A forced spring

Believe it or not, it's still winter. According to most calenders spring doesn't officially start till late March.

I know, this winter has been mild for most of us, and maybe we'll have a early spring, who knows, I don't.

What I do know is that I'm ready for spring. 

A great way to get a jump start on spring, and decorate, is to use spring 

bulbs. Now is the time to plant up all those bulbs that you planted in containers and stored in your garage just for forcing. Don't worry I didn't do it either.

I just barely get my tulips planted in the fall, usually about a week before the Christmas lights go up.

Luckily, many stores have forced bulbs ready for those people like us.  All you have to do is pick up some of your favorites and replant them in a nice container, they occasionally come in plastic pots with that foil wrapping, that's why I said replant, unless you like that foil wrapping. I just think you could do something a little more creative, that's just me though

Bulbs in glass vases. It's kinda cool to see the actual bulb and the roots.

Bulbs in baskets with moss, a natural look. Make sure you line the basket with plastic, or place a water tight container inside the basket. Secure the bulbs with gravel or decorative stones

 This is cute, bulbs in tea cups. Cover the edges with moss for a natural look. The bulbs don't really need soil, just water. Make sure the bulbs just rest above the water line, other wise the  water will rot the bulbs, you don't want rotting bulbs.

There are special containers just for bulbs you can use those too. Oh yea, this is assuming you know what forcing bulb is. Simply it's fooling bulbs or plants to think it's a different season, so you can enjoy them inside.

 It's a nice way to get a jump start on the season.

Verticle Gardening

Spring is right around the corner. I can't help myself but to think about the up-coming garden season. I think I'd like to try a vertical garden this year. I have some bare wall space that could benefit with a some greenery on them.

Vertical gardens seem to be all the garden rage right now, so why not keep up with the rage. These are like living paintings mostly done with sedums and other drought tolerant plants. Given the proper location I think miniature ferns could work as well. Id love to see a combination of ferns and moss, maybe some lichen covered bark too.

 Of course I'll have to discuss this with the "bad cat" who Will probably hate the idea. He's kinda like "Mikey" he hates everything.

Would you like a formal garden

Formal Gardens are the result of our desire to tame and give order to the natural garden. The look is clean and manicured. A favorite style of French and Italian style gardens the look also works well in modern landscapes.

Repetition of shapes and a mirror beds as seen here in this walkway design add to the sense of formality and order.

This garden with it's tightly pruned trees and central lawn  becomes all most sculptural in design. Formal gardens limit the diversity of plant materials, and focus more on shape. I love this look, it's clean, notice how the trees in the foreground contrast with the ones in the background.

This formal Alley leads your eye to the back of this garden, it's like a green planted tunnel.

Boxwoods are a good choice for the formal garden, but they are not the only choice. They can be easily pruned to geometric shapes. Boxwoods are are slow growing, and evergreen which aid in that manicured look. Small leaves lend themselves to that look of order. Make sure not to over water they like it on the dry side, spider mites can be a problem too.

Straight paths with mirrored plantings, and a central focal point. Though the plantings are more natural, the sense of formality and repetition are here.

Some times the formal garden relies on structures like these two houses. Even though the plantings do not reflect each other, the centered urn at the end of the path, the geometric paving stones give the feeling of formality.

Pruned plants in pots placed along a walkway, this says formality to me. Formal garden do not have to be on a grand scale.This look would work in a small city lot don't you think?  You can even achieve these look with fewer pots, just place two matching pots by your front door,we've all seen that look before.

 Here  are some other formal gardens styles.

This is just a small glance at formal gardens, it's just one of the styles of gardens that I wanted to share with you.