Posts Tagged ‘blocks’

AFRO-CONTEMPORARY GALLERY

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

 

 

The trend-setting experts at Kingfisher Landscaping were approached to provide a breath of fresh air to this existing garden, which was originally installed by our professional team.  The clients’ brief to the resourceful landscaping designer was to add a couple of new features and spice it up a bit.  They also wanted to create more privacy in certain areas of their garden. 

 

Kingfisher Landscaping incorporated clean, straight lines into the hard and soft scaping elements, and added stylish art and décor pieces to the overall garden design.  We started this project by cleaning up the areas that needed to be revamped and then proceeded to construct raised, angular planting areas.  Each of these beds differs in height, which creates interesting levels.  Combined with the various textures – interesting plant palette, pebbles, screed blocks and sleepers – our innovative designer created an aesthetically pleasing exterior work of art.

 

We cast concrete screed blocks on site, which act as stepping stones and lead the garden ambler through this fascinating outdoor gallery.  Black pebbles were strewn around the steppers, to fill the area and add contrasting texture. 

 

This fascinating garden was specifically designed to incorporate and exhibit the clients’ impressive anthology of African art.  We also added a few artistic items – dogon ladders, a dogon bench, and authentic mill stones – to complement the client’s collection.  Our in-house décor company, Badec Bros Deco, manufactured wooden feature poles, as well as, solid mild steel screens and gorgeous trellis screens, which were finished in a rust effect.  The magnificent sculptures were brought to their full glory, by placing them on mild steel Cubedec pedestals – courtesy of Badec Bros Deco – which were also finished in a rust effect, to match the organic theme of the garden.

 

                                                                                                                                                           Where the boundary walls were not sufficient in providing privacy to certain parts of the garden, we brought in customized, mild steel screens.  These screens were placed in an overlapping manner, which creates privacy and adds to the artistic theme of the garden.  The same effect was achieved by grouping together wooden feature poles in another part of the garden, which was too exposed to the clients’ liking.

 

We used a limited amount of plant species in our palette, but chose these plants for their interesting textures.  Bromeliads (aechmea fasciata), desert spoons (dasylirion wheeleri), aloes “hedgehog”, bitter aloes (aloe ferox), carex green sedges, mother-in-law’s-tongues (sansevierias laurentii), candelabrum (euphorbia ingens) were all planted strategically around the garden.  The home owners also posses a lovely collection of cycads, which were moved and re-planted in order to best exhibit their beauty.

The aloes “hedgehog” were planted in neat rows in one rectangular raised bed, which was covered with rough sand to augment the use of texture.  The spiky desert spoons and plump candelabrum were planted against the boundary walls to soften the area.  Another angular planter was planted with lush mondo grass (ophiopogon japonicus), whilst yet another elevated planter was decorated with authentic mill stones and planted with dainty daisy lawn (phyla nodiflora).

The end-result is a beautifully renovated garden, which perfectly displays the individual art pieces and complements the attractive home, which it so effortlessly envelops.

 Whether it is landscaping, installations of Koi ponds, water features, wooden decking, garden illumination, swimming pools, irrigation or the inclusion of mosaics and garden décor in the garden – Kingfisher Landscaping will always define your exterior lifestyle in a stylish fashion.  For more information, visit the company’s detailed website.

The landscaping experts at Kingfisher Landscaping design and implement exceptional and beautiful gardens in a professional manner and can provide the home owner with any exterior decorative feature.  We pride ourselves in providing our clients with excellent, efficient and comprehensive service.  We offer all the products and services associated with creating a peaceful, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living space which will complement the style of your home and in which you can relax.

Linda Poultney ®

 

 

 

CONTEMPORARY CREATIONS

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

The superlative landscaping experts from Kingfisher Landscaping created this phenomenal garden, reflecting a contemporary minimalist style. At the front door of this beautiful home, the landscapers constructed a unique water feature by placing three steel tubes into a square concrete basin. This feature was strategically built in a circle of lush, green jaburans, which create an interesting contrast against the clean look the rest of the garden displays. Three Mosaic circles placed against the wall perfectly complement the silver colour of the steel tubes, and playfully reflect the natural light. In the front garden, the experts from Badec Bros Mosaic created the phenomenal mosaic mural. The circular mirrors in this work of art reflect the circular shapes of the three mosaic features that are placed against the front door, as well as the steel tubes of the water feature. Two beautiful, well-established aloe bainesii were planted as feature plants to flank the mosaic mural. The circle of jaburans was hemmed in by a double cobble line, filled with arrabella rock, creating an interesting effect.

