Bringin’ it Home – An Indoor Gardener’s Guide to Winter

If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!Winter is officially here. Snows and cold temperatures have killed off my annuals and tropicals, and the rest of my plants are asleep until spring. But horticulture lives on in my home. Choice container plants have been [...]

Wait! It’s Too Hot To Plant!

Can you tell which of these gardens were planted in summer? It’s hard to tell, isn’t it? Actually, each one was planted in a different season, including winter. Summer planted gardens are as lush and healthy as any other season’s gardens. The key to successful gardening is working with the season [...]

Denver Landscape Services

Thunderbird Design is a full service landscape company.
A good landscape starts with a good design. Our team creates custom drawings that reflect your personal style and landscaping goals.
Our design staff is experienced with many styles of gardens, including formal, xeric, Asian, European, etc. We are comfortable working on renovations or starting [...]

The Poetry of the Garden

Spring has run its course, and Summer approaches. Our gardens are alive again, constantly reminding us of nature’s mystery and magic. Colors abound, and the heady fragrances of our favorite plants hover in the air. It’s easy to see how gardens have inspired countless generations of artists and poets, scientists and teachers. [...]

Washington Park Landscaping – Denver, Colorado

September 26th, 2011 No Comments

Thunderbird Design is proud to offer award-winning landscaping services in the Washington Park community in Denver, Colorado. In addition to landscaping projects in Wash Park, Thunderbird Design is involved with landscaping projects as diverse as the interiorscapes of Cherry Creek Mall (which won a national design award), themed gardens at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center at Fitzsimons Hospital (which has also won local awards), a mixed use development in Highland Gardens, a high altitude alpine garden at a Buddhist retreat called Shambhala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, CO, and a very unique park for the City of Denver called Centennial Park, next to Elitch Gardens in downtown Denver.

Contact Thunderbird Design for Washington Park landscaping services at 720-748-2163.

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Garden Survival

May 10th, 2011 No Comments

Spring is in full swing, and our gardens have come back to life.  After experiencing our driest winter since records began, many Denver metro gardens have taken a beating.  Roses in particular have died back very hard, and many have died completely.  Groundcovers have also been negatively affected.

So how do we recover as we head into what may be another hot, dry summer?  Here are some ideas for enlivening our gardens, giving them the extra strength they need to bounce back this year.

Step One:  Water, water, water.  Most soils along the front range of Colorado are parched.  Evaporation from wind and warmer winter temperatures may have removed water from the root zones of many of your favorite plants.  Give yourself a gold star if you knew to winter water.  If not, well, there’s no better time than the present.  Your sprinkler systems should be turned on by now.  Even parched gardens don’t need more than three days a week of watering, for 10-15 minutes each time.

Step Two:  Compost, compost, compost.  Adding organic matter to your garden increases the water holding capacity of the soil, providing a critical advantage to your plants during summer’s heat.  Compost can be tilled in as deep as you’d like, but working it into the first 6″ is essential for vegetable gardens.  Compost can be layered on top of existing flower gardens, allowing it to be mixed in to deeper layers when new plants are added.

Step Three:  Weed, weed, weed.  If your dry garden is full of stressed plants, that’s a big green light to native and invasive weeds.  They are much more aggressive than cultivated perennials and shrubs, and will quickly overtake struggling plants.  Many sprout in cool temperatures when your favorite garden perennial is struggling to wake up for the year.

These three simple tasks will give your flower and vegetable gardens much more than a fighting chance this year.  We welcome any garden questions you may have, and look forward to helping make your gardening dreams come true.

Happy Gardening!

Bringin’ it Home – An Indoor Gardener’s Guide to Winter

January 12th, 2010 6 Comments

Winter is officially here. Snows and cold temperatures have killed off my annuals and tropicals, and the rest of my plants are asleep until spring. But horticulture lives on in my home. Choice container plants have been brought indoors to live next to my existing houseplants until it’s time for them to go back outside next year. They live side by side with my oddball collection of orchids, palm trees, bamboo and overgrown Rosemary.

Many of us have pets because of their personalities, but I think it might also have something to do with being connected to the natural world. Pets don’t follow the rules of the modern world, and we like that. It’s the same with houseplants. Their wild, sprawling limbs are sometimes pruned, but overall they have their own way of doing things. We’re excited (and surprised) when they bloom. The small canopies of palm trees are relaxing to our eyes, and this time of year help remind of us greener days to come.

Green is good, but green with flowers is great. Below are some commonly available houseplants that will bloom for you this winter. All they require is ‘adequate watering’ and ‘adequate sunlight’. Easier said than done? Maybe, but I’ve included tips along with each type of plant to help you along.

