Butterfly Gardens

A garden with flowers that provide easy availability to nectar, and if a transitional garden flowers May thru Oct. 

The garden will also provide water source for the butterflies to puddle in along with boulder or rock for butterflies to warm themselves on.

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Cottage Gardens

This is a term that comes from the many gardens in England that adorned the servants or serfs gardens in their cottages. 

The garden tends to be eclectic with not a mass of any one kind of flower, but rather a few of this and a few of that — from tall perennials that lean against building to border plants that adorn the path thru. Arbors are often prevalent with climbers to adorn them.

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Cutting Gardens

In planning a cut flower garden it's important to choose flowers that provide at least 3 day vase time.  A well planned cut flower garden will provide variety of color and be transitional so as to provide flowers throughout spring, summer, and fall.  

The garden should provide easy access with width not wider than 4-5ft and paths or stepping stones from which flowers can be reached.

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Herb Gardens

A garden often planted near home for harvesting. It can be planted in rows, wagon wheel fashion, blended into vegetable garden, but given thought as to style of cooking. Often fragrant with blend of smells to enjoy.

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Meadow Gardens

A garden neighboring a wooded area or water feature, i.e. an opening exposed to sunny conditions.  Thus providing setting for masses of hardy natives which provide for interesting blend of colors.

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Moonlight Gardens

A garden in part to full shade that consists of flowers that bloom white and thus reflect well with dim light down lighting along a path or just on their own from natural moonlight.

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Prairie Gardens

A prairie garden has many native grasses blended with native flowers which often is on flat grasslands.

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Rock Gardens

Containing plants that predominately adapt to hot, arid situations, the rock garden generally requires six hours or more of sunlight.

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Rose Gardens

A rose garden generally lends itself to formality with hybrid tea roses, and often adds some gypsophila (baby's breath for cutting). 

Though in past decade the Rosa has made a statement and has become a welcomed addition to gardens. The flowers are smaller, however, the shrub roses provide variety of size and extended bloom time. 

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Shade Gardens

A shade garden gets less than four hours of sun per day, and is usually in dappled light. Look for plants that are labeled shade to part-shade. Take in mind foliage color and texture rather than emphasis on the bloom.

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Wildflower Gardens

Gardens that follow a naturalistic approach which can be a sunny wildflower meadow or a bed in the woods. Wildflower beds chosen for the region tend to be quite hardy for they have already acclimated to conditions.

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Woodland Gardens

Woodland gardens are  generally part-shade to full shade with many native under story plantings. Color predominately in the spring before foliage. 

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Arbors

Freestanding arbors add to the landscape by providing entry and exit to a garden area as well as providing new spaces for plant material to grow and cascade over. The introduction of metal or wood to the landscape adds a needed contrast of texture. 

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Bed Preparation

If the plants in your garden prefer sunny and alkaline, then mix in gravel or stone. Every plant needs phosphates in order to bloom — check to see if your site provides adequate amounts or if you need to supplement as some plants are heavy feeders. 

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Berms & Islands

When well planned they provide a point of accent in the landscape with height and shape. They can often provide a visual and sound barrier from unwanted views or sounds. An island is flat, whereas a berm is built up.

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Pathways

Oh what a great pleasure they provide in a garden! They can provide variety of texture since mulch, pebbles, stone chips, flagstone, bricks, etc. are available as coverings. 
Pathways provide guidance to meander through the garden to enjoy, cut flowers, and lead on to another room in the outdoor living space.

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Pergolas

Pergolas, attached to an existing building structure, add a transition from indoors to outdoors and can also provide the illusion of an outdoor room with shade and privacy. 

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Retaining Walls

A great benefit in control of erosion, but also a wonderful way to add height to a slope or foundation planting. A well planned retaining wall provides many niches with which to plant into the wall for the overflow effect.

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Trees & Shrubs

Without trees and shrubs the garden lacks structure. They are the framework which to paint a picture on the landscape. They provide the backdrop of height and texture besides often seasonal color.

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