The Kingfisher team went on to construct a seligna wooden deck around the swimming pool, and laid down a matching footpath consisting of seligna stepping blocks leading towards the Koi pond. Four feature walls were built at the bottom of the deck and painted in a bright red to act as a distinctive water feature. Luxuriant bamboo was planted behind these walls to create a soft and contrasting backdrop. Cobbles and gabion baskets filled with arrabella rock were used to create neat borders and provide the garden with interesting lines. The experts planted plump grey rock roses next to the path leading towards the Koi pond to add some appealing texture to this exquisite garden.

The walkway, layered with seligna stepping blocks and over-shadowed by bright red steel hoops, leads one from the pool area to the Koi pond and the rest of the garden. In the background, the team constructed two more feature walls and tiled them with red mosaics. This feature mirrors the bright red walls of the water feature at the swimming pool.

In the foreground, the Kingfisher landscaping experts created a large, circular dry bed that perfectly complements the abstract theme this garden holds. Tiling the boundary wall with mirror mosaic tiles, this look fashions a strong contrast to the plump, prickly succulents such as the euphorbias, golden barrels and aloes planted in the dry bed. In the background, a triangular Koi pond was built and tiled with mirror mosaic tiles, falling in sync with the overall theme of the garden, and above the pond the team constructed an interestingly shaped wooden deck as a relaxing seating area.

Whether it is landscaping, installations of Koi ponds, water features, wooden decking, garden illumination, swimming pools, irrigation or the inclusion of mosaics in the garden – Kingfisher Landscaping will always define your exterior lifestyle in a stylish fashion.

The landscaping experts at Kingfisher Landscaping design and implement exceptional and beautiful gardens in a professional manner and can provide the home owner with any exterior decorative feature. We pride ourselves in providing our clients with excellent, efficient and comprehensive service. We offer all the products and services associated with creating a peaceful, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living space which will complement the style of your home and in which you can relax.

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFRO-CONTEMPORARY GALLERY

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

The trend-setting experts at Kingfisher Landscaping were approached to provide a breath of fresh air to this existing garden, which was originally installed by our professional team.  The clients’ brief to the resourceful landscaping designer was to add a couple of new features and spice it up a bit.  They also wanted to create more privacy in certain areas of their garden.  

Kingfisher Landscaping incorporated clean, straight lines into the hard and soft scaping elements, and added stylish art and décor pieces to the overall garden design.  We started this project by cleaning up the areas that needed to be revamped and then proceeded to construct raised, angular planting areas.  Each of these beds differs in height, which creates interesting levels.  Combined with the various textures – interesting plant palette, pebbles, screed blocks and sleepers – our innovative designer created an aesthetically pleasing exterior work of art. 

We cast concrete screed blocks on site, which act as stepping stones and lead the garden ambler through this fascinating outdoor gallery.  Black pebbles were strewn around the steppers, to fill the area and add contrasting texture.  

This fascinating garden was specifically designed to incorporate and exhibit the clients’ impressive anthology of African art.  We also added a few artistic items – dogon ladders, a dogon bench, and authentic mill stones – to complement the client’s collection.  Our in-house décor company, Badec Bros Deco, manufactured wooden feature poles, as well as, solid mild steel screens and gorgeous trellis screens, which were finished in a rust effect.  The magnificent sculptures were brought to their full glory, by placing them on mild steel Cubedec pedestals – courtesy of Badec Bros Deco – which were also finished in a rust effect, to match the organic theme of the garden. 

Where the boundary walls were not sufficient in providing privacy to certain parts of the garden, we brought in customized, mild steel screens.  These screens were placed in an overlapping manner, which creates privacy and adds to the artistic theme of the garden.  The same effect was achieved by grouping together wooden feature poles in another part of the garden, which was too exposed to the clients’ liking. 

We used a limited amount of plant species in our palette, but chose these plants for their interesting textures.  Bromeliads (aechmea fasciata), desert spoons (dasylirion wheeleri), aloes “hedgehog”, bitter aloes (aloe ferox), carex green sedges, mother-in-law’s-tongues (sansevierias laurentii), candelabrum (euphorbia ingens) were all planted strategically around the garden.  The home owners also posses a lovely collection of cycads, which were moved and re-planted in order to best exhibit their beauty. 

