Back to School...Back to Blogging!

By now, most of you have weathered the back to school madness. And If I knew each of your addresses I would send you a bouquet of freshly sharpen pencils to combat the clothes shopping, classroom supply lists, school orientations, and first day tears…just to name a few. (yes, I stole that line from one of my favorite movies, “You’ve Got Mail”)  

I, too, have battled the storm and have sadly sent my little ones off into the realms of education. And it got me thinking, they are back to school what do I need to get back to…..

The first thing that popped into my head was my blog.

The past few months I have been caught up in the whirlwind that was/is Summer and abandoned my blog. I know…I know…shame on me! But as a fulltime working Mother, it’s been a hard task to balance work with summer activities for our girls, vacations, camps, etc. Then, before you know it, POOF!, and it’s over!  

So….let’s take a brief moment of silence for the end of summer, let our last tears fall for our children returning to school, and get back to it. Whether “it” be work, blogging, juggling errands, or anything of the like, let’s all take a deep breath and know that somewhere another Mom is doing the same. We are all in this race of life together….and life is better together!

Stay tuned to the #thelandscaperswife…we are working on a new you tube video and I have two great before and after landscape projects to walk you through. You won’t want to miss it!

#thelandscaperswife

Thou Shall Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Hydrangeas

Being the Southern girl that I am, it is probably no surprise that my most favorite plant is the <insert swoon> hydrangea. I would love to have a landscape that consisted solely of these beautiful blooms, but the resident landscaper does not share my love of these plants. Though I am often overruled when it comes to matters of landscape design at our home, make no mistake, I do make sure my opinions are heard. (Yes, I will pout and/or throw a tantrum, if need be) So, needless to say I do have a few (not nearly enough) of these southern staples in my yard.

The ones I do have are...well...terrible! They are full, green and lush, but sadly no blooms. So, when we head out for our nightly golf cart ride, I notice every single hydrangea in the neighborhood. It seems like everyone has the beautiful, confetti-like blooms, but me <insert tantrum>.  And I know this is a first world problem, but I am finding delight in photographing the ones that are blooming around me.

Here are a few good to know facts about hydrangeas. These shrubs are not very temperamental they can thrive in any soil. And what is so fabulous about these plants is how you can change the color of the blooms by changing elements in your soil. Hydrangeas do need sun, but preferably morning sun and afternoon shade.  The Oakleaf species can tolerate drought and can grow up to 6 or 8 feet tall, which makes it a good choice for a hedge. These plants are native to Georgia and can be found in the wild.

Intrigued about changing the color of your hydrangeas? I have included a link to an article from Southern Living on Redesigning Your Hydrangeas. It gives you step by step instructions on how to change the soil for a specific color to how to preserve the blooms in the winter. Don't have a green thumb, call us at (912) 267-6922, we can help you cultivate some new blooms.

ReDesign Your Hydrangeas with the Help of Southern Living

Until then, share your love of hydrangeas with me via email themillers20@hotmail.com or post pictures of your blooms on our Facebook page. I promise...I will be jealous!

#thelandscaperswife

Springtime in the South.

I truly am a Southern girl at heart because one of my most favorite parts of Spring is watching the azaleas bloom and come to life. Everywhere I look, the beautiful blooms standout out in vibrant displays that demand my attention. And I love them all…the wild ones found in random places like wooded areas or abandoned houses, the perfectly manicured ones, and the ones deemed out of control by homeowners. All are unique in their own special way. But moreover, it is amazing how these beautiful blooms harbor the most wonderful childhood memories for me. My grandparent’s home was practically encased with large azalea bushes that provided endless hide and seek spots, abundant butterflies to chase, and countless flowers to pick for my Mother.

Aside from my nostalgic preferences, azaleas happen to be one of the key essentials for a traditional southern landscape. And like all components of your landscape you want to make sure they are taken care of properly by making sure they are pruned and fertilized timely. And now just as the blooms are starting to fade and take a beating from all those April showers. Now, is the appropriate time to start scheduled maintenance on these plants. Click on the link below to watch Southern Living’s The Grumpy Gardner as he gives his seasoned advice on how to keep your azaleas looking great year round.

http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/southern-gardening-azalea-video

Until next time, take a moment to observe the beauty around you because you never know what memory will arise.

#thelandscaperswife

Spring Has Sprung!

What a perfect day to release my first blog post…spring has officially sprung! The birds are singing, flowers are blooming, yellow pixie dust (pollen) swirls through the air, and the South Georgia sand gnats are sharpening their teeth for the first bites of the season. Whether you are outdoors enjoying the sunshine or at your local pharmacy stocking up on allergy medication, you’ve got to admit that beginning of this season is like a breath of fresh air into our lives albeit with a few sneezes.

Even though we are just starting to experience the first effects of spring, our office has been transforming with new growth and a fresh look since January. After years of nagging and begging (yes, I am a wife, so, I am a champion of these behaviors), I was finally able to get Mark to agree to revamp our logo. Yes (insert victory fist pump here)! And I must say…it is fantastic! I hope you like it as much as we do!

Besides the logo, we have added several new key staff members all of whom I am very excited to introduce you to over the next several weeks. And…and we are celebrating our 20th anniversary of creating landscape excellence in Brunswick and the Golden Isles! Needless to say, there is so much going on behind the scenes at Coastal Landscape & Design, Inc. and I am very excited to share everything with you through my blog.

Until then, Happy (Ahhh-Choo) Spring!!