Pollinator Gardens Part 1: Why Help the Birds and Bees with Your Backyard Plantings?

This is a two-part blog discussing pollinator gardens. Part 1 covers why you should have a pollinator garden.

If you love flowers, then it is important to create a sustainable place for pollinating ‘friends’. Think back to your grade school days when you learned about pollinating. If it’s been a while, it might seem a little fuzzy. Don’t worry I’ll share some of the important pollinator information you’ll need when considering a pollinator garden.

Pollinator Facts

Here are some interesting and important facts on pollinators. Did you know??

·       Over 75% of all flowering plants, including those that grow fruits and vegetables, are dependent on animal pollinators.

·       While there are many factors to pollination, pollinators are one of the biggest components to pollinating flowers.

·       Honeybees are not the only pollinators. Other pollinators include, but are not limited too:

o   Butterflies

o   Hummingbirds

o   Moths

o   Beetles

o   Bats

o   Wasps

o   Flies

·       Pollinators are on the decline due to many environmental factors, such as habitat loss and pesticides.

·       Over 85% of all food-related crops need pollinators for their survival.

Benefits of Pollinator Gardens

It is important to have flowers and plants that you love. However, you can choose beautiful plants that also help increase the pollinator population.  

There are so many benefits to selecting a pollinator garden. A few are:

·       Pollination among your plants

·       Helping the environment

·       Saving pollinators

·       Creates a natural and healthy space in your backyard

If you are not a fan of buzzing around you while relaxing your morning coffee or evening glass of wine, then you can still have a pollinator garden and enjoy your backyard at the same time. Two great ways to get around that are:

1.       Screened-in Porch

2.       Placement of the Pollinator Garden

Dreaming up Your Very Own Backyard Oasis?

Ready to start creating your own pollinator garden or reimagine your backyard to include one? Call Hawkins Landscape Architecture today at 336-848-7164 to get started! At Hawkins Landscape Architecture, I always work closely with every client to create their dream backyard. Additionally, my 3D landscape design allows clients to actually see what the new space will look like on their property before construction begins.

Head over and like my Instagram page for photos and inspiration on all things outdoor living and landscaping!

Don’t miss next week’s part two blog on plants to include in your pollinator garden!

Spring Trees: Dogwoods and Beyond – Spring Plants Blog Series: Part 4 – Spring Trees

This final part in a four-part series on Spring plants. Part four covers Spring trees.

My Spring plants blog series covered Spring bulbs in part one, Spring perennials in part two, and Spring shrubs in part three. I will cover our fourth topic in today’s blog – Spring trees!

Trees provide so many amazing benefits in landscape designs. Two advantages of Spring trees are profuse blooms and a large variety of choices. The blooms on these trees add to a sense of joy with the return of Spring and adds a multitude of colors to any landscape. You can choose from a variety of Spring blooming trees. This means you can spread the bloom times out between early spring, mid spring, and late spring to enjoy color the entire season.  

Like other landscape elements it is sometimes hard to envision what a tree will look like on your property. Luckily, my 3D landscape designs allow you to see exactly how trees and other landscaping elements will look like in your yard before landscaping installation occurs!

Spring Trees

Nature provides so many wonderful trees to choose from to consider for your landscape design. I would highly recommend any of the flowering trees below for show-stopping blooms, hardiness, and attractive habit and leaves. Below are a few of my favorite Spring trees that look stunning in landscape designs. I share where each plant grows and their optimal growing conditions.

If you missed the other parts in this blog series, please check out this hardiness zone map as a reference point. The Piedmont Triad in North Carolina is in zone 7. Zones are determined by average annual extreme minimum temperature. For a more in-depth look at zones and to search your zip code, visit the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Hardiness Zones: 5-9

Optimal Growing Conditions: Partial shade to full sun. They need moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil.

Click here for more information on Dogwood.

Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Hardiness Zones: 4-9

Optimal Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade. These plants need well-drained soil.

Click here for more information on the Redbud. *Note: These blooms emerge from the stems!

Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia X soulangeana)

Hardiness Zones: 4-9

Optimal Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade. They need moist, acidic, organically rich and well-drained loamy soil.

Click here for more information on Saucer Magnolia.

Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata)

Hardiness Zones: 4-8

Optimal Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade. Moist, well-drained, slightly acid soil is best for these plants.

Click here for more information on the Star Magnolia.

Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata)

Hardiness Zones: 5-8

Optimal Growing Conditions: Full sun, partial shade, or mostly shade. These plants need well-drained, moist, acidic soil.

Click here for more information on the Flowering Cherry.

Amelanchier (Amelanchier arborea)

Hardiness Zones: 4-9

Optimal Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade. These plants prefer moist, well-drained, acidic soil.

Click here for more information on the Amelanchier.

Carolina Silverbell (Halesia carolina)

Hardiness Zones: 4-8

Optimal Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade. Medium moisture, well-drained, slightly acidic soil is best for these plants.

Click here for more information on Carolina Silverbell.

Spring Trees Provide Shade and Beauty. See How They Look in Your Yard with 3D Design!

From bulbs to trees, I hope you have enjoyed this four-part blog series on Spring plants. If you are considering adding trees or other plants, you do not have to guess what they will look like in your front or back yards. My 3D landscape design allows you to see exactly how they will look on your property, before anything is even planted. Get started today by calling me at 336-848-7164 or complete this easy contact form.

I look forward to discussing all your landscaping needs and making your outdoor oasis vision a reality! Be sure to check out my Instagram page (@3Dlandscapearchitect) for landscaping inspiration ideas and more fun facts on Spring plants!

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Hellebornes, Primroses, and Irises… Oh My! Spring Plants Blog Series: Part 2 – Spring Perennials

This is part two of four in a series on Spring plants. Part two covers Spring perennials.

No landscaping is complete without beautiful plants. Every plant brings its own unique beauty and grace to a front or back yard. Spring is the perfect time to ‘branch’ out and try new plants in your yard!

In part one of my Spring plants blog series, I discussed Spring bulbs. Today, I want to share some information about Spring perennials.

Perennials are the perfect touch of color and nature’s beauty for any landscape. If you are unsure of where to begin when it comes to plants, do not fret. I work closely with all my clients to create a design that utilizes plants that will compliment all their landscaping features. Best of all, my 3D landscape designs show you exactly how everything will look once completed.

Can you smell the flowers yet?

Spring Perennials

For those who are not savvy about all things in the gardening world, most perennials tend to grow foliage in their first year and bloom in their second year. Best of all, these plants usually live and prosper for several years.

Below is a selection of some of the perennials I often incorporate in my landscape designs. I have included information on where each grows and the optimal growing conditions for each plant.

In case you missed it in part one, I recommend you look at this hardiness zone map as a good reference point. As you will see the Piedmont Triad in North Carolina is zone 7. Zones are determined by average annual extreme minimum temperature. For a more in-depth look at zones and to search your zip code, visit the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Hellebores (Helleborus)

Hardiness Zones: 4-9

Optimal Growing Conditions: Partial shade. They need moist, but well-drained soil.

Click here for more information on Hellebores.

Bleeding Heart – Dicentra (Lamprocapnos spectabilis)

Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Optimal Growing Conditions: Partial shade. These plants need rich and moist soil.

Click here for more information on the Bleeding Heart.

Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera)

Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Optimal Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade. They need moist, but well-drained soil.

Click here for more information on Creeping Phlox.

Bergenia (Bergenia crassifolia)

Hardiness Zones: 4-10

Optimal Growing Conditions: Partial to heavy shade. Moist and rich loam or clay soil is best for these plants.

Click here for more information on the Bergenia.

Candytuft (Iberis)

Hardiness Zones: 4-8

Optimal Growing Conditions: Full to partial sun. These plants need well-drained soil.

Click here for more information on the Candytuft.

Primrose (Primula vulgaris)

Hardiness Zones: 4-8

Optimal Growing Conditions: Varied from sun to shade. These plants prefer humus-rich soil.

Click here for more information on the Primrose.

Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum)

Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Optimal Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade. Rich, moist, and well-drained soil is best for these plants.

Click here for more information on Solomon’s Seal.

Iris (Iris germanica)

Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Optimal Growing Conditions: Full sun. They need deeply cultivated, rich soil to flourish.

Click here for more information on the Iris.

Spring has Sprung! Why Wait Any Longer for Your Dream Oasis?

Are you daydreaming of beautiful plants blossoming in your yard now? Make this dream a reality by calling me today at 336-848-7164 or complete this easy contact form to get started.

At Hawkins Landscape Architecture, we are devoted to designing your dream yard and being with you every step of the way.

Do not forget to follow my Instagram page for more information about Spring plants and pictures of these glorious pieces of nature! Be on the lookout for part three of this series where we discuss Spring shrubs!

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