The aloes “hedgehog” were planted in neat rows in one rectangular raised bed, which was covered with rough sand to augment the use of texture.  The spiky desert spoons and plump candelabrum were planted against the boundary walls to soften the area.  Another angular planter was planted with lush mondo grass (ophiopogon japonicus), whilst yet another elevated planter was decorated with authentic mill stones and planted with dainty daisy lawn (phyla nodiflora).

The end-result is a beautifully renovated garden, which perfectly displays the individual art pieces and complements the attractive home, which it so effortlessly envelops.

Whether it is landscaping, installations of Koi ponds, water features, wooden decking, garden illumination, swimming pools, irrigation or the inclusion of mosaics and garden décor in the garden – Kingfisher Landscaping will always define your exterior lifestyle in a stylish fashion. 

The landscaping experts at Kingfisher Landscaping design and implement exceptional and beautiful gardens in a professional manner and can provide the home owner with any exterior decorative feature.  We pride ourselves in providing our clients with excellent, efficient and comprehensive service.  We offer all the products and services associated with creating a peaceful, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living space which will complement the style of your home and in which you can relax.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORKING FOR WATER IN YOUR OWN GARDEN

Monday, November 30th, 2009

The Working for Water programme – introduced through the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry – is a staunch fighter against alien invasive plants in South Africa.  It is estimated that around 10% of our country is covered with approximately 9000 species of alien invasive plants, which steal water, nutrients and sunlight from our native flora.

The Working for Water programme was initiated in 1995 and has since then cleared out more than a million hectares of alien invasive plants.  It works in conjunction with the Departments of Agriculture, Trade and Industry, and Environmental Affairs and Tourism, as well as, local governments and communities.  Around 20 000 people are trained and provided with jobs every year, due to the Working for Water programme.

This programme uses four methods of clearing and controlling areas which have been invaded by alien plants, namely mechanical (felling, burning and removing), chemical (environmentally safe herbicides), biological (species-specific diseases and insects), and integrated methods, which combines all of the above.

You can do your share of working for water in your own garden, by planting only indigenous gardens and by employing environmentally friendly measures in dealing with pests and diseases on your plants. 

A water wise garden consists of plants that do not require a lot of watering.  These plants are normally indigenous plants, which can survive on rainfall and do not need additional watering.  Succulents are also very water wise plants and look beautiful when planted in masses. 

Hard landscaping features, such as sculptures, trellises, wooden decking, cobble lines, stepping stones, cement screed blocks, feature walls, garden benches and other exterior décor will decorate your garden and requires no water.  Different textures will add dimension to the garden lay-out.

By reducing your lawn area, you will also save on water.  Mulching – layering bark chips, hay, pebbles or grass cuttings – will keep the soil around your plants moist for longer periods and therefore require less watering.

When you have a drip-irrigation system installed, you will also save water.  You can set your irrigation system to water the garden at certain times of the day, such as early morning, when the sun will not just evaporate all the water.

Even weeding regularly will make your garden water wise, as all these unnecessary plants also use a lot of water. 

By using organic fertilizers in your garden, you will be applying responsible measures to ensure that your plants are healthy and grow to their best potential.  You will also be contributing to the fight against soil and water table contamination. 

Organic fertilizers, for instance raise the nutrient content in your garden soil, which feeds your plants and assists the roots of your plants in getting optimal nutrition from the soil.  The three most important nutrients needed by your plants are phosphor, potassium and nitrogen.

Another advantage of using organic fertilizers is that it enhances your soil composition and improves water retention, which in turn does its part in combating drought.

By using organic pesticides in your garden, you will be applying responsible measures to ensure that garden animals, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians will not suffer poisoning. You will also not harm your pets and you will be contributing to the prevention of soil and water table contamination. 

The landscaping experts at Kingfisher Landscaping design and implement exceptional and beautiful gardens in a professional manner and can provide the home owner with any exterior decorative feature.  We pride ourselves in providing our clients with excellent, efficient and comprehensive service.  We offer all the products and services associated with creating a peaceful, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living space which will complement the style of your home and in which you can relax.