African Violets bloom throughout the year and are a great harbinger of Spring. Their small violet flowers will cheer up sunny shelves. Avoid excess water on their leaves, as they will rot. Weekly watering is best.

African Violets

Begonias also bloom all year, but have the added perk of thriving in low light conditions. They come in a range of peaches, pinks, whites and oranges. Weekly watering helps flowers bloom longer, as does once per month fertilizing.

If you’re in the mood for something a bit larger, try White-flowering Jasmine. It smells heavenly; not as strong as Paperwhites but as sweet as Honeysuckle. The ’standard’ form (think of it as a lollipop tree) is my favorite. When first brought into your house they may freak out and drop their leaves due to your home’s low humidity. Within a few weeks it should be back to normal. These plants will bloom once every three months. Mmmm!

Jasmine

Succulents, which include all cactus varieties, are hard-to-kill houseplants that need little attention, or water. All they require is sunlight. Many South African varieties bloom during winter (the southern hemisphere’s summer), including Echeverias, Haworthias and Kalanchoes. During winter, most succulents thrive being watered once each month. City Floral has a great selection and helpful staff.

Echeveria

Good luck, and happy gardening! Feel free to call us at 720-748-2163 for Denver landscape services and questions about your custom garden.

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Wait! It’s Too Hot To Plant!

August 25th, 2009 No Comments

Can you tell which of these gardens were planted in summer? It’s hard to tell, isn’t it? Actually, each one was planted in a different season, including winter. Summer planted gardens are as lush and healthy as any other season’s gardens. The key to successful gardening is working with the season you’re in.

Myth: My garden will dry up if I plant in the summer.

Reality: Let’s get something out of the way. . . Gardens need water. Not matter what season it is, gardens need water. Even drought-tolerant plants need water at first. Plants are grown in a standard potting mix that needs lots of water. It takes a few years for plants’ roots to grow out of this potting soil. Water is essential for new gardens.

Myth: All the good plants are gone after spring…

Reality: Nurseries receive plant shipments all year. Summer can be a surprisingly better time to buy plants. Leftover plants from prior years are sold first during springtime, and then new plants are added as needed. By summertime you’re more likely to get newer plant stock.

Myth: Trees are under too much stress to plant during the summer.

Reality: Any living thing needs proper care in order to survive. Plants are no different. A tree that’s left out in the sun will become stressed and die, just like a human or animal would. Trees need a lot of water when they’re first planted in order to help them overcome the shock of being planted. This is true whether it’s planted in spring, summer or fall. One way to achieve this is to plant the tree, fill the hole half full with soil, and then fill the rest of the space with water. Let it drain through, then repeat two more times. Once the final application of water has drained, fill the rest of the hole with soil to finish planting your new tree.

So what are some things to keep in mind with summer gardens?

  1. Effective irrigation systems will help ensure your new garden thrives, no matter time of year it’s planted. Three days of watering per week is typical of most gardens.
  2. Walk through your yard every day. It sounds like a simple request, but many people go from their car to their house in the blink of an eye, only spending time outside on the weekends. New gardens are quirky; a simple daily walkthrough will help nip problems in the bud.
  3. Hot days are a normal part of Colorado living. New plants may wilt during hot days, but with adequate water they’ll be fine. New plants’ root systems take a few weeks to recover from the shock of planting, and during this time they may wilt during hot days as a survival tactic. Mild wilting during the heat of the day is no cause for alarm. Severe wilting, where the leaves turn grey or brown, is not healthy and indicates a lack of adequate water.

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Denver Landscape Services

July 5th, 2009 3 Comments

Thunderbird Design is a full service landscape company.

A good landscape starts with a good design. Our team creates custom drawings that reflect your personal style and landscaping goals.

Our design staff is experienced with many styles of gardens, including formal, xeric, Asian, European, etc. We are comfortable working on renovations or starting from scratch. Some of the services we offer include gardens, irrigation systems, water features, sod, lighting, patios, walls and outdoor living areas.

We begin with a free introductory meeting with you to learn about your likes and dislikes, goals and expectations. Then we create designs that reflect your needs for an agreed upon design fee. Follow up meetings help finalize the design and prepare accurate estimates.

When the job is sold, your project will be scheduled for installation. In the spring, we may be booked out more than two months, during summer we can be 4-6 weeks out, and fall and winter are around 2-3 weeks out. Also, depending on the size of your project, the design process may take anywhere from three days to six weeks.

