HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-05-06, Page 17Landscape Construction and Maintenance
Enhance the exterior of
your home with:
• interlocking pavestone, cleaning & sealing
pavestone, patios, walkways, driveways & walls
• farm windbreaks
E4
• water features
• full landscape design & installation b." 0 "Award Winning Landscape •a 0
& Walkway Design"
can (519) 527-1750
R.R. #2 Seaforth, ON
• stonework
Enjoy the
Spring is planting time and
we have a wonderful
selection of:
• Cedar Hedging
• Maple Trees
• Ornamental Shrubs
• Windbreak Trees
• Topsoil'
• Crushed Brick
• Peat Moss
• Wood Mulch
Open seven days a week
in the Spring
Treebe
Landscaping & Supplies
1 mile west of Blyth on Blyth Rd. 523-9771
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Come to our Open House
Friday, May 7'h and
Saturday, May 8'h
Hanging Baskets
Mixed Planters
Annuals, Perennials & more
A free box of pansies or violas
for every Mom
May 7 8( 8
• c9p
Jack & Sylvia Nonkes
83189 Scott Line, RR#1 Auburn
Open daily 9 am - 8 pm — Closed Sundays
• 523-9456 •
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2004. PAGE 17.
f1 d
Lawn a
Jr, ,/ /11
.41
or entertaining during work
Well done
The 'buttress' which juts from the pergola creates an
archway that beautifully frames the terrace flowerbeds at
the rear of the McGregor property. Duncan and Lynda have
planted wooly thyme between the stones in front, which
they cut back after it grows a couple of inches, releasing its
exotic scent. (Bonnie Gropp photo)
Continued from page 17
adds. "As a result his drawings are
literally works of art."
Construction of the deck began in
the summer of 2002. It was an
Flowers and plants in your garden
or window box may look lovely, but
imagine the increased appeal if
butterflies called your garden home.
Making your garden inviting to
these colourful, fluttering visitors
involves just a little planning and
selecting of butterfly-friendly
foliage.
The basic needs of butterflies are
relatively :simple: food, water,
sunlight and shelter. A butterfly
garden is best planted in the sun so
that the nectar-producing plants
butterflies love will be able to
flourish. The sun also regulates the
temperature of. a Nitterfly's body,
enabling it to fly. HOwever, shadier
areas should be interspersed so that
the butterflies don't overheat.
Nectar-Producing Plants —
Nectar is the primary food for
hungry butterflies. Plants like aster,
"interesting summer with many
lovely gatherings of friends on the
lawn," said Lynda.
Duncan enjoyed late afternoon
visits with the two contractors. "It
butterfly bush, daisy, honeysuckle,
lilac and phlox are just some of
many nectar-producing plants.
Butterfly species in your local area
may prefer specific plants, so a little
research may be needed on your
part.
Host Plants — Butterflies begin
'with caterpillars, and as such, the
garden will also require host plants
to nourish the growing larvae. Local
'weeds', thistle, nettle and tree
leaves are popular food sources for
the. caterpillars. While not as
pleasing to the eye, they are
necessary to maintain a healthy
species.
Water — Butterflies need water,
but cannot directly "drink" from
open water sources. They prefer
landing on moist soil, so place a
shallow dish full of moistened sand
at ground level.
was nice, relaxing. They were
meticulous workers?'
Rutledge's vision was not always
something everyone understood
however. One of the details was a
"flying buttress" extending from the
pergola. Lynda laughs telling the
story of the day she and the
contractors did a mock-up to satisfy
"people's notions that this wouldn't
look ridiculous."
"We got this thing up and I went
back to the street and started to howl.
John had managed to frame the
terraces. That's the genius."
While Rutledge had intended for
there to be a lot of cedar in the
project, the cost of the I2-foot posts
which were eventually ' found in
Espanola was "beyond
comprehension," said Lynda.
They went with preserved wood
simply because there was no other
choice.
The 30-foot by 15-foot deck, is
solidly built("This would withstand
a direct hit from a Mac truck,"
laughs Duncan) right down to the
lattice.
"When John first started talking
about lattice, I was surprised,
thinking about those flimsy little bits
of wood. When I told him my
misgivings, he said 'Bite your
tongue, Duncan."'
The lattice on the McGregors'
deck consists of 4x8 pieces.
Once the deck was completed, it
gave the couple plenty to ponder. "It
gives ydu all sorts of thinking to do
once it's up, to consider how you
live," said Duncan. The McGregors
chose an arrangement of furniture
that primarily follows the sun. "We
start our morning in that corner with
the early sun," said Lynda. A dining
area somewhat shaded by the
pergola and buttress, catches the
blazing mid-day sun. while set back
against the wall are two chairs and
some sconces for quiet evenings.
The deck affords a three-way view
of the property, which is ideal
considering Lynda's talent for
horticulture.
The grounds are dressed with no
less than 20 flower beds, including
the 14 terrace beds at the rear. As
well, Duncan has a vegetable
garden.
Though Lynda downplays her
green thumb, saying she began
putting pots on a city balcony in
1968, Duncan is quick to add, "she
has a knack."
That ability played a part
somewhat in the unique outdoor
living space they enjoy. "Lynda likes
integrating the surroundings, the
house and grounds."
And while they admit few people
use an architect to design a deck,
their reasons are quite simple. "If
either of us were much adept at
building anything, it would have
made a.difference. However, I can't
contemplate anything #other than
gardens," says Lynda adding that
while she had looked at many
different design magazines in the
beginning, she had begun to feel
"overwhelmed."
The other factor was that the
architect was familiar. "We knew an
architect who had a type of aesthetic
we liked." says Duncan. "He's been
in our home many times. It was just
a winning arrangement."
Create a butterfly retreat