos won the Landscape Ontario Design Award for The Meditation Garden at The Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice on Hamilton’s West Mountain.

Practicing landscape design since 2001, Chantel has studied landscaping and architecture in Mexico and Europe and has worked for landscape construction companies and garden centres prior to becoming Senior Designer at Natural Landscape. Chantel heads up the design and 3-D presentation department and is truly passionate about landscaping … and it shows in her design work.

WHO WAS DR. BOB KEMP

Dr. Bob Kemp, a family physician for more than 50 years, campaigned tirelessly for first-class health care in the Hamilton and Stoney Creek regions. Dr. Bob along with a group of dedicated like-minded individuals pioneered the first Hospice for our city, which has now grown to encompass a full Centre for Hospice Palliative Care.

WHAT IT IS

The Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice is a not-for-profit organization that was incorporated in 1991 and offers an interdisciplinary team of staff and professionally trained volunteers who provide supportive services to families who are living with life-threatening illness.

GENEROUS GIFT

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Chantel PintosSenior Designer ~ Natural Landscape Inc.

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AWARD-WINNING DESIGNER

Chantel Pintos won the Landscape Ontario Design Award for The Meditation Garden at The Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice on Hamilton’s West Mountain.

Practicing landscape design since 2001, Chantel has studied landscaping and architecture in Mexico and Europe and has worked for landscape construction companies and garden centres prior to becoming Senior Designer at Natural Landscape. Chantel heads up the design and 3-D presentation department and is truly passionate about landscaping … and it shows in her design work.

WHO WAS DR. BOB KEMP

Dr. Bob Kemp, a family physician for more than 50 years, campaigned tirelessly for first-class health care in the Hamilton and Stoney Creek regions. Dr. Bob along with a group of dedicated like-minded individuals pioneered the first Hospice for our city, which

Chantel PintosSenior Designer ~ Natural Landscape Inc.


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The biggest danger is trying to cram too much into the yard.

Tip 1: Take measurements so you know exactly what you are working with.

Tip 2: Choose the largest aspect for the yard. This is going to be your dominant feature and everything else will flow from that – to scale of course. Perhaps it is a pool, a large fireplace or a pergola. The rest will fall into place.

Tip 3: Privacy is important so consider fencing or strategically planting trees.

You have room for gardens, an entertainment area and a playground for the kids.

Tip 1: Place components in areas that make sense.

Tip 2: Strategically install hardscaping to connect your “outdoor rooms.” A path or steps may lead from the pool to the fire pit, and from the fire pit to the bar.

Tip 3: Create plant themes that repeat, which will tie the yard together.

Tip 4: Large yards have more technical aspects to be considered such as drainage and grading.

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Tip 2: Spend a little more on the outdoor furniture and create an actual living space with comfort and style. Colourful cushions provide a great accent.

Tip 3: Plants in decorative pots provide colour, require little maintenance and take up little room.

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Come and see the secret gardenwe can provide the artist rendering of the garden

Southwestern Ontario’s Largest

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Yes, we absolutely have a secret at The Ideal Home and Garden Show. A big one. 2,000 square feet in fact. And your challenge is to find it.

Who would think that you could hide a full backyard inside a warehouse? And we’re not talking about just a patch of grass and a couple of Muskoka chairs. Consider this for some serious work of magic: The garden features a full-size swimming pool with waterfall. There is a Tiki bar, outdoor fireplace, barbecue and bar system.

How can all that be tucked out of sight? We’re not sure either, but we did it. We call it the Secret Garden. What else?

The collaboration of contractors and suppliers teamed together to bring you this amazing backyard getaway. Come see how the products were used and meet the vendors at the show. The Ideal Home and Garden Show, which is the premier regional spring home and garden show in Canada. It provides the most comprehensive shopping opportunity for buyers and sellers of renovating, decorating and landscaping

products and presents leading edge and never before seen features in the marketplace. The show is an anchor event in Southwestern Ontario’s largest alternative event facility, the new Careport Centre, and attracts visitors from all over Southwestern Ontario.

And if you are one of the super sleuths who can find the Secret Garden, fill out a ballot for a chance to win a landscaping package worth more than $3,000. Now wouldn’t that get your spring landscaping project jump started?

Good luck and see you there!

Pssst, we’ve got a Secret

Valuable prize if you can find the hidden garden at The Ideal Home & GARDEN Show

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was no halfway. He wanted a yard that he would not see replicated in a homes and garden magazine. He wanted something unique and amazing.

He wanted “Las Vegas” in his backyard.

Standing at his floor-to-ceiling win-dows at the rear of his Ancaster home, John proudly looks out at his yard and the excitement is apparent in his voice. It may be buried under snow right now, but he enthusiastically describes the pool with its swim-up bar, ground level hot tub, stone wall with three waterfalls and outdoor cov-ered living room.

When Hamilton fitness guru John Savidis decided to build his new back-yard, he didn’t want just anything. He wanted something spectacular.

“I never second best anything. If you are going to do something, go all the way,” he says. That’s been his lifelong motto. While there are hundreds of fitness instructors out there, John has risen to the top through determina-tion, drive and hard work. “While others are sleeping, I’m working. It’s how you get ahead and stay ahead.”

Today his Lean & Fit facility is one of the top fitness locations in Hamilton and John Savidis is a household name.

So when it came to his backyard, there

“I knew what I wanted; I just couldn’t describe what that was. I had talked to other designers and they kept asking me in detail what I was looking for, but I couldn’t describe what I was looking for. I could see it in my mind, but I didn’t know how to get that across. When I met Dave Maciulis, he immediately got it.”

To hear Dave describe the process, it seems so simple. “I looked around their home and saw how they lived, their style and tastes. They have an open home that is ideal for entertain-ing; their tastes are contemporary, minimalistic with clean lines. I took those principles and carried them through to the outside.”

As designer and project manager, Dave was brought in by Greentario Inc., and together they created a stunning oasis that John and his young family are eager to start enjoying this summer.

Watch for this amazing “Viva Las Vegas” transformation in the fall issue of Natural Landscape.

FALL I

SSU

E P

REV

IEW

Your outdoor room

Better Built by us!

Kevin Bennettowner/operator

[email protected]

VIVA LAS VEGASFITNESS GURU JOHN SAVIDIS GIVES HISBACK YARD AN OUTRAGEOUS WORKOUT

#

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With over 20 years experience building award winning homes,Landmart Homes has the variety and quality of designs to fulfill every wish.

Nothing finishes the perfect gardenlike an award winning home!

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