Exterior landscaping is similar to interior home improvements. It takes time to prepare an effective design and an accurate estimate. For best results, set up a design meeting as soon as you are interested in having work done on your home, even if you aren’t yet ready to start breaking ground. We can always schedule your project for an upcoming season or year.

Backyard Patio Garden

Once a project is sold, it’s time to begin the transformation! Before construction begins a scope of work contract must be signed, along with a 50% down payment. During the installation, we are happy to work with you on making any necessary adjustments to ensure your complete satisfaction. Major changes require signed change orders. This helps both parties understand exactly what changes are being made. Once the project is complete, the remaining balance is due.

The order of installation is very straightforward. All demolition, grading, material sourcing, etc., is done first. All hardscape work is done second, such as the installation of edging, paths, walls, irrigation, wiring & other structural items. All planting and mulching is done third. Finally, sod is installed, a systems check is performed with you regarding your irrigation and lighting systems, plant identification and care, etc., and a detailed cleanup is completed.

Moving forward, our designers are always available to answer questions you may have in the future about your project. And, to keep things healthy and strong, we are available to help you with ongoing maintenance.

Custom Outdoor Fireplace

Many people don’t know how to care for their new gardens. Knowing how to take care of plants, irrigation systems, and other aspects of your new yard can be overwhelming. To help customers get the most satisfaction from their landscaping, we offer a regular maintenance service. This includes fertilization, pruning, weeding, spot watering, irrigation turn-ons and blowouts, etc…

The frequency of service is up to you. If you would like to use our maintenance staff as a way to educate yourself about your landscape, they are happy to teach what they know. They will work with you side by side in your garden.

The frequency of service depends in part on the size of the project, your budget and other factors. Generally speaking, twice a month is sufficient for small yards, while weekly is best for large yards/estates.
Our maintenance staff is trained in the design and care of spring & fall annual and container displays, designing with bulbs and winter holiday lighting. Call our office for more details.

Hardscape

We offer maintenance contracts as well as time-and-material based monthly services. Visit our main web site for landscaping services in Denver. Contact us at 720-748-2163 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              720-748-2163      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or email Chad at chad@thunderbirddesign.com

Hardscaping - Outdoor Fireplace

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The Poetry of the Garden

June 20th, 2009 No Comments

Spring has run its course, and Summer approaches. Our gardens are alive again, constantly reminding us of nature’s mystery and magic. Colors abound, and the heady fragrances of our favorite plants hover in the air. It’s easy to see how gardens have inspired countless generations of artists and poets, scientists and teachers. They have something for everyone.

I’ve always thought there’s no right or wrong way to garden. It’s a dichotomy, after all. We take perfectly content plants out of their natural environment and mix them willy-nilly into a foreign environment (our hometown) and hook them up to a life support system that we call irrigation. And yet, through our inner mad-scientist, the results can be breath-taking, life-extending, happiness-inducing and positive. Gardens are poetic because they blend random things into an ordered form, the results of which can transform our lives. As Henry Mitchell wrote, “Almost any garden, if seen at just the right moment, can be confused with paradise.”

Custom Garden

Springtime, by Velma Bates

Oh, spring came to my garden
And caught it unaware
Wearing just a few old leaves
And a dejected air.

But when spring left my garden,
Its work so deftly done,
Many, many Daffodils
Were dancing in the sun.

Garden Landscape

Sometimes it’s the simplest things that affect us. A single flower’s beauty can take our breath away. The gentle hum of bees on a bright Sunday morning reminds us of the value of hard work. These are things out of which poetry is made. William Blake saw gardens as places of spiritual truth. “To see a World in a Grain of Sand, And Heaven in a Wild Flower; Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand, And Eternity in an hour.”

However you choose to see your garden this year, cherish it. Each season is fleeting, and time is short. Walk through your garden, touch it, smell it, let yourself experience what you have made. You may be surprised at how inspirational it is.

Custom Gardening

Prayer in a Garden, by Eva Sparks Taylor

Today the world seemed cruel, but evening hours
Were filled with perfume from forgotten flowers.
I saw again familiar filigree
Of moonlight through my lacy Lilac tree;
I heard the robins stirring in their nest;
And saw the path that fairy feet had pressed;
Reflected stars were in my garden pool;
On my warm face the breeze was kind and cool.
The silence seemed to speak, my head was bowed,
Then ramblers that had grown into a cloud
Lifted my eyes that, tear-washed, now could see
The beauty that today was lost to me.
Dear god, who is so near to flowers, and birds,
Be nearer still, as I shall search for words
To thank Thee for the blessings night revealed,
Which through the day discouragement concealed.

Gardening